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SCK4805 ASSIGNMENT 01 2023
- Institution
- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
THIS ASSIGNMENT CONTAINS ANSWERS FOR SCK4805 ASSIGNMENT 01 2023
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NAME:STUDENT NUMBER:
UNIQUE NUMBER: 898586
ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: 01
DUE DATE: 9 MAY 2023
QUESTION 1
Based on Weyers (2011), select and motivate the most appropriate practice model
for addressing the impediment outlined in the case study. (5)
Social planning- Where services are lacking, social planning focuses on establishing
new ones. The social planning approach improves the quality of existing services or
makes them more accessible to the community. It is founded on the pathologic notion
that any member of the community can be impacted by a social problem. It results in a
more effective adjustment of social welfare resources and needs over time. Any type of
social pathology can be targeted by the new or improved service. Based on community
perspective, the social planning paradigm may be a rather top-down approach. The
community believes that professionals are needed to help them prevent or address
social problems and to generate possibilities that will allow them to meet their needs
(Weyers.2011: 14 & 219).
QUESTION 2
The social worker in the abovementioned case study implemented a quantitative
survey to collect information and conducted interviews regarding the needs and
concerns of the people involved in the oncology clinic. Elaborate on the use of
surveys and interviews as a method to collect information during the needs and
resource assessment of a community work project. (30)
Surveys
A survey is basically a structured way to ask people to share their knowledge, insights
and opinions. It is, arguably, one of the most diverse and versatile instruments that
could be used in needs, concerns and resource assessment as the following will
illustrate:
Size: A survey can be as 'small' and informal as personally asking a few selected
individuals a couple of questions and as large as mailing a professionally compiled
survey questionnaire to hundreds of people in a community or across a country.
Instruments: These can be a few, carefully selected verbal questions; a multi-item,
census type interview schedule or questionnaire; a standardised assessment scale; and
visual participatory assessment tools.
, Subject matter: It includes needs (i.e. the gap between a current situation and what it
ought to be), concerns (i.e. a problem, underutilised potential and unresolved issue),
resources (i.e. anything material or non-material that can be used to bring about
change), the appropriateness and effectiveness of a current services or any
combination of these four.
Method: They can be done in a variety of ways, including during face-to-face and
telephonic interviews, by mail, fax or e-mail, or through a web page.
Swanepoel (1997) mentions surveys pertinently and says that a formal and especially a
quantitative survey is not essential in all projects. Sometimes a survey is necessary if
either the community or the donor wants specific data, like the number of elderly people
in the community. Or: Is the project really worthwhile?; How many people will benefit?
Are the indicated needs really a community priority? Specific information may also be
needed in order to apply for funds. So although formal quantitative research is not
always essential, it can be useful and sometimes necessary.
In a typical survey the researcher selects a sample of respondents from a large
population and administers a standardised questionnaire to them to be completed
personally (self-administered), during interviews or telephonically to determine numbers
(Rubin & Babbie 1999:346–365).
Quantitative methods like surveys can be useful when a community wants to determine
the extent of a problem in its midst, for example how many of its members are HIV
positive. Surveys can also be used to determine the community’s actual priority need
after the preliminary needs identification is completed. Quantitative methods can help to
create a database relating to the problem, especially when the community has to look
for outside funding for the project. Different techniques can be used, like participatory
research previously known as community self-surveys, using questionnaires or
interviews, group interviews. In community self-surveys the community participates in
locating information and collecting and processing data (e.g. content analysis).
Swanepoel (1997:100–104) also mentions interviews with individuals, group interviews,
questionnaires, physical observation and use of existing data. Community self-surveys
are the participatory way of utilising surveys.
Interviews
Interviews are usually defined as a 'conversation with a purpose'. Because interviews
are so widely used in social work, they represent a science and an art which most
practitioners would have already mastered. There are, however, some additional issues
that should be kept in mind when interviews are used in community development. Only
these will be highlighted.
Interviews or conversations with individuals and groups Hanging around, streetwalking,
seeking contact (Henderson & Thomas 1989), and conversations where you sit down,
listen and ask are on the informal end of the continuum, whereas semi and structured
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