EXPANDING AWARENESS: ISSUES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ETHICS SCALE FOR THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION

Abstract

This article describes the development of an ethics scale that measures adherence to social work ethical choices in specific situations. The purpose of this instrument is to provide data that demonstrate adherence to curriculum standards as set forth by the Council on Social Work Education. The authors present the conceptual framework from which the scale is derived and discuss methodological issues. Results from a pilot study demonstrate good scale reliability and content validity. Results reveal there are significant differences among various cohorts of students and that this ethics scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing development of ethical awareness among students and alumni of social work programs. The authors discuss implications for educational assessment and future research.