EXPECTATIONS OF FIELD PLACEMENT SUPERVISION : A COMPARISION BETWEEN SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS AND FIELD SUPERVISORS

Abstract

Field supervision has remained an integral component of social work education. Relatively little attention has been given to this area of research in the local scene despite a general realization of its importance. This exploratory study was an attempt to fill the gap in knowledge in this area of inquiry. The study made a comparison of the expectations of the supervisory role between 76 third year social work students and 84 field supervisors. A conceptual framework based on the concept of role expectations and Kadushin's ( 1976) three functions of supervision was used in the data analysis of this study. Similarities and differences in the expectations of students and field supervisors were explored. Differences in expectations were further cross examined for their relationship with background characteristics of students and field supervisors. A general consensus in expectations between the two groups of respondents was observed. with the majority of areas of similarities found under the administrative function of supervision. Differences in expectations were evident under the educational and the supportive functions of supervision. Age and gender were among the background characteristics which had significant relationships with some of the items surveyed. Students' career orientation, working experience, experience in voluntary work, and whether their choice of placement setting was expected or not, had significant relationship with how they viewed the supervisory role. Supervisors’ supervisory experience, type of training received. the duration spent in their major area of work, and whether they felt there was enough time for student supervision, were variables that produced significant findings. Implications for field practice and for social work education were drawn from this study, and recommendations suggested for future research.