Explore the Attitudes of 4th Year Social Care Students in Athlone IT to Social Care Practice

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

The research aims at exploring the attitude of 4th year of social care students towards social care practices. This research explore basic concepts of social care practices, as social care and social work is a profession where social care practitioners work in collaboration with the people who have been experiencing disadvantages or marginalisation or people who have special needs. It further explains the role of ethics in social care practices and students' attitude towards social care profession. According to a study conducted by Karger and Stoesz, (2003), students tend to enjoy more in practical experiences. Students' perceptions tend to change from the time when they enter the course of social care practice education and by the time they graduate with a degree. Through questionnaire survey, it is identified that institutes needs to have professionally trained teachers and expertise who help in creating positive academic experience among students and also about adopting social care as a profession in future. One of the major concerns among students was related to the safety issues related to the profession. The students believe that the profession involves significant level of ethical dilemmas.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii

DECLARATIONiii

ABSTRACTiv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Background1

Research Aim1

Research Objectives1

Research Questions2

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY3

Research Method3

Research Approach3

Data Collection Sources3

Secondary Resource3

Primary Data Sources4

Data Collection Method5

Questionnaire5

Sampling Technique6

Participants6

Data Analysis6

Reliability7

Validity8

Limitations9

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS10

Results10

Discussion24

Influence of Social Care Education on the Attitudes of Social Care Students24

Attitudes towards Social Care Profession among 4th Year Social Care Student25

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION27

REFERENCES29

APPENDICES31

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Research Background

Social work education involves educating and training students in the best manner so that they are able to work as a practitioner. The social care education provided at Athlone IT helps students in learning knowledge, proficiencies, attitude and skills that are unique to social care practitioner. Here students undertake detailed information in the field of therapy in order to facilitate the involvement of the social care practitioners. In spite of institutes like Athlone IT providing professional trainings and skills to the students, social care profession has been perceived very differently by various students. This study focuses on identifying the attitude of students of 4th social care towards the social practices.

Research Aim

The research aims at exploring the attitude of 4th year of social care students towards social care practices.

Research Objectives

To understand the influence of social care education on attitudes of social care students.

To explore the attitudes towards the social care profession among 4th year social care students.

Research Questions

The research seeks to answer following questions:

How social care education influences the attitude ...