The SWSE is a 52 item scale created following Bandura’s guidelines for the creation of self-efficacy scales (Bandura, 1997b). The SWSE takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. The SWSE’s readability estimate is Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 9.9. There is preliminary evidence regarding the reliability, validity and sensitivity to change of the data collected via the SWSE. 
Final version of background manuscript for citation: 
Holden, G., Meenaghan, T., Anastas, J. & Metrey, G. (2002). Outcomes of social work education: The case for social work self-efficacy. Journal of Social Work Education, 38, 1, 115-133

Anastas Jeane

Holden Gary

Meenaghan Thomas

Metrey George

New York University Faculty Digital Archive

The Social Work Self-Efficacy Scale (SWSE)

DSpace at New York University

 Social Work Self-Efficacy 
 
General Instructions:   
This is a voluntary, anonymous survey.  Although we do not want to know who you are, we do want to compare your answers 
now with your answers later.  Therefore, we need a number that only you will recognize, but that when you use it – we will be 
able to match your initial answers with your subsequent answers. Therefore, we want you to create your own identification 
number.   
Personal Identification Number Instructions: 
You will do this by filling in the answers to the following questions in the spaces provided below. Please print your answers 
clearly.  
1.  In the first two spaces below fill in the two numbers representing the month you were born (e.g., February = 02).   
2.  In the next space, indicate whether or not you own a laptop computer by circling the L if you do or circling the NL if you 
do not.   
3.  In the next space, fill in the two letter abbreviation of the state you have always wanted to live in (e.g., New York = NY) but 
have not lived in as of September 1, 2000.   
4.  In the next space fill in the name of your all time favorite pet.   
5.  In the last space, circle the sex (F or M) and then fill in the last name of your favorite undergraduate professor.   
 
 
 
____ ____ L NL   ___ ___    __________________________     F    M   _____________________________ 
Mo. born  Laptop/No Laptop State I have      Favorite pet’s name       UG Prof's sex & last name 
      always wanted  
      to live in 
Scale Completion Instructions:  
We want to know how confident you are, in your ability to perform specific social work tasks.  After you consider each task, 
please rate your confidence in your ability to perform that task successfully, by circling the number from 0 to 100 that best 
describes your level of confidence.  What we mean here by successfully, is that you would be able to perform the specific task in a 
manner that a social work supervisor would consider excellent.  The phrases above the numbers [ 0 = Can not do at all; 50 = 
Moderately certain can do; and  100 = Certain can do ] are only guides.  You can use these numbers or any of the numbers in between 
to describe your level of confidence. We want to know how confident you are that you could successfully perform these tasks 
today. 
   2 
 How confident are you that you can. . . . . Cannot  
do at all 
    Moderately 
certain can do 
         Certain 
     can do 
1.  initiate and sustain empathic, culturally sensitive, non-judgmental, 
disciplined relationships with clients? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
2.  elicit and utilize knowledge about historical, cognitive, behavioral, 
affective, interpersonal, and socioeconomic data and the range of 
factors impacting upon client to develop biopsychosocial assessments 
and plans for intervention?  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
3.  apply developmental, behavioral science and social theories in your 
work with individuals, groups and families? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
4.  understand the dialectic of internal conflict and social forces in a 
particular case?  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
5.  intervene effectively with individuals? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
6.  intervene effectively with families? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
7.  intervene effectively with groups?  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
8.  work with various systems to obtain services for clients (e.g., public 
assistance, housing, Medicaid, etc.)  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
9.  assume the social work role of change agent / advocate by identifying 
and working to realistically address gaps in services to clients? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
10.  function effectively as a member of a service team within the agency 
and service delivery system, consistently fulfilling organizational and 
client-related responsibilities? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
   3 
 
 How confident are you that you can. . . . . Cannot  
do at all 
    Moderately 
certain can do 
         Certain 
     can do 
11.  maintain self-awareness in practice, recognizing your own personal 
values and biases, and preventing or resolving their intrusion into 
practice? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
12.  critically evaluate your own practice, seeking guidance appropriately 
and pursuing ongoing professional development?  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
13.  practice in accordance with the ethics and values of the profession?  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
14.  analyze a critical piece of welfare legislation? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
15.  define the impact of a major social policy on vulnerable client 
populations (e.g., the Welfare Reform Act)?  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
16.  use library and on-line resources to retrieve published articles and 
reports from the empirical research literature?  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
17.  critically review and understand the scholarly literature? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
18.  evaluate your own practice using an appropriate research method (e.g.,  
single system designs, brief measures such as scales, indexes, or 
checklists)? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
19.  participate in using research methods to address problems encountered 
in practice and agency based settings? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
   4 
 
 How confident are you that you can . . . . . Cannot  
do at all 
    Moderately 
certain can do 
         Certain 
     can do 
20.  teach clients skills to relieve their own stress? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
21.  educate clients about how to prevent certain problems from 
reoccuring?  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
22.  help clients to reduce dysfunctional ways of thinking that contribute to 
their problems? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
23.  help clients to anticipate situations that can cause problems for them? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
24.  teach clients specific skills to deal with certain problems? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
25.  help clients to understand better how the consequences of their 
behavior affect their problems? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
26.  teach clients how to manage difficult feelings? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
27.  demonstrate to clients how to express their thoughts and feelings more 
effectively to others? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
28.  help clients to practice their new problem-solving skills outside of 
treatment visits? 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
29.  teach communication skills to clients? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
30.  teach clients how to manage their own problem behaviors? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
31.  show clients how to reward themselves for progress with a problem? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
32.  teach clients how to accomplish tasks more effectively? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
 
   5 
 
 
 How confident are you that you can . . . . . Cannot  
do at all 
    Moderately 
certain can do 
         Certain 
     can do 
33.  coach clients in how to make decisions more effectively? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
34.  teach clients the skills for reducing unhealthful habits? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
35.  show them how to set limits with others’ dysfunctional behavior? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
36.  assess the level of their material resources? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
37.  monitor the delivery of services provided by several other providers? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
38.  advocate on others behalf? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
39.  make referrals to other services? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
40.  analyze social problems and policies relevant to the client’s problems? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
41.  provide information about other services available to clients?  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
42.  network with agencies to coordinate services? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
43.  reflect thoughts and feelings to help clients feel understood? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
44.  employ empathy to help clients feel that they can trust you?  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
45.  provide emotional support for clients?  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
46.  help clients feel like they want to open up to you?  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
47.  employ the treatment relationship so clients can feel accepted for who 
they are?  
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
 
   6 
 
 How confident are you that you  can. . . . . Cannot  
do at all 
    Moderately 
certain can do 
         Certain 
     can do 
48.  point out their successes to increase their self-confidence? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
49.  define the client’s problems in specific terms?  0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
50.  collaborate with clients in setting intervention goals? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
51.  define treatment objectives in specific terms? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
52.  ask clients to evaluate the effects of treatment on themselves? 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 
 
Please fill in any comments that you would like to share with us.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks for your help!  


http://archive.nyu.edu/bitstream/2451/23613/2/SWSE-PRE.pdf

The Social Work Self-Efficacy Scale (SWSE)

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New York University Faculty Digital Archive

DSpace at New York University