• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• no.36
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• pp.227-252
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• 2008

This study investigated the relation between social worker's beliefs on the nature of scientific knowledge which has been classified objectivism and constructivism and social work practice. As an epistemological position, constructivism is based on a view of knowledge that differs from that of objectivism, which holds that knowledge exists "out there" as objective truth. The focus of this paper is a examination on epistemological beliefs of social worker and social work practice. This paper proves that social work's epistemological beliefs have an effect on the practice modes. This research indicates that social works have a higher constructivist veiws than objectivist veiws on the nature of scientific knowledge. And social worker who have a high level of objectivism show a positive determinative mode. It has suggested that the constructive theory offers useful epistemology to the social worker who should deal with the clients in uncertain situations. In conclusion, a social worker with a high level of constructivism use an approach that creats a more equitable relationship between social worker and client. This perspective will allows cliens to participate in the formulation of theories in practice.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.349-373
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• 2010

The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze the way of knowledge production in social welfare and to graft feminist epistemology to the discipline of social welfare. To put it more concretely, as analyzing the epistemological and methodological issues appeared in the articles in "orean Journal of Social Welfare", this study examines the meanings of feminist epistemology and its implications to research and practice in social welfare. From its onset, feminist research criticized the 'mainstream' ways of conceptualizing knowledge construction via research conducted upon a positivist epistemological position. Particularly, western feminists have problematized the androcentric bias embedded within the so-called 'social sciences' that we have taken for granted as 'scientific,' 'objective,' and 'neutral,' and attempted to redirect and reformulate the way of knowledge production with new concepts of 'strong objectivity,' 'partial/situated knowledge,' and 'strong reflection.' We believe that the implications of feminist epistemology to enable us to reflect the power relationship between subject and object, I and Other, and the researcher and the researched will contribute to recover the original vision of social welfare as critical theory and liberating practice in social work.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.195-214
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• 2004

As one of the essential elements of social work practice, knowledge articulates what the social work profession is doing and ought to do. With an emphasis on building a body of knowledge for the profession, this study analyses the nature of social work knowledge. First, the study examines concepts of social work theories and models, which are built around separate clusters of concepts from a broad base of theoretical orientation. The study reviews epistemological and ideological debates over how to perceive and approach social issues and the role of the social work profession. In organizing a clear conceptual framework for social work practice, different frames of reference and selective and fragmentary knowledge from other disciplines are considered barriers. For the development of a clear identity as a unified profession and the prospects of a value-based profession, more attention needs to be given to specify practical knowledge that is contextual and appropriate to practice settings and more sensitive to social issues.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.465-497
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• 2013

This paper criticizes the ontological and epistemological dichotomy in social sciences including social welfare and probes into Critical Realism as an alternative paradigm. Many theories for social welfare have adhered to dichotomous ontological standpoint, 'agency' vs. 'social structure', and Eco-system approach have occupied dominant position to integrate this dichotomy. These theoretical standpoint have had great influence on social work practice. On the other hand, dichotomous epistemological standpoint which is constituted of different views of phenomena, 'positivism' and 'constructionism', have had great influence on social work research and practice. These dichotomous ontological and epistemological approach have a limit to reveal qualitative nature of the relationship between agency and social structure, to ponder the deeper reality, the mechanism of stratified reality, and the reality being independent of agency. Replacing these approaches, Critical Realism unfold the theoretical potential as an alternative paradigm for social welfare through the discussion on stratified realty(the empirical, the actual, and the real), intransitive/transitive dimension, double hermeneutics in these dimensions, and the conditions for conceptualization, duality of structure and practice, transformation model of agency and structure.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.231-253
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• 2014

This paper aims to investigate epistemic principles and practical virtue items in Confucism about formation of social capital in a community. First, I have reviewed the basic perspective of Confucism utilizing holistic point of view, which is based on the theory of Yum-Yang, and human relationship in terms of role harmony, which is based on the theory of Si-Wi. I have then explored several items, some of which are Jung and Hwa as an internal value criterion, Ui and Ye as an external one. Analyzing other items such as In and Deok as directional items, Chung-Seo and Hyeol-ku-ji-do as epistemic items and Hyo and Ye as practical ones, I have found out that all of them, mentioned above functioned as factors of social capital in a community. Therefore, we emphasize that Confucian epistemic principles and practical virtue items can not only function as components of social capital in modern communities but have useful and practical implications for policy in modern community welfare.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.247-278
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• 2018

Anti-oppressive practice (AOP) is a form of social work practice that has developed in the UK. In South Korea, Anti-oppressive social work has not been widely studied / explored unlike in other countries in the world. Its main principles, social justice and human rights, have become commonplace. AOP includes transformational practice because its orientation emphasizes social change through celebrating diverse identities and rejecting hierarchies of oppression and prestige. Recently, a growing body of literature on social work with foreign workers has resulted in an increased understanding of its population and its needs. It needs a theoretical and practical framework for foreign workers necessary to inform effective models of service delivery, reflecting cultural competence, and changing oppressive social structure. In this paper, we will introduce the main principles of AOP, analyse written texts reflected by foreign workers and social work practitioners' opinion, and suggest the implications on possibilities and constraints of applicability to foreign workers in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.139-162
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• 2014

This paper critically examines the existing discourses about 'relationship', a key element of social work practice and questingly examines Lao-tzu's work of Tao Te Ching, the book of way and virtue, as an alternative theoretical framework for social work relationship. Compared to current discourses of relationship beleaguered by either modernism or postmodernism, both of which are in the deadlock of binary perspective, the insights and vision in Tao Te Ching are successfully able to overcome the limits of them and provide new and profound way of thinking about human, society and their relationship. Especially core cannons crystallized by natural humanistic concepts for cosmos coupled with innate critical power against artificial manipulations of world can extend the horizon of understanding concerning the relationship between client and social workers and therefore provide a new and attractive roles in professional relationship. Moreover, opposed to usual images of Lao-tzu's ideas such as nihilism and passivity, alternative relationship of social work can play an important role of caring the disordered reality where Dao disappered and criticise the selfish desires of individuals and comport the broken-hearted minds in modern society. In addition, results of this paper implies that more extended study articulating ideas of Tao Te Ching with the social work practice would have lots of potentials to promote later researches in quest of 'Korean' social work practice.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.220-234
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to understand the types and features of subjectivity perceptions of the police by applying Q methodology that draw upon schematic model in subjectivity study. A survey was carried out among police officers in Gangwon province, South Korea, to classify the 61 selected Q-statements into a normal distribution using a 11 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using QUANL program, and principal component factor analysis using varimax rotation was used to identify the types of perceived image of the police. Type I can be categorized by a strong concern for the education & manpower management, Type II can be categorized by advocating for duty observance, Type III can be categorized by the pursuit of publicized police image and Type IV can be categorized by the suggestions for legal improvement. The use of Q methodology provides insights into the image of the police that would not be available through traditional methodologies and offers a foundation for essential efforts to address and overcome concerns about the image of the police.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.971-984
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is twofold: to theoretically review the 'resources-based view' (RBV) developed by D. Hammer and his colleagues as an alternative cognitive theory and to illustrate the usefulness of the theory by applying it to interpret a science learning activity in which undergraduate students worked together to construct a model of the seasons. The theoretical review was based on the exploration of relevant literature and dealt mainly with three types of resources: conceptual, epistemological, and practical resources. The trial application revealed that scientific models have been developed through the combination of different pieces of conceptual resources activated from participants, rather than emerging as unitary wholes. However, all the activated resources were not included into a model, and some of the conceptual resources acted as constraints to constructing a scientific model. The implications included that science educators should be attentive and responsive to students' resources and help them use the resources productively to learn science.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.367-389
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to find out perception types of service practitioners working for intellectually disabled adults on the relationships with their service users who use residential and domiciliary care services. For this purpose, this study adopted two research methods: Q-methodology and survey. This study found out three major types of practitioners' perception on the relationships with their service users. The first is the type of superficial orientation for equal relationship. The second is the type of reflective recognition on the driven relationships by practitioners. The third is that of compassionate at the advocacy for service users. In the result of survey in which respondents are practitioners working in residential care homes, small group homes and community service centers, 48.2% of respondents show the first type, 40.5% the second, 11.1% the third. Recently, in the area of personal social service for the intellectually disabled people, the importance of service users' participation and self-determination in the process of service provision is gaining higher concerns. In this context, making change on relationships between service workers and users is raised as important issue. In this environment, the results of this study could be useful to develop equal and supporting relationships.