U. S. Social work dissertations with a group work focus 1970-2012: interviews with authors

ABSTRACT

This study explored the historical landscape of U.S. social work doctoral dissertations focusing on group work. It investigated whether generating these dissertations factors into ongoing connections with this modality. The purpose of the study was two pronged: (1) to identify group work focused social work dissertations produced between 1970 and 2012 and (2) to interview dissertation authors to ascertain their professional connections with group work, their contemporary perceptions of group work education, and their suggestions for advocacy for the group work method. Sixty-three group work dissertations were identified and 24 dissertation authors were interviewed. The study found a strong relationship between completing a group work focused dissertation and ongoing professional involvement with the group work modality. The findings provide some meaningful support for focusing on doctoral social work programs as vehicles for increasing the number of social work professionals committed to the group work modality.

KEYWORDS:

• doctoral social work education
• social work dissertations
• social group work
• social group work education and practice
• social work faculty
• International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.