Measuring Social Work Competencies: Comparing Field Instructor, Classroom Instructor, and Student Self-Assessment Competency Ratings

Using data from a large full-time social work program, we examine variation within and across three measures of MSW student competency: field instructor ratings, classroom instructor ratings, and student self-assessments through foundation and advanced years. The use of multiple student-level measures with identical wording and parallel response categories allowed analysis at the level of practice behaviors; by rolling up, or combining, these measures, we compared data at the level of competencies. Data reflected increased student competency over time and revealed similarities and notable differences between field and classroom instructor measures and in comparison to student self-assessments. Given the emphasis on competency-based education in social work, it is important to investigate competency assessment and the validity of measures used.