Publication
Title
Standardization or discretionary space? A mixed-method study on government-imposed performance measurement instruments in social services
Author
Abstract
Despite the increased scientific interest in performance measurement instruments (PMIs) on the part of funders, governments, and social service organizations (SSOs), studies on professionals’ use of these instruments in their daily practice are still scarce. We examine the extent to which the characteristics of the organization and social worker explain how government-imposed PMIs are used. Using a mixed-method approach, we study social workers at a Belgian public SSO. Through in-depth interviews, we provide insight into the factors that influence their decision-making process when they rate clients. Subsequently, we draw on a quantitative survey (N=143) to verify the extent to which the results of our qualitative study are generalizable to a broader population. Our project shows that the instrument’s inability to capture complex problems and to include the client’s voice means that government-imposed PMIs cannot live up to the promise of standardized outcome measurement.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The social service review : a quarterly devoted to the scientific and professional interests of social work. - Chicago, Ill., 1927, currens
Publication
Chicago, Ill. : 2024
ISSN
0037-7961
1537-5404 [e-ISSN]
DOI
10.1086/727886
Volume/pages
98 :1 (2024) , p. 4-33
ISI
001234659500002
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
The author-created version that incorporates referee comments and is the accepted for publication version Available from 13.02.2025
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Record
Identifier
Creation 13.02.2024
Last edited 02.07.2024
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