Data Collection in Social Work/Casework
Data gathering and analysis are critical components of the planned change process. It is gathering as much information as possible about the client and their difficulties via our interviewing skills and other evaluation methods. The clinical connection is currently undergoing data collecting. It is a necessary stage in completely comprehending the client's challenges and developing change strategies. There are four (4) methods of social work data collection. These are in the following.
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HOME VISIT
A home visit is another technique of data collection method in social casework practice. According to Hussain & Alauddin
"Home visit is--------means of drawing.
information about the client & his problem."
A caseworker can acquire knowledge about the client's home life & environment through the home visit. The elements of the home life & environment can create the client's problem, which can disappear from the client. This home visit is considered a technique of data collection.
Read: Social Casework Method
COMMUNICATION & CONSULTATION
Communication & consultation is other technique of data collection method. Through communication & consultation, a caseworker can collect information about the client from the client's peer group, friends, teacher, colleagues & relatives who can help him understand the client & his problem.
CASE RECORDS
Case records are another technique of data collection method. Through the case records, a caseworker can know about the previous condition of the client, his problem & problem-solving process. Case records-
→ It should be kept confidential.
→ It should be written in a simple language.
→ Should be avoiding the abbreviation.
INTERVIEW
An interview means face to face conversation or questioning to elicit information to understand & analyze the client's problem. On this aspect, the definition of Cambridge International Dictionary is-
The questions of the Interview regarding the client's problem include-
→ History of the problem.
→ Personal history.
→ Family history.
→ Marital history.
→ Occupational history.
→ Habits & income.
Regarding the Interview, Robert L. Barker says in the Dictionary of Social Work-
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According to the Encyclopedia of Social Work- "Interview is a specialized form with uniquely distinctive characteristics. An interview is distinguished by three features-
→ Define purpose & objectives.
→ The formal structure of role time & development constraints.
→ process & development orientation."
From the above definitions, we come to a conclusion that Interview-
→Is a professional relationship between caseworker & client.
→Is an art & skilled technique.
→Has some definite objectives & goals.
→Is related to practical observation.
→It is terminated after obtaining the goal.
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8 TECHNIQUES OF INTERVIEW
A practical & successful interview depends on some techniques. There are eight (8) techniques of an interview in social work data collection such as acceptance, Listening, Observation, Listening before talking, Questioning, Talking & making comments, Answering personal questioning, Leadership, Interpretation, and Termination/Closing the session.
Acceptance
The first and primary technique of the Interview is acceptance. Acceptance means to consent to receive. Under this technique, a caseworker must accept a client as a friend so that he can share his problems. When the client meets with the caseworker for the first time, he feels fear & anxiety about a new person. For this, the acceptance will-
→ Reduce the fear & anxieties in the mind of the client.
→ Lead to develop counter acceptance of the interviewer by the client.
→ Establish rapport between the interviewer & the client.
Observation
Observation is the Interview's driving force, which means watching a fortress or hostile position or movement.
According to P. V. Young-"Observation may be defined as systematic viewing, coupled with consideration of the seen phenomena."
→ What the client says.
→ What he did not say.
→ What significant gaps between these.
Listening
Listening is an essential technique in an interview. Without listening, good observation is also impossible. An interviewer, who listens to the client with patience, can know more about the client than one who does not listen with patience. Because a man who is under stress seeks help to get relief from his anxieties and tension by expressing his story to others.
If he finds a good listener, he will go on telling about his unexpressed thing. On the other hand, if he doesn't find a good listener, he may try to conceal many relevant things and want to get rid of the interviewer as soon as possible. For this, a good interviewer must be a good listener.
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Listening before talking
Listening before talking is another technique of the Interview. If the client is free to talk without hesitation, he feels comfortable expressing his miserable life story. This gives the interviewer an opportunity-
→ To size up the client as he is.
→ To be familiar with the client's language.
→ To start the client where he is.
Questioning
Questioning is the Interview's primary method, which depends on the aim & objectives & style of the discussion.
The questioning in the Interview –
→ It is done in a friendly atmosphere to help the client.
→ Be directed to obtain the needed information.
→ To lead the client's conversation from pointless to a fruitful channel.
→ It is done in the middle way so that the client doesn't feel pressure to express speech.
Talking & making comments
The caseworker not only listens to the client but also talks. A successful interview depends on the interviewer's skill in the art of talking & making comments. The comments of the caseworker should-
→ Be flexible with the client.
→ Be to client's language.
→ Avoid the use of technical words.
Answering personal questioning
During the Interview, the client asks different questions to the caseworker. The causes of these questions of the client are -
→ the curiosity of the client
→ Checking the caseworker's attention.
For this, the answer to the client's question from the caseworker should-
→ Be positive.
→ Be frank.
→ Be brief.
→ Be truthful.
So that he feels the caseworker is attentive to listen to his speech & find out his problem & solution.
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Leadership
Leadership is another technique of the Interview. Every interviewer should keep leadership in their hand. Because he possesses-
→ More experience.
→ More professional knowledge & skill.
→ More agency's policy.
For leadership, a caseworker should be intelligent to guide or direct the client to share his unexpressed speech, emotion & behaviour.
Interpretation
Interpretation means an explanation of the situation. By the interpretation, a caseworker can find out the clients.
→ Problem.
→ Causes of the problem.
→ Impact of the problem.
→ The treatment plan of the problem.
But this interpretation should be conscious. So that it doesn't carry a negative impact on the client's mind.
Termination/Closing the session
Termination is the last stage of the Interview. Under this, a caseworker tries to find out the solution to the client's problem & discuss with the client openly the problem & solution. For this, a caseworker should keep his sense alert to know –
→ Opinion of the client.
→ Role of the client.
→ Role & ability of the agency.
And it will be done to the client's satisfaction as possible.
Finally, we can say that Interview is a complicated process & the techniques of the Interview can possible are properly by the experience of the caseworker.
4 ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS OF A GOOD INTERVIEW
An interview is an effective process of data collection. The success & effectiveness of an interview depends on some conditions. According to Annette Garrett, an interview has four (4) states. These are-
1. physical setting of the Interview
2. recording
3. confidential nature of an interview
4. background knowledge of the interviewer
Regarding the conditions of a good interview, Hussain & Alauddin remark on the following requirements in their book-"Introduction to Social Work Method."
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Background knowledge
Background knowledge of the caseworker is the first & influential condition of a good interview. Every interviewer should possess some general knowledge regarding the Interview to properly take the Interview. About this, Annette Garrett says that-
To keep proper background knowledge, a caseworker should possess knowledge regarding the-.
→ representation of the agency
→ Rules & regulations of the agency.
→ Functions & limitations of the agency.
→ Knowledge of social casework.
→ Knowledge of other behavioural science.
Physical settings
Another condition of a good interview is the physical setting. Physical setting means the place where a discussion is held. For an excellent interview, the physical setting should contain a calm & comfortable atmosphere so that the client can express his internal & external things to the caseworker. In a physical setting, the rapport between the caseworker & client can carry the success of an interview.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is another condition of the Interview, which means secret information. Every individual has some secret things which don't want to share with others. These personal things can be about his conjugal life, income, & any crime.
But in the problem-solving process, a caseworker tries to know these secret things. For this, confidentiality is so important. If the client gets a confidential environment from the caseworker, then he feels free & will express his problem without any hesitation. So a caseworker should possess a unique environment for the client.
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Recording
All the interview information is impossible to keep in the mind of a caseworker. On the other hand, without recording data, a discussion is meaningless. For this reason, case recording is so important during the Interview. In the recording, a caseworker record client's-
→ Name & age.
→ Occupation.
→ past & present condition etc.
A recording will be free from broadness, so it can not carry the negative on the client's mind. To avoid the client's boredom, a caseworker should note the keywords of information so that he can recall & record the info next time.
Appointment & time
The last but not most minor condition of a good interview is appointment & time. In the Interview, appointment refers to preparing both caseworker & client from a previous time. For this, a caseworker communicates with the client & fixes the date & time for the Interview.
On the other hand, time refers to the duration of the interview session. It depends on the caseworker. For this, a caseworker should keep his sense alert on the client's mentality so that the client doesn't feel boring to provide an answer for a length of time.