Evaluating Professional Misconduct: The Effects of Licensure State and Board Membership

Abstract

Purpose: By further analysis of a subset of data collected from licensed social workers from six selected states, this article explores the effect of respondents’ licensure state and board membership on their perceptions of professional misconduct vignettes. Methods: Using a simplified factorial survey design, 5,388 licensed social workers evaluated versions of vignettes involving social worker misconduct. Respondents rated the vignettes as serious and important to discipline and assigned sanctions to the vignette they viewed as most troubling. The licensure state was a factor in the seriousness and importance of discipline ratings, board membership less so. Results: Results indicated that some factors involved in misconduct are more relevant than others. Respondents generally agreed on the most troubling vignettes and sanctions appropriate to the action. Conclusions: These results may serve as preliminary support for the formation of national licensure standards and processes.