Self-determination Theory and Social Work Values

Abstract

Self-determination theory (SDT) is an evidence-based approach to programs promoting behavioral change. Social work researchers are increasingly incorporating SDT into program planning and evaluation. Yet the theory itself, developed within the discipline of psychology, has not been fully evaluated for congruence with social work values and perspectives. We compare the core tenets of SDT to values found within the United States National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, and find that there is a significant overlap between SDT and social work values. Areas of congruence include autonomy, relatedness, and the importance of human relationships. There are some concepts within SDT that need special consideration when used by social workers, in particular competence and motivation. These constructs have been used to support narratives of individual responsibility in the face of problems caused by societal structures. Further, the theory's traditional framing of context has not explicitly highlighted social justice. SDT has been shown to be an effective strategy in supporting behavioral change. Social workers must be careful to include structural factors such as poverty and discrimination when applying SDT to planning and evaluating social work programs. With these considerations, we suggest that SDT can be a powerful tool for planning and evaluation of social interventions.

Impact of Long-Term Care Service Quality on User Cooperation/Participation: Mediating Effect of Self-Determination

“…However, the significance of this study is that it empirically verifies the factors that lead to user participation and cooperation. Self-determination theory has mostly been applied in the fields of education [28][29][30], service marketing [18,31,32], and social services [33][34][35], but this study validates the utility of self-determination theory in the field of community-based older adult care. Therefore, service providers should provide appropriate information to increase users' autonomy and show support and encouragement for their choices.…”

“…The self-determination theory has been used to understand the psychological motivations of customers or service users in a variety of fields, including education [28][29][30], service marketing [17,18,31,32], and social services [33][34][35]. In the context of older adults, self-determination theory has been applied in a variety of fields, including research on aging, adaptation, and leisure among community-dwelling older adults [36], research on the effectiveness of nursing home programs [32], and the motivation to use mobile health applications [37].…”

Academic Engagement: A Bibliometric Analysis in Scientific Production

“…Furthermore, they can use this approach to design pedagogical strategies that promote intrinsic motivation and student commitment, empowering then to feel competent and connected, contributing to a higher level of engagement and meaningful learning (Kirzner & Miserandino, 2023).…”