engleski

Development and psychometric evaluation of a social workers professional competencies scale (SWPCS): a sequential exploratory mixed-method study

Background: Although increased attention has focused on developing various definitions and conceptualizations of professional competence, there is still a lack of adequate reliable and valid measures. Moreover, this topic is highly dependent on national context in which social work operates. It is worth noting that the incentive for this research came from the professional community. The present study aimed to fill in this scientific and practical gap by developing and evaluating the psychometric properties of a Social Workers Professional Competencies Scale (SWPC). Method: A sequential exploratory design was used to develop and validate a new SWPC instrument. Mixed methods data was collected on draft items for the SWPC instrument across eight key domains of competencies that were conceptualised based on an extensive literature review: (process competencies, professional behavior, theory integration and professional judgement, ethical behavior, community development, cultural competence, leadership, structural social work). The research was conducted on sample of social workers employed in Social Welfare Centres in Croatia that is kind of a 'backbone' of social welfare system and social work as a profession. The study consisted of several stages that had been implemented sequentially: item identification, item selection, and validation. Social workers have been involved at every stage of the development of the PCSW to ensure that the final instrument captures their perspectives and assesments. The first stage involved a systematic review and 10 focus groups with social workers (n=78) to identify and select instrument items within 8 main domains of professional competencies. In the quantitative (psychometric evaluation) phase, face, content, construct, convergent, and discriminant validity and reliability of the scale were tested. Quantitative data was collected through two phases: first they were collected through pilot survey (n=115) and then in second phase through the main survey on sample of social workers employed in Social Welfare Centres (n=905). Results: In this study, 8 factors were extracted from items through exploratory factor analysis: (1) process competencies, (2) professional behavior, (3) theory integration and professional judgement, (4) ethical behavior, (5) community development, (6) cultural competence, (7) leadership, and (8) structural social work. The developed SWPC instrument had high internal consistencies and its confirmed in this study as reliable and valid self-assessment instrument. Results also confirmed relevance of all eight examined domains of professional competencies. Conclusions: The SWPC instrument can facilitate the evaluation of factors associated with social workers professional development and organizational behaviors. The instruments also have the potential to assist graduate training programs in monitoring the development of their students' competencies across the course of their training. Further studies are needed to assess the psychometric properties of SWPC in different cultures and work contexts of social workers. On a broader scale, this reserach design can provide a 'know-how' for contruction and validation of reserach instruments. Sequential exploratory mixed-method study was in great extense participatory and it allowed the development of a new reseaarch area in Croatia with numerous scientific and practical implications.

Professional competence, Psychometric evaluation, Sequential exploratory mixed-method study, Social workers, Croatia

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