Discussion 1
• A brief reaction to Dr. Barbara Simon's article about theories being necessary in social work as you think about her position in relation to your fieldwork experience
• A brief reaction to Dr. Bruce Thyer's article about theories not being necessary in social work as you think about his position in relation to your fieldwork experience
• Do you tend to agree with Dr. Simon or Dr. Thyer? Why?
Discussion 2: Sources of Knowledge
Social workers make decisions in practice settings based on different sources of knowledge, including their intuition, personal experiences, tradition, authority, and theories and research evidence. These sources of knowledge can be used together to contribute to decisions. Which source(s) of knowledge do you rely on? What are the strengths and limitations of each source of knowledge, and how will they affect your social work practice? For example, think about the sources of knowledge you used when you made decisions in your field experience. In this Discussion, you consider the sources of knowledge that inform your practice decisions.
To prepare: Complete the "Situations 1 and 2: Making Decisions About Interventions" handout. (Note: You do not need to upload the handout to the Discussion forum. The handout is intended to assist you in writing your Discussion post.)
Situations 1 and 2: Making Decisions About Interventions*
Situation 1
Think back to a client (individual, family, group, agency, or community) with whom you have worked. Place a check mark next to each criterion you used to make your practice decision. If you have not yet worked with a client, think of the criteria on which you would probably rely.
1. Your intuition (gut feeling) about what will be effective
2. What you have heard from other professionals in informal exchanges
3. Your experience with a few cases
4. Your demonstrated track record of success based on data you have gathered systematically and regularly
5. What fits your personal style
6. What was usually offered at your agency
7. Self-reports of other clients about what was helpful
8. Results of controlled experimental studies (data that show a method is helpful)
9. What you are most familiar with
10. What you know by critically reading professional literature
Situation 2
Imagine you have a potentially serious medical problem and you seek help from a physician to examine treatment options. Place a check mark next to each criterion you would like your physician to rely on when he or she makes recommendations about your treatment.
1. The physician's intuition (gut feeling) that a method will work
2. What he or she has heard from other physicians in informal exchanges
3. The physician's experience with a few cases
4. The physician's demonstrated track record of success based on data he or she has gathered systematically and regularly
5. What fits his or her personal style
6. What is usually offered at the clinic
7. Self-reports of patients about what was helpful
8. Results of controlled experimental studies (data that show a method is helpful)
9. What the physician is most familiar with
10. What the physician has learned by critically reading professional literature
*From Gambrill, E., & Gibbs, L. (2017). Making decisions about intervention. In Critical thinking for helping professionals: A skills-based workbook (4th ed., pp. 69-70). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Explain how and why your choices differed in Situations 1 and 2.
• Evaluate when using intuition or personal experiences is advantageous in making clinical decisions. Provide an illustration of this from your fieldwork experience.
• Analyze when using theories and research evidence is advantageous in making clinical decisions. Provide an illustration of this from your fieldwork experience.
Respond to two colleagues:
• Evaluate an identified limitation your colleague may encounter when relying on intuition or personal experience in making decisions about an intervention plan.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.