• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.465-497
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• 2013

This paper criticizes the ontological and epistemological dichotomy in social sciences including social welfare and probes into Critical Realism as an alternative paradigm. Many theories for social welfare have adhered to dichotomous ontological standpoint, 'agency' vs. 'social structure', and Eco-system approach have occupied dominant position to integrate this dichotomy. These theoretical standpoint have had great influence on social work practice. On the other hand, dichotomous epistemological standpoint which is constituted of different views of phenomena, 'positivism' and 'constructionism', have had great influence on social work research and practice. These dichotomous ontological and epistemological approach have a limit to reveal qualitative nature of the relationship between agency and social structure, to ponder the deeper reality, the mechanism of stratified reality, and the reality being independent of agency. Replacing these approaches, Critical Realism unfold the theoretical potential as an alternative paradigm for social welfare through the discussion on stratified realty(the empirical, the actual, and the real), intransitive/transitive dimension, double hermeneutics in these dimensions, and the conditions for conceptualization, duality of structure and practice, transformation model of agency and structure.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.40
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• pp.131-156
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• 2000

Many different intervention methods have been developed to resolve the problem of clients, but research studies evaluating the effectiveness of such practices can be overwhelming to social workers because of the conflicting results of them. In this study, meta-analysis was used to make sense of this research, offering the general effect size of social work practice. Meta-analysis can answer the question, "how effective is the intervention?" beyond the question, "is the intervention effective?". It can integrate the fragmentated results of research studies and provide the guidelines for best practice. Combining the results of the 16 research studies, this study computed the general effect size of social work interventions. The mean d index was. 6636 (95 percent confidence interval of .5355, .8018). Conversion to Cohen's $U_3$ statistics allows for the inference that three-fourths (74.7%) of the clients who participated in an intervention group did better than the average clients of non-intervention group. This means that social work interventions are practically helpful to seven of every 10 clients who experience them. In conclusion, this study recommended the usefulness of meta-analysis, which can provide the intervention strategies based on empirical research and guide the best approaches.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.301-324
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• 2015

The main focus of the study is to find out the origin of the case management in social work and relevant background and context around it, by using the method of genealogy, an historical framework or perspective developed by Foucault, French social philosopher. The reasons of the study are two fold : First, why the case management can be established as a major strategy of social work field in such a very short time. Second, since the case management has been accepted, why it has been reported ceaselessly that a lot of case managers have experienced the severe stress and sufferings in carrying out the case management practice. The results of the study shows that the case management is partly a very social device needed in the late 20th century to manage the social work resources and manpower efficiently, which might be against the genuine social work's mission and idealism. In a conclusion, to retrieve the genuine identities of social work profession, not only the practice case management should be cautious to tendency of management and control inherited in it but also be balanced by the traditional ideals of human emancipation and liberation.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.51
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• pp.157-182
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• 2002

This study attempts to identify the changes in social reactions to disabilities in general, and to research the contextual implication of these changes in social work practice in Korea. In the early years after the Industrial Revolution, disability was conceived as social unfitness and it was assumed that the cause and responsibility could be attributed to people with disabilities. But, in the midst and late 20th century, social responsibility for people with disabilities was argued and generally accepted. As the results of these changes, conceptual models explaining disabilities have changed gradually; there has been a transition, so called, from individual model to social model. In a similar vein, WHO has refined the definition and classification of disability. Related to these changes, social welfare service paradigm for people with disabilities has shifted. This paradigm shift can be explained with the perspective of strength approach, empowerment approach, case management and independent living model. In Korea, 1998 Act on welfare for people with disabilities meant that social service for the disabled were categorized with, namely, residential service, community rehabilitation service and vocational rehabilitation service. Recently, the extent of these services has been rapidly broadened. In these situation, this study researched to identify the implications on social work practice in the context of changes in social response, conceptual model, definition and also service paradigm. Such as the followings are enumerated for the implications: disabled person's participation in assessment process, development of assessment tools focusing on social and environmental perspectives, reinforcement of information service helping self-determination, supporting on formal and informal helping network, expanding self-help programs and, finally, a shift from displacement model to support model.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.181-201
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• 2004

It has been said that there were many problems in a social welfare institution. Community welfare in Japan is being presented as an alternative solving these problems and underlying theories are deinstitutionalization, normalization, and community care. Recently, in Korea, these alternatives are connected with the logic that social welfare institutions are useless. But if we think the inborn duty of the social welfare institution, we can know the logic problem of these theories. Also, 'the socialization theory of social welfare institutions' has been presented as a solving method. But studies in Korea are having a partiality only to opening to community and are researched separately from community welfare. Under these problem perceptions, this study examined the construction contents of the community welfare in Japan, the relation of community welfare and social welfare institutions, the relation of the community welfare and the socialization theory of social welfare institutions, and the concept and content of the socialization theory of social welfare institutions. This study investigated the discussions in Japan, for studies in Korea are generally based on those of Japan and the domestic community welfare policy has been influenced immensely by Japan. The result of this study is as follows. Firstly, not the social welfare institution in a category of community welfare is excluded, but is prescribed as an essential post, a premise condition, and a composition post of the community welfare. Secondly, the socialization theory of social welfare institutions is also discussed in a category of the community welfare and in the side of community welfare development. Thirdly, the socialization theory of social welfare institutions is presented in the side of not only opening to community, but also a basic practice theory of the social welfare institution reformation including that.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.46
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• pp.319-348
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• 2001

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the buffering effect of social welfare services on the relationship between the level of older persons' impairment and burden experienced by the family caregivers. It also assessed the level of caregiving burden as well as the effect of both older person's impairment and the characteristics of the caregivers on burden. The survey data collected from 150 community residing family caregivers was used for analyses. Findings are as follows. First, the caregivers are more burdened in the deterioration of mental health, scarce time for oneself, and the suffering of social life than in other areas of burden. Second, the more severe the physical and the mental impairment of the elder, the more burden the caregivers experience. The caregivers' characteristics such as the worse mental health, the lower level of attachment to the elder, the longer caregiving hours are also related to the higher level of caregiving burden. Third, the caregivers' use of adult day care and respite care services buffer the relationship between the level of impairment of older persons and the caregiving burden. However, social work counselling, visiting nurse, homemaker services do not have such buffering effects. Among informal support, instrumental support buffers the relationship between the elder's physical impairment and burden, while emotional support buffers the relationship between the elder's mental impairment and burden. According to the results, implication for social welfare services and practice methods for the family caregivers was discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.251-271
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were to investigate the research utilization in social work practice and to examine the factors associated with research utilization. The subjects of this study were social workers participating in social work practice in Korea. The sampling methods used in this study was a multistage sampling strategy. Data were collected by sending mails and follow-up mails to the social workers. Data from 569 of social workers were finally analyzed by ordered regression analysis. The results showed that the level of research utilization by social workers in Korea was very low, but their attitude toward research was positive. The variables affecting research utilization were related to the research ability of social workers, but the variables of research related environment except type of organization were not significant. The variables for research ability of social workers are experiences of utilizing journal articles, experiences of re-education for research methodology, gender, attitude about research usefulness. The variables for research related environment are characteristics of agency setting. The implications of social work research are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.299-321
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze the development of social welfare network. The qualitative case study method was utilized from a communities of practice perspective. Depth interviews were conducted among 10 social workers of community welfare agencies who have practiced network activities. Data were analyzed with constant-comparative methods(Strauss and Corbin(1990)). The result are the followings; In incubation stage, the core theme was "collaboration for surmount overcoming difficulties from the bottom". In intergration stage, "acquirement of normative value basement" was emerged. "Reinforcement of solidarity" and "reconfirmation of identity" were drawn as core themes in muturation stage. There were core themes "construction of original image" and "shifting from private connection to public connection" in maintenance stage. Lastly stage a care theme of "qualitative transition" was emerged in transformation.

• 한국사회복지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.651-673
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• 2005

Political participation consciousness of social worker is changed and politics participation activity is putting forth with a bud. Currently, the systematic and scientific approach in study of social worker's the political participation is short. This study analyzes the present situation of political participation action and will present political participation action contents and direction in the future. This study may give practical meaning to the social welfare practice and educational scope about what we must do to become a political influence the group. The object of this study is 1229 people in choosing social welfare politics participation investigation committee data. A participation of Korean social worker appeared that a meeting or a demonstration is high when comparing the United States. Also, electioneers, and, government bureaucrat contact, financial contributions is a half experience. The strong variable in explaining social worker's the political participation was a politics efficacy, politics interest. Political efficacy and politics interest, a joining and a political behavior proposal of an association is a influenced factor. Through this result The Civic Volunteer Model is a theory to able to explain social worker's the political participation. Approach growing the political efficacy and politics interest is very important in activating politics participation. Role of a social welfare association or a group was important in order to induce politics participation and concentrate.

• Korean Journal of Family Social Work
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• no.61
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• pp.93-136
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to find specific practice methods of single parents self-help groups in community welfare centers. A participatory action research was conducted to achieve the purpose. Six social workers and three researchers participated in the study who shared the problem of lack of specific practice methods even though a self-help group was useful for self-reliance and empowerment of low-income single-parents. Various activities such as reading articles, analysis of each self-help group, case studies, and learning facilitation methods were conducted during 10 meetings. At the same time, peer supervision proceeded at each meeting. The progress of each group was shared, the application of practice methods and plans were discussed, and applying discussed methods to group practice and reviewing the process and outcomes of the practice were repeated in the peer supervison. As a result, the following positive changes appeared: First, the goals and vision of each group became clearer. Second, initiative of the members was promoted. Third, intimacy, mutual cooperation, the attatchment to the group were strengthened. A qualitative analysis was also conducted on the content discussed. As a result, 17 practice methods were derived in four themes such as initiative/ empowerment, cohesion, leadership, and destandardization. Practice issues concerning single parents self-help groups in community welfare centers were discussed based on the results.