The relationship between social workers' political activity training and political activity

摘要

Purpose. This study investigated political activism in social work practice. The primary focus was to evaluate an educational goal, training social workers in political activism, as it had been carried out as an educational outcome, i.e., actual political involvement. To better understand this relationship between training and practice, professional orientation and political efficacy were measured to determine if each would differ with respect to political activity training. Finally, the impact of professional orientation, political efficacy, and work environment on political involvement with respect to political activity training were evaluated.;Method and procedures. The research design involved the use of a 3-part survey instrument. This instrument was sent to graduates of two accredited undergraduate social work programs in Georgia. Social workers who had political activity training as a required part of their social work education comprised the experimental group and social workers without such training comprised the control group. To calculate differences between these two groups, data were analyzed using t tests and multiple regression analysis.;Results. It was found that political activity training does not result in higher political activity levels. Instead, having a past/present social work position significantly increased political activity. However, those social workers with political activity training had a stronger professional orientation, i.e., political activity is considered important in social work practice.;In addition, political activity training was found to have a significant influence on the variance in political activity. Specifically, professional orientation and political efficacy were strong predictors of political activity for those social workers with prior political activity training.;Conclusions. The results suggested that those social workers with prior political activity training operate from a framework that supports political activity as a significant component of social work practice. This framework based on a professional orientation committed to the social work purpose of social justice provides a rationale for their political activity. Although social workers without political activity training have the same level of political involvement, they do not practice within this framework.