Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and

Correlates
Stephanie Valutis, Ph.D.
Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA
[email protected]

Deborah Rubin, Ph.D.

Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA
[email protected]

Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, Volume 13, Number 1 (2016) Copyright 2016, ASWB
 
This text may be freely shared among individuals, but it may not be republished in any medium without
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Abstract States, the preamble of the National Association of

This quantitative study explores the experience Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics identifies
and correlates of categories of reported value the core values of the profession as “service, social
conflicts in social work. Results indicate justice, dignity, worth of the person, importance of
variance between categories of conflict in both relationships, integrity and competence” (NASW,
frequency of experiences and their correlations. In 2008). As the “foundation of social work’s
addition supporting the need for further research unique purpose and perspective” (para. 3), these
to distinguish categories of value conflict and values should be infused into the education and
implications for professional practice. socialization of social work students to promote
common values, increase professional identity and
Keywords: value conflicts, professional provide guidance for social work practice.
socialization, ethics, social work values, value
priorities Social Work Values and
Professional Socialization
Introduction The transmission of the values, ideas,
Interest in the relationship between ethics, and attitudes of the profession occurs
professional and personal attitudes, values and through the process of professional socialization
behaviors (e.g., Comartin & Gonzalez-Prendes, (Patchner, Gullerud, Downing, Donaldson, &
2011; Landau, 1999; Osteen, 2011) is rooted in Leuenberger, 1987). This dynamic process
the centrality of values to the profession of social contributes to the development of professional
work. National and international social work identity and the internalization of group norms
organizations have developed codes of ethics as students are integrated into the professional
that underscore professional values and guide culture of social work (Barretti, 2004; Miller,
practice. The International Federation of Social 2010). It is also a process that is mandated by the
Workers Statement of Ethical Principles (IFSW, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in the
2012) put forth principles to guide social workers’ Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards
professional responsibilities (social justice, human (EPAS) as a necessary educational outcome. As
rights and human dignity), as well as providing an outcome of social work education, a student
guidelines for professional conduct. In the United should “Identify oneself as a professional social
worker and conduct oneself accordingly” (CSWE

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

EPAS, 2008, p. 3). While Urdang (2010) asserts of value conflicts are related to an individual’s
that the “development of the professional self understanding and use of the NASW Code of
has long been viewed by many educators as the Ethics and to individual differences in cognitive
most essential component of graduate social work processing. Some social workers view the Code
training” (p. 524), this process should begin at the of Ethics as a guide for ethical behavior and
undergraduate level for those in the baccalaureate decisions (Spano & Koenig, 2010) while some
social work programs. see it as a “deontological code” (Adams, 2009,
Despite the importance of shared para. 5). Mattison (2000) identifies differing
professional standards and ethics there are approaches to ethical conflicts and notes that
inevitably differences in social workers’ personal some individuals favor exercising their own
values, political affiliations, religious beliefs, and discretionary judgment in situations of conflict
cultural backgrounds. Osteen (2011) found that “It and decisions while others prefer to follow rules
was not uncommon for [social work] students to or policies. Stated differently, there are individual
encounter value incongruity at some point during differences as defined by absolutism and relativism
their educational program” (p. 434). This value (Mattison, 2000). Such differences in the use
incongruity may also be encountered by practicing of the Code of Ethics, in differing approaches to
social workers. “Often, in the course of practice, value decisions, and in the influence of personal
social workers encounter situations that bring them values on behaviors (McCarty & Shrum, 2010)
face to face with conflict between their personal all point to the need for a greater understanding of
values and the values of the profession” (Comartin the complexity of value conflicts in social work
& Gonzalez-Prendez, 2011, p. 5). Evidence of practice.
value conflicts are also documented in a body of
research in the social work literature that addresses Current study
both the nature of the core values of the profession Despite the body of research focused on
and personal-professional value conflicts (Reamer, the conflict and congruence between personal
2000). and professional values and beliefs (e.g., Osteen,
2011; Rosenwald, 2006; Spano & Koenig, 2007;
Personal and Professional Value Stewart, 2009), a greater understanding is needed
Conflicts as to the complexity of these conflicts and how
The literature documents the existence they are experienced while being resolved by
of professional and personal value conflicts in practicing social workers. An earlier exploratory
social work practice (e.g., Comartin & Gonzalez- study (Valutis, Rubin & Bell, 2014), using a
Prendes, 2011; Levy, 2011; Osteen, 2011; Stewart, sample of licensed social workers from one state,
2009; Streets, 2008). Previous research includes concluded that while few participants reported
a qualitative study of students’ motivations for experiencing value conflicts between religious
entering the profession of social work and the beliefs and professional roles, differences between
congruence of personal values with professional religious and political beliefs should be further
ones (Osteen, 2011). There are also case studies distinguished and other potential correlations
and personal accounts of the resolution of further explored. The purpose of this study is
personal-professional value conflicts (Comartin & to contribute to the larger body of research on
Gonzalez-Prendes, 2011; Levy, 2011), and articles professional and personal value conflicts in social
on the interface between religion and social work work by using a quantitative survey research
values (Hodge, 2006; Landau, 1999; Spano & design to examine social workers’ experience of
Koenig, 2007; Streets, 2008). The literature conflicts between professional values, personal
suggests that both the source and resolution values, religious beliefs and political ideologies.

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

Method to work settings included agency type (private

Participants and procedures or public), and faith-based agency affiliation.
Using a cross sectional survey design, a self- Items that identified social work educators were
constructed electronic survey was made available added in order to identify those directly involved
to members of the National Association of Social in the professional socialization and integration
Workers (NASW) and social work educators of common values of future practitioners. A
belonging to the Baccalaureate Social Work description of the measures follows.
Program Directors (BPD) list-serv. The survey link
was posted on the NASW Linked-In website and Conflict and Priority questions
sent via electronic mail to all members of the BPD Four questions measured the dependent
list-serv. A cover letter that explained the purpose of variable of “value conflict”. Prior research has
the survey, noted Institutional Review Board (IRB) suggested that “there is a need for research of
approval and affirmed the voluntary and anonymous conflict and prioritization beyond and within the
nature of the survey accompanied the survey link. construct of religion” (Valutis, Rubin & Bell,
The survey link was posted twice on Linked-In 2014, p. 175). For this purpose, conflict items
with a two-month interval between postings, and asked the extent to which participants experience
was emailed once to the BPD list-serv. Responses conflict between their (a) professional and personal
were collected through the survey software with no values, (b) professional values and religious
individual identifying information or links to users. beliefs, (c) professional values and political views,
Two hundred nineteen survey responses were and (d) religious beliefs and political views. These
received. Forty-five of the respondents answered Likert-type items had 5 levels of responses ranging
no to the item “I am a social work practitioner” and from 1 (never) to 5 (very often).
five did not answer. These responses were removed A separate item intended to measure “value
leaving 169 participants from 40 different U.S. priority” asked participants for the primary source
states included in the analyses. Of the respondents of direction for decisions when faced with any
who were omitted from the study only 11 (24.4%) conflict between values/views (“In my social
reported having a baccalaureate or master’s degree work practice, when faced with a conflict between
in social work. The decision to eliminate responses values/views, the primary source of direction for
of these participants was made because of the lack my decision is”). Responses offered included
of clarity in their status as social work practitioners. (a) professional values, (b) personal values, (c)
political views, (d) religious beliefs, or (e) other
Measures (please specify).
Survey item development was guided by
previous research (Valutis, Rubin & Bell, 2014) Work-Related Items
and included both equivalent and new questions. Participants were asked about their years
Previously used variables included: social work of social work experience, their current primary
practitioners’ experiences of value conflicts and work function and area of practice, the work
beliefs about the prioritization of the values used setting of their current position, and years of social
to resolve the conflict, religiosity, age, sex, years work experience. Although years of experience
of social work experience, current primary work was collected as an open-ended response, it was
function, practice environment, work setting, grouped categorically for analysis with 1 = “less
political beliefs, and importance of religion in daily than 2 years”, 2 = “2-5 years”, 3 = “6-10 years”,
life. New survey items included specific categories 4 = “11-15 years”, 5 = “16-20 years” and 6 =
of value conflicts, a scale of political activity, and “more than 20 years”. “Current primary work
additional measures of religiosity. New items related function” was based on the National Association

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

of Social Workers (NASW) membership used responses from 1 (never) to 3 (many times).
description categories and included direct practice, The sum of responses to all 8 items was used as
administration, advocacy/community organization, a measure of political activity with a possible
social work education, and “other.” In addition, range of 8-24 with higher scores indicating greater
categorical variables were used to record political involvement.
participants’ area of practice, status of agency
as private, public non-profit or public for-profit, Results
and whether the agency had a religious affiliation Descriptive Analysis
(faith-based). Participant Characteristic Variables
Table 1 displays the demographics of the
Religiosity and Politics participants. The mean age of participants was
Survey questions about religiosity and 48.28 (SD = 12.99). The majority of participants
politics were designed to address the complexity were between 30 and 59 years of age (89.8%,
of religious and political beliefs and practices on n=123) and female (78.7%, n = 133). Participants’
value conflicts and value priorities. Self-reported political beliefs were overwhelmingly liberal
religiosity as well as the importance of religion (m=4.31, SD=.99) with a response of “4”
in daily life were recorded as scaled responses corresponding to “somewhat liberal” and a
through three separate items. Religiosity response of “5” corresponding to “very liberal”.
was measured by one item asking how often On the political activity scale, with a range of
participants attend religious services and one item 8-24 and higher scores indicating greater political
asking how often participants use religious beliefs/ activity, participants scored a mean of 16.11
faith as a guide in making decisions/choices in (SD=3.71). The mean scores on religiosity items
their life. Responses to both of these items used a indicated participants’ attendance at religious
6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Almost never) services fell between monthly and a couple times
to 6 (Daily). The importance of religion in daily a month (m=2.52, SD=1.51), and use of faith to
life was measured by the question “How important guide decisions in daily life to occur between
is religion to you in your daily life” with responses weekly and a couple times a week (m=4.31,
on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very SD=2.11) on the 6-point scale. The use of faith
unimportant) to 5 (very important). to guide decisions also showed greater variance
Participants’ political views and among participants than attendance at religious
involvement were measured by items asking services. The mean of the importance of religion
political ideology as well as an 8-item political in daily life fell between neutral and somewhat
activity scale constructed by the authors for important (m=3.38, SD=1.56) on the 5-point scale.
this survey. The political ideology item asked In sum, results indicate that participants report the
participants to indicate the best descriptor for use of faith/beliefs to guide decision in personal
their ideology on a scale from very conservative life to a greater extent, and with greater variance,
(1) to very liberal (5). Participant involvement in than they report the importance of religion in their
political activity was measured by calculating the daily life. Attendance at religious services has
sum of responses to 8 questions regarding various the least reported frequency in aggregate on the
types of involvement (voting, campaigning, religiosity items.
contacting legislators, participating in political Finally, participants were asked with
rallies/marches/etc., helping to organize political which religion they identified given a list of 10
rallies/marches/etc., signing a petition, donating choices and “other”. Some choices received
or raising money for a political purpose, and insufficient responses for data analysis, only those
engaging in a boycott). All items in this measure categories with ≥ 5 responses were used for a total
of 112 responses (i.e., Protestant, Jewish, Roman

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

Catholic, Buddhist, Agnostic and Atheist). Fifty- than 20 years’ experience. Half of the participants
seven (50.9%) participants reported to be Protestant, reported their primary work function as direct
followed by Roman Catholic (20.5%, n=23), Atheist practice (50.6%, n=83) followed by social work
(14.3%, n=16), Jewish (9.8%, n=11), and Buddhist education (31.7%, n=52). The largest percentage
(4.5%, n=5). of participants reported working in mental health
(36.0%, n=58) with almost equal numbers in
Work-Related Items the next most common areas of practice, child/
Table 2 illustrates the work-related family welfare (12.4%, n=19) and health (12.4%,
responses. On average participants had 15.41 n=19). Other categories (i.e., occupational social
(SD = 12.56) years of social work experience, work, addictions, community development, public
with almost a third (29.3%, n=48) reporting more welfare, advocacy) resulted in too few responses for

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

analysis and were therefore included in the category teaching social work full- or part-time (51.5%,
of “other”. The work settings of participants n=84) as were not (48.5%, n=79).
were almost half urban (49.7%, n=81) with the
remaining participants evenly distributed between Conflict and Priority Items
suburban (25.2%, n=41) and rural (25.2%, n=41) Table 3 includes frequencies of overall
settings. Finally, almost half of the participants responses to the conflict items and the priority
worked within public non-profit agencies (48.8%, item. Overall, few participants reported frequent
n=79), more than three quarters worked within value conflicts on any of the four categories of
non-religiously affiliated agencies (80.9%, n=131), conflict identified in the survey. Only 11.8%
and an almost even number of participants were (n=19) of participants reported experiencing

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

conflicts between professional and personal values reported often or very often experiencing conflict
often or very often with the remainder reporting between religious beliefs and political views,
experiencing conflicts occasionally (42.2%, n=68) 71.7% (n=114) reporting rarely or never, and
and rarely or never (46%, n=74). Few participants 20.8% (n=33) reporting occasionally. Even
reported conflicts between professional values and fewer participants reported often or very often
political views very often or often (7.5%, n=12) experiencing conflicts between professional values
with the majority reporting rarely or never (68.9%, and religious beliefs (3.8%, n=6), with 23.8%
n=111) and the remainder reporting occasionally (n=38) reporting occasional conflicts in this area,
experience conflict in this area (23.6%, n=38). and the remaining participants divided between
The same number of participants (7.5%, n=12) rarely (38.8%, n=62) and never (33.8%, n=54)

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

experiencing such conflicts. In sum, the area Inferential Analysis

with the fewest reported experiences of conflict Relationships were examined between
was between professional values and religious each of the following variables: conflict items,
beliefs. The area with most reported experiences religiosity, age, and years of social work
of conflict was between professional and personal experience, political ideology, participation, and
values. importance of religion in daily life. The results
The majority of participants indicated indicate interesting distinctions between correlates
professional values (86.3%, n=138) as their of each of the different conflict categories.
primary source of direction for decisions when Both of the religiosity items and
faced with conflict. Personal values (6.9%, n=11) importance of religion in daily life were positively
and Other (5.6%, n=9) followed, with only two correlated with the experiences of conflict between
participants (1.3%) indicating religious beliefs professional values and religious beliefs (faith/
and none indicating political views as a primary belief used to guide decisions, r=.213, p=.018;
sources for decision making direction. All nine attendance at religious services, r=.364, p=.000;
participants who chose “Other” completed a and importance of religion in daily life r=.407,
qualitative response. These responses were “a p=.000) and between religious beliefs and political
combination of personal/professional/religious views (faith/belief used to guide decisions,
values,” “agency policy/practice,” “combo r=.237, p=.008; attendance at religious services,
of personal and professional,” “dynamics of r=.210, p=.019; and importance of religion in
interpersonal relationships,” “keeping neutral to daily life r=.369, p=.000), but not with conflicts
assist client in THEIR identification,” “NASW between either professional and personal values
Code of Ethics,” “never has been a conflict,” or professional values and political views (see
“supervision,” and “the values of my client.” Table 4). The more frequently participants attend
religious services, use faith/beliefs to guide

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

decision making in their lives, and report religion participants reported their political ideology to be,
being important in daily life, the more conflict the fewer conflicts of any category they reported
they experienced between professional values and experiencing. Political activity, however, only
religious beliefs, and between religious beliefs correlated with conflict between professional
and political views. This was not true for conflicts values and religious beliefs and between religious
between professional and personal values, or beliefs and political views. So, those participants
between professional values and political beliefs, who scored higher in political activity reported
so it was significant only on conflicts stating fewer experiences of conflicts only in categories of
religious beliefs explicitly. conflict that included religious beliefs (see Table 5).
Significant positive relationships were No significant relationships were found
found between all conflict items and political between conflict items and either age of the
ideology indicating that the more liberal participant or years of social work experience.

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

Religion and Politics Comparisons political ideology the less important they rated
Comparisons of political ideology by the importance of religion in daily life (r= -.302,
responses to the value priority item, the primary p=.000), the less frequently they report using
source of directions for decisions when faced religious beliefs/faith as a guide in making
with value conflicts (professional values, personal decision in life (r= -.236, p=.009), and the less
values, political views, religious beliefs, or other) frequently they attend religious services (r= -.225,
were made using a One-way ANOVA. Results p=.013). The more a participant engages in
revealed a significant difference (F(3, 156)=3.31, political activity, the less important he/she reports
p=.022) in political ideology by value priority. the importance of religion in his/her daily life (r=
Tukey post-hoc analysis indicates that participants -.210, p=.009), and the more liberal a political
who reported using professional values or other ideology he/she reports (r=.419, p=.000). Political
primary sources to guide decision-making when activity was not, however, significantly correlated
faced with a value conflict identified as more with either using religious faith/beliefs to guide
liberal (m=4.31, SD=0.85 and m=4.33, SD=1.12 decisions in life or the frequency of attendance at
respectively) than those who reported using religious services.
religious beliefs as the primary sources of direction
(m=2.50, SD=0.71). Sex Comparisons
Analysis using one-way ANOVAs revealed Results of an independent samples t-test
significant differences in the reported importance indicated no differences between men and women
of religion in daily life (F(4, 112)=16.26, p=.000) in reported experience of any of the categories
and political ideology (F(4, 107)=4.25, p=.003) of conflict measured. Using Crosstabs and Chi-
by religion. Tukey post-hoc analysis indicates Square, there were also no significant differences
that atheist participants rated the importance of between men and women in response to which
religion in daily life lower (m=1.69, SD=1.25) than values or beliefs are the primary source of
each of the other religions including Protestant direction for decisions in resolving the conflict.
(m=4.33, SD=1.02), Roman Catholic (m=3.35,
SD=1.30), Jewish (m=3.73, SD=1.19) and Buddhist Work-Related Comparisons
(m=3.60, SD=1.95). On the 5-point scale, atheists One-way ANOVAs were used to analyze
reported the importance of religion as between differences by primary work function, area of
very and somewhat unimportant, Protestants practice, work setting, public, private nonprofit
between somewhat and very important, and all or private for profit agency type, and faith-based
others between neutral and somewhat important. agency or not on responses to each of the conflict
In comparisons of political ideology, Tukey post- items. The only statistically significant difference
hoc analysis indicates that Protestant participants found was that of the work setting (urban,
identified as more conservative (m=3.82, SD=1.02) suburban, rural) and conflict between professional
than either Jewish (m=4.73, SD=0.65) or atheist values and religious beliefs (F(2, 156)=3.114,
(m=4.71, SD=0.83) participants. On this 5-point p=0.047). Tukey’s post-hoc analysis found
scale Protestant participants reported political those who work in suburban settings (M=2.28,
ideologies between moderate and somewhat liberal, SD=.916) reported significantly more experience
while Jewish and atheist participants reported of those conflicts than those who work in urban
between somewhat and very liberal. settings (M=1.86, SD=.873). Although not
Correlations between the importance statistically significant, those who worked in rural
of religion in daily life, political ideology and settings (M=1.93, SD=.848) were more similar
political activity were also analyzed (See Table 5). to those working in urban settings in the reported
Results indicate that the more liberal participants’ experience of such conflicts.

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

Respondents who taught social work with an existing predisposition to social work
at a college or university were compared to values (e.g., Abbott, 1988; Barretti, 2004; Osteen,
respondents who did not using an independent 2011). Hughes’ (2011) qualitative study of social
samples t-test. No differences in the reported work students provides evidence of both self-
experience of value conflicts were found. Further selection and effective professional socialization.
analysis also showed no significant differences While some of the student participants found
between those who teach and those who do it natural to align their personal values to those
not in the primary source of direction for value of the profession (i.e., self-selection), other
conflict decisions. A dichotomous variable was students went through change in their personal
constructed to compare respondents in direct values such that their personal values became
practice and all other types of practice with no more closely aligned with the profession (i.e.,
significant results in any category of conflict professional socialization). Osteen (2011) also
measured, or in the value priority item. noted that students were motivated by personal
values to pursue an MSW, yet also faced conflicts
Discussion between personal and professional values as
The findings of this study suggest two they progressed through their education. In sum,
primary directions for discussion. The first evidence supports the presence of a common
is the overall infrequency of experience of professional identity through both self-selection
value conflicts and consensus on the priority of and the process of professional socialization.
professional values in guiding practice decisions A further understanding of the process of
when a conflict does arise. And second is the professional socialization is provided by current
distinction between categories of conflicts findings through the comparisons between
indicated by variance in frequency of experience, participants who teach social work and those
correlates and differences by religiosity, religion, who do not. The results of this study did not
political ideology and work setting. show differences in either the frequency of value
conflicts experienced nor in the primary source of
Experience of value conflicts and value direction for resolution and decision-making when
priority in decision-making faced with a conflict between the two groups. The
Consistent with previous research (Valutis, lack of differences between social work educators
Rubin & Bell, 2014) participants did not report and non-educators (all of whom are social work
frequent experiences of value conflicts and the practitioners) indicates that there does not seem to
vast majority of respondents indicated that they be a layer of separation between the “real world”
use professional values as a decision-making guide and social work education in the experience and
when faced with a conflict. This is encouraging resolution of value conflict. This bodes well for
as it lends additional quantitative support to the the process of professional socialization since
effectiveness of professional socialization in educators, whose task it is to socialize new social
social work. Since professional socialization workers to professional values show similarities in
should facilitate the internalization of professional the experience of value conflicts of all categories,
values and roles in social work students (Allen & and have a similar belief that professional values
Friedman, 2010; Baretti, 2004; Miller, 2010), the should serve as the primary source of direction for
infrequency of conflict and priority of professional decision-making.
values as the primary source of direction for In sum, the minimal experience of any
decision-making suggests that the socialization category of value conflict for social workers and
process may be taking place effectively. It is the priority of professional values in decision
also possible that many students who choose a making indicate consistency in the professional
career in social work approach their education

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

values held and utilized by practitioners and differences that encompass broadly “personal”
educators. This is both an encouraging statement values (e.g., Comartin & Gonzales-Prendez, 2011;
on the place of professional socialization in social Osteen, 2011; Spano & Koenig, 2010), and move
work and a reason to continue to explore greater beyond the general construct of religion (e.g.,
depth in understanding the complexities of values Valutis, Rubin & Bell, 2014; Levy, 2011). Current
and value conflicts in an effort to continuously findings build on the important contributions
strengthen methods of education and training for of previous studies and indicate that greater
effective socialization. specification of various types of value conflicts
are important to our understanding and suggest
Categories of value conflicts directions for future research. Reference to “value
Even with self-selection to the profession, conflicts” should not be overgeneralized and
and effective professional socialization, value requires differentiation. In practice, tools such as
conflicts do still occur although low in frequency. ethical decision-making models need to consider
A critical contribution of this current study is the use of more specific terms than personal
the classification of value conflicts into four values. Reamer (2000) refers to “personal values”
categories and the differential frequencies in his commonly cited ethical decision model, but
and correlates of each category. Although the he suggests “including religious, cultural, and
frequency of conflict was found to be at a minimal ethnic values and political ideology” to further
level overall, conflicts between professional clarify and guide practitioners. Lowenberg,
and personal values were most common while Dolgoff and Harrington (2000) and Mattison
conflicts reported between professional values and (2000) both guide practitioners faced with an
religious beliefs were reported the least frequently. ethical dilemma to consider their own “personal
Furthermore, correlates of conflict categories values” in relation to the dilemma. Spano and
differed significantly. Items of religiosity, for Koenig (2007) use the term “personal worldview”
example, correlated only with conflict categories but do not expand further or provide additional
that included religious beliefs. Those higher definition as they encourage practitioners to be
in religiosity (higher reported importance of self-aware of one’s worldview and its potential
religion, more frequent attendance at religious impact on practice and ethical decision-making.
services, and using religion in daily decision- While we are not suggesting that these classic
making) experienced more conflict between the tools are not useful, we are suggesting that
value conflict categories of “professional values greater specificity of the terminology used in the
and religious beliefs” and “religious beliefs and models reflect the complexity of the construct of
political views.” Those scoring higher in political personal values.
activity reported fewer experiences of conflicts in A methodological limitation of this
categories of conflict including religious beliefs. study, and more broad issue for electronic survey
Finally the experience of value conflicts in practice research (The Pew Research Center, 2015) is
were reported more often by those working in the use of social media to collect responses.
suburban settings. Although internet survey research is becoming
On the surface these results are not increasingly common for many reasons, similar
surprising, yet they have important implications. to any survey research utilizing a nonprobability
On a broad level, the variance between categories sample, results should not be overgeneralized
of value conflict suggests that the source of value (The Pew Research Center, 2015). In this study
conflicts is complex and confounded by many the use of social media for survey distribution
factors including the categories of conflicts. allowed for the inclusion of participants across a
Research, therefore, should extend beyond national geographic area, but it could not avoid the
what seems to be a common reference to value

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Value Conflicts in Social Work: Categories and Correlates

limitations inherent to this type of data collection. reason further research should include greater
Despite these limitations, our findings contribute to differentiation in the measure of the priorities in
the ongoing discussion of value conflicts in social value conflict research.
work. Although we expanded previous measures
of politics and religion (Valutis, Rubin & Bell, References
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practice. International Social Work, 42(4),
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