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Theoretical and Methodological Knowledge in Practice of Social Work
Authors: Jagoda Petrovic, Maja Pekić
Number of views: 276
Social work, a scientifical, professional and educational activity „encourages social changes, development, social cohesion, empowerement and liberation of people“ (IFSW, 2014). Pragmatism, expressed in this definition, is a request for the science of social work to efficiently remove social problems and social deviations, such as poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, (re)integration of migrants, alcholism, juvenile delinquency, violence, etc. One of the problems comes from insufficiently developed science of social work, which is characterised by pluralism of theories, methodological inauthenticity and positivism. Other problem is that in practice of social work scientific knowledge is not enough used. This kind of approach marginalizes the proffession of social work. Minor allocations in social protection sector contribute to this also. Finally, the question arises: „Does the academic education produce qualified cadres?“. Theoretical – methodical qualification of social work’s students for future work is a research subject which is conducted on a specimen of 100 examinees, advanced university students and attendants of master study of the Faculty of political science in Banja Luka. By the scale of Lickert’s type, opinions of students about qualification for application social work’s theories, theoretical-methodical approach, ethical standards, methods and skills of social work have been examined. The results showed that students consider that they are well qualified for application of social work’s theories and the theories for social work; that they are less qualified for social work in community and with group in comparsion with social work with an individual; that they are very good qualified for application of interviews and surveys in comparsion with methods that contribute to modernization of social work’s proffession (history of the case and studies of the case, action research); that they have good knowledge about ethical principles of social work; that their knowledge about application of communication skills are bigger in comparsion of practical skills (consulting, mediation, representation, supervision, team work) and skills of social work in community (fundraising, volunteer management, lobbying).General conclusion is: the application of theories and methods in practice (re)affirm the science of social work, and the proffession of social work makes efficient in fight for the general well-being.