Assignment Overview
Three of the four assignments in this course deal with the place of theory in social work practice. A solid understanding of the theoretical basis for understanding human social behavior is vital for deciding on the best approach to clients on a case-by-case basis. In all three of these assignments, you will be using a character from a movie as a foundational case study. The film you select should depict factors of childhood development. Suggested films that meet the criteria of this assignment include:
Washington, D. (Director). (2002). Antwone Fisher [Film]. Fox Searchlight Pictures; Mundy Lane Entertainment.
Boyle, D., & Tandan, L. (Directors). (2008). Slumdog millionaire. Warner Bros; Fox Searchlight Pictures; Celador Films; Film4; Pathé.
Daldry, S. (Director). (2011). Extremely loud and incredibly close. Warner Bros; Scott Rudin Productions; Paramount Pictures.
By successfully completing this assignment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following CSWE EPAS competencies and behaviors:
CSWE EPAS Competency 4: Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
C4.GP.B: Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings.
Related assignment criterion:
Integrate research-based knowledge and practice wisdom to identify key components of a chosen developmental theory.
CSWE EPAS Competency 6: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
C6.GP.A: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies.
Related assignment criterion:
Summarize how an understanding of child development can be integrated into personal social work practice when engaging with clients.
CSWE EPAS Competency 7: Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
C7.GP.B: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies.
Related assignment criterion:
Assess the specific developmental tasks or crises that are being experienced by a chosen character in the case study through the lens of a chosen developmental theory.
CSWE EPAS Competency 8: Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.​
​C8.GP.B: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies.
Related assignment criterion:
Explain how a chosen case study depicts the resolution of a developmental crisis or task for a chosen character.
CSWE EPAS Competency 9: Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
C9.GP.B: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes.
Related assignment criterion:
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a chosen developmental theory.
Assignment Description
In this first assignment, you are tasked with identifying a developmental theory to apply to the character or family in a movie as your foundational case study. Use the resources below for guidance on finding relevant articles in the Capella library.
Social Work Bachelor’s Program Library GuideLinks to an external site..
Evidence and APALinks to an external site..
Writing CenterLinks to an external site..
Be sure to read the instructions below carefully, and always review the rubric to be clear on the grading criteria.
Assignment Instructions
Review your chosen case study (that is, the movie) and identify the developmental theory that you wish to apply. Make sure you provide a brief introduction to the character you chose to analyze as a case study for the assignments in this course. Include the character’s demographics and write a statement of the presenting problem, as these will frame you developmental theory identification and evaluation in this assignment.
The bullet points below correspond to grading criteria in the rubric. You may also want to read the rubric to better understand the performance levels that relate to each grading criterion. In your paper:
Integrate research-based knowledge and practice wisdom to identify key components of the chosen developmental theory.
Make sure you address how your chosen theory applies to your chosen character from the case study (movie)
Focus on the developmental tasks or crises that are connected to this age group with regard to biological, psychological, and social factors.
Make sure the childhood developmental theory (Piaget, Vygotsky, Erickson, et cetera) you are choosing is applicable and relevant to your chosen case.
Assess the specific developmental tasks or crises that are being experienced by the chosen character in the case study through the lens of the chosen developmental theory.
Address the biological, psychological, and social factors that are relevant in your assessment.
Think about how using a developmental theory guide the assessment process.
Explain how a chosen case study depicts the resolution of a developmental crisis or task for a chosen character.
Did someone intervene? If so, how did they intervene?
How does the resolution for your chosen character as depicted in the film compare to your chosen developmental theory?
Evaluate the strengths and weakness of the developmental theory you chose.
Make sure you are citing scholarly and professional resources to support your evaluation.
Summarize how an understanding of child development can be integrated into personal social work practice when engaging with clients.
In what ways will understanding child development help improve your efficacy as a social work practitioner?
How can integrating your understanding of child development help you to better engage with clients from diverse backgrounds?
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the social work profession.
Additional Requirements
The assignment you submit is expected to meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style and formatting standards.
Number of resources: A minimum of three scholarly sources. Most literature cited should be current, with publication dates within the past five years.
Length of paper: A minimum of four typed, double-spaced typed pages.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Due date: The assignment must be submitted to your instructor in the courseroom by the end of this week.