Module 5 Flashcards
Theories, models and perspectives for practice
What is A Paradigm?
is a pattern or template that is a general view of the nature of physical or natural phenomena. It’s like an umbrella as it encompasses groups of theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about. For example, a medical paradigm encompasses theories of biology, of scientific research, diagnosis and treatment. You might have heard the term ‘paradigm shift’. This refers to a major change in thinking. For example, we used to believe that the world was flat, but now we know it to be round. This is a good example of how paradigms can change.
What is An Ideology
is a system of beliefs about the nature of the world and human beings. For example, the belief that humanity is of intrinsic value and people are born ‘good’ is an ideology. Ideology is made up of a linked set of ideas and beliefs that uphold and justify arrangements of power, authority, wealth and status.
What is a theory?
is a group of related hypotheses, concepts and constructs, based on facts and observation that attempt to explain a particular phenomenon. Theories go beyond descriptions to offer explanations about why things happen in a certain way. Theory can be deductive or inductive. A deductive approach is sometimes called a ‘top down’ approach as it starts with a hypothesis about a topic and then seeks to prove or disprove this hypothesis. For example, since all humans are mortal, and I am a human, then I am mortal.
An inductive approach works the other way around, with a researcher collects information and then looks for patterns in the information that might eventually lead to general conclusions or theories about what happened.
theory can help us in the following way:
Observation - it tells us what we see and what to look out for
Description - it provides a conceptual vocabulary and framework with which observations can be arranged and organised
Explanation - it suggests how different observations might be linked and connected. It offers possible causal relationships between one event and another
Prediction - it indicates what might happen next
Intervention - it suggests what might be done to bring about change
What is A hypothesis?
attempts to define, explain and predict events to increase our understanding. A hypothesis is tested through evidence to confirm or refute it.
What is A framework?
is a fundamental structure made up of elements, concepts, values, assumptions and practices that constitute a way of viewing and understanding a phenomenon, such as a practice framework (which we will explore in depth in the final topic for this course).
Brofenbrenner’s Ecological Model (1994)
provides a useful way of working with clients to identify the various systems within their lives. Once you have identified these key components within each system (family, community, religion etc), you can explore the relationship between these systems, identifying areas of conflict and areas of support.
Some of the key movements that have existed historically are:
- Positivism and psychodynamic influences (1930’s) to
- Behaviourist and humanist theories (1960’s) to
- Cognitive and task centred approaches (1970’s) to
- Empowerment, critical theories, feminist and anti-oppressive approaches (1980’s) to
- Post modernism, constructivist and narrative theories (1990’s) and strengths-based perspectives
Rosen (1994) identifies three types of knowledge that practitioners use in practice:
- Descriptive knowledge - guides practitioners in classifying phenomena into meaningful categories
- Explanatory knowledge - gives insights into and understanding of phenomena, including the dynamics of how they relate, the factors that influence them and the consequences of these interactions
- Control knowledge - includes knowledge about interventions, showing how to change a phenomena or maintain it
Sources of social work knowledge Mttani and Holtschneider (2016)
- Personal experience
- Empirical research
- Theoretical knowledge
- Procedural knowledge: knowledge gained from legislative, organisational, policy etc
- Observation
- Reflection
- Practitioner wisdom
- Tacit knowledge; Knowledge that one is not necessarily aware of can include intuition
Epistemology
The branch of philosophy devoted to the study of knowledge
A theoretical lens
- Observation - it tells us what we see and what to look
out for - Description - it provides a conceptual vocabulary and
framework with which observations can be arranged and
organised - Explanation - it suggests how different observations
might be linked and connected. It offers possible causal
relationships between one event and another - Prediction - it indicates what might happen next
- Intervention - it suggests what might be done to bring
about change
Defining theory
Theory: Ways of making sense of the world by
going beyond description to offer explanation
- Child protection, you will need knowledge
about human development.
- Mental health, you will need specific
knowledge about psychiatric conditions.
- Drug and alcohol field, you will need to know
about addictions
What are models?
is a descriptive way of showing the
relationship between a number of elements
What is a paradigm?
set of theoretical approaches that
encompass a number of related theories
