Abstract
M.A. (Social Work)
The focus of the research of this dissertation was to
study the movement away from the use of the medical
model in social work. To facilitate the study of this
movement, it was necessary for the candidate to familiarize
herself with the technology and terminology
associated with the medical model originally formulated
by Mary Richmond (1922) and later developed by authors
like Aptekar (1936), Hollis (1951), Maas (1958) and
others as discussed in chapter two. As social work
practice moved away from a medical procedure, substitute
technology and terminology developed. From an investigation
into recent publications on the subject the
candidate found that the more recent models for social
work practice accommodate the use of substitute
technology which includes professional procedures such
as assessment, gathering of base line information, the
drawing up of contracts, the use of measurement scales
and goal orientated helping processes. Examples of such
models are included in this dissertation are the models
based on life task centeredness, crisis intervention and
competency. In these models, assessment is regarded as
the appropriate professional activity and a substitute
for diagnosis as prescribed in the medical model. As a
result of technological changes in social work practice,
the candidate became aware of the development of substitute
terminology to endorse the technology peculiar to
the profession. Medical terms like pathology, problem,
symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, therapist,
remediation and patient are replaced by development,
dysfunction, indicators, assessment, pre-estimation,
intervention or helping, counsellor, and client.
The empirical investigation for this dissertation
indicates that there is a movement away from medical
technology an terminology in the training of undergraduate
social work students.