Ready for Qualified Practice? A Comparative Study of Capability for Critical Reflection and Analysis of MA Social Work and MA Step Up to Social Work Students at the End of Second Placement

Abstract

Social Work education is faced with substantial changes. New programmes like Step Up to Social Work have emerged and were evaluated in relation to intake, programme development and subjective student experiences. The lack of evidence on outcomes of such programmes was addressed in this study. In a comparative study of a MA in Social Work and a MA in Step Up to Social Work, the authors analysed students' capability to critically reflect on and analyse social work practice scenarios at the end of their final placement at one university. The PCF domain ‘Critical Reflection and Analysis’ was operationalised and the study design employed qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Demographic data, academic marks achieved during social work education and written reflections on case vignettes from the two programmes were analysed statistically. The findings suggest that, while there are some differences in outcomes between the programmes, they are not statistically significant. However, reflections on children and family vignettes were significantly better (U = 185, p = 0.008). Thematic analysis revealed considerable variation in the levels of curiosity and critical thinking and those respondents who framed their answers with reference to policy guidance, theory and research often extended their critical thinking.

Keywords::

• social work
• education
• professional training
• research
• comparative studies
• reflection
• capability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

^*This work was supported by the South East London Step Up to Social Work Partnership. This research was conducted at Goldsmiths, University of London.

^[1] The subgroups analysed were MA students on the adults' pathway who reflected on an adult Vignette (MAAA) and on a children and families' vignette (MAAC), MA students on the children and families' pathway who reflected on an adults' vignette (MACA) and on a children and families' vignette (MACC), SU students (children and families' pathway) who reflected on an adults' vignette (SUCA) and on a children and families' vignette (SUCC).