The Characteristics, Expectations and Utilization of Senior Army Social Work Officers.
Abstract
The specific aim of the study was to ascertain and compare data on the life and work of senior U.S. Army Social Work Officers with emphasis on those who held a doctoral degree. The study group consisted of 84 of a possible 91 officers who were either on active duty or retired. Twenty-six of the respondents held a doctorate and 58 held a Master's degree. It was found that the officers tended to be caucasian, married, Protestants with at least two dependents. In general, their fathers had little formal education, medium occupational status, low social class position and frequent financial difficulty. The Officers tended to choose the social sciences as their undergraduate major, graduate in the upper half of their undergraduate class and enter Master's study to achieve the occupational preparation necessary to become a caseworker. They were inclined to have had military experience prior to entering the Army Social Work Program, held either the rank of Major or Lt. Colonel, been in the service over 16 years, been satisfied with their pay benefits and been ambivalent as to the value of the Doctoral degree in the Army. The 243 assignments held by the officers were primarily in hospitals and Mental Hygiene Consultation Divisions. The most time consuming tasks performed by the respondents were contact with clients and administration whereas they expected to engage in more research and consultation than was possible. The non-doctoral officers experienced more skill-work incongruity than did the social work doctors. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0724761
Entities
People
- Gordon L. Bolte
- Lucy M. Cohen