Martin Bloom

Publications and Citations: A Study of Faculty at Leading Schools of Social Work

Abstract This study explores the relationship between scholarly productivity—as evidenced in publication and citation rates—and institutional reputation among leading schools of social work. Using the Social Sciences Citation Index to establish publication and citation records for 333 faculty members from 13 schools of social work, the authors (a) examine 7 hypotheses on publication/citation rates and institutional productivity, and (b) compare their study to those conducted previously. They propose an index, the “critical mass of scholarly activity,” for determining institutional scholarly productivity.

Studies of Scholarly Productivity in Social Work Using Citation Analysis.

Ideally, an educator’s reputation should be based primarily on that person’s scholarly publications. However, reputation is more than the sum of one’s scholarly efforts. In this article, the authors seek to add objective information to the subjective decision-making process involved in hiring, promoting, or providing tenure to educators. The authors present norms of citations—objective indicators of reputation—for professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. These norms were derived from the Citation Index of the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Four studies were undertaken to examine scholarly productivity using the same basic methodology: citation analysis. In Study 1, the authors examined a sample of educators listed in the Encyclopedia of Social Work. These experts were used as a national norm against which other educators could compare themselves. Study 2 was based on a citation analysis of deans of all graduate schools of social work. In Study 3, the authors examined “local norm...

Primary prevention and foster care

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to develop a systematic connection between primary prevention and foster care so that foster care professionals and parents might make use of the large existing technology to facilitate the healthy development of children in the foster care system. Definitions of terms are provided; outcome research in foster care is reviewed briefly so as to identify specific locations where primary prevention methods might be most usefully employed. Then specific methods are suggested to link the primary prevention model to foster care services. Finally, a case study is given to illustrate the integration of various primary prevention methods.

Prevention/promotion with minorities

This article analyzes preventive/promotive strategies whereby minority persons (with special reference to black Americans) can build on their collective strengths and prevent predictable problems.

Evolving Definitions of Primary Prevention

Definitions matter! How we define a field of study strongly influences how we select research problems, choose variables to be studied, and interpret the data. Indirectly, these influence how users of our information construct their programs in the community. The definitions that have guided the field of primary prevention have been evolving. This does not necessarily mean changing for the better; they have simply changed to fit other systems of values. We will present the evolving definitions of primary prevention regarding the promotion of health and the prevention of illness and we will offer a working definition of the beginning of the 21st century. Briefly stated, primary prevention involves activities that (1) prevent predictable problems, (2) protect existing states of health or healthy functioning, and (3) promote desired goals for a population of people in three possible contexts: universally, as a basic utility for everyone’s benefit; selectively, for groups at risk and with potential; and as indicated for groups at very high risk.

Training and career paths in primary prevention

Increasingly, undergraduate and graduate students as well as mid-career professionals are deciding to pursue careers focused on the primary prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health. Although there are several training and career options available to prospective students of prevention, a compendium of prevention resources is not readily available. This article is intended to help prospective students find training programs, and other sources of information, that focus on prevention. The disciplines of public health, community psychology, social work, and education are reviewed with regard to their respective training options in prevention, and sources of further information are offered.

Toward a code of ethics for primary prevention

This paper explores the topic of a code of ethics for primary prevention, and offers some tentative guidelines for the purpose of stimulating discussion. Codes of ethics provide guidelines for both procedural issues — such as the relationship of the practitioner with consumers, colleagues, and the community at large — and substantive issues — what goals and objectives to pursue, and how to resolve conflicts between them. This paper discusses some philosophical issues and then presents nine “rules” derived from the Hippocratic tradition, but expanded to fit the context of contemporary primary prevention.

Toward a technology in primary prevention: Educational strategies and tactics

The coming major task of primary prevention is to inform people about what works, what will prevent problems and promote desired potentials. This will be the task of educational technology, converying those tested packages of effective methods for achieving specified social ends. This paper explores the nature of this preventive/promotive technology. Examples of primary prevention programs illustrating the various issues in such a technology are given. A model for educational technology is provided: the application of systematic procedures that can be employed in concert to affect factors which prevent predictable problems, protect current healthy functioning, and/or promote desired potentials.

Bibliometrics: The best available information?

Abstract This commentary raises significant cautions related to inherent shortcomings in the use of bibliographic analytic technology, and in particular its use in substantive decision making around promotion and tenure. Questions are raised concerning the continued use of scholarly energy for bibliometric analysis of subtly different settings. The recommendation is offered that future efforts in bibliometrics must target methods to reduce methodological shortcomings. These include clarifying the metric used to “count” sole/multiple authorship, and to evaluate the “merit” of manuscripts as well as journals in which they appear. Finally, the fundamental meaning of the information produced in these analyses (i.e., the validity of the measure) must be clearly presented in order for it to be credibly used.

Primary Prevention at the Beginning of the 21st Century

As we complete this undertaking, two strong feelings emerge. First, of joy for bringing together this collection of entries on important topics and discovering how much the field has learned in just a few decades. Second, of humility in realizing how far we have yet to go, how restricted our theories, how limited our research base, how simplistic our practice. We celebrate the first feeling because this encyclopedia is an important accomplishment at this time for this young field of study and action. We can document that certain strategies are effective in preventing predictable problems, in protecting existing states of health, and in promoting desired goals. But we must never forget that we have a long way to travel to make the dream of primary prevention a reality for people everywhere.