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    Theme 1 Role, Functio, Purpose of Theory

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    Jenna Moen
    This document discusses the role and purpose of theory and theoretical frameworks in social service practice. It explains that theories guide practitioners in how to intervene and are informed by empirical research. Theories shape best practices and are collectively formulated ideas within the professional community. The document defines theories as organized explanations that describe and explain our knowledge to inform practice. Theories can take the form of perspectives, frameworks, models, or explanatory theories. They are developed and evolve through research, publication, and response from the academic and professional community.

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    Theme 1 Role, Functio, Purpose of Theory

    Uploaded by

    Jenna Moen
    10 views12 pages
    This document discusses the role and purpose of theory and theoretical frameworks in social service practice. It explains that theories guide practitioners in how to intervene and are informed by empirical research. Theories shape best practices and are collectively formulated ideas within the professional community. The document defines theories as organized explanations that describe and explain our knowledge to inform practice. Theories can take the form of perspectives, frameworks, models, or explanatory theories. They are developed and evolve through research, publication, and response from the academic and professional community.

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    This document discusses the role and purpose of theory and theoretical frameworks in social service practice. It explains that theories guide practitioners in how to intervene and are informed by empirical research. Theories shape best practices and are collectively formulated ideas within the professional community. The document defines theories as organized explanations that describe and explain our knowledge to inform practice. Theories can take the form of perspectives, frameworks, models, or explanatory theories. They are developed and evolve through research, publication, and response from the academic and professional community.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    10 views12 pages

    Theme 1 Role, Functio, Purpose of Theory

    Uploaded by

    Jenna Moen
    This document discusses the role and purpose of theory and theoretical frameworks in social service practice. It explains that theories guide practitioners in how to intervene and are informed by empirical research. Theories shape best practices and are collectively formulated ideas within the professional community. The document defines theories as organized explanations that describe and explain our knowledge to inform practice. Theories can take the form of perspectives, frameworks, models, or explanatory theories. They are developed and evolve through research, publication, and response from the academic and professional community.

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    SWK1013S COMMUNITY

    CONNECTIONS: 2020

    The Role, Function & Purpose of


    Theory &Theoretical Frameworks
    Role of Theory and Theoretical
    Frameworks
    ◼ How do social service professionals
    know what to do when they do practice?
    ◼ Social service practice theory – guides
    practitioners in what to do when they are
    called upon
    ◼ It informs how social service
    professionals understand/make sense
    of/assess the context in which they need
    to intervene
    Role of Theory and Theoretical
    Frameworks Contd
    ◼ It informs and guides social service
    practitioners on how best to intervene –
    theories are tested through empirical
    research
    ◼ It shapes and guides social service best
    practice along collectively formulated tested
    ideas shared amongst the professional
    community based on shared theorising and
    meaning making applied to the contexts
    where social service happens
    Defining theories for social
    service practice
    ◼ Theories are the ideas, knowledge and
    understanding that social service practitioners need
    that try to explain why and how we should make our
    practice decisions
    ◼ Theories are the generalised sets of ideas that
    describe & explain our knowledge of the world in an
    organised way
    ◼ A theory is an organised statement of ideas about the
    world which attempts to help provide explanations &
    understanding which can inform practice
    Defining theories for social service
    practice Contd
    ◼ Theory helps us understand and contest
    ideas, and the world around us, offers a
    framework for practice and helps us to
    be accountable, self-disciplined
    professionals.
    The Development & Evolution of Theory &
    Professional Knowledge Base
    ◼ Research & Writing
    ◼ Submission for Publication – Peer
    Review
    ◼ Publication
    ◼ Response from academic and
    professional community
    ◼ Cycles & Evolves
    PracticeTheory Covers 4 possibilities
    (Payne:2014)
    ◼ A Perspective
    ◼ A Framework
    ◼ A Model
    ◼ An Explanatory Theory
    ◼ These four types of practice theory
    often complement each other
    A Perspective

    ◼ Expresses values or views of the world


    ◼ Allows participants to order their minds
    sufficiently to be able to manage themselves
    while participating
    ◼ Helps you think about what is happening in
    an organised way
    ◼ Applying different perspectives help you see
    situations from different points of view
    ◼ E.g. Feminist Theory, Black Consciousness
    Theory, Queer Theory, Systems Theory
    A Framework
    ◼ More concrete and less value-based than
    perspectives
    ◼ Although there are usually some implied values that
    can be teased out
    ◼ They help setting out the range of situations that we
    typically have to deal with
    ◼ Thus identifying the range of methods available to us
    to select from and which choices to make
    ◼ E.g. Developmental Theory, Family Life Cycle Theory
    A Model

    ◼ Describes what happens during practice


    in a general way – in a wide range of
    situations – in a structured form
    ◼ They extract certain principles &
    patterns of activity
    ◼ Which give practice consistency
    ◼ E.g. Task centred Model, Crisis
    Intervention Model, Community Action
    Explanatory Theory

    ◼ Accounts for why an action results in or


    causes particular consequences
    ◼ And identifies the circumstances in
    which it does so
    ◼ E.g. Cognitive-Behavioural theory;
    Psychoanalytic theory; Resiliency
    Theory, BioPsychoSocial Theory
    References
    ◼ Payne, M. 2014. Modern Social Work
    Theory. 4th Edition. Palgrave
    Macmillan:England
    ◼ Turner, F.J. 2011. Social Work
    Treatment: Interlocking Theoretical
    Approaches. Oxford University Press:
    Cape Town

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