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Data Collection. Chapter 6. LEARNING OBJECTIVES. Understand the meaning of data and the difference between fact and assumption Demonstrate skills for collecting, organizing, and recording data Understand the purpose and need for recording and documentation
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Data Collection Chapter 6
LEARNING OBJECTIVES • Understand the meaning of data and the difference between fact and assumption • Demonstrate skills for collecting, organizing, and recording data • Understand the purpose and need for recording and documentation • Recognize different types of recordings used in social work practice
Data Collection • Using the ecological-systems perspective, the generalist practitioner inquires about: • The problems and needs presented • The persons involved in the problems • The strengths and assets of the person • The potential or actual resources and barriers in the environment that may affect the person-problem situation. • Specifically, the social worker collects information about the problem, the person, and the environment.
The persons The problem/need Basic Categories of Data Collection • The environment
Ecological systems theory • Keep in mind the 4 ecological levels by Bronfenbrenner when assessing client systems:
Intake Forms • Germane to most social service agencies • Used to collect first set of data on clients • Intake forms generally information: • Basic demographics • Age, Gender, Occupation, Education • Main Reason(s) for Client Visit • Increasingly, too much information is sought. The drawback to this is that it: • Increases completion and processing time • Could be interpreted by clients as intrusive • Costs agencies excess time and money
Micro Level Individual and Family
Micro System Data Collection 4 Main Information Gathering Categories: • Scope of the presenting problem • Client system psychosocial functioning • Client system coping and strengths in problem-solving • Availability of client system resources
Class Self-Assessment • Are you satisfied with your life? • On the next slide are five statements with which you may agree or disagree. • Using the 1-7 scale below, indicate your agreement with each item by placing the appropriate number on the line preceding that item. • Please be open and honest in your responding. The 7-point scale is as follows:
When you are finished • Total your score
Life Satisfaction Scale • The higher the score the greater your satisfaction with life • Nobody usually scores perfect on this survey • Reason: • We all have issues/problems • A key role for you in social work practice will be to help clients identify problems/issues in their lives. This is the first and perhaps most important step in data collection
Scope of Presenting Problem • The goal is to: • Describe the main/presenting problem(s) with concrete examples • Develop a historical picture of the problem • Establish the frequency, duration and intensity of the problem • Ascertain the consequences of the problem for the individual and those around them • You can obtain this information through: • Questioning • Listening • Observation • Recording
Psychosocial Functioning • One's psychological development in and interaction with a social environment • Important to: • Assess client psychological and social status • Client’s age and developmental life stage? • How does presenting problem affects psychological and social status of client? • Assess through: • Questioning, observing and listening to client • Psychosocial functioning assessment instruments
Identifying Strengths Class Exercise
WHAT ARE STRENGTHS? • What people have learned about themselves, others, and their world as they have struggled, coped with, and battled abuse, trauma, illness, confusion, oppression and even their own fallibility • Personal qualities, traits, and virtues that people possess • What people know about the world around them from those things learned intellectually, educationally, and distilled through their own life experiences • The talents that people have can surprise us
WHAT ARE STRENGTHS? • Cultural and personal stories and lore are often profound sources of strength, guidance, stability, comfort, or transformation • Survivors Pride -People who have overcome obstacles and rebounded from misfortune and hardship • The community is a physical, interpersonal, and institutional terrain full of resources to be tapped into
The list of possible strengths one could possess is quite exhaustive • Add to this list words you feel denote “strength”
Class Activity Read about Phil on the next slide List the strengths of Phil and his family systems, speculating as appropriate.
Phil is 16 years old, and the oldest of 4 children. He attends school regularly but doesn't do much homework, and does assignments at the last minute. His grades are B's and C's. Phil is very quiet but has half a dozen friends. He plays in a garage band with a few guys he knows from school. Phil rarely smiles. He has a weekend job, but often does not return home after getting off work. Usually, he goes straight over to the home of a friend who is two years older. There, he is allowed to drink as much beer and hard liquor as he wants. He gets very drunk each time and usually spends the night sleeping on the floor, or on the couch if it is available. He's driven home drunk once. Phil sometimes cries when he is drunk, saying he hates how his life is and wishes he were dead. He complains that his parents scream and fight too much, and it's easier to stay out of the house and avoid the chaos. Phil hopes to be an architect someday and takes drafting in school.
Mezzo System Agency and Small Groups
Mezzo System Data Collection • Purpose of the group • Function of the group • Group operations • Group relationships • Value diversity in group functioning
Mezzo System Data • Support members in seeking to understand the purpose of the group • Seek to understand the needs and potential contributions of members and their commitment to the group. • Conduct on-going assessment of group dynamics.
Identifying Group Needs • Common needs addressed by social work groups include: • Coping with major life transitions • Acquisition of information or skills • Improving social relationships • Coping with illness • Coping with feelings of loss or loneliness; amongst other reasons
Macro Level Community, organizational and societal level. The goal of macro practice is to improve or modify some aspect of society.
Macro System Data Collection • Locality of the social problem • Social goals • Change strategies • Medium of change • Change boundaries • Social work role
Gathering Data Worksheet • Charts can be useful tools for recording attempts to gather data at the micro, mezzo and macro system levels
Fact vs. Assumptions “A blind beggar had a brother who died. What relation was the blind beggar to the brother who died?”
The Answer • The most likely answer: brother. • But that’s not the answer. • The blind beggar was the sister of her brother who died. • This puzzle, like many others, works because the listener or reader invariably makes a false assumption; that a blind beggar must be a man.
Facts answer the question: Is this true? Assumptions may or may not be true because they are not based on facts Facts and Assumption
Caution: Making assumptions • Whenever someone speaks or behaves, we commonly make assumptions about his/her meanings. • It’s easy to misinterpret any ambiguous statements to fit our own pre-conditioned views. • It is easy to jump to entirely wrong conclusions because our assumptions were erroneous. • Before making a serious judgment about a client, check out the assumptions your assessment is based on. • We’ll sometimes find that the inherent ambiguities in the case have misled us.
Data Collection Resources Gain a complete picture benefits by making use of a variety of data collection resources
Data Collection Sources • The client system • Detailed information about the client, including situation, history, environment • Other agencies and professionals • Evaluations • Public records • Information filed or recorded by public agencies • Written and verbal communications with outside systems • Clinical Assessment Instruments • Self-reports
Public Records • List some examples of public records • What public records commonly accessed in social work practice? • List the kinds of records that may not be automatically accessible to you as a social worker
Banks Births Charitable Organizations Court Records Criminal Records Deaths Divorces Legislation Licenses Marriages Missing Persons Property Recorded Documents Sex Offenders Unclaimed Property Uniform Commercial Code Voters Workers Comp Types of Public Records
Assessment Measures and Self-Reports • There are hundreds of psychosocial and self-report type measures available, many of which assess highly related but slightly different factors. • It is difficult for busy social workers to decide which of these are best to use, especially given time and fiscal constraints in most social work practice settings. • Here are a few resources to help you make a decision.
Website Resources • APA Tests and Measurements • http://www.apa.org/science/faq-findtests.html#testreferences • Test Database (ERICAE) • http://ericae.net/eac/ • University of Michigan • http://www.lib.umich.edu/taubman/eres/data/about/abouttandm.html • ETS test collection • http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=ed462d3631df4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=85af197a484f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD • Yale Directories of Tests • http://www.med.yale.edu/library/reference/publications/tests.html
Informed Consent • Clients need enough information about the helping process to be able to make informed choices • The informed consent process begins with the intake interview and continues for the duration of the helping relationship • The aim is to involve clients in a collaborative partnership
Client is told what information will be released Client understands what information will be disclosed Client is able to see and read information that will be disclosed Client is told who information will be disclosed to Client is told why information is being disclosed Client can amend information Client knows if the information will be released to third party Client understands potentially consequences of disclosure Client understands consent is time-limited and revocable Consent is written on a Release of Information Form 10 Conditions of Consent
Informed Consent • Official written permission of the client to obtain or release information that explains why the information is needed and how it is to be used. • Informed consent must be documented. • Informed consent is also required for all release of information. • A variety of informed consent forms exist.
