THE RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY OF FUTURE SOCIAL WORK SPECIALISTS’ PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY

Abstract

The article substantiates the relevance of the problem of future social work specialists’ professional identity, the formation level of which determines the effectiveness of social work as a professional activity. Taking into account the essence and specifics of such an activity, the content of the social work specialists’ professional identity is defined, which consists in the awareness of their own professional qualities and competencies, their compliance with the requirements of social work as a professional activity, as well as in the awareness of themselves as a social work specialist. The professional identity structure of a social work specialist (FSWS) includes the following components (according to O. Radzimovska): cognitive-reflective, motivational-value, projectbehavioural, emotional-volitional, activity-practical. The stages of future social work specialists’ professional identity are defined and characterised: the stage of a social work specialist’s positive image forming and a professional ideal in the social sphere without identifying oneself with this profession; the stage of a social work specialist’s confirming the chosen positive image or refusing it; the stage of implementing the primary choice of activity in the social sphere. The factors influencing the formation of the FSWS’s professional identity are highlighted. Pilot diagnosing of professional identity development, as well as alternative FSWS’s professional identity who receive the first (bachelor’s) and second (master’s) levels of higher education was carried out. A comparative analysis of diagnostics results is made, which shows the expediency of developing and implementing special didactic measures aimed at increasing the awareness level of their own professional identity in the process of FSWS’s professional training.