Professional Values, Gatekeeping, and Motivations for Seeking the MSW Degree

This research examines professional values and individuals' decisions to pursue social work education, with gatekeeping as a mediator of this relationship. Motivations are derived from Community of Practice theory: community, domain, practice, and skills. MSW students (N=528) were recruited across the U.S. Structural equation modeling was used to test associations among motivation and values factors. The latent variable values consisted of the Professional Opinion scale, the Humanitarian-Egalitarian scale, and the Social Change Mission scale. The four latent motivation factors come from the PSWCOP scale. Mixed results were obtained based on the four hypotheses tied to each motivation type. Implications for education, research, and practice are explored, particularly in the context of how different perspectives on gatekeeping affect decisions based on endorsement of professional values.