Educational Correlates of Antigay Bias: A Survey of Australian Social Work Students

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Jill Chonody ◽  
Nilan Yu
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Lesbian Women ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

The study reported here examined three educational correlates of students’ attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women: coursework prior to attending the university that included information about sexual minorities, coursework at the university that included information about sexual minorities, and identification with one's degree. Undergraduate students enrolled in social work courses in an Australian university were surveyed. Of the three correlates examined, two variables— exposure to education prior to attending the university and identification with degree— were significant, but only in relation to attitudes toward gay men. The relationship with previous education about sexual minorities is remarkable in that it seems counterintuitive: Those who reported more exposure to education about sexual minorities prior to attending the university exhibited greater bias against gay men; however, the effect size was small. Consistent with study hypotheses, greater identification with one's degree was correlated to less antigay bias. Implications for social work education are considered.

IMPACTS OF SARS CRISIS ON SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS — REFLECTION ON SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION

2004 ◽  
Vol 38 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 93-108
Author(s):  
CHING-MAN LAM ◽  
HUNG WONG ◽  
TSE-FONG TERRY LEUNG
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Direct Exposure ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The Relationship

The impacts of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) on the social work students were examined using a combined quantitative and qualitative method. A survey was conducted with 114 social work undergraduate students at The Chinese University of Hong Kong to assess their perception of the impacts of SARS on them at personal and professional level. Four focus groups had been conducted to examine the social work students' interpretation and their reflection of their experience. Results show that the SARS crisis has positive impacts on social work students. The findings indicate that students with direct exposure to SARS perceived themselves as becoming more appreciative in attitude and have greater involvement and devotion to the social work profession. Moreover, the result shows that three variables — recognition of risk, commitment and devotion, and professional reflection are positively correlated. The findings articulate the relationship between experience (risk), profession reflection and meaning generation (commitment and devotion). The findings of this study provide us with insights to rethink on our social work education.

scholarly journals Heterosexist Attitudes amongst Students Entering a Bachelor of Social Work Programme in Switzerland: Exploring Continuing Challenges for Social Work Education

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gredig ◽  
Annabelle Bartelsen-Raemy
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Sexual Prejudice ◽  
Lesbian Women ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Work Programme ◽  
Entering Students ◽  
Work Education

Abstract Social work programmes are expected to enable students to work adequately with sexual minorities. In Switzerland, however, curricular content on sexual minorities is lacking in BSW programmes. Potential sexual prejudice is not explicitly addressed. This study aimed to assess the attitudes towards lesbian women and gay men amongst students entering the BSW programme of a university in Switzerland to establish a basis for discussing curriculum development. Students entering the programme from 2015 through 2018 were surveyed using an online questionnaire. Heterosexist attitudes were captured using the ‘Multidimensional Scale of Attitudes toward Lesbians and Gay Men’. The responding 955 entering students reported positive attitudes towards lesbians and gay men and evidenced low levels of heterosexist views. However, only 4.3 per cent of the respondents consistently disagreed with all items expressing heterosexist views, whilst 43.3 per cent completely agreed with at least one item. The views expressed by male participants expressed significantly higher levels of heterosexism than did those of female participants. The findings evidence uncertainties and a lack of reflection on unquestioned but heteronormative views. This reflects a need to infuse BSW programmes with sexual minority content, to provide opportunities for critical reflection and to address heteronormative and heterosexist views.

Developing Awareness of the Subtleties of Heterosexism and Homophobia among Undergraduate, Heterosexual Social Work Majors

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Raiz ◽  
Susan Saltzburg
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Social Work Values ◽  
Quantitative Data Analysis ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The Relationship

Homophobia and heterosexism are inconsistent with social work values but have been reported in studies of social workers and social work students. This study analyzed and compared the responses to qualitative and quantitative items of 147 heterosexual undergraduate social work majors from twelve institutions throughout the United States. One open-ended item explored attitudes toward lesbians and gay men and support for relationship rights for this group. Herek's Attitudes toward Lesbians and Gay Men scale (ATLG) and a relationship rights scale, constructed for this study, provided quantitative data. Analysis of the open-ended item identified three thematic categories that represented acceptance; non-acceptance; and tolerance, but with conditions. The uniqueness of each of the three categories was supported by significant differences among them on Herek's ATLG and on the relationship rights scale. Numerous quotes from respondents underscore the subtle prejudice that can be missed by social work educators who are unaware of the nuances of language in this area. Implications for social work education are presented.

scholarly journals Analyzing the Integration of Human Rights into Social Work Education

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Paulette Andrea Henry
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Education ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Work Education ◽  
The University

<p>The understanding of human rights are important to social work education and practice especially since the global definition of social work highlights the dual role of social work as a practice based profession and academic discipline emphasizing the principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversity. Concomitantly, social work education must ensure that students know and understand human rights laws especially since human rights are inherent to all human beings and are often expressed and guaranteed by international law which Governments are expected to uphold. Social workers have a commitment as duty bearers in supporting governments in the upholding of those agreements pertinent to the wellbeing of the people. Using the University of Guyana as a frame of reference this paper examined students’ knowledge on international agreements prior to leaving the University since these laws not only speak to nation states but to universal practices and many social work issues transcend borders. This paper utilized a mixed method approach to ascertain students’ awareness of international human rights laws and their perceptions on the applicability to practice. The findings show that there is limited knowledge amongst social work students on human rights covenants and conventions. This assessment is instructive to social work educators locally and internationally pointing to the need for integration into the curricula. It is imperative that generalist practitioners leave the University with a clear understanding of these laws as many practice issues are transnational. There will be the need for international social work to be a taught course for undergraduates training to become generalist practitioners.</p>

Student-Directed Behavioral Community Interventions in Social Work Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 731-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Bördlein
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Behavior Analysis ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Community Interventions ◽  
Social Work Practitioners ◽  
Social Work Interventions ◽  
Work Education

Behavioral social work is the application of behavior analysis to the field of social work. There are behavioral social work interventions for individuals, groups, and communities. Nevertheless, behavioral social work is far from a widely adopted approach among social work practitioners. A reason for the underuse might be seen in the fact that most interventions in behavioral social work aim at individual clients and groups. Social work could further benefit from the application of methods taken from behavioral community interventions. Behavioral community interventions modify the behavior of a larger group of people (e.g., pedestrians using a crosswalk, cafeteria patrons, students using a university building) with antecedent- and consequence-focused interventions. The article describes a training program for social work students in behavioral community interventions. Results of two projects, undergraduate students designed and performed, are presented. Behavioral community interventions are recommended as a valuable part of the education of social workers.

scholarly journals Professional writing: Description of the writings of social workers in Botswana

2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-402
Author(s):  
Unity Nkateng ◽  
Sue Wharton
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Professional Writing ◽  
Support Unit ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
The University

The main purpose of this study is to identify the professional writing needs of undergraduate students studying social work in the University of Botswana. In order to do this, it seeks to analyse the types of texts produced by social workers in their professional setting, to find out what relationship exists between the writing done by professional social workers and the writing taught in the dedicated English Language Support unit at the University of Botswana, and to explore the similarities and differences between the documents written by the students and those produced by professional social workers. It also examines current approaches to teaching writing in the University, with the aim of identifying the writing needs of social work students and exploring how these can be effectively addressed.

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