Worksheet: Dissecting a Theory and Its Application to a Case Study Most theories can be dissected and analyzed. All theories will tell you something about their focus or unit of analysis. A theory will identify its major or key concepts. It will also point to the definition of the problem and its cause. This then guides how the social worker assesses and intervenes, because the theory will also articulate the role of the social worker and how change occurs. Basic Assumptions of the Theory Directions: For each section, respond in 2 to 3 sentences to the following prompts. Where relevant, provide citations to support your claims. Name of theory Name of theorist What are the major assumptions of the theory? What are the theory’s key concepts? What is the theory’s focus or unit of analysis? What is the theory’s overall explanation for the cause of problems? Application to a Case Study <insert the name of the client> Directions: For each section, respond to the following prompts. Where relevant, provide citations to support your claims. In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory define the client’s presenting problem? In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory explain the cause of the client’s presenting problem? In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory explain the role of the social worker for this client? In 1 to 2 sentences, what does the theory say about how this client will improve or how change will occur? Using the theory, list 2 to 3 assessment questions to ask this client to explore the client’s goals and how they will get there. According to the theory, identify 2 to 3 specific practice intervention strategies for the client relative to the presenting problem. For each, explain in 1 sentence how it will help meet the client’s goals. Based on the theory, list 2 to 3 outcomes when evaluating whether an intervention is effective. What is one strength and one limitation in using this theory for this client? Questions to Consider When Evaluating the Theory You are not required to answer these questions for this assignment. However, these questions could help stimulate thinking whenever you are asked to evaluate a theory. To what extent does the theory apply widely to diverse situations? Or does it apply narrowly to particular situations? Is the theory ethical? Is it consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics? Is the theory congruent with the professional value base of the social work field? How cost effective would it be to implement interventions based on the theory? To what extent does the theory fit within the organization’s or agency’s philosophy? What do research studies say about how effective the interventions are? Assignment: Application of Systems Theory to a Case Study In this course, you will be asked to select one case study and to use it throughout the entire course. By doing this, you will have the opportunity to see how theories guide your view of a client and the client’s pres.

1. Worksheet: Dissecting a Theory and Its Application to a Case
Study
Most theories can be dissected and analyzed. All theories will
tell you something about their focus or unit of analysis. A
theory will identify its major or key concepts. It will also point
to the definition of the problem and its cause. This then guides
how the social worker assesses and intervenes, because the
theory will also articulate the role of the social worker and how
change occurs.
Basic Assumptions of the Theory
Directions: For each section, respond in 2 to 3 sentences to the
following prompts. Where relevant, provide citations to support
your claims.
Name of theory
Name of theorist
What are the major assumptions of the theory?
What are the theory’s key concepts?
What is the theory’s focus or unit of analysis?
What is the theory’s overall explanation for the cause of
problems?

2. Application to a Case Study <insert the name of the client>
Directions: For each section, respond to the following prompts.
Where relevant, provide citations to support your claims.
In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory define the client’s
presenting problem?
In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory explain the cause of the
client’s presenting problem?
In 1 to 2 sentences, how does the theory explain the role of the
social worker for this client?
In 1 to 2 sentences, what does the theory say about how this
client will improve or how change will occur?
Using the theory, list 2 to 3 assessment questions to ask this
client to explore the client’s goals and how they will get there.
According to the theory, identify 2 to 3 specific practice
intervention strategies for the client relative to the presenting
problem. For each, explain in 1 sentence how it will help meet

3. the client’s goals.
Based on the theory, list 2 to 3 outcomes when evaluating
whether an intervention is effective.
What is one strength and one limitation in using this theory for
this client?
Questions to Consider When Evaluating the Theory
You are not required to answer these questions for this
assignment. However, these questions could help stimulate
thinking whenever you are asked to evaluate a theory.
To what extent does the theory apply widely to diverse
situations? Or does it apply narrowly to particular situations?
Is the theory ethical? Is it consistent with the NASW Code of
Ethics?
Is the theory congruent with the professional value base of the
social work field?
How cost effective would it be to implement interventions based
on the theory?
To what extent does the theory fit within the organization’s or
agency’s philosophy?

4. What do research studies say about how effective the
interventions are?
Assignment: Application of Systems Theory to a Case Study
In this course, you will be asked to select one case study and to
use it throughout the entire course. By doing this, you will have
the opportunity to see how theories guide your view of a client
and the client’s presenting problem. Although the case may be
the same, each time you use a different theory, your perspective
of the problem changes, which then changes how you go about
asking the assessment questions and how you intervene.
The first theoretical approach you will use to apply to a case
study is systems theory. In other words, your theoretical
orientation—your lens—will be systems theory as you analyze a
social work case study.
Different theories can be used to take a systems approach. For
example, Bertalanffy’s General Systems Theory considers how
a system is made of smaller subsystems that influence each
other and seek homeostasis, whereas Brofennerbrenner’s
Ecological Systems Theory focuses on how an individual’s
experience is influenced by different system levels
(micro, meso, exo, macro, and chrono). Systems theory is
commonly used to understand the interrelationships of the
systems (e.g., family, community, organizations, society) of the
client. If you are working with families, communities, and
organizations, it is also beneficial to use systems theory to get a
holistic picture of all the interrelated parts of the system.
To prepare: Focus on the case study of Tiffani Bradley below.
You will use this same case study throughout the course.
· Focus on the identified client within your chosen case (below,
Tiffani Bradley) .
· Analyze the case using a systems approach, taking into

5. consideration both family and community systems.
· Complete and submit the “Dissecting a Theory and Its
Application to a Case Study” (attached) worksheet based on
your analysis.
Tiffani Bradley
Identifying Data: Tiffani Bradley is a 16-year-old Caucasian
female. She was raised in a Christian family in Philadelphia,
PA. She is of German descent. Tiffani’s family consists of her
father, Robert, 38 years old; her mother, Shondra, 33 years old,
and her sister, Diana, 13 years old. Tiffani currently resides in a
group home, Teens First, a brand new, court-mandated teen
counseling program for adolescent victims of sexual
exploitation and human trafficking. Tiffani has been provided
room and board in the residential treatment facility for the past
3 months. Tiffani describes herself as heterosexual. Presenting
Problem: Tiffani has a history of running away. She has been
arrested on three occasions for prostitution in the last 2 years.
Tiffani has recently been court ordered to reside in a group
home with counseling. She has a continued desire to be reunited
with her pimp, Donald. After 3 months at Teens First, Tiffani
said that she had a strong desire to see her sister and her
mother. She had not seen either of them in over 2 years and
missed them very much. Tiffani is confused about the path to
follow. She is not sure if she wants to return to her family and
sibling or go back to Donald.
Family Dynamics: Tiffani indicates that her family worked well
together until 8 years ago. She reports that around the age of 8,
she remembered being awakened by music and laughter in the
early hours of the morning. When she went downstairs to
investigate, she saw her parents and her Uncle Nate passing a
pipe back and forth between them. She remembered asking them
what they were doing and her mother saying, “adult things” and
putting her back in bed. Tiffani remembers this happening on
several occasions. Tiffani also recalls significant changes in the

6. home's appearance. The home, which was never fancy, was
always neat and tidy. During this time, however, dust would
gather around the house, dishes would pile up in the sink, dirt
would remain on the floor, and clothes would go for long
periods of time without being washed. Tiffani began cleaning
her own clothes and making meals for herself and her sister.
Often there was not enough food to feed everyone, and Tiffani
and her sister would go to bed hungry. Tiffani believed she was
responsible for helping her mom so that her mom did not get so
overwhelmed. She thought that if she took care of the home and
her sister, maybe that would help mom return to the person she
was before. Sometimes Tiffani and her sister would come
downstairs in the morning to find empty beer cans and liquor
bottles on the kitchen table along with a crack pipe. Her parents
would be in the bedroom, and Tiffani and her sister would leave
the house and go to school by themselves. The music and noise
downstairs continued for the next 6 years, which escalated to
screams and shouting and sounds of people fighting. Tiffani
remembers her mom one morning yelling at her dad to “get up
and go to work.” Tiffani and Diana saw their dad come out of
the bedroom and slap their mom so hard she was knocked down.
Dad then went back into the bedroom. Tiffani remembers
thinking that her mom was not doing what she was supposed to
do in the house, which is what probably angered her dad.
Shondra and Robert have been separated for a little over a year
and have started dating other people. Diana currently resides
with her mother and Anthony, 31 years old, who is her mother’s
new boyfriend.
Educational History: Tiffani attends school at the group home,
taking general education classes for her general education
development (GED) credential. Diana attends Town Middle
School and is in the 8th grade.
Employment History: Tiffani reports that her father was
employed as a welding apprentice and was waiting for the
opportunity to join the union. Eight years ago, he was laid off
due to financial constraints at the company. He would pick up

7. odd jobs for the next 8 years but never had steady work after
that. Her mother works as a home health aide. Her work is part-
time, and she has been unable to secure full-time work.
Social History: Over the past 2 years, Tiffani has had limited
contact with her family members and has not been attending
school. Tiffani did contact her sister Diana a few times over the
2-year period and stated that she missed her very much. Tiffani
views Donald as her “husband” (although they were never
married) and her only friend. Previously, Donald sold Tiffani to
a pimp, “John T.” Tiffani reports that she was very upset
Donald did this and that she wants to be reunited with him,
missing him very much. Tiffani indicates that she knows she
can be a better “wife” to him. She has tried to make contact
with him by sending messages through other people, as John T.
did not allow her access to a phone. It appears that over the last
2 years, Tiffani has had neither outside support nor interactions
with anyone beyond Donald, John T., and some other young
women who were prostituting.
Mental Health History: On many occasions Tiffani recalls that
when her mother was not around, Uncle Nate would ask her to
sit on his lap. Her father would sometimes ask her to show them
the dance that she had learned at school. When she danced, her
father and Nate would laugh and offer her pocket change.
Sometimes, their friend Jimmy joined them. One night, Tiffani
was awakened by her uncle Nate and his friend Jimmy. Her
parents were apparently out, and they were the only adults in
the home. They asked her if she wanted to come downstairs and
show them the new dances she learned at school. Once
downstairs Nate and Jimmy put some music on and started to
dance. They asked Tiffani to start dancing with them, which she
did. While they were dancing, Jimmy spilled some beer on her.
Nate said she had to go to the bathroom to clean up. Nate,
Jimmy, and Tiffani all went to the bathroom. Nate asked Tiffani
to take her clothes off and get in the bath. Tiffani hesitated to
do this, but Nate insisted it was OK since he and Jimmy were
family. Tiffani eventually relented and began to wash up. Nate

8. would tell her that she missed a spot and would scrub the area
with his hands. Incidents like this continued to occur with
increasing levels of molestation each time.
The last time it happened, when Tiffani was 14, she pretended
to be willing to dance for them, but when she got downstairs,
she ran out the front door of the house. Tiffani vividly
remembers the fear she felt the nights Nate and Jimmy touched
her, and she was convinced they would have raped her if she
stayed in the house.
About halfway down the block, a car stopped. The man
introduced himself as Donald, and he indicated that he would
take care of her and keep her safe when these things happened.
He then offered to be her boyfriend and took Tiffani to his
apartment. Donald insisted Tiffani drink beer. When Tiffani was
drunk, Donald began kissing her, and they had sex. Tiffani was
also afraid that if she did not have sex, Donald would not let her
stay— she had nowhere else to go. For the next 3 days, Donald
brought her food and beer and had sex with her several more
times. Donald told Tiffani that she was not allowed to do
anything without his permission. This included watching TV,
going to the bathroom, taking a shower, and eating and
drinking. A few weeks later, Donald bought Tiffani a dress,
explaining to her that she was going to “find a date” and get
men to pay her to have sex. When Tiffani said she did not want
to do that, Donald hit her several times. Donald explained that
if she didn’t do it, he would get her sister Diana and make her
do it instead. Out of fear for her sister, Tiffani relented and did
what Donald told her to do. She thought at this point her only
purpose in life was to be a sex object, listen, and obey—and
then she would be able to keep the relationships and love she so
desired.
Legal History: Tiffani has been arrested three times for
prostitution. Right before the most recent charge, a new state
policy was enacted to protect youth 16 years and younger from
prosecution and jail time for prostitution. The Safe Harbor for
Exploited Children Act allows the state to define Tiffani as a

9. sexually exploited youth, and therefore the state will not
imprison her for prostitution. She was mandated to services at
the Teens First agency, unlike her prior arrests when she had
been sent to detention.
Alcohol and Drug Use History: Tiffani’s parents were social
drinkers until about 8 years ago. At that time Uncle Nate
introduced them to crack cocaine. Tiffani reports using alcohol
when Donald wanted her to since she wanted to please him, and
she thought this was the way she would be a good “wife.” She
denies any other drug use.
Medical History: During intake, it was noted that Tiffani had
multiple bruises and burn marks on her legs and arms. She
reported that Donald had slapped her when he felt she did not
behave and that John T. burned her with cigarettes. She had
realized that she did some things that would make them mad,
and she tried her hardest to keep them pleased even though she
did not want to be with John T. Tiffani has been treated for
several sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at local clinics
and is currently on an antibiotic for a kidney infection.
Although she was given condoms by Donald and John T. for her
“dates,” there were several “Johns” who refused to use them.
Strengths: Tiffani is resilient in learning how to survive the
negative relationships she has been involved with. She has as
sense of protection for her sister and will sacrifice herself to
keep her sister safe.
Robert Bradley: father, 38 years old
Shondra Bradley: mother, 33 years old
Nate Bradley: uncle, 36 years old
Tiffani Bradley: daughter, 16 years old
Diana Bradley: daughter, 13 years old
Donald: Tiffani’s self-described husband and her former pimp
Anthony: Shondra’s live-in partner, 31 years old
John T.: Tiffani’s most recent pimp