MSW Students’ Understanding of Social Location: The Development of a Positionality Measure
Date
2015Author
Peña, Stephanie Lechuga
Klawetter, Susanne
Begun, Stephanie
Brown, Samantha
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The current study presents findings from a pilot study of a positionality measure, developed to
assess MSW students’ understanding of positionality encountered in field practice settings.
Positionality refers to one’s social location and worldview, which influences how one responds
to power differentials in various contexts. This construct is important for social work, as one’s
own positionality impacts one’s approach when working with clients, during community
engagement, and policy-making. As such, this study examined the utility of developing a
positionality measure to assess how MSW students understand and respond to issues related to
power, privilege, and oppression in field practice settings. The current study highlights the
process of developing and piloting the positionality measure, and preliminary findings from the
dissemination of the measure to a sample of MSW students (N = 103) engaged in field
placements. Future opportunities for item refinement, including the further establishment of
reliability and validity for the measure are discussed.