Development and Validation of the Social Work Career Influence Questionnaire

Abstract

Objective: This research tested the Social Work Career Influence Questionnaire (SWCIQ) as a measurement tool for assessing career influence variables among master's of social work (MSW) students. Method: A nonprobability sample of 589 students from six MSW programs participated in the cross-sectional survey that included the SWCIQ. Four areas of career influence were identified using factor analytic techniques and item analysis: Personal and Family Experiences, Desire To Be a Therapist, Prestige of the Profession, and the Social Change Mission of the Profession. The four subscales each contain eight items with acceptable alpha levels (.76 to .81). Results: Aspirations for private practice were positively associated with higher scores on the Personal and Family Experiences, Desire To Be a Therapist and Prestige subscales. High scores on the Social Change dimension resulted regardless of the students' career aspirations. Conclusions: Career choice is a multidimensional construct matching personal and social change values regardless of MSW students' projected practice setting.

Why become a professional? Experiences of care‐giving and the decision to enter social work or nursing education

“…The importance for social work education is to capitalize on expressed idealism and altruism in training. It is also important to note that idealism and altruism may interact with prior experiences of family trauma or with experience of care‐giving to promote the wish to make a difference; career choice is a multidimensional concept (Biggerstaff 2000).…”

Why Social Work, and What does the Future Hold?: The Narratives of Recently Graduated Hispanic and African-American Male BSW and MSW Students

“…First, social work career choice is typically informed by a confluence of factors (Biggerstaff, 2000;Rompf & Royse, 1994). Second, the personal influence of a social worker and preexisting altruistic values are two primary factors in social work career choice (Csikai & Rozensky, 1997;Abell & McDonald, 1990;Butler, 1990;Limb & Organista, 2003, 2006Bowie et al, 2005;Rompf & Royse, 1994).…”

“…Over the past 25 years, numerous studies have focused on the factors influencing social work career choice (Rubin & Johnson, 1984, 1986Land, 1987;Butler, 1990;Limb & Organista, 2003, 2006Enoch, 1988;Black, Jeffries, & Hartley, 1993;Rompf & Royse, 1994;Russell, Gill, Coyne, & Woody, 1993;Marsh, 1988;Bowie et al, 2005;Rabe, Febb, & Berg-Weger, 1998;Whitely & Wolk, 1999;Bowie & Hancock, 2000;Biggerstaff, 2000). Findings from these studies indicate that social work career choice is typically influenced by a confluence of factors (Biggerstaff, 2000).…”

“…Findings from these studies indicate that social work career choice is typically influenced by a confluence of factors (Biggerstaff, 2000). Foremost among these factors are preexisting altruistic values (Butler, 1990;Limb & Organista, 2003, 2006, an experience or experiences with one or more forms of psychosocial trauma in formative years (Black et al, 1993;Rompf & Royse, 1994;Russell et al, 1993;Marsh, 1988;Chudnof, 1988), and personal interaction with social workers (Rompf & Royse, 1994;Bowie et al, 2005).…”

Keeping safe: teaching undergraduate social work students about interpersonal violence

“…Sellers and K E E P I N G S A F E Hunter (2005) found 69% of social work students had experienced problems in the family of origin related to; substance use (44%), mental health disorders (43%), and violence (35%). Research shows that victimization and problems in earlier life may have a positive influence over a student's choice of a career in social work (Biggerstaff 2000;Sellers and Hunter 2005). However, a history of trauma has also been shown to increase the likelihood of depression (Horton et al, 2009), make the academic transition more difficult (Banyard and Cantor 2004), and contribute to higher drop-out rates (Duncan 2000).…”