A Qualitative Exploration of Practitioner Wisdom: Motivation for Change and Societal Impact in Social Work Practice

Background and Purpose:
This study explores the emerging theory of Practitioner Wisdom (Kwong & Fawson, 2022), which posits that wisdom in social work is not primarily a body of knowledge or technical skill, but a deeply personal and moral orientation. According to this framework, a wise practitioner is one who has cultivated the character traits and values essential to ethical, compassionate, and justice-oriented practice. This understanding challenges traditional notions of practice wisdom as procedural or tacit knowledge, shifting the focus to who the social worker is, rather than only what they know or do.

Participants in the study described how their internal sense of purpose, commitment to justice, and drive to effect societal change were not separate from their professional identity—but were, in fact, core to how they understood and enacted wisdom in their work. By exploring this theme, the study adds conceptual clarity to Practitioner Wisdom and demonstrates how wisdom is intrinsically tied to motivation for social transformation.

Methods:
Following IRB approval, four focus groups (n = 19) were conducted with social work students, educators, and practitioners. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling to represent diverse practice backgrounds. Focus groups were held in-person and via Zoom. Using thematic analysis, researchers explored lived experiences and perceptions related to virtues and values associated with wisdom in social work, with particular attention to motivational drivers and participants’ commitment to macro-level change.

Results:
A salient theme that emerged was participants’ deep sense of purpose and moral clarity around fostering social transformation. Many described their work as rooted in a commitment to equity, collective liberation, and systemic change—motives they viewed as inseparable from personal integrity and wisdom. Participants emphasized that wise social workers are those who act not only with compassion and insight, but with an intentional orientation toward justice and societal impact. This motivational wisdom shaped how they navigated ethical dilemmas, sustained hope in difficult contexts, and connected daily practice to broader social change goals.

Implications:
These findings reinforce the core premise of Practitioner Wisdom: that wisdom arises not merely from experience or technical expertise, but from the deliberate cultivation of character and values that align practice with purpose. Motivation for change is not ancillary to wisdom—it is central. These results suggest that social work education and professional development must intentionally cultivate this form of motivational wisdom. Curricula that integrate reflective practice, critical theory, and moral philosophy can help prepare practitioners who are not only competent, but wise—able to act with clarity, courage, and compassion in pursuit of justice and lasting social impact.