Beyond Methodology. The problematic concept of implementing methodology - the case of social welfare evaluation in Sweden

When discussing choice of methodology in evaluation studies, it is wise to reflect upon organizational considerations concerning contracting, conducting and utilization. Based upon research conducted among social workers in Sweden this paper focuses upon possibilities and problems in knowledge dissemination and usage. Powerful institutions in Sweden are now encouraging knowledge development of social services. The goal presented being to modernize social service organizations through the use of evaluations as a working concept. The premise being then that intervention should be based upon how services are valued by clients. Although the case is from Sweden it is argued that the topic crosses international boundaries. The paper stresses a multi-theoretical framework in order to understand this process. Such a framework is applied

Utvärderaren, de utvärderade och den värderande texten

Utvärderingar framställs som attraktiva och oundgängliga samtidigt som det förekommer begränsad kunskap om deras faktiska relevans och om utvärderares arbete. Utvärdering är numera såväl ett självständigt forskningsområde med en vetenskaplig och disciplinär utveckling som en praktik som bedrivs av forskare med vetenskapliga ambitioner, konsulter som arbetar på uppdrag och medarbetare inom organisationer som vill utveckla sitt arbete. Begreppet utvärdering har beskrivits som en semantisk magnet av prof Evert Vedung. Och nog är det lockande och attraktivt i många läger. Detta trots att det finns tämligen begränsad kunskap om hur utvärdering bedrivs och vad det leder till. I detta paper presenteras delar av en undersökning av det nutida utvärderandets teori, metod och funktion.1 Hur utförs utvärderingar och vilka intressen styr? Frågan är angelägen att besvara inte minst mot bakgrund av den ökande utvärderingsverksamheten vid såväl universitet och forsknings- och utvecklingsinstitutioner som inom kommunala, statliga och privata verksamheter. Undersökningen har anknutit till den vetenskapliga diskussionen kring utvärderingars teori och användningssammanhang liksom till förekomsten av specifika utvärderingsmodeller och deras relevans

On Equal Terms - a University Course for Social Work Students and Service Users

It is crucial for social work education to provide opportunities for students to gain a sincere and genuine knowledge of the conditions of life that are common for their forthcoming clients and patients. Social work students and service users with experiences with multiple social and personal problems now meet, as they are participants in an experimental course at the School of Social Work in Lund, Sweden. In this paper the teachers report their experiences

Durable Homelessness: From Negotiations to Emulation

In recent decades, Sweden has seen extensive change in its housing policy, with emphasis shifting from “good housing for all” to marketisation and the supposed benefits of private ownership (Bengtsson, 2013; Grander, 2018). Consequently, Swedish society is now facing increasing homelessness rates, including whole new groups of social service clients due to housing shortages and people’s difficulties accessing the housing market. This article examines the complexities emerging from diverging institutional frames and points specifically to a dividing line between those who can access housing independently and those who need support from the social services. The article describes how such a categorical division/dividing line is institutionalised in the organisation of the social services’ work with homelessness and points to causes and effects of this situation. The case study is based on interviews and documents. The interviewees are staff from the municipal social services and the municipal public housing company. Our theoretical point of departure is Tilly’s (1999) “categorical inequality,” using exploitation, opportunity hoarding, emulation, and adaptation to explain how homelessness is (created and) maintained in our case study. The results show the dependency of social services on external actors and demonstrate the problematic consequences both for those referred to social services and for the practical work within them, including a requirement to stringently control clients. The results further show how it is possible for the social services to maintain collaboration with (public) housing companies at the same time as the most vulnerable clients are permanently denied housing