| This research examines and compares the political activity of Alberta and Ontario social workers. It identifies the types of activities undertaken, frequency of involvement, level of government engagement and factors associated with participation. To address these objectives, a survey was mailed to 1,020 social workers overall. A response rate of 39.9% (407 surveys) was obtained.;Voluntary participation ranges from limited to high levels of engagement, while participation in work-related activity is limited. Participation occurs most often at the local and provincial levels. While work-related activity is more common in Alberta, both provinces participate in voluntary activities to a similar extent. Practitioner characteristics, resources, psychological engagement, mobilization and external factors were queried regarding their relationship with respondents' political activity. Psychological engagement is the most applicable concerning voluntary participation. The variables have limited relevance to work-related involvement. Recommendations are suggested for various stakeholders, including social work education, social work associations and unions. |
