The Social Case History

This book defines and explains the social case history. Published in 1920 as a guide for social scientists, it argues that case history is defined by its intended purpose; namely, the immediate purpose of furthering effective treatment of individual clients, the ultimate purpose of general social betterment, or the incidental purpose of establishing the case worker herself in critical thinking.

ADA ELIOT SHEFFIELD was director of the Boston Bureau on Illegitimacy.