There will be times when a social worker is presented with a case where they are not familiar with the surrounding psychosocial issues. Because social workers are on a continual journey in learning, it is important to read pertinent literature. This Discussion provides an opportunity to visit Walden Library and strengthen your skills in identifying and locating an empirical research article.  To prepare: Select one of these three groups: (1) an immigrant individual from a racial or ethnic minority group, (2) a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) individual, OR (3) an individual who is physically disabled. Review the Walden Library resources listed in the Learning Resources. Then conduct a library search for an empirical study focused on one of the groups above and the unique psychosocial factors or issues a social worker should be aware of when working with that group.  Post the APA-style reference for the article you found in the library. Describe four specific psychosocial factors that should be taken into account in order to understand the psychosocial context when working with the group you selected. (Two of these factors should be psychologically related and two of these factors should be socially related).  Identify and explain a psychosocial intervention that addresses one of the four specific psychosocial factors you described above. Identify 1 to 2 outcomes you might measure if you were to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.  Evaluate one advantage of using a psychosocial framework in social work practice with the group you chose.

A theme of this course is urban ethnography. Students are required to devote an hour per week observing social behavior in an urban environment and writing field notes describing what you have observed. Assemble a portfolio of your field notes. Field notes should address at least 7 of the following situations:Observe public open space. What features encourage people to gather? What discourages them from gathering? Would you consider this a cosmopolitan canopy? 2. Find a neighborhood hangout. Would you describe the atmosphere as more Gemeinschaft or Gesellschaft. Why? 3. Simmel believed that urban people are so over-stimulated by all that is happening in the city, that people shut themselves down emotionally and close themselves off from what is happening around them. Do your observations support this idea? How?4. Spend a day walking around a city. See if you can identify the natural areas of the city as discussed by Park.5. 55. Observe encounters between people of different ethnic groups in the city. What generalizations can you draw?6. 66. Observe several neighborhoods. Where do children play? Is it in the spaces designated for this? Can their parents keep an eye on them?7.7. Observe illegal street activity. (Be careful.) How is it organized? 8. Observe homeless people. How do they adapt to the urban environment to survive? 9. Observe encounters between people of different social classes in the city. How would you characterize them?10. Find a bohemian neighborhood. Describe the characteristics which make it bohemian. . The portfolio must contain the following elements: 1. An introduction explaining why you chose the things you chose to include in your portfolio.2. Ten pages of field notes.. These may include writings of different lengths (10 one page essays, 5 two pagers, 3 three page +1 one page etc. Do not include one long paper.) These should be done throughout the semester. They should address at least 7 of the settings described above3. .A conclusion describing what you learned about urban sociology by doing these observations.RubricOutcomes Rubric for Instructor use onlyOutcomes Rubric for Instructor use onlyCriteriaRatingsPts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePO.AA.58.01view longer descriptionthreshold: 3.0 pts4.0 ptsExceeds Objective - Skillfully employs discipline specific concepts, methods and/or theories to understand behavior, institutions and/or change over time.3.0 ptsMeets Objective - Employs discipline specific concepts, methods and/or theories to understand behavior, institutions and/or change over time.2.0 ptsSomewhat Meets - Partially employs discipline specific concepts, methods and/or theories to understand behavior, institutions and/or change over time .1.0 ptsDoes Not Meet Objective - Fails to employ discipline specific concepts, methods and/or theories to understand behavior, institutions and/or change over time.-- This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePO.AA.58.02view longer descriptionthreshold: 3.0 pts4.0 ptsExceeds Objective - Skillfully applies research skills appropriate to the discipline.3.0 ptsMeets Objective - Applies research skills appropriate to the discipline.2.0 ptsSomewhat Meets Objective - Partially applies research skills appropriate to the discipline.1.0 ptsDoes Not Meet Objective - Fails to apply research skills appropriate to the discipline.-- This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePO.AA.58.03view longer descriptionthreshold: 3.0 pts4.0 ptsExceeds Objective - Skillfully gathers and interprets relevant information.3.0 ptsMeets Objective - Gathers and interprets relevant information.2.0 ptsSomewhat Meets Objective - Insufficiently gathers and interprets relevant information.1.0 ptsDoes Not Meet Objective - Fails to gather and interpret relevant information.--Total Points: 0.0

For this assignment you will provide a detailed discussion of a theory of pop culture and provide critical discussion of this theory. The purpose of this assignment is to help you hone your critical thinking skills. You will provide exposition and criticism of a theory of pop culture. You may choose either Mass Cultural Theory or Critical Theory.Your essay should include some discussion of the following questions:1. What or who determines popular culture? Where does popular culture come from? Does it emerge from the people themselves as an autonomous expression of their interests and modes of experience, or is it imposed from above by those in positions of power as a type of social control?2. Describe how commercialization and industrialization influences popular culture. Does reducing culture to commodity mean that the criteria of profitability and marketability take precedence over quality, artistry, integrity and intellectual challenge? Or does it result in a universal market where what is popular actually corresponds to what people want and think is valuable? Does marketability and profitability actually produce quality art or does it only benefit business interests?3. Is popular culture used to control and indoctrinate the people? Is it used to get people to accept and adhere to ideas and values which will ensure the continued dominance of a particular elite and allow them to exercise power over them? Or is popular culture about rebellion and opposition to the prevailing social order? Is pop cultural a spontaneous genuine burst of creativity or is it just a means through which a dominate group exercises control of society?4. After you provide an accurate account of one of these theories of pop culture, you should then review the strengths and weaknesses of the theory. Can you identify some objections to the theory? You can research objections, but you need to consult reputable sources.Specifications: Submit a 1000-1200 word essay addressing the questions above. In your essay:Be sure to structure your essay with an introduction paragraph that includes a thesis statement, well-organized supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion that reiterates the main points of your argument. Your argument should be supported by reputable research cited in APA format both in the body of the paper and in your references section.