Theories and Knowledges of Social Work

SLIDE 1 below – this will assist you analyse a theory, refer to these paradigms when completing this assessment please use at least 2 in text references from the below reference list and you can include your own as well.

• Describe each theory – As outline says (500 words) to describe the 2 theories, this is only a guide if you can sufficiently describe in less words please do so just don’t go over.
• Critically examine their cultural and epistemological assumptions (500 words) – in relation to cultural this may consist of content which analyses if they are western and not suited to everyone. – In relation to epistemological assumptions you may use positivism and interpretivism epistemology.
• Discuss the implications of this for social work practice (500 words) in relation to this question are we addressing the client as the expert in the room, can these systems cause harm to the client as they may assume that we are the experts but in fact the client holds the key to change. You can also talk about how these theories may fail you personally or how they may fail the client or how the theory helps.

 

Other factors may be who they are and or why they are useful to the client or the professional

 

Please choose 1 critical theory and 1 practical/practice theory they need to be differing theory’s 

 

Ensure you use at least 2 references from the reading list below 

MARKING CRIETERIA WILL BE ON HOW WELL I UNDERSTAND THE THERIES SELETED, HOW WELL I ANALYSE THEM IN TERMS OF EPISTEMOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS, AND HOW WELL I CAN RELATE THESE TO SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE.

SLIDE 1 Paradigms of Social Theory

• Paradigms are world views
• Recognisable scientific achievement for a period of time
• In science old paradigms are challenged paving the way for new ones
• Progression in science seen as linear
• Social science works with co-existing and competing paradigms
• Brian Fay’s work: to understand how paradigms result in certain

forms of practice

• 3 paradigms: positivism (universal laws, generalizations, causal laws), interpretative (interpret ideas, meanings, feelings), critical (location people’s experiences in structures of power)

Positivism

• Measure social phenomena in an objective way
• Social reality is measurable
• Objectivity and value neutrality
• Causal laws
• Generalisation
• Universalisation
• Predictability
• Primacy of rationality and not emotions
• ‘Evidence-based practice’, case management, social worker retains control

Interpretivism

• Understanding rather than measuring ‘reality’
• Uncovers meaning rather than impose meanings and pre-existing ideas
• Explores person’s experience but not the context in which they live
• Ignores structural factors such as gender, class, race, ethnicity etc
• Practice based on communication and understanding
• Conservative practice may lead to maintaining status quo and making people adapt, adjust and rehabilitated within an oppressive system

Critical Paradigm

• Critical of the unequal distribution of power
• Understand people’s realities in the context of the larger structural

factors

• Link the personal experience with the structural
• Consciousness-raising and opening up possibilities for action

References

Fay, Brian (2014) “Introduction: Theory and Practice”, Social Theory and Political Practice. London: Routledge

Garrett, P. (2018). Social Work and Social Theory: Making Connections, Second Edition, Bristol: Policy Press.

Gray, M., and Webb, S.A. (2013). Social Work Theories and Methods, London: Sage.

Payne, M. and Reith-Hall, E. (eds) (2017). The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Theory, Routledge.

Thorpe, C. (2017). Social Theory for Social Work: Ideas and applications, London: Taylor and Francis.