Education purposes

1. SW 224
Communication and Documentation
(Supplemental Readings/ Additional References)

2. Communication
A process of understanding and sharing meaning.
A process by which information is exchanged between
individuals through a common system of symbols, signs or
behavior.
An act or process of using words, sounds, signs or behaviors to
express or exchange information or to express ideas, thoughts,
feelings, etc. to someone else.
Process of interaction wherein meaning is stimulated through
the sending and receiving of verbal messages
Is interaction: one person sends the message to a person who
receives it and in turn responds.
It’s a dynamic, on-going and transactional process.

3. TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
Intrapersonal Communication – process of understanding and
sharing meaning within the self.
Interpersonal Communication – process of understanding and
sharing meaning between ourselves and at least one person.
Public Communication – a process of sharing and
understanding meaning with a number of people when one
person is generally identified as the speaker and others as
receivers or listeners

4. A purposeful set of activities focused on altering the
problem situation of client.
It is a process that allows for the information gathering
necessary for the assessment of clients problem and the
enactment of the relationship and intervention
Primary technology of social work
Chief tool of the social worker
WHAT IS SW COMMUNICATION

5. ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION
1. Source – Communication may originate from an individual, a
group or an institution. In social work this means that
communication could be initiated by social worker, with her
client, her co-worker, her agency, or with a worker in another
agency.
2. Message – The “message” of a communication could be a
knowledge, an attitude, and/or behavior which the source
wishes to convey to the receiver. Message can be verbally, non-
verbally and through symbols.

6. ELEMENTS …
3. Channel – Refers to the proper course or “Channel” of
transmission of communication either interpersonal
communication or mass media, or both.
⮚Interpersonal communication – Involves face-to-face contact with
people. It can be 1-to-1 basis or on a group level
⮚Mass Media – Comes in 2 forms: 1. Printed Material 2. Electronics
(TV, Radio)
4. Receiver – The person, group, or population
segment/total population is the intended audience of a
communication.

7. “MESSAGE”
1. Verbal Communication involves the use of words whether
spoken or written.
>Euphemisms – Use of word or phrase which expresses something
unpleasant or offensive in a more pleasant way.
2. Non-Verbal Communication – Communication without the use
of words conveyed through the person’s physical appearance,
dress, facial expression, behavior, gestures, sounds, silence,
touch, eye contact, etc. Conveys attitudes and feelings often
accompanies verbal communication.
> Symbols – Comes in the form of pictures, diagrams, posters, logos,
etc. Can stand with themselves or with words.

8. MESSAGES THAT HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF
BEING EFFECTIVE
1. The verbal and non-verbal messages are congruent
2. The message is simple, specific and intelligible to the
receiver
3. The receiver can understand what is meant by the sender
4. There is sufficient repetition
5. Reduction of psychological and actual noise

9. PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT SW IN THEIR
COMMUNICATION WITH CLIENTS
1. Double Messages- two contradictory messages are received
simultaneously or in close succession
2. Ambiguous Messages- these messages have little meaning or several
possible meanings for the receiver
3. Referent Confusion-words have different meaning or a professional
jargon
4. Overload -receiving of more messages than a receiver can interpret
5. Order Incongruence - failure to properly sequence the message