Assignment MSW

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Note: 1) Answer all the five questions.
2) All questions carry equal marks.
3) Answer to questions No. 1 and 2 should not exceed 600 words each.
Q. 1. Trace the development of social work and social welfare in United Kindom.
Ans. The principle of state intervention was established more firmly during the period between 1914 and 1945.
During the Second World War, for example, the government introduced free school meals and milk. In addition to
the Beveridge Report, it also sponsored white papers on education, strategies for achieving full employment, and the
creation of a national health service. These changing attitudes to social policy in wartime Britain were reflected in
the series of reforms introduced by the postwar Labour government under Clement Attlee (1945-51).
The National Insurance Act (1946), for example, created a comprehensive system of unemployment, sickness,
maternity and pension benefits funded by employers, employees and the government. Most famously of all, the
National Health Service (NHS) Act instituted for the first time in Britain a universal state health service. The Act,
which came into force in July 1948, provided free diagnosis and treatment of illnesses at home or in hospital,
including dental and ophthalmic treatment.
The ‘social citizenship’model was not really challenged until the emergence of Margaret Thatcher as Conservative
Party leader (1975) and then Prime Minister (1979). Thatcherism promised low taxes, less state intervention, and
lower levels of public spending. This involved, in theory at least, substantial cuts in welfare spending. The succession
of Thatcher governments between 1979 and 1990 became synonymous with the idea of ‘rolling back the state’.
Despite cuts in spending on housing and stricter eligibility rules for benefits, however, the Thatcher revolution
was less radical than either its opponents or its supporters claimed. Welfare spending in fact remained stationary
between the late 1970s and the late 1980s. Nevertheless, the Thatcher years eroded the political consensus in favour
of the welfare state. Today, in early 21st-century Britain, the debate on welfare spending and social policy is no
longer centred on Beveridge’s ‘Cradle to grave’ principle. It is far more concerned with providing cost-effective
social care, through a mixture of public and private initiatives.
Before the Second World War the only publicly funded social care for older and physically disabled people was
through the Poor Law. From 1601, the Poor Law required each parish to levy rates to care for destitute people
without family support. Those deemed unable to work due to old age or disability were regarded as deserving, but
the level and type of care varied considerably locally and over time. At best, it funded a family member or a pauper
woman to house and care for an older or disabled person or provided a regular weekly payment, clothing and health
care to enable them to stay in their own homes. At worst, Poor Law relief was extremely limited and stigmatizing.
ASSIGNMENT SOLUTIONS GUIDE (2015-2016)
M.S.W.-1
Origin and Development of Social
Work
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The Poor Law was drastically amended in 1834 to withdraw relief from the able-bodied, those deemed capable
of work. If they were destitute they could be admitted to deliberately bleak and punitive workhouses. In theory, ‘non-
able-bodied’ paupers–mainly older and disabled people deemed unable to work–should be allowed separate, more
comfortable workhouse accommodation or granted adequate weekly benefits.Again, the practice was locally variable,
biased towards minimal provision. Generally, the ‘non able-bodied’were not granted more comfortable accommodation
and husbands and wives were separated. In the community they received minimal benefits in cash or kind (food,
clothing). The reformed Poor Law rarely funded careers in the community.
From 1885 free Poor Law health care was available to all who could not afford to pay for it, whether or not they
received poor relief. Separate Poor Law hospitals were built and outpatient services expanded, due to growing
awareness that sickness among the poor diminished their capacity for work, increased their dependence on public
funds and spread infection in the community. Again, implementation was patchy: fastest in London and large towns.
Public concern about the extent of poverty among older people, and recognition that many older people in severe
need shunned the Poor Law, led in 1900 to a directive that Poor Law Unions should provide more comfortable, non-
punitive separate accommodation for older people, where husbands and wives could share rooms. Again
implementation was uneven.
Some mentally disabled people were separately cared for with public funding, though definitions of mental
disability were uncertain and shifting (unmarried motherhood could still be a reason to place women in mental
hospitals in the 1930s, homosexuality still in 1950s). By 1845 two-thirds of English and Welsh counties provided
publicly funded ‘asylums’, often large and bleak. From 1845 this was required of all local councils. Patients who
could afford it were charged, others were funded by Poor Law authorities, establishing the principle that publicly
funded care not administered through the Poor Law could incur charges.
The Local Government Act, 1929, transferred all Poor Law powers to public assistance committees of local
councils. In many places little changed, but, especially in larger towns, Poor Law hospitals were integrated with
other medical services. This revealed the large numbers of older and disabled long-stay hospital patients, in often
very bleak conditions, receiving little medical care, with no access to rehabilitative services ( e.g., following a
stroke) which could enable them to leave and live in the community, or lacking a home or support in the community.
This led to the expansion of geriatric medicine, focused on rehabilitation and reducing the numbers of bed-blockers.
Q. 2. Define social case work and discuss its application in different settings.
Ans. Case work got a reflection in the works of St. Vincent de Paul in the 16th and 17th centuries and Ozanam
in the 19th century. Later English leaders like Edward Denison, Sir Charles Loch and Octavia Hill developed the
theory and practice of personal service and personal responsibility.
Finally Mary Richmond talked about the rational and systematic approach to the analysis of individual social
situations. Richmond is the conceptual founder of case work. In 1917, in her book, “Social Diagnosis”, she described
the three basic categories in the theory of social work practice. They are: (a) Investigation or Fact finding, (b)
Diagnosis, and (c) Treatment. The process, according to Richmond began with the gathering of evidence or
investigation followed by a critical examination and comparison of evidence. The second category was the diagnosis,
wherein an attempt was made to arrive at a definition of the social situation, knowledge of the causes and personality
of a given client. Last came its interpretation and the definition of the social difficulty. Richmond used the word
diagnosis more frequently when describing the whole process; she felt that the word diagnosis was a better word
than investigation as the former belonged to the end of the process. However, social work writers like Florence
Hollis, Evelyn Davison and several others expressed that the term diagnosis had been borrowed from medicine and
therefore gave a false impression of the caseworker. These writers like Gordon Hamilton, Hollis, Turner and others
evolved various sets of procedures and techniques of intervention for guiding change in clients. Gradually, the
approach faced changes as it was influenced by the socio-economic events of the 1920s and 1930s, as well as by the
growth of social theory. It redirected its attention to the fact that individuals live in a world of here and now, or in a
series of situations. Living in a series of situations means “Interaction is going on between an individual and other
persons.” Subsequently the use of the principle of interaction brought with it the dynamic conception of social
casework as a process of helping.

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Social case work is a method of helping people on the basis of knowledge, understanding and the use of techniques
to deal with the problems. Mary Richmond defines social case work consists of those processes which develop
personality through adjustments consciously effected, individual by individual, between men and their social
environment. Case work helps individuals with personal as well as external and environmental matters. Professional
social workers help individuals and families solve intrapsychic, interpersonal, socioeconomic and environmental
problems through direct face-to-face relationships.
Individual faces many problems while performing his role and duties. He gets influenced by biological,
psychological and environmental factors which make every individual unique. Every individual has his own capacities
and abilities, attitudes, beliefs and values, feelings and thinking and his approach to deal with various problems of
life. Social case work method helps resolves such problems by restoring, maintaining or improving his social
functioning using the knowledge of behaviour, communication and relationship skills and the available resources.
The case worker helps an individual to enable him to function in his various social roles.
Social work is practiced in different settings such as family setting, school setting, hospital setting and corporate
setting. Case work is a generic method, but when it is combined with activities of other professions, there will be
differences.
Case work is practiced in hospitals and clinics run by government and private organisations. Case work is also
practiced in mental hospitals, psychiatric clinics, psychiatry departments in general hospitals and child guidance
clinics.
In family setting, case work is used to rectify family relationships. Social workers deal with family problems like
child placement, marriage counseling, problems of unmarried mothers etc.
Case work is practiced in correctional settings like juvenile welfare board, adult courts, probation, parole and
aftercare work. In the school setting, the case workers work with the pupil’s teacher and also with other school
personnel to help them understand the child’s behaviour.
Case workers use this method to deal with absenteeism, alcoholism, depression, stress related disorders and
drug addiction among the factory workers.
Q. 3. Answer the following in about 300 words each.
(a) Distinguish between community development and community organisation.
Ans. There are many similarities between community organisation and community development. But for
theoretical purpose it is possible to differentiate community organisation and community development.
(a) Community organisation is a method of social work but community development is a programme for a
planned change.
(b) Community organisation emphasizes the processes, but community development emphasizes the end or
goals.
(c) Community organisers are mostly social workers and social change agents, But community development
personnel can be from other professions including agricultural experts, veterinary experts, and other technical experts.
(d) Community organisation is not time bound. It is achieved step by step according to the pace of the people.
But community development is time bound and time is specified for achieving the development objectives.
(e) In community organisation people’s participation is important. But in community development people’s
development is important.
(f) In community organisation governments and external agencies assistances are not important or needed. But
in community development external assistance from the government or other agencies is considered important.
(g) Community organisation is a method of social work and this method is used in many fields. But unlike
community organisation community development is considered as process, method, programme, and movement for
planned change.
(h) Community organisation is used in all the fields but community development is used mostly in economic
development and for the development of living standards of the people.
(i) In community organisation planning is initiated by the people through their participation. But in community
development planning is carried out by an external agency mostly by the government.

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(j) In community organization people are organized to solve their problem. But in community development
goals have to be achieved and for that people are organized.
(k) Community organization is universal to all communities. But community development programmes differ
from people to people depending upon whether the area is rural, urban or tribal, and other characteristics of the
area.
(c) Highlight the relevance and scope of social group work.
Ans. The group consisted of individuals in interaction. Eubank defines a group as two or more persons in a such
relationship of social interaction that they might be thought to be an entity.
According to Olmsted, a group is a plurality of individuals who are in contact with one another, take one another
into account and are aware of some significant commonality.
Hare differentiates a group from a collection of individuals.Agroup has members who interact with one another,
have a common purpose and a set of norms which give direction and limits to their activity.
The group work method is used in a number of different situations. It can be applied for an individual with a
problem. For example, an AIDS affected person facing workplace discrimination seeks assistance. It is also used for
an entire group. For example, parents of mentally challenged children may discuss their problems and find solutions
with others. Groups have a lot of inherent potential for social change. The groups from the disadvantaged sections of
society offer scope for learning and empowerment of the members.
Advantages of Group Work
Group work has many advantages:
(a) It helps members learn to share, adjust and cooperate with others as it promotes interaction and intermixing
among them.
(b) It helps members learn to plan, understand and initiate collective actions. Members get chance to experiment
with new actions in their groups, and learn to use them outside the group.
(c) Attainment of the objectives of small groups can be used for building and strengthening people organizations.
It prepares people for larger roles they take up. It can be a basis for organisations of youth, women or the older men.
(d) Groups provide security to the members who have some problems. Members feel less threatened by sharing
their problems with others. It helps members to overcome their isolation and loneliness.
Relevance of Social Group Work
Human beings depend on others. Group participation is inevitable. To be a part of many groups is a natural
process. Human beings depend on others for survival, self-respect and belonging. An individual has to be prepared
to face innumerable challenges during different stages of development. He has to accept and cope with failure as he
cannot always be successful.
Groups primarily are powerful vehicles of learning. Social group work helps an individual or an entire community
to adjust with different situations. It provides planned group experiences to people for effective social interaction. It
helps healthy and capable persons as well as the disabled, marginalized and rejected.
Settings of Social Group Work
Social group work is used for individuals, groups or entire communities. Groups are formed with primary purpose
of education and recreation. There are classroom groupings, family groupings, youth clubs, peer groupings of teenagers,
old people’s clubs. Groups are also formed by psychiatric clinics and mental health clinics. Social workers form
groups to help patients to talk and act. People with problems are referred to groups for solutions. There are school
social work, family welfare services, correctional settings, mental health services, and agencies working with the
physically and mentally challenged which help people in distress. Groups which seek assistance may be marginalized
in a community, parents groups who want to learn more about their children, groups of people who are addicted to
alcohol and drug. Small groups play an important role for community change and development.
Q. 4. Answer the following in about 150 words each.
(a) Scope of distance eduacation in social work.
Ans. Distance education has become a critical method of delivering social work education all over the world
because it has opened access to education for many people, including those in rural areas and in under-served
communities, those who are far along in their careers, and those who are financially strained. Social work courses

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in distance learning that incorporate current technologies offer new possibilities for teaching and learning for the
prospective social workers and professionals who are already there in the field. In the US, degree programmes on
social work accredited by the council on Social Work education are now delivered entirely via distance education.
For example, the University of North Dakota and Texas State University-San Marcos offer a complete MSW degree
programme online. Florida State University offers an advanced standing MSW degree online. The Metropolitan
State college of Denver offers an online BSW degree. In Canada, the social work faculty of the University of Calgary
offers a one year MSW degree online. In other western countries including the UK and in other parts of the world
distance education in social work has been introduced and it has been popular among the students interested in social
work. In India, IGNOU provides distance education in social work. Distance education means the students do not
have to attend classes. They have to study the course as per their convenience and time. This has opened a better
scope for the working professionals. They can continue with this course while working. They do not have to stop
working to pursue the course. It is also not that expensive to pursue the distance courses. It meets the requirements
of the professionals by teaching all the concepts and skills for conducting social work activities.
(c) Essential components of social action.
Ans. Essential components of Social Action
(1) It requires organised and planned strategies and sharing analysis with the people.
(2) The participants should be motivated by belief in social progress.
(3) Group action is required for its success even as action might start with the initiative of one or more individuals.
(4) Group compulsion leads to the force behind social action.
(5) Social action is based on social justice.
(6) Action has to as per the established democratic practices.
(7) The authority of the group arises out of the consent of its members.
Some of the strategies identified with the method are:
(1) Bringing about change requires collaboration with authorities and agencies.
(2) To persuade, negotiate and to bargain to arrive at a working arrangement, competition campaign tactics need
to be adopted.
(3) Strikes, boycotts and sit-ins can be used to put pressure for effecting the change.
Social action has two sets of strategies: bargaining and confrontation. Bargaining includes tactics such as submitting
petitions, lobbying and public campaigning. Confrontation includes strikes, demonstrations and
sit-ins.
(d) NASW code of ethic
Ans. In 1999, the NASW Delegate Assembly adopted a revised Code of Ethics. The NASW also publishes standards for
social work practice in different settings. These standards are based on values and ethics of social work professional. Given
below is the NASW Code of Ethics:
Preamble
The social work profession’s primary mission is to raise human well-being and help meet the basic human
needs, with particular focus on the needs and empowerment of people who are poor, vulnerable and oppressed. A
historic and defining feature of this profession is its focus on individual wellbeing in a social context and the well-
being of society.Attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address the problems of life are
the fundamental to social work.
Social workers work for social justice and social change with and for the clients. Clients include individuals,
groups, families, organizations and communities. Social workers seek to end oppression, poverty, discrimination
and other forms of social injustice. They are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity. The activities of social workers
can be in the form of direct practice, consultation, community organising, supervision, social and political action,
implementation, education, research and evaluation, administration, policy development and advocacy. Social workers
aim to improve the capacity of people to address their own requirements. Social workers also work to promote the
responsiveness of organisations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals’needs and social problems
institutions.

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The mission of this profession is based on a set of core values. Accepted by social workers throughout the
history of the profession, these values are the basis of the unique purpose and perspective of social work: Service
social justice dignity and worth of the person importance of human relationships integrity competition.
These core values show the uniqueness of the profession. A balance of these core values and the principles that
flow from them has to be maintained within the context and complexity of human experience.
Purpose of the NASW Code of Ethics
The core of social work includes the professional ethics. The profession has basic values, ethical principles and
ethical standards. These values, principles and standards have been set forth by the code of ethics to guide social
workers how they should function. It is relevant to all social workers and students in the field.
NASW Code of conduct has six objectives:
(i) It identifies core values in social work’s mission.
(ii) It summarizes ethical principles that show core values of the profession and establishes ethical standards for
social workers.
(iii)It helps social workers know relevant considerations when they face ethical uncertainties.
(iv) It presents ethical standards to which the public can hold the social workers accountable.
(v) It explains the new practitioners the art mission, values, ethical principles and ethical standards they should
adhere to.
(vi) It presents standards that the profession can use to assess whether social workers have adhered to unethical
conduct.
The code guides decision-making and conduct. It does not say how social workers should act in all situations.
Moreover, the Code of Ethics of the NASW does not state which values, principles and standards are most
important and should be given priority when they conflict. There will be differences of opinion among social workers
with regard to the ways of taking into account values, principles and standards during a conflict. Social workers
should also use their knowledge while adhering to ethics.
The ethical decision-making is a process. Social workers may face situations where there will be no simple
answers to resolve complex issues. Social workers should consider all the values, principles and standards to deal
with such situation. The decisions and actions of social workers should not deviate from the Code.
Beside this Code, other sources of information about ethical thinking may be useful. Social workers can consider
other relevant codes of ethics. They should know the impact of their decision on their clients. They should know the
conflicts between personal and professional values and deal with them responsibly. Social workers should also
consult the relevant literature on professional ethics and ethical decision making and seek appropriate consultation
when they have any dilemma. They may consult social work organization’s ethics committee, knowledgeable
colleagues, supervisors or legal counsel.
There will be instances in which the ethical obligations may conflict with agency policies or relevant laws or
regulations. In such situations, social workers take responsible effort to resolve the conflict in a way that is consistent
with the Code. Social workers can take consultation before making a decision in such situations.
The Code can be used by individuals, agencies, organisations and other related bodies such as professional
liability insurance, licensing and regulatory providers, courts, agencies, government agencies and other professional
organizations. In case of its violation, there is no legal liability. Violations of the Code would be subject to a process
of peer review which is separate from legal or administrative procedures.
The code of does not guarantee ethical behaviour. This code also does not resolve all ethical issues or disputes.
It only sets forth values, ethical principles and ethical standards to which the professional can adhere to.
Ethical Principles
These ethical principles given below are based on the core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of
the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence. Social workers should aspire for these
ideals set for the by these principles.

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Value: Service
Ethical Principle: The main objective of the social worker is to assist the needy and deal with social problems.
Social workers should offer service to others without any self-interest. Social workers should use their knowledge
and skills to help others and address social ills. They should serve without expectation of significant financial return.
Value: Social Justice
Ethical Principle: Social workers must challenge social injustice.
Social workers work with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals to bring social change. They
should focus on issues such as poverty, unemployment, discrimination and other injustice. Social workers should try
to get needed information, services and resources.
Value: dignity and worth of the person
Ethical Principle: Social workers should respect the dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers should respect others. They should be mindful of differences and cultural and ethnic diversity.
They should promote social determination of their clients. They should help enhance the ability and opportunity to
its clients to achieve the objectives. Social workers should be aware about their responsibility to clients and society.
Value: Importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: Social workers should recognize the importance of human relationships.
Social workers should be aware that relationships between people crucial to bring change. Social workers should
involve people in the process. They should work to strengthen relationships among people with an objective to
promote, restore, maintain and enhance the well-being of the mankind.
Value: Integrity
Ethical Principle: Social workers should trustworthy behaviour.
Social workers should always be aware of and adhere to the mission, values, principles and standards of the
profession. They should be honest and responsible in their dealings.
Value: Competence
Ethical Principle: Social workers should practice in the area of their competence and improve their expertise.
Social workers should always seek to improve their professional knowledge and apply them in the practice.
Ethical Standards
The ethical standards relevant to the professional activities of social workers are:
These standards concern (i) the ethical responsibilities of social workers to clients, (ii) the ethical responsibilities
of social workers to colleagues, (iii) the ethical responsibilities of social workers in the exercise of their profession,
(iv) the ethical responsibilities of social workers as professionals, (v) the ethical responsibilities of social workers to
the social work profession , and (vi) the ethical responsibilities of social workers to the entire society.
(f) Significance of social welfare administration.
Ans. Social welfare administration is concerned with social agencies and helps them to achieve their objectives
within target community. It is specifically concerned with identification of social objectives and formulation/
implementation of programmes.
From functional point of view, it encompasses three facets of social problems: (a) Restoration of impaired social
functioning; (b) Provision ofresources, social and individual, for more effective social functioning;
(c) Prevention of social dysfunction.
Despite variations in size, scope, structure and type of programmes, every agency has a governing board as an
apex body for final decision-making. The board is generally represented by the community it intends to serve.
Social welfare administration needs optimum utilization of its available resources together with active community
participation, so that the ultimate goal of programmes can be achieved properly. Social welfare agencies have to
earmark certain portion of their resources for survival. But this should not limit their capacity to achieve in quantitative
and qualitative terms. Social welfare agencies generally function in a co-perative manner and ensure participation of
all the members in administration of their activities.
There is a growing trend in these agencies to recruit professionally qualified manpower. Social welfare
administration helps in introducing professional approach in their functioning.

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Q. 5. Write short notes on the following in about 100 words each.
(a) Social Reform
Ans.Social Reform: Cultural degeneration sets in every society when the people forget the basic purpose of
various customs and traditions they blindly observe. The practice hampers personality development and effective
social functioning. For example, varna system degenerated into a closed caste system leading to practices such as
untouchability.
When all these become a reason for human misery, some enlightened people raise their voice to get rid of them
and introduce social reforms.
Reform means correction of what is wrong, corrupt and unsatisfactory. M.S. Gore says social reform is a deliberate
effort to bring a transformation in social attitudes and behaviour of people in a desired direction through persuasion
and public awareness. Social reform is a non-violent attempt by a group of like-minded to eradicate immoral, unhealthy,
corrupt and wrong practices in a society.
Social reform has the following characteristics:
(1) It finds some social evil affecting individual and social development.
(2) It is deliberate, collective and focused efforts made by people to get rid of some social evil.
(3) It does not include overall system.
(4) It uses non-violent methods and means.
The following are some similarities between social reform and revolt:
(1) Both shows dissatisfaction with some prevailing conditions in society.
(2) Both try to bring about desired changes in conditions.
(3) People taking lead appeal to and motive the passive members of the community to join their cause.
(4) Both may resort to violent means if required.
Some differences between the two are:
(1) In social reforms discontentment is limited to certain areas of social life, while in case of revolt dissatisfaction
is with the existing social structure and system.
(2) Social reformers influence authorities that formulate policies and enact such laws necessary to bring about
desired changes, while revolutionaries try to radically overhaul or even overthrow, existing social structure and
system.
Social reform is important for social workers as they do away with social evils and improve the social functioning
of the people.
(b) Social Justice
Ans. Social Justice: Aristotle believed justice as a “Virtue of the soul distributing that which each person
deserved”. Cicero thought it originated from the divine law of eternal and immutable morality, and it makes people
duty bound. The system of justice varies as it depends on the values and norms prevailing in the society. These
systems take two approaches: protective and promotive. Protective is safeguarding people against abuse and
exploitation. Promotive creates conditions to ensure equality, freedom, fraternity and provide opportunities to weaker
sections.
Justice is used in two senses: the abstract and the concrete.Abstract is a code of conduct and the concrete means
the implementation of existing laws. Justice brings a sense of duty and concern for others. It also creates and sustains
trust and confidence among people. It creates an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. It thus optimizes the personal
and social functioning.
Social justice implies the idea of ‘just distribution’ of benefits to build a just society. Social justice ensures
equalization of opportunities to weaker and vulnerable sections of society. It rectifies injustice in personal relations
of people and removes imbalances in the political, economic and social life of people.
Justice Krishna Iyer says social justice assures every member of society a fair deal. The concept covers distribution
of means, benefits and burdens and biological, social, economic and cultural development of people in a society.
Article 38 of the Constitution of India refers to social, economic and political justice to promote the welfare of
the people. The following are the specific objectives of social justice:
(1) Establish the rule of law.

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(2) Ensure equality of opportunity.
(3) Provide special opportunities to weaker sections.
(4) Ensure equal benefits to all.
(5) Prevent exploitation of weaker sections.
(6) Protect and preserve the religion and culture of minorities.
Social justice has evolved wherever discrimination, abuse and exploitation existed. In the United States, social
justice evolved to provide special opportunities for the development of Blacks and the native Red Indians. In India,
social justice evolved to provide special privileges to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
(c) Methods of social work
Ans. Place of the Method in Social Work: All methods of social work worked for the promotion of the goals
of social work and are fully cognizant with the ethics and values of the profession.
According to Skidmore, there are five main social work methods. Administration is one of them. He says
administration is a significant process. It is like a real social work practice the way in which social services happen.
Administration is the process involving functioning of the agency, its goals, policies, staff management and
evaluation. Skidmore says that administration is the method that makes the others possible. It is very much interrelated
to other methods of social work practice.
Friedlander describe s some of the components associated with community organization have strong similarities
with the social welfare administration.
They are:
(1) the problem or the issues
(2) objectives and values
(3) tasks, strategies and goals
(4) socio-political context
(5) knowledge, theory and resources
(6) planning, organizing structure
(7) evaluation -response system.
Social welfare administration helps in understanding the basics of social welfare, analyze organizational, local,
state, national and international issues.
The components mentioned above are interlinked with social welfare administration.Without goals and objectives,
there are no structures for integrating the plans and participation. Task oriented and goal directed activities need an
organizational support. Such an organizational support for the provision of welfare services and planning for them is
achieved through social welfare administration. Social welfare administration helps to understand the foundations
of social welfare, analyze organizational, local, state, national and international issues in social welfare policy and
social service delivery.Analyze and apply the results of policy research relevant to social service delivery, understand
and demonstrate policy practice skill in regard to economic, political, and organizational systems and use them to
influence formulate and advocate for policy consistent with social work values and identify financial, organizational,
administrative and planning processes required to deliver social services.
Social workers don’t pick and choose what problems and issues they would like to address. They see a problem
even a very difficult problem, and try to help people solve it. They must prepare themselves to help people with
individualized personal problems on the one had and very broad problems that affect whole organizations and
communities on the other.
Generalist social work provides a contemporary approach for meeting the purpose of social work. This view
moves beyond the confines of individually focused practice to the expansive sphere of intervention with multi
person systems. Broadly defined, generalist social work considers the interplay of personal and collective issues and
works with a variety of human systems– societies, communities, neighbourhoods; complex organizations groups
informal groups, families and individual to create changes which maximize social functioning. Generalist social
work practice requires the worker both to be able to explain human behaviours and to decide on courses of intervention
to improve social functioning. The paradigm assists the practitioner to continually assess behaviour across the
micro, mezzo and macro systems and to understand the tremendous forces that are brought to bear on the individual

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by these systems. The paradigm also utilizes the notion of systems theory, which recognizes the continual interaction
of the systems and helps the worker understand the constant reconfiguration of the systems.
Since the generalist social worker must work with the micro, mezzo and macro systems, it is important that each
new social worker be grounded in the traditional social work methods. The rich history and methodology of social
work practice with individuals, groups and communities should be understood by the generalist social work practitioner.
In addition to the three traditional methods the social work profession has always been interested in the methodology
of administration. Because social work requires knowledge of the interaction of the individual with various systems
as well as the organization of services required for meeting the needs of the client groups.
Welfare provisioning, their rationale, their efficient organization for meeting client needs effectively is thus sin-
qua non with social work profession. This requires that social work methods have to be seen in an integrated manner.
Thus dealing with an individual, a variety of methods needs to be used. Casework for understanding the individual’s
particular social position, his/her motivations, as well as vulnerabilities, and dealing with institutional and other
factors affecting the vulnerabilities, improving institutional and organizational responses, making them more sensitive
to the needs of the client, all are part of the profession.
(d) Quantitative research
Ans. Qualitative research is exploratory. It is used to define the problem or develop an approach to the problem.
It is also used to go deeper into issues of interest and explore nuances related to the problem at hand. Common data
collection methods used in qualitative research are focus groups, triads, dyads, in-depth interviews, uninterrupted
observation, bulletin boards, and ethnographic participation/observation.
It uses open ended questions, unstructured surveys, focus groups, participant observation, and examination of
existing research documents.
Quantitative research is conclusive in its purpose as it tries to quantify the problem and understand how prevalent
it is by looking for projectable results to a larger population. Here, we collect data through surveys, audits, points of
purchase and click-streams. It uses structured surveys, structured observations and data reports.
Dudley argues that quantitative research is better than qualitative research. He says in quantitative research
provides more standardized and accurate measures. In this, the findings from a sample can be generalized to a larger
population and can be used to test hypotheses. Statistical tests can be used to analyse and interpret data.
(f) Shramdan
Ans. Shramdan (Voluntary Manual Labour)
Shramdan is not Social Work. Shramdan in Hindi has two words – shram (manual labour) and daan (donation).
Shramdan means an act of undertaking voluntary labour to promote collective good.
The characteristics of shramdan are:
(i) manual labour
(ii) voluntarism
(iii)collective and cooperative endeavours, and
(iv) promotion or protection of public good or interest.
During the early stages of human evolution, communities had to work together voluntarily contributing their
labour to protect them from the vagaries of weather.
Voluntary manual labour was essential for various reasons – hunting of food, digging wells or ponds for storing
drinking water, construction of shelters for the travellers alongside the roads, cooking of food for community feasts,
breaking or shifting of rocks, clearing of shrubs for construction of passages in forests and construction of improvised
bridges across or bunds the banks of rivers.
At present, government programmes like National Cadet Corps, National Reconstruction Corps and the National
Service Scheme involve educated youth to provide voluntary manual labour to bring about improvement in the
living conditions of people Shramdan is significant for promoting socioeconomic development.
Shramdaan is however different from social work. The aim of Shramdaan is to get some concrete work
accomplished, especially by pooling labour of people who do not expect anything in return for their services. On the
other hand, social work is a specialised kind of activity which requires a body of knowledge and technical skills for
its effective delivery. It aims at improving the social functioning of the individuals in society and bringing about
desired changes in the system. Social Work is based on democratic and humanitarian philosophy which is based on
the values of equality, justice, liberty and fraternity and well-being of the people. ■ ■

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