TITLE: Understanding Ethical Dilemmas in Social Work Practice

Prepared by: Mike Scott D. Reyes, RSW

INTRODUCTION:

Professional Code of Ethics are established per profession and its positive contribution to
the professionals’ performances are apparent. To focus on one side, social workers are guided
by the code of ethics set as standards by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
According to the article Why the Social Work Code of Ethics is Important (University of Nevada,
2018), code of ethics will offer clarity ang guidance to the worker as to what possible decision
should be made in order to address a certain problem that the client is facing, at the same time,
offer the best intervention to the client and to guide the workers’ approach and interaction to the
client. This study is intended to determine the ways of the workers in making decisions when
faced with dilemmas in social work settings. This concept is based on the various insights from
the various researchers to bridge the gap in knowledge about the ways of the workers in dealing
with social work ethical dilemmas.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:

The purpose of this study is to allow the readers, especially for those professionals who
are striving to obtain valuable knowledge in social works to determine the actual decision-making
methods that social workers use in facing ethical dilemmas in the different field of social work
practice. Dudgeler (2018) claimed that the heart of social work is the ethics itself, it is important
to discuss and develop focus on the worker’s ability to overcome dilemmas in practicing the code
of ethics in our profession to enhance the social worker’s competence and credibility to handle
clients in the field of social work. Furthermore, it is also beneficial to explore the topic, Guttmann
(2006) expressed that learning the proper ways of handling ethical dilemmas will help social
workers to practice the standards set by the social work profession. It is, therefore, necessary to
increase learning in line with this topic to educate social workers from different fields of social
works to identify the proper ways of handling dilemmas involving social work professional ethics.
PRELIMINARY LITERATURE OF REVIEW:

Several resources are available to support the study of ethical dilemmas faced by social
workers. The National Association for Social Workers updated the code of ethics which includes
the professional self-care of the workers. The code of ethics is also set to guide and implement
the standards which are applicable to professional social workers and social work students
(NASW, 2021). Nevertheless, circumstances where a social workers values are challenges were
inevitable (Kirst-Ashman, 2017). When working with clients with different circumstances, it
requires different intervention as they apply the principle of individualization. In line with the issue,
social workers will be faced with dilemmas as to what values should they uphold. To prioritize one
value will violate another value, hence, worker facing dilemmas.

In addition, Murphy (2007) argued that in order to practice ethically in social work
profession, one must abide to the set standards of the profession, however, there will be situation
where two values will be in conflict which will result for the client to be put in a jeopardizing
situation. Reamer (2002) offered different ways on how to effectively handle such situation
involving ethical dilemmas, one of which is to evaluate the actions if is it ethical or unethical,
consider other relevant and legal actions, and identify other applicable standards. In generating
significant studies in social work profession, it is greatly recognized that social workers should
consider the practice of handling such cases involving ethical dilemmas. On the contrary, social
workers who are unable to handle such situation received adverse effects. Based on the study of
McAuffie (2005), social workers involved in scenarios involving ethical dilemmas are most likely
to suffer from emotional, psychological and behavioral problems. Some of theme suffered from
depression, isomia and social withdrawal.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

The proposed research paper seeks to achieve its general objective in Ethical Dilemmas faced
by Professional Social Workers in different Social Work areas by focusing on the following:

1. To determine the methods of social workers in handling ethical dilemmas in everyday

practice, and

2. To uncover how professional social workers understand the code of ethics as standards in the
profession and how they understand ethical dilemmas that are present in their everyday
practice.
RESEARCH QUESTION AND HYPOTHESIS:

1. What are their understanding in Social Work code of ethics in dealing ethical dilemmas?

2. How do Social Workers understand ethical dilemmas?

2. What methods do Social Workers utilize to address ethical dilemmas in social work practice?

PROPOSED METHODOLOGY:

The study intends to utilize purposive sampling to determine professional social workers
to identify their used methods in handling scenarios involving ethical dilemmas in social work
practice. The study will sample 20 participants who are currently working as social workers in
different fields. The collection of qualitative data will be through a one-on-one interview which also
includes a brief introduction and discussion of the study. The interview will be the tool in order to
gather the demographic profile of the participants, as well as the knowledge of the workers in
handling ethical dilemmas including values and laws and how it affects the well-being of the
worker. Interviews will be conducted face-to-face and online though zoom meeting. There will be
an informed consent provided for each of the respondents.

PROPOSED RESEARCH TIMELINE:

The research is expected to be completed in 24 weeks with the following indicated as the
activity’s duration for every portion of the research study:

a. Title 1 week

b. Introduction 1 week

c. Literature Review 4 weeks

d. Methods 2 weeks

e. Data Collection 10 weeks

f. Data analysis 1 week

g. Results 2 weeks

h. Discussion 3 weeks
REFERENCES

Arambula, A. (2023). Understanding ethical dilemmas in social work practice. California State
University, San Bernadino. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd

Dudgeler, C. (2018). Social work values and ethics (Modern ed.). South Carolina University
Press, Tosh and Mac Press

Guttmann, D. K. (2006) . Ethical decision making: The person in the process. Social Work,
45(3), 201-212

Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2017). Introduction to social work & social welfare: Critical thinking
Perspectives. Cengage Learning.

McAuliffe, D. (2005). I’m still standing: Impacts & consequences of ethical dilemmas for social
workers in direct practice. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 2(1), 1-10.

Murphy, M. (2007). Ethical decision making: The person in the process. Social Work, 45(3), 201-
212

National Association of Social Workers (2017). Code of ethics.

https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

University of Nevada, Reno (2018). Why the social work code of ethics is important.
https://www.unr.edu/social-work/about