Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Constructing A Tool For Measuring Common Social Work Activities, Patricia M. Armstrong

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is one in a series of studies concerned with the interrelationship of General Systems Theory and social work knowledge. The purpose of this particular study was to develop a questionnaire to test the generic quality of the actions performed among the three traditional specialties of social work -- casework, group work and community organization.

The universe from which the sample of concepts was obtained were the acts performed by people in behalf of others. Specifically, the 421 concepts in the sample were obtained from literature in the fields of social work, sociology, psychology, and counseling and guidance. These …

Unmet Social Work Needs In An Inmate Population Of A County Correctional Institution, Jerry M. Harkins

Dissertations and Theses

This descriptive study was designed to elicit the kinds, extensity and intensity of needs of the inmate population of Multnomah County Correctional Institution, a minimum security jail for misdemeanants.

A guiding hypothesis asserted that there were unmet needs of prisoners which could be met through social work services both within and outside the institution.

Almost the entire population of the institution was interviewed. Open-end and structured responses were recorded on schedules. Five broad areas of need were defined. These were 1) physical needs -- including food, clothing, shelter, and medical care; 2) social needs -- including interpersonal ties, group membership, …

Marital Interaction Theory: Some Implications For Research, Lucille S. Pugh

Dissertations and Theses

This project examines specific basic areas of marital interaction theory. Individual chapters are developed around the following themes: historical development of the theory of interaction; a theoretical discussion of selected concepts; personality as a determinant of interaction; communication in marriage; marital interaction patterns; methodology pertaining to research findings; and finally some implications for research which became apparent as this project developed.

The project lays the conceptual groundwork for a series of empirical studies that will use the interactional approach as a theoretical base. The immediate purpose of this project therefore is to describe the important dimensions of the interactional approach …

Development Of A Tool To Measure Applicability Of The General Systems Theory To Generic Social Work, Richard L. Decristoforo

Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this project was to test the applicability of the General Systems Theory to the traditionally held concept of generic social work. If an applicability existed, a direct survey of the field would be feasible. This could lead to the development of a general or a core conceptualization of social work practice.

General Systems Theory was extended to include the properties of the open organismic human group system. There were twenty-one categories at this level of abstraction. Internal consistency of the General Systems Theory model was tested and related to social work treatment concepts. To do this, 427 …

Christie School: The Evolution Of A Social Institution, Bertha A. Roth

Dissertations and Theses

The first of a series of studies of social agencies in Oregon. aimed at collecting and presenting data through the use of a sociological model, this project represents a beginning effort to assess the social welfare resources of the State.

Christie School, a small nucleated institution, was examined in terms of its evolution from an orphanage to a treatment-oriented care facility . Particular attention was given to the impact of historical events and analysis of these in terms of the institution’s life cycle. Impetus was given to the study by the crisis of impending closure of the school and events …

Some Factors Influencing Case Classification In A Public Welfare Agency, Miriam Berry

Dissertations and Theses

This group project represented an attempt to study some factors pertaining to the formation of a system of case classification in a county public welfare agency, Multnomah County Public Welfare Commission, Portland, Oregon. The classification tool was a Case Planning Schedule intended to encourage diagnostic thinking on the part of the caseworker and to enhance planning and service for the client.

The focus of the study was limited to two areas: (1) whether or not the use of the Schedule resulted in agreement among caseworkers in classification and in consistency on prognoses, (2) the attitudes of the caseworkers in various …

Use Of The Depth Interview In Examining Attitudes Of Delinquent Boys: An Exploratory Study, Alice Allen

Dissertations and Theses

This exploratory study designed to disclose new directions for further research and practice in the field of juvenile delinquency.

By exploring through limited depth interview the attitudinal areas of authority, fear, aspirations for the future, obstacles to be overcome, capabilities, societal ideals and therapy the project attempted: (1) to elicit, from adjudged juvenile delinquents, information different from that usually sought by public societal agencies and (2) to evaluate the depth interview as a means of eliciting such material.

Specific criteria were established for choosing fifteen interviewees, selected from three methods of dealing with juvenile delinquency: probation, institutionalization and parole. Depth …