Attitudes Toward Impending Social Work Educational Reforms and the Intention to Make Changes Among British Social Work Educators

• Other Authors: Hayton, Christopher J. (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Social service
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-8801

Following the 2007 death of Baby Peter, the British Government commissioned an inquiry and subsequent report that recommended comprehensive reforms to social work practice and education. Successful educational reform has been linked to positive attitudes on the part of those individuals tasked with its implementation, attitudes influenced by a variety of personal and organizational cultural factors. This study surveyed social work educators in England ahead of implementation of the reforms, to assess the relationship between their attitudes and intentions towards those reforms, modeled on Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior. As predicted, attitude positively predicted intent. Data also showed that female social work educators had more positive attitudes and intentions towards the reforms than did their male counterparts. There was no evidence to suggest that chronological age, number of years' experience teaching in higher education, or the academic associations of the higher educational institution at which the educators worked influenced attitude or intent. The generally positive attitudes and intentions expressed by many educators may suggest relatively successful reform implementation when it occurs. === A Dissertation submitted to the College of Social Work in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Spring Semester, 2014. === February 14, 2014. === Education, England, Reform, Social Work === Includes bibliographical references. === Dina Wilke, Professor Directing Dissertation; Sherry Southerland, University Representative; Nicholas F. Mazza, Committee Member.