Human Caring in the Social Work Context: Continued Development and Validation of a Complex Measure

Abstract

Objectives: (a) to continue the development of a measure of human caring in the context of social work practice and (b) to expand a line of inquiry exploring the relationship between human caring characteristics and the retention of public child welfare workers. Methodology: Surveys were received from a sample (n = 786) child welfare workers in Georgia engaged in the delivery of direct services. Results : Principal components and alpha reliability analyses supported the multidimensionality of the human caring construct and measurement reliability for the sample. Additional validity evidence documented positive relationships between human caring and child welfare staffs’ intentions to remain employed in child welfare. Conclusions: The quantitative measure of human caring can be used in a variety of ways in social work practice (e.g., employee selection) and in future research that extends the human caring line of inquiry.