COMPUTERISATION IN SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES

Abstract

This study focus on the current level of use of personal computers in the voluntary welfare organizations ( VWOs ) in Singapore. The perceptions of the staff and personnel in these organizations toward use of computers in social work were also studied. The aim of this study is gather baseline data for assessing the impact the use of computer have on these agencies and to understand the attitudes of the staff toward the use of computers in social work practice. The findings of this study indicates that there is no significant difference in the perception between staff from computer using agencies and those from non-computer using agencies. Staff of VWOs tended to be generally positive toward the use of computers in social work. The respondents in this study indicated that computer usage in the social work domain tended to be viewed mainly from an office automation perspective rather than a potential tool which can be integrated into social work practice. The current level of use remain at a basic level, confined primarily to clerical tasks and administrative routine.