Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Using structured study questions as a teaching method in social work education: Initial validation studies

  • Published:
Innovative Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The use of study questions to guide student learning and in-class discussion is presented as an alternative to the traditional methods of instruction in social work which rely upon formal lectures, and mid-term and final examinations and term papers to motivate studying. The positive results of two separate investigations on the value of study questions is described, and the instructional technique is suggested as worthy of consideration by social work educators.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlow, D.H. & Hersen, M. (1984).Single-case Experimental Designs. New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brophy, J. (1986). Teacher influences on student achievement.American Psychologist, 41, 1069–1077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D.T. & Stanley, J.C. (1963).Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, T.D. & Campbell, D.T. (1979).Quasi-Experimentation: Design and Analysis Issues for Field Settings. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council on Social Work Education. (1982). Curriculum policy for the Master's degree and Baccalaureate degree programs in social work education.Social Work Education Reporter, 30(3), 5–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankel, B.L., Cohen-Cole, S.A., Milne, J., Schubert, D.S., & Muskin, P.R. (1986). A pilot program for assigned readings by residents in consultation psychiatry.Psychosomatics, 27, 644–647.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinnell, R.M. (Ed.), (1988).Social Work Research and Evaluation (third edition). Itasca, IL: Peacock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilpatrick, A.C., Thompson, K.H., Jarrett, H.H. & Anderson, R. J. (1984). The andragogical model in social work education. In M.S. Knowles (Ed.).Andragogy in Action. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knowles, M.S. (ed.). (1984).Andragogy in Action. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Association of Social Workers. (1980).Code of Ethics. Silver Spring, MD: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Association of Social Workers. (1984).NASW Standards for the Practice of Clinical Social Work. Silver Spring, MD: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pryor, K. (1984).Don't Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training. New York: Bantam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schinke, S.P. et al. (1988). Preventing substance abuse among American-Indian adolescents.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 35, 87–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skinner, B.F. (1974).About Behaviorism. New York: Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sowers-Hoag, K.M. & Thyer, B.A. (1985). Teaching social work practice: A review and analysis of empirical research.Journal of Social Work Education, 21(3), 5–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, M.H. & Dieter, J.N. (1987). The positive effects of writing practice on integration of foreign words in memory.Journal of Educational Psychology, 79, 249–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thyer, B.A. (1988). Teaching without testing: A preliminary report of an innovative technique for social work education.Innovative Higher Education, 13, 47–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobias, S. (1987). Mandatory text review and interaction with student characteristics.Journal of Educational Psychology, 79, 154–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whaley, D.L. & Malott, R.W. (1971).Elementary Principles of Behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wodarski, J.S. (1985).Introduction to Human Behavior. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wodarski, J.S., Thyer, B.A., Iodice, J.D. & Pinkston, R.H. (in press). Graduate social work education: A review of empirical research.Journal of Social Service Research.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, Georgia

    Bruce A. Thyer

Authors
  1. Bruce A. Thyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard Sutphen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karen M. Sowers-Hoag
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Bruce A. Thyer, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Social Work with the University of Georgia, and an Associate Clinical Professor with the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Thyer's research interests involve applied behavior analysis within social work practice.

Richard Sutphen, M.S.W., received his masters degree from the University of Georgia in 1989. Mr. Sutphen is currently the Research Project Coordinator for a study on the treatment of black offenders in the Georgia Juvenile Justice System, conducted through the University of Georgia School of Social Work.

Karen M. Sowers-Hoag, Ph.D., received her doctorate in social work from Florida State University in 1987. She is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Social Work at Florida International University, where her research interests are divided between the fields of child welfare, and social work education.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thyer, B.A., Sutphen, R. & Sowers-Hoag, K.M. Using structured study questions as a teaching method in social work education: Initial validation studies. Innov High Educ 14, 155–164 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889616

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889616

Keywords

Search

Navigation