Your self-evaluation report should consist of two main elements.
1.The first is brief statement giving details of the ways in which you have changed as a result of your studies for this module, 300 WORDS.Make sure to use ROLLNICK AND MILLER FOR REFERENCES AND PETER CHECKLAND TO REFERENCE SOME OF THE WORK
2.and the second part is evidence which supports your self-evaluation and statement.
The progress statement should be a plain English summary of what you have learned, how you have changed, and what you can do differently as a result of the lectures, groups activities, journals and independent study.
The evidence should include at least one piece of evidence from your personal weekly journals backed up by at least one academically referenced source.
Your personal journals should be referenced like this: Your Surname(date of entry) page of entry (if recorded). You can also reference the personal journals of group members in a similar manner. I WILL DO THIS ON MY OWN
You should always relate your personal experience and your group work (evidence from your journals) to the literature that you have been reading to deepen your knowledge.
Sources of learning and feedback that we ask you to use include the following. They start at 1 being the most basic and 7 being the most advanced:
- Classroom lectures and workshops
- Watching films
- Reading literature
- Groupwork/peer feedback
- Lecturer formal feedback
- Feedback from previous assignments and work
- Input from sources outside the University
The module specifications below have been given different colours to help you distinguish the key concepts you are expected to tackle in your answers.
The criteria that will be used to mark your work are included with each Learning Ouctome.
1.Knowledge and Understanding
Module Specification Learning Outcome
- a) Explain the complexity and key theoretical features of collaborative behaviour change Plain English Commentary
By the end of this module you should be able to talk about why change in human systems is so much more complex that trying to change mechanical systems; so that fixing a car that is lacking power tends to be easy, but ‘fixing’ a person who lacks power is hard. (Remember the ‘toast’ activity). You should be able to use a variety of different theoretical concepts to both describe the process of working in collaboration with others bring about change and to explain how best to bring about such change. Explain how the context of your fictitious client meets the criteria for being a ‘wicked issue’. Demonstrate your understanding of how complex your clients’ contex is. (250 words)
Progress Statement: type here
The client Trump meets the criteria for being a ‘wicked issue’ as he has turned to substance abuse while residign at the Brook House detension centre. Trump is a 32 year old man with his origin in Yemen in western asia who has taken refugee in the UK and is waiting for his refugee status applciation to be processed. The stress that the individual is going through has compelled him to turn to substance abuse for coping with the daily life.
According to Streel and Schilperoord (2010) refugees in camps and detension centres often face a multitude of problems that are interelated. Situations such as reduced livelihood opportunities, lack of space, breakdown in social support and erosion of cultural values increase the level of stress suffered by theindividuls. Drug abuse is one of the most prominent impact of such stressors. The direct and indirect impact of substance absue among refugees are well-dcouemnted (Mirza et al. 2018). The behaivoural issues are of more prominence along with psychological problem. Violence and abuse are common among the differnt risk taing behaivours. The imapct of such behaviour on the imates of the detension centres are adverse. In the psychological context, indiivduas become incapable of reasoning properly, in addiiton to development of mental health issues. In case the individual had been suffering from an underlying mental health concern, exacerbation of the same is common. Suicide attempts have also bene noted among refugees turning to substance abuse. Providing intervetions to these individuals is a complex process since the issues faced are multifactorial.
Module Specification Learning Outcome
b) Explain the implications of the differences between positivist and social constructionist approaches when working to change behaviour Plain English Commentary By the end of this module you should be able to explain the difference between those theories of change that believe that there is some fundamental fault that causes problems (psycho-dynamic theory, cognitive behaviour theory etc); and those approaches that see problems as being rooted more in the ways in which society, culture and language restrict options. ‘Positivist’ refers to theories that see people and facts as having an essence, or a true nature. Social constructionist approaches see ‘the true nature’ of things as being unknowable because both culture and language profoundly affect the way we see and understand things. These are epistemologies or theories about the “ways we know”. You were briefly introduced to a third approach called critical realism.EXPLAIN HOW SSM AND MI IS ROOTED IN CRITICAL REALISM,LINK MI AND SSM TO CRITICAL REALISM CHECK THINKING PHILOSOPHICALLY ABOUT COLLABORATIVE CHANGE BY TIM CURTIS Explain your understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) 250 words ANSWER QUESTIONS IN ITALICS Progress Statement: type here
Critical realism is a philosophical approach that combines philosophy of science and sociology to describe different phenomenon in the world. It occupies similar positions like that of positivism and interpretivism and its is based on the assumption that many unobservale events lead to the observable events in the social world. This means critical realism favours identifying the cause behind any event. Motivational interviewing is rooted in critical realism and this can be said because it focused on bringing changes in people’s behavior by looking at their ambivalent feelings (unobservable events) and understanding the impact of those feelings on people’s behavior (observable event). This form of critical realism favors eliciting personal reaons for change in a person during MI (Rosengren 2017). Soft Sytems Methodology (SSM) also has links with critical realism approach because it analyzes people’s perception related to a social event to understand their response to an issue or problem. Hence, it is making sense of the problem by the use of defensible logic which is similar to critical realism approach (Dalkin et al. 2018).
MI does not a have a coherent theoretical framework, however many theory influenced its development. For instance, ,MI principle of identifying discrepancy in client’s behavior and their core values is linked to the cognitive dissonance theory as this theory states that inconsistency between behavior and value is seen due to certain conflict. Similarly, the MI principle also resonates with stages of change model, Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and the self-determination theory. In contrast, the theory behind SSM is that sense making instead of goal seeking helps to understand how people make sense of the world (Denzin, 2017).
Module Specification Learning Outcome
c)Make judgements by critical analysis in different contexts, the theoretical principles of collaborative behaviour change Plain English Commentary
By the end of this module you should be able to explain the factors that are vital to collaborative work (based on your working together in groups for a term), and to do this in the light of issues of inequality, oppression and injustice. You have been presented with three ‘theoretical principles’ or approaches to collaborative social change- MI and SSM, and you have been tasked to try out two of these approaches in your group work, and you may have tried out SSM rich picturing to help you make sense of the group work situation. Show how your critical thinking skills are being used to see how these skills could be used in a future employment/professional context,USE KOLB’S LEARNING CYCLE TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU HAVE PROGRESSED WITH LEARNING AND USING MI (250 words)
Experience- The Motivational Interviewing collaborative work was valuable for understanding the appropriate implementation of the same in professional practice. Yvonne acted as the interviewer while I took up the role of the fictitious client Trump. Yvonne as the interviewer managed to express the empathy towards me while conducting the interview and she could respect my self-direction and freedom of choice. The things that did not go well is that the observer Emma did not pay much attention during the group work. She did not enjoy taking part in the group activity and was disinterested. She was busy with her phone and this had a negative impact on the group since she missed out some sections of the discussion with the counsellor. I as a client became stressful since the process seemed to be a never-ending one.
Reflect- The MI process for change occurs when the individuals perceive a distinct discrepancy between where they are and where they want to be. It would have been appropriate if the interviewer could avoid asking certain questions leading to arguments. In contrast, it would have been desirable if the interviewer could suggest novice ways to deal with my problem.
Conceptualise- MI was undertaken in part of a reaction to provide satisfaction to the client and understand his perceptive for treatment approaches (Freira et al. 2017). It has been understood that MI must consider resolve of conflicts and foster a certain degree of motivation and ambivalence.
Plan- I plan to learn more about MI and the exact process to implement it. In future, as an interviewer I would be sympathetic towards my patient. In addition, I would focus on avoiding asking questions with which patient is uncomfortable.
Module Specification Learning Outcome
- d) To demonstrate an ability to evaluate their own use of collaborative, strengths and solutions based strategies in complex situations Plain(ish) English Commentary
By the end of this module you should be able to show improvements in your use of the techniques and theories taught and learned in the module (i.e. MI and SSM), such that your later groupwork is demonstratively better than your early work in the module. Drawing on evidence from your Theme Journals, the feedback you received and your own notes, show how you have CHANGED in your practice of persuading people to change over the course of the module.
Progress Statement: type here
After completing my theme journal, I got the feedback that I was not able to understand the Goffman theory and the way to apply the theory to client. However, after receiving this feedback, I researched more on Goffman theory and found that it is a symbolic interaction perspective that favors looking at everyday behavior of an individual and their interaction with a people. Hence, after this research, I understood that Goffman theory is essential during MI to understand clearly understand a client’s identity and find out the manner in which they behave in their everyday life. The Goffman theory showed that certain symbols like hand gestures, physical objects and verbal communication style of a person can help an interviewer to get idea about a client culture and behavior during MI (Kim et al., 2016). Hence, from this knowledge, I been able to develop new skills of identifying changing attitude in client. I have used theories of MI to persuade people to change. For instance, theoretical aspects of MI inculcated in me the skills of developing rapport with client and assessing their readiness to change. Rapport building is an important counselling skill as this makes cleint comfortable and relaxed and trust the counsellor (Rosengren 2017). MI has supported me to build rapport, establish trusting relationship with client and prepare client to change their behavior. I can now easily persuade clients with my rapport building skills because it has helped me to effectively collaborate with client and make them understand the rational for change in their behavior.
Module Specification Learning Outcome
- e) Maintain co-operative working relationships, promoting group motivation. Plain(ish) English Commentary
By the end of this module you should be able to explain how you formed and maintained good working relations both within your group and in the relationship developed in your case study [in other words, your group work with your fictitious client], using the MI strategies. How have you used MI in making sure that the group worked well and delivered the expected results? ANSWER QUESTIONS IN ITALICS 250words
Motivational interviewing was used in making sure that the group worked well and the expected results were achieved. Establishment of a strong relationship with the team members is crucial for ensuring that the teamwork is effective. Qualities such as acceptance empathy and focus on priorities of members are crucial components of motivational interviewing when applied to teamwork.
Shifting the communication style from directing to guiding was a crucial approach. In addition, focus was given to possibility of achieving success in place of persuasion. Next in line, drawing out motivation acted as an effective tool for encouraging individuals. Every individual was given the same respect and attention while working in groups. Questions were asked to highlight the issues and challenges faced by each member. Chances are high that people face conflicts due to differences in viewpoints and opinions (Rosengren 2017). Motivational interviewing was the effective way in which the perceptions of the individuals could be understood. Based on this understanding, actions were taken to resolve inter team conflicts.
The team members were supported to express their views and opinions about taking part in the group activity.
The spirit of MI was non-judgemental, empowering, encouraging, and supportive of the team members. A positive environment was created by ensuring proper facial expressions while communicating with the team members. Communication through verbal and non-verbal cues was effective in establishing a positive relationship with the team members. Setting clear goal for completion of the group activity was pivotal.
- f) Generate solutions and take appropriate action by identifying problems, applying concepts, principles and techniques, and identify alternatives solutions. Plain(ish) English Commentary
By the end of this module you should be able to outline specifically MI and SSM approaches to a range of issues identifying problems, goals, preferred futures, empathy, ambivalance, scaling, the miracle question, exception finding etc, and explain the principles and concepts that underpin these. Concepts, in this statement, refers specifically to theories of change like MI. Show where, in your group work or other contexts, you have employed these ideas to tackle ‘wicked issues’.
Progress Statement: type here
During our group work, the main wicked issue was that the client Trump was not sure whether he would carry on taking the drug or change his habit following MI. Hence, in this scenario, the main issue was that the client was ambivalent towards changing his behavior. This mean that the client Trump was found to have contrasting feelings regarding his use of drugs. Although, he had started taking drugs out of stress, however he must have also realized the harmful effect of substance abuse for his health. Hence, to encourage client to improve his health, I applied the knowledge of MI and SSM to address ambivalent feelings in client.
MI is found to be the most effective approach to address ambivalent and conflicting feeling in client. Hence, if anyone is iusing MI and not addressing MI, then the whole purpose of changing behavior of patient is not effective. Hence, I realized addressing ambivalent feeling in client is necessary to get information to influence the whole endeavour of recovery of patient from stress and other issues due to substance abuse.
I went about addressing ambivalent feeling during group work by stating to the client the reason for which he should move forward and take a decision regarding quiting or continuing with the drug. Giving those reasons helped the client to understand the rationale for change. This kind of application of MI theory helped me to reinforce positive benefits of quitting to the cleint. It is common for clients at this stage to be confused about the outcome of MI. However, a counsellor’s also helps to take client-centered approach towards change.
References
Streel, E. and Schilperoord, M., 2010. Perspectives on alcohol and substance abuse in refugee settings: lessons from the field. Intervention, 8(3), pp.268-275.
Mirza, M.Q., Harrison, E.A., Chang, H.C., Salo, C.D. and Birman, D., 2018. Community perspectives on substance use among Bhutanese and Iraqi refugees resettled in the United States. Journal of prevention & intervention in the community, 46(1), pp.43-60.
Dalkin, S., Lhussier, M., Williams, L., Burton, C.R. and Rycroft-Malone, J., 2018. Exploring the use of Soft Systems Methodology with realist approaches: A novel way to map programme complexity and develop and refine programme theory. Evaluation, 24(1), pp.84-97.
Rosengren, D.B., 2017. Building motivational interviewing skills: A practitioner workbook. Guilford Publications.
Denzin, N. K. (2017). Sociological methods: A sourcebook. Routledge.
Freira, S., Lemos, M.S., Williams, G., Ribeiro, M., Pena, F. and do Céu Machado, M., 2017. Effect of Motivational Interviewing on depression scale scores of adolescents with obesity and overweight. Psychiatry research, 252, pp.340-345.
Kim, E., Lee, J.A., Sung, Y. and Choi, S.M., 2016. Predicting selfie-posting behavior on social networking sites: An extension of theory of planned behavior. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, pp.116-123.
