Roberta Rehner Iversen

How much do we count? interpretation and error-making in the decennial census

Following a critique of the 1990 decennial census procedures, we conducted a field study among low-income, inner-city residents in 1991 to examine how they conceptualized and managed the civic task of census response. Interpretations about the purpose and meaning of the census, about commitment to the task, and about connection to government, singly and together with literacy skills (e.g., reading and general literacy competence), were associated with errors that are not detectable by evaluative methodologies used regularly by the Census Bureau. The validity and reliability of census data, and possibly other self-administered survey research. will be increased by greater use of knowledge about both interpretation and literacy skills informulating data collection procedures.

Occupational social work and job retention supports An international perspective

Global changes are increasing unemployment worldwide, particularly among women, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and youth. Occupational social work practice can be systematically reformulated to focus on job retention supports in work programs. International exchanges of information and knowledge-building among occupationally-focused social workers can shape this reformulation, increase job retention and promote the historic mission of the profession.

Field Instruction in a Suburban Family Service Agency

Family service agency commitment to the mission of social work, field instruction and the development of professional identity provides a fertile framework for student growth. At the same time the small size of many such agencies leaves students vulnerable to the possibility of autocracy and limited autonomy and/or personal growth imposed by one administrator and one supervisor. Field instruction directors must carefully examine agency leadership before judging the particular agency appropriate.