Unraveling Social Workers' Ambivalence Toward Computer Technology

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the extent to which social work students view the computer as a potentially useful tool for their future careers as practitioners. During a three-year period one hundred sixty one graduate students at a large social work program in the western United States anonymously completed a survey instrument after completing approximately one-half of their degree requirements. Two major areas are covered in the instrument: actual computer use and interest; and interest in learning about computer use for social work practice. Results suggest that the respondents' generally view computer technology as an important tool for social work. Further, the extent to which computers are considered useful is directly related to their view of the extent to which an agency's standard operating procedures are important to social work practice and indirectly related to their view of the dehumanizing effect of computer technology.

Key Words:

• Computer attitudes
• computer anxiety
• computer training
• social work and computers
• social work education and computers