The relationship between cosmopolitan/local orientation and job competency of child protective service workers
Abstract
Variables thought to be associated with worker competence were isolated in this study of 185 protective service workers from eight public child welfare agencies. Three hypotheses were tested to determine if; (1) role orientation of workers affected their job competence, (2) a relationship existed between specific role orientations and demographic characteristics and (3) if role orientations affected job competency. Factor analysis confirmed the separate dimensions of Cosmopolitan, Cosmo-Local and Local. Cosmopolitans appeared to be those workers who were committed to professional role development, read journals, participated in professional organizations and were willing to relocate for a professional job. Locals were those who were less committed to professional role development, but more interested in the development of community affairs to the exclusion of national or world affairs. Cosmo-Locals were a hybrid of the two dimensions. Analysis of variance and crosstabulations were used to test the dimensions of orientation with job competency. No statistical significance was found among any of the variables. However, it appeared that the majority of workers had bachelor's degrees, although not in a human service related field. Twenty-percent of the sample had Master's degrees. Cosmopolitans tended to be those workers who were 40 years of age and older, and had Master's degrees. Cosmo-Locals and Locals tended to be those workers 30 years of age and under with less than a Master's degree. Those with Master's degrees tended to earn the highest score on the job competency measure and were less likely than their colleagues to earn the lowest score. Those with Master's and Bachelor's degrees scored higher than those with less than a Bachelor's degree. Workers with undergraduate majors in social work were more likely to score higher than lower on the job competency measure. Those with undergraduate majors unrelated to the human service professions were more likely to score lower than higher on the measure. The outcome is that education and training have a tendency to affect job competency. It was also noted that the concept of job competency is multi-dimensional. Further research is needed to refine this concept. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)
Subject Area
Social work|Welfare|Social structure
Recommended Citation
Kinsella, Susan K, "The relationship between cosmopolitan/local orientation and job competency of child protective service workers" (1990). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9111340.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9111340
