Stephen E. Wong

Teaching Research and Practice Evaluation Skills to Graduate Social Work Students.

Objective: The authors examined outcomes of a graduate course on evaluating social work practice that required students to use published research, quantitative measures, and single-system designs in a simulated practice evaluation project. Method: Practice evaluation projects from a typical class were analyzed for the number of research references cited, type of client, goals or problems, measures, interventions, single-system designs, and outcomes. Results: More than half of the students conducted self-improvement projects monitored with self-report measures, and goals or problems selected and interventions applied varied widely. More than 80% of the projects were evaluated with simple AB designs, over 45% of which were associated with statistically significant improvements and an additional 43% showed gains that did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Results suggest that students can be taught techniques and skills needed to formulate interventions derived from published research and to evaluate effects of these interventions using single-system designs.

Treatment of Antisocial Behavior in Adolescent Inpatients: Behavioral Changes and Client Satisfaction

This study examined antisocial behavior and consumer satisfaction of 29 adolescents in a long-term psychiatric unit with a modified Achievement Place program. Unit staff recorded the daily frequency of 27 inappropriate behaviors exhibited by individual clients. Time-series data on specific problem behaviors were analyzed with change scores and graphic displays. Prior to discharge, clients also completed questionnaires that rated the helpfulness of program components. Change scores for severe behavior problems gradually declined to near zero levels for almost all clients. Scores for moderate and minor problem behaviors showed smaller declines, which were offset by concomitant increases within this same category. Off-unit activities and point store, individual and group therapy, and behavior reduction procedures received the highest, intermediate, and lowest ratings, respectively. Data indicate that long-term treatment within a structured behavioral program may be associated with substantial improvements in serious conduct problems, and that this intervention is generally acceptable to clients.

Improving Student Confidence in Using Group Work Standards A Controlled Replication

Objective: This is a replication of a study that examined the effects of teaching foundation competencies in group work to social work students and assessed their self-confidence in applying these skills. This study improves on the first by utilizing a controlled design. Method: Twenty-six master of social work students were taught group work competencies derived from the International Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups’ (IASWG) Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups using didactic activities and micro-skill exercises. Students were assessed 4 times on their confidence in group work competencies using a validated 70-item inventory. Group work skills were divided into three blocks and taught successively in an abbreviated multiple-baseline design. Results: The t-tests indicated significant increases in confidence ratings after training on the respective skills but not before skills training. Conclusion: The results provide additional support for the effectiveness of the teaching approach in building student confidence in using IASWG Standards.

Using Prompts to Increase Attendance at Groups for Survivors of Domestic Violence

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of multiple prompts, telephone calls, and written reminders on attendance at group support meetings in a long-term residential facility for survivors of domestic violence. Methods: Participants were 15 Hispanic women who were residing in the facility at the time of the study. Prompts to attend the support meetings were introduced, removed, and reintroduced within an ABAB single-system design. Results: Data from sign-in sheets showed that prompting procedures at least doubled attendance at the support meetings. Conclusions: Possible factors contributing to the effectiveness of social workers using prompts to promote attendance at group support meetings are briefly discussed.

A Critique of the Diagnostic Construct Schizophrenia

This article examines problems in the clinical utility of the diagnosis of schizophrenia including reliance on questionable data, arbitrary criteria and categorization, inadequate precision for assessment and treatment evaluation, and omission of information on causal current and historical environmental factors. Some alternatives to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) are briefly considered including continuous recording of individual client’s specific problems and goals, and functional assessments and functional analyses. The article discusses how biomedical assumptions implicit in the DSM-5 diverts mental health workers’ attention from social adversity factors contributing to the development of psychotic behavior and available psychosocial interventions for this disorder, thereby perpetuating biomedical dominance of mental health services.

Teaching Single-Case Evaluation to Graduate Social Work Students: A Replication

ABSTRACT A course teaching graduate social work students to use an evidence-based model and to evaluate their own practice was replicated and evaluated. Students conducted a project in which they reviewed published research to achieve a clinical goal, applied quantitative measures for ongoing assessment, implemented evidence-based interventions, and evaluated effects of their interventions with single-case designs. More than half of the students conducted self-improvement projects monitored with self-report measures, with widely varied goals and interventions. Approximately 48% of the projects showed statistically significant improvements, and an additional 10% showed statistically nonsignificant gains, suggesting the benefits of this instructional format.

Single-Case Evaluation on Trial: Broken Promise or New Scapegoat?

This article takes issue with Rubm and Knox on three main points: (1) misrepresentation of single-case experimental designs; (2) logical inconsistencies; and (3) skewed portrayal of weaknesses existing in single-case designs. Possible reasons why single-case experimental designs are often misinterpreted in the social work literature are also discussed.

A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial of Strengths Model Case Management in Hong Kong

Purpose: This study evaluates the effectiveness of the strengths model of case management (SMCM) for people with severe mental illness in Hong Kong. This is the first controlled trial outside the United States to investigate the impacts of SMCM on caseworkers as well as service users alongside fidelity measures. Method: Service users and their caseworkers were recruited from three types of supported accommodation for this 12-month nonrandomized controlled trial. Mixed modeling was used to investigate within-subject differences. Results: Results indicated that SMCM was effective in helping users progress toward their recovery goals and in alleviating emotional exhaustion among caseworkers. However, it was ineffective in improving, hope, well-being, work alliance, and psychiatric symptoms. High intervention fidelity was associated with positive outcomes. Conclusions: Conceptually, SMCM has the potential to improve service users’ functional but not personal recovery. It is also potentially conducive to the well-being of caseworkers.

Improving Internet Searches for Community Resources by Persons Diagnosed with Mental Disorders

This study assisted clients in a locked facility for persons with mental disorders and substance abuse problems to explore the communities into which they were to be discharged using the Internet. Four patients with either the diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia were provided Internet access with instructions to search for any of 6 categories of resources (i.e., potential housing, employment, public services, shops and restaurants, recreational facilities, and social or religious organizations) in their prospective communities. For 3 out of 4 patients, initial instructions to search for any of 6 categories of resources lead to very few relevant websites being visited. When patients were instructed to choose one of these 6 categories to explore and to give their reasons for selecting that category, the number of relevant websites visited increased severalfold. Narrowing search instructions and reviewing personal goals can be helpful in overcoming the numerous distractions on the Internet and allowing clients to obtain needed information from this vast communication network.

Book Reviews : Gibbs, L. E. (1991). Scientific Reasoning for Social Workers: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice. New York: Macmillan. 290 pp

the &dquo;bad&dquo; thought one is trying to stop and letting habituation, not ritualization, ease the anxiety; and distraction. Chapter 10 addresses the pros and cons of taking medication, and in chapter 11 the authors talk about alternative treatment strategies, including hospitalization, psychotherapy, and psychosurgery (a treatment of last resort). Chapter 12 gives advice for family members and partners and talks about the personal and interpersonal difficulties that can complicate recovery, such as depression, anxiety, or severe criticism from a loved one.