University of Memphis Critical Thinking Sociology Discussion

Learning Goal: I’m working on a sociology discussion question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Assessment: Generalist social workers select intervention strategies

based on the assessment of client system needs and the preferences of

the clients and constituencies. What practice knowledge and skills are

needed to carry out these assessment activities?

2. Assessment: Social work roles define the direction for professional

activities, and the corollary intervention strategies activate practice

roles. As related to assessment activities, what common elements or

themes are evident in the various roles and strategies associated with

the function of consultancy for problem solving?

3. Diversity and Difference in Practice: Information is power! Draw on

MacIver’s description of power as knowledge- the know-how, know-

what, know-when, and know-where–to explain the purpose of

engaging clients as experts of their own experience.

4. Research-Informed Practice: There is an increasing emphasis on

developing best practices and employing evidence-based

interventions. How can social workers fully achieve the professional

expectation to contribute to the knowledge base of practice through

their research and scholarship role?

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Chapter Critical Thinking Questions

1. Policy Practice: As policy practitioners, social workers are involved

in macrolevel changes to expand citizens’ access to societal resources

and to work for social, economic, and environmental justice. How do

social workers include the activities of policy analysis and policy

advocacy in their practice repertoire?

2. Human Rights and Justice: As social values, political ideologies drive

the intent of welfare policies and social programs. How do the

ideologies of liberalism, conservatism, and radicalism differ in their

definition of social, economic, and environmental justice?

implementing rule-bound procedures rather than reforming the

system. How can social workers use supervision to confront ethical

dilemmas that arise from social workers’ competing obligations to

serve the best interests of clients and their commitment to the

employing agency?

4. Intervention: Service delivery needs and policy issues vary for

different client populations-_-for example, among persons with

disabilities; older adults; persons who are poor, unemployed, or

homeless; and families and children. How do social workers

collaborate with their clients to advocate policy reform in the various

fields of social work practice?

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