Differences in Patterns of Value Orientation of Israeli and American Social Work Students and Faculty

Abstract

Cross-cultural studies of social work programs indicate that social workers in different countries differ in setting priorities, designing service delivery systems, and in their choices of practice interventions. Although there may be agreement on abstract concepts such as the dignity of the individual, the right to self-deter mination, etc., the operationalization of these concepts in actual programs and practice differ widely among social workers in different countries. This study represents an initial effort to identify differences in social work students and faculty in two countries, Israel and the United States. A questionnaire based on the Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck approach to the definition and measurement of value orientations was administered to 231 Israeli and 135 American students, as well as 21 Israeli and 23 American faculty of professional schools of social work. Significant differences were found between Israeli students and faculty and the U.S. students and faculty on dominant value patterns. These differences were not found to vary between beginning and graduating students and, thus, were associated with cultural differences and not the educational process.