Who Wants to Work with the Poor and Homeless?

Abstract

This study examines factors associated with MSW students’ (N = 5,793) desires to work with the poor and homeless over the course of their education. Independent variable classes include (1) sociodemographic characteristics; (2) ideological beliefs as they relate to politics; (3) past social work-related experiences; (4) motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in social work; and, (5) field work experience and school attended. Findings show that sociodemographic variables are the least stable predictors of students’ interest in working with the poor and homeless, whereas ideological beliefs and personal motivations appear as the most noteworthy influences upon students’ desires to work with this population.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robin Perry

The author expresses appreciation to his doctoral dissertation committee of Leonard Miller, Leo Goodman, and Bart Grossman, University of California at Berkeley, for guidance with respect to this research. In addition, the author thanks the California Social Work Education Center for supplying the data that was analyzed for this paper. The California Social Work Education Center is supported by the California Department of Social Services with federal Title IV-E support.