Information-Search and Decision-Making by Professionals and Nonprofessionals in Cases of Alleged Child-Abuse and Maltreatment
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11214914 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rami Benbenishty (0000-0003-4041-9650, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, corresponding author), Dan Segev (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Tami Surkis (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) |
| Year | 2002 |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 1-18 |
| Publication date | 2002-10-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Social Service Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0148-8376 • E-ISSN: 1540-7314 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1300/j079v28n03_01 |
| OpenAlex | W2085282942 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 16 |
The aim of this study is to identify the ways in which decision-makers search for information and use it to reach their risk-assessments and their recommendations of whether to remove children from home. We compare the decision-making process of social work professionals, social work trainees and nonprofessionals, and we assess how they are influenced by information on physical abuse to the child. We used three convenience samples of 100 respondents each: certified social workers working toward their second degree, social work trainees, and students in the B.A. program in the School of Business Administration. We provided subjects with minimal referral information on a case of alleged child abuse or maltreatment and asked them to make initial judgments and recommendations on the case. We then presented a list of available additional information cues about the case. We traced what the information cues were that the respondents looked for. We manipulated the information provided to respondents: one version described physical signs of abuse and the other did not. We found that information on signs of physical abuse had significant impact on risk-judgments, removal recommendations and information search patterns. There were significant differences between the three groups in their assessment of risk and recommendations for removal. Furthermore, there were certain differences in the ways they selected information. Nonprofessionals tended to assess higher risk, recommend removal, and were influenced by information on physical abuse more than the other two groups
Child abuse · Medical emergency · Physical abuse · Poison control · Referral · Work (physics · Applied Psychology · Child Abuse and Trauma · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies · Social Work
Decision making in child protection
Noise beyond the curriculum? The influence of social work education on risk assessments
Priorities and determinants of priorities of Swedish social workers
How do social work novices and experts solve professional problems? A micro-analysis of epistemic activities and the use of evidence
Portuguese adopted adolescents' perception of attachment relationships to parents
Children at risk
Risk perceptions and experience in child protection decision-making
Resilience among adolescents in foster care
| Unique citing works | 8 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,36 |
| Citation span | 2004 - 2026 (23) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |