This article reports the development and initial validation of the Social Work Values Inventory
(SWVI). The SWVI was developed by using six tasks compiled by the author from the general
literature on instrumentation. They include (a) developing a definition of values, (b) using the
literature to select those values to be measured by the instrument, (c) using a theory of instrument
construction, (d) relating the definition of values to the actual instrument, (e) developing
unambiguous stimuli, and (f) determining scaling and scoring techniques. Preliminary reliability
estimates ranged from acceptable to good across four data collections. Examinations of content,
factorial, and construct validity provided excellent support of the instrument as a valid measure
of social work practice values.
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