Transition to administration : a comparative study of social workers and psychologists

The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine the characteristics of professional social workers and psychologists who do and do not become administrators; and (2) examine aspects of the process by which transition occurs. A random sample of 392 social workers and psychologists practicing in the State of Tennessee was surveyed through a written questionnaire distributed in February and March of 1988. These professionals were tracked across four career stages or levels of functioning direct practice, clinical supervision, middle and top management. Role theory was utilized as a theoretical framework and respondents were asked to indicate their work time allocation across a listing of 15 roles and activities. Findings indicate that both social workers and psychologists perform a wide variety of simultaneous roles and do typically make transitions through the four levels of professional functioning. Administrators of human service agencies continue to be drawn from the ranks of those who are trained in and perform direct (clinical/treatment) practice. However, these individuals do not always make this move into administration as part of a planned and conscious career decision-making process. They experience a moderate to high level of stress and conflict on the job, but also report moderate to high levels of job satisfaction.