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Article Excerpt
Currently, NASW is in the midst of an education campaign, with the primary goal of increasing the public's awareness of social work roles and the social work profession (NASW, 2005). This campaign is in direct response to concerns that the image of social work continues to be haunted by the specter of the friendly visitor or the person who takes away children. NASW has launched phase one of the campaign and has conducted some research surrounding public perception of the social work profession and the roles filled by social workers. The results of the effort conducted by NASW in cooperation with Crosby Marketing Communications demonstrate that the public seems to hold social workers in higher esteem than was originally thought at the outset of the study, although public understanding of the diversity of roles and services is not strong (NASW). Inspired by the efforts of NASW to assess and improve public knowledge of social work, this study focused on the perceptions of college students regarding the social work profession. As the demand for social workers grows larger, particularly with the aging population (National Institute on Aging, 1987; Pasztor, SaintGerman, & DeCrescenzo, 2002), schools of social work continue to struggle with recruitment. In an effort to increase the number of students choosing social work as a major, it is essential to begin to understand how students making career choices view the profession of social work. College students' perceptions of social work influence their career choices. Exposure to accurate information about social work broadens knowledge about the field, even if other career choices are made.
In reviewing the literature, NASW's recent efforts, as mentioned earlier, and a study conducted by LeCroy and Stinson (2004) stand out in addressing the public's perception of social work. Studies concerning the perception of social work as a profession are scarce; however, the literature contains two other significant studies related to public perceptions of social work. A study conducted by Condie and colleagues (1978) examined public perception of social work and pointed out earlier studies conducted in the 1950s, which concluded that the public was very unclear about what social workers did at that point in time. Furthermore, the study by Condie and colleagues concluded that there was more awareness of social work roles in the 1970s than there was in the 1950s, citing that more respondents recognized that social workers performed a variety of roles. Despite the increased awareness of the variety of social work roles, Condie and colleagues concluded that the public was not able to identify social work roles accurately. For example, the stereotyped image of the "child protector" was dominant, as were other inaccurate roles such as legal adviser. Condie and colleagues found that 94 percent of respondents indicated reluctance to seek help from a social worker, and if the person knew a social worker, his or her reluctance decreased by only 3 percent. Condie and colleagues attributed this finding to a lack of prestige for social work compared with other helping professions. The Condie et al. study concluded that respondents did not recognize professionals in certain situations as social workers, particularly when the settings were atypical (other than a public agency). Condie and colleagues asserted that steps must be taken to assist the public in recognizing social workers when they have contact with them.
LeCroy and Stinson (2004) described finding only one other study that addressed public perceptions and knowledge about social workers and social work roles. Kaufman and Raymond (cited in LeCroy & Stinson) surveyed 452 adults in Alabama, targeting knowledge about social work education, credentialing, types of settings, types of clients, presenting problems, and public attitudes. This study reported that, overall, attitudes toward social workers were negative. Noting that the study was limited by cultural influences and poor visibility of social workers in Alabama, LeCroy and Stinson pointed out that Kaufman and Raymond were surprised by the following: Higher levels of knowledge about social work and social work settings predicted more positive attitudes, and involvement in social work services in the past predicted greater knowledge about social work but not more positive attitudes.
LeCroy and Stinson (2004) cited studies that have compared different disciplines in the helping professions. An Australian study conducted in 1986 found that the Australian public generally perceived social work as more valuable than psychology, psychiatry, and counseling (Sharpley, 1986). In the United States, a study by Fall and colleagues (2000) found that social workers, when compared with master's-level counselors, clinical psychologists, and doctoral-level counselors, ranked consistently at the bottom regarding respondents' confidence in treating mental health issues, despite the fact that 33 percent of the respondents had seen or had a family member who had seen a social worker (more than any other discipline represented in the sample). Given that social workers provide more mental health services than any other discipline in the helping professions, this finding does not inspire a positive public view of clinical social workers, particularly in light of the fact that so many of the respondents had some contact with a social worker.
LeCroy and Stinson's (2004) study suggested that social workers are, overall, viewed positively. In fact, the results indicated that the majority of respondents perceived that only nurses were viewed as more valuable in the community of helping professionals. Most of the respondents agreed that social workers made a difference in the community. Moreover, nearly 75 percent of respondents indicated that more social workers were needed. LeCroy and Stinson reported that compared with some earlier studies, there is more public awareness of social work roles. LeCroy and Stinson's study points out that some of the data indicate that the public does not reflect the high regard for the profession held by social workers themselves. Furthermore, the public does not seem to recognize the full range of current social work roles. Several respondents in the LeCroy and Stinson study did not recognize that social workers provide psychotherapy, and they saw psychologists as more helpful than social workers in relation to most problem types.
Comley (1985) asserted that one of the major reasons the public does not have a more positive perception of social work is the lack of effort by social workers to educate the public about the profession and professional roles and activities. Certainly, social workers must advocate for and educate others about the profession that they practice. College and university settings...
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