Suchergebnisse

The purpose of this article is to review substantive and methodological advances in interventive research. Three substantive advances are discussed: (a) the growing use of a risk factor perspective, (b) the emergence of practice-relevant micro social theories, and (c) the increased acceptance of structured treatment protocols and manual. In addition, three methodological developments are discussed. They include new developments for dealing with attrition, for dealing with selection effects, and for decomposing complexities using text and numerical analyses. Arguing that intervention research holds the potential to unify research scholarship in social work, the conclusion discusses ongoing challenges associated with the implementation of new programs, variance in outcomes by method, reactivity to measurement, and construct validity in the context of culture.

The author reviewed recent research on the way aggressive children think about social opportunities and solve social problems. On the basis of this literature, the author distills implications for refining family preservation services with antisocial, aggressive children and their families. Special emphasis is focused on the role that cognitive problem solving plays in the social development of delinquent youth.

This article reviews the origins, conceptual bases, psychometric properties, and limitations of consumer satisfaction measures in social welfare and behavioral health. Based on a systematic review of research reports published between 2003 and 2013, we identify 58 consumer satisfaction measures. On average, these measures have acceptable reliability (mean Cronbach's α = .85). However, the research on the concurrent and predictive validity of consumer satisfaction is inconclusive. We identify the following three core aspects of consumer satisfaction: (a) satisfaction with alternative elements of service, (b) promotion or recommendation of a program based on a recent service experience, and (c) subjective appraisal of change or problem resolution related to participation in a service. Attrition bias, reactivity, and confounding of ratings with the image of service providers complicate and condition the interpretation of consumer satisfaction as an outcome measure.

Summary Over the past 15 years, the number of child maltreatment incidents reported to Child Guidance Centers in Japan has increased more than three fold. Reviewing a wide range of policy white-papers and research reports in Japan, we discuss the prevalence of child maltreatment, its social construction over time, societal factors contributing to child maltreatment, and the development and design of the Japanese child welfare system. We conclude with a discussion of emerging issues and challenges. Findings A variety of risk factors exacerbate maltreatment in Japan. These include the decline of extended familial supports, low paternal involvement in childrearing, and demanding work routines for both men and women who seek professional careers. Throughout the paper, we discuss historically competing social constructions of the child, family, and work. In addition, we discuss the gendered roles of men and women in Japanese society. Japan's legacy of Shintoism and Confucianism, the institutionalization of patriarchy in the Tokugawa and Meiji Periods, and the modern constraints placed on families by Japanese corporations are explored as factors affecting child maltreatment and the services rendered by the child welfare system. Under the Child Welfare Act of 1948 and the Prevention of Child Abuse Act of 2000, approximately 90% of children in need, including maltreated children, receive care in large group home settings in Japan. Compared to other nations, Japan places great reliance on out-of-home care. Preventive systems to strengthen families and avert out of home placements have not be adequately developed. Applications Japanese scholars are re-examining the child welfare system in efforts to design family-based policies and services to both prevent maltreatment and provide alternatives to out-of-home care.