• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.61-91
• /
• 2005

This study aimed to explore empirically social work practice skills that are being used most frequently in a variety of social work settings in Korea. Out of 669 questionnaire sent, 361 were returned. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 7 underlying axes from 132 most frequently used practice skills. They were named as: casework skills, group work skills, family work skills, community work skills, volunteer managing skills, program development and evaluation skills, and agency managing skills. Second factor analysis explored underlying sub-factors from each of the seven axes. Researcher identified 42 principal skills that can represent the underlying sub-factors explored in the previous stage. Finally, research checked if the different work settings use different practice skill axes. Study results can be used to connect social work education settings and practice fields in Korea. There has been an argument that Korean social work education has been teaching improper practice skills to the to-be-social workers.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.62 no.4
• /
• pp.5-32
• /
• 2010

Although social work practice skills are one of the important components of social work practice, research on social work practice skills has been very scarce. It seems that the reason might be a lack of standardized instruments used to measure social work practice skills. The purpose of this study is to validate a Korean version of the Practice Skills Inventory(PSI) developed by O'Hare and colleagues. The PSI is the only instrument developed in the field of social work to measure the frequency of social work practice skills that social workers use. A total of 310 social workers working in medical or mental health field were participated in this study. A result of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the Korean version of the PSI is composed of 4 factors like its english version. The Korean version of the PSI was also reliable and valid. Implications for social work research, practice and education are provided.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.64 no.4
• /
• pp.57-87
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to develop the first social work skills inventory in Korea. Based upon the literature review of social work skills, the examination of an existing scale, and the comments from professionals in this field, 57 preliminary items were developed. Preliminary items were evaluated with a total of 370 social workers who were working in various fields of social work in Seoul and surrounding areas. A series of exploratory factor analyses were conducted to find out the optimal structure of the scale. After deleting 30 items with low factor loadings or being cross-loaded, the scale is composed of five factors. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the factor structure of the scale obtained by exploratory factor analysis. The first factor was named preparatory and assessing skills to be mostly used in the beginning phase of th social work process, the second factor was named change facilitating skills to be used to strengthen motivation to change, third factor was named ending and evaluating skills to be used to terminate the professional relationship and evaluate the outcome of the relationship, the fourth factor was named resource linking and utilizing skills to be used to utilize resources in order to solve clients' problems and the fifth factor was named ethical practice skills. Each component of the social work skills inventory is found to be reliable and valid. In sum, the social work skills inventory is an instrument encompassing basic skills necessary for social work process, skills for ethical social work practice, and skills necessary for utilizing environmental resources.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.337-362
• /
• 2009

This study investigated the relation between social worker's reflective thinking levels and the usage of social work practice skills. Dewey definded reflective thinking as active, persistent and careful consideration of any belief. And social work practice skills refer to those purposeful intervention activities, that are intended to alleviate client's distress, enhancing a client's coping abilities. Reflctive thinking levels consists of intensive reflection, reflection, understanding and habit action. The key of social work practice skills can be categorized into three major categories: supportive skills, therapeutic coping skills and case management skills. These categories were designed to apply to a diverse range of client populations. This paper proves that social work's reflective thinking ability and interactions with other workers have an effect on the intervention activities. In conclusion, this research indicates that if social works have a higher reflective thinking levels, they will creat practice siklls and social work practice knowledge.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.45
• /
• pp.341-373
• /
• 2001

This study seeks to identify the reform of vocational education plans so as to bring about a seamless transition from school to work. It puts forward a number of suggestions based upon an analysis of vocational education policies in Korean and U.S. schools, concerning the government's role, partnerships between education and industry, the educational system, curriculum and work-based learning. First, not only government initiatives but also close partnerships between education and industry are essential to help vocational education in school the transition to employment. Education and industry should work closely together to standardize certificate related skills and to have these skills reflected in the curriculum. Also the government should strive to provide guidelines for work-based learning and formulate standards for supervision and evaluation. Second, to facilitate the school to work transition, comprehensive schools should be promoted so that students have access to a greater ranger of vocational education. At the same time, an assessment system that certifies a mastering of the basic skills of those who undergo the education should be introduced, and it should be related to earn these certificates. Third, standardized vocational skills should be included in the curriculum so that students can acquire skills that are useful for industry. All the students in vocational and general high schools should have access both to general education, the foundation for lifelong learning and for employ ability, and to basic occupational skills which empower students in dealing with rapid changes of technology. Also a range of specialized vocational curricula should be offered so that students can opt for more specialized occupations; and they can select careers appropriate to their capability. Fourth, so that all students to have the opportunity to take part in work-based education, which is closely related to employment, various work-based learning programs should be offered to meet the needs of students and their educational conditions. Companies should for their part train students thoroughly in accordance with the standards of work-based education. In addition, supervisors should be stationed both in schools and companies in order to administer the students' work-based learning.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.32
• /
• pp.267-298
• /
• 1997

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.61-78
• /
• 2016

The current study examined the relations among teachers' beliefs, behavioral self-regulation and school readiness of preschoolers. The study sample included 229 preschoolers aged 3 to 5 attending child care centers located in Seoul and Gyeonggi area of Korea. Using Structural Equation Modeling, the paths from teachers' beliefs to children's school readiness via the mediation of their behavioral self-regulation were examined. Children's self-regulation was directly assessed using Head-to-Toe Tasks. The results showed that teachers' stronger beliefs in and responsibility for children's self-regulation and interpersonal skills significantly predicted greater behavioral self-regulation among children, which in turn, significantly influenced greater social skills and work-related skills. The contribution of teachers' beliefs and behavioral regulation to social skills and work-related skills was positive and stronger for boys.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.41-53
• /
• 2022

Objective : The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the vocational rehabilitation evaluation tool for the mentally disabled. Methods : For literature search, the Pubmed database was used, and for the analysis, the development year, evaluation method, number of items, scale, and evaluation items were analyzed. In the analysis method, each evaluation item was divided into four categories: function, internal factor, environment, and mental symptom, and the evaluation elements of each evaluation tool were identified. Results : When searching Pubmed through search terms, 161 documents were retrieved. According to the selection method, Griffiths Work Behavior Scale (GWBS), Occupational Functioning Scale (OFS), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), Work Ability Index (WAI), Work Behavior Inventory (WBI), Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS), and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) were screened. The evaluation items of all evaluation tools included job-related functional evaluation. According to the purpose of each evaluation tool, internal factors, environment, and mental symptoms were measured. Conclusion : Occupational skills are skills in which various functions such as physical, cognitive, social skills, and coping skills act in a complex way. Therefore, it is necessary to include the four factors analyzed in this study: function, internal factors, environment, and psychiatric symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.5-29
• /
• 2012

This study examines the present conditions and antecedent factors affecting helping professions' cultural competence, focusing on such groups as social workers, teachers, nurses, and social work civil servants. The analysis of data shows that teachers' cultural competence is the highest, social workers, social work civil servants, and nurses are descending order. The study also found significant antecedent factors: (1)individual antecedent factors are age, education, and foreign language skill; (2)work-related antecedent factors are multicultural working hours and working duration; (3)organizational antecedent factors are education/training and organizational support. Finally, the study suggests policy directions and practical implications for enhancing cultural competence.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.61 no.1
• /
• pp.155-168
• /
• 2023

This study focused on working women's perceptions of social attractiveness and their appearance management behavior. Social attractiveness is defined as individuals' achieved attractiveness which can be expressed through social expressive power or social skills rather than innate physical appearance. This study was empirically conducted through questionnaires distributed to 200 working women in South Korea. According to the results, the participants recognized four factors constituting social attractiveness: physical appearance management, business manners, social skills, and sexual attractiveness. When they were asked to assess themselves on the same measures, these characteristics were further classified into six factors: business manners, feminine attractiveness, fashion sense, sociability, communication skills, and active appearance management. Their self-perceived social attractiveness was found to be influenced by all these factors in the order of feminine attractiveness, business manners, sociability, communication skills. Based on the self-presentation tendencies, the participants were classified into various groups, including the passive management group, daily life-oriented management group, work-oriented management group, neutral group, and active management group. The relative importance of the social attractiveness components was found to differ by group, although working women in all groups rated weight management higher than appearance management behavior. This study has implications in that it facilitates an understanding of the concept of social attractiveness and also provides a foundation base in terms of beauty consulting and marketing for working women to improve their social attractiveness.