Date of Award:

5-1968

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Sociology and Anthropology

Department name when degree awarded

Sociology

Committee Chair(s)

William A. DeHart

Committee

William A. DeHart

Committee

Evelyn Lewis

Committee

John Pennock

Abstract

Attitudes of caseworkers and supervisors in public welfare agencies were studied with regard to the following subjects: (1) the public assistance program in Utah, (2) the welfare recipient, (3) family planning as a means of dealing with poverty, (4) government participation in the public assistance program, (5) methods of rehabilitation, (6) community support of welfare agency, and (7) positive and negative aspects of casework. Data were analyzed statistically with regard to age, education, political preference, and sex. An analysis of variance was made, and the F test applied to determine significance levels.

Caseworkers and supervisors responded positively toward the public assistance system in Utah with mean scores high enough to indicate approval though not complete approval of this system. Caseworkers and supervisors expressed a slightly positive attitude toward welfare recipients; they were generally favorable toward family planning as a means of dealing with poverty; and they expressed a positive attitude concerning government participation in the public assistance program. Of the three means of rehabilitation proposed, caseworkers and supervisors unanimously selected the use of individual therapy as their first choice, environmental change and direct financial aid as their second and third choices, respectively, by the majority of respondents. Caseworkers and supervisors felt a need for community support but did not feel they received it. In their opinion the public is poorly informed, has many misconceptions, and is, consequently, negative toward the public assistance system. Male and female caseworkers and supervisors indicated that working with people and helping them with their problems were the most enjoyable aspects of their job; whereas, clerical work and administrative rules and procedures were the least enjoyable aspects. Women liked more aspects of their work than they disliked; whereas, men disliked more aspects than they liked.

Checksum

47ac13a69bdf31531cfcc5dc5da7778d

Included in

Sociology Commons

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