Sample Solution

The purpose of this study, as outlined in Whitfield’s (1999) article “Validating School Social Work: An Evaluation of a Cognitive-Behavioral Approach to Reduce School Violence,” was twofold. First, Whitfield sought to determine the efficacy of cognitive behavioral interventions (CBIs) for reducing school violence among middle school students. Second, the study aimed to assess the role and effectiveness of school social workers in implementing CBI strategies across multiple schools.

To examine these questions,Whitfield used a sample consisting of 65 students from three middle schools located in urban and rural areas within an East Coast state. The student subjects were divided into two groups—an experimental group which received CBI intervention through individualized counseling sessions provided by a school social worker and a control group that did not receive such services. Researchers tracked data related to violent behavior such as fighting or weapon possession before and after implementation of the program over a period of six months.

In addition to experimentation with subjects enrolled in the program , researchers also evaluated survey responses from teachers , parents ,and administrators at each participating campus . This additional data allowed them to examine how support staff perceived changes in student behavior as well as any effects on overall campus climate following implementation .

Overall; by gathering quantitative analysis from both subject testing and qualitative assessment from faculty interviews ; Whitfield was able conduct an extensive evaluation on the efficacy of cognitive behavioral interventions administered by school social workers for mitigating instances of violence among middle schoolers.