Abstract

ASSESSMENT TOOLS AS OUTCOME MEASURES IN SOCIAL WORK

Walter W. Hudson, Ph.D. Professor School of Social Work Arizona State University Tempe, AZ

This paper briefly traces the history of modern measurement and its applications in social work. Measurement tools are then discussed as assessment devices in the conduct of practice and as outcome measures used to evaluate practice at programmatic levels and on a case by case basis. The principle aim is to consider what might be the measurement state of the art in assessment and evaluation, its relationship to computer technology and some of the lessons learned over the past 25 years. The chapter also looks to the future of measurement technology in practice, the evaluation of programs and practice, research and development issues, and the use of computers in practice, program evaluation, and quality assurance monitoring and management.

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