Waldo C. Klein

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.

The Value and Purpose of the Traditional Qualitative Literature Review

Both meta-analysis and traditional literature or narrative reviews strive to compile a great deal of information in an accessible and succinct manner. In recent years, social work researchers have been turning toward meta-analysis to identify issues in large areas of research. In order for meta-analysis to be a rigorous and objective source of information there are a certain set of assumptions that must be met about how to carry out the process of including and excluding various studies. However, when these assumptions are not met, the information provided can be misleading. Traditional literature reviews continue to offer a valid and important way to identify existing patterns and gaps in social work research. In fact, because they draw not only on quantitative (as does meta-analysis) but also qualitative studies their reach may often be broader. This paper examines the strengths, weaknesses and utility of both practices in social work research today.

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...

Correlates of Complaints Made to the Connecticut Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program The Role of Organizational and Structural Factors

Using Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program complaint data (N = 3,360) from all of Connecticuts 261 nursing facilities, this study investigated facility characteristics that may be correlated with resident complaints. Complaints per 100 beds and four subcategories of complaints established by the Administration on Aging (AoA) were the dependent variables. The presence of volunteers trained by the Ombudsman Pro-gram significantly predicted total complaints. At the bivariate level, profit status, size, location, citations, and the presence of a volunteer resident advocate were associated with the rate of complaints. However, multivariate analysis exposed a more complex pattern of relationships. The strongest model explained slightly more than 9% of the variance using the nine predictors. This indicates that other factors such as psychosocial characteristics of complainants may influence complaint reporting, rather than structural/organizational components of the facility.

The Use of Adjunct Faculty: An Exploratory Study of Eight Social Work Programs

This pilot study of the practice of employing social work practitioners as adjunct faculty analyzes the results of questionnaires returned from 6 deans/directors, 43 adjunct faculty, and 175 students at 8 U.S. institutions offering BSW and/or MSW programs. The responses covered the teaching effectiveness of adjunct faculty (in 1992–93), their reasons for teaching, the support received from and expectations of the programs, and various pros and cons surrounding their employment. Among the findings: students regard adjunct faculty as somewhat less effective teachers than full-time faculty, but appreciate their expertise on contemporary or specialized practices; administrators appreciate the financial benefits and flexibility associated with adjunct instruction; and the adjuncts themselves appreciate affiliation with academic programs.

Adjunct Instruction: A Conceptual Model for Actualizing the Potential

Abstract The use of adjunct instruction in social work is examined with special attention to potential advantages and disadvantages that are inherent. A comprehensive framework is provided that highlights key issues and provides guidelines for developing a plan to support the coherent use of adjunct instruction in social work education. The framework is organized around four basic components: (1) recruitment and orientation; (2) development and training; (3) retention issues; and (4) overall management of a pool of adjunct faculty. Because the use of adjunct instructors represents a valued opportunity to bring current practitioners into the classroom and is likely to increase in the coming years, a structured approach to utilizing adjunct instructors is especially relevant to social work and social work education.

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.

A Generic Model of Long Term Care for Social Work Education

Abstract With the “graying” of America and the increasing life expectancy for the developmentally disabled, there is an increasing demand for long-term care (LTC). As in the past, provision of this care will depend heavily on families. Professional social work can expect an increased role in facilitating the balance of LTC resources. As this role evolves, social work educators may develop anticipatory responses by incorporating a generic but comprehensive framework of LTC in social work curricula. Such a framework is presented in this paper. It is neither age- nor etiology-specific; it is appropriate for use with the developmentally disabled, the frail elderly, or any other population in need of LTC.

Productive challenges and opportunities in work and retirement: background from the United States

The United States is witnessing dramatic increases in the aging population where one out of five of the approximate 309 million persons will be aged 65 and over within the next year based on increases in life expectancy and decreases in fertility replacement rates, the eldest members of the boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) turning 65 in 2011, and improvements in health. Both challenges and opportunities exist for a multigenerational workforce in the future. Opportunities for elders remaining in or returning to the workforce are anticipated, and traditional retirement will be altered given that 80% of baby boomers, as cited in the National Institute on Agings Health and Retirement Study, are expect to work past traditional retirement age. Population aging has vast political, social and economic realities for the United States and for the global community. Demographic trends, implications for the US workforce, and recommendations from institutes and organizations as leaders in promoting productive aging are provided as a means to seize upon the opportunities for action that are embedded in many of the challenges faced by the aging society of the United States.

Primary Prevention Scanning for Older Persons

Throughout this book we have offered a manual to support the helping professional in bringing primary prevention thoughts and actions on health and wel1-being to his or her older clients. In a postindustrial society such as ours, we enjoy more years of “old age” than ever before, and those years are usually spent in better health than at any previous time in history. Thus, we have suggested various ways — one by one — to protect existing states of health among older persons, prevent those problems for which individuals might have some known risk, and promote desired states of functioning.