The presented textbook was created as a response to the need for a comprehensive, comprehensive and at the same time practically oriented guide in the field of social diagnostics and case studies. It connects theoretical concepts with methodological approaches, offers tools and techniques that can be used in practice and illustrates them through model case studies. He pays special attention to the ethical aspects of work, cultural sensitivity and reflection, which are an integral part of the professional performance of social work.

The publication is primarily intended for university students in the field of social work, who will find support in acquiring key knowledge and skills. At the same time, it can also serve as a methodological guide for experts in practice when processing case reports, when planning interventions or in the supervision process. Last but not least, we believe that it will bring inspiration for further academic research and practice-proven innovations in social work.

The textbook was created exclusively as a result of clinical social work, based on the author's many years of professional experience in the field of social work. The content of the individual chapters is therefore directly shaped by experiences from the field, from the academic environment and from the reflection of everyday situations that social workers encounter.

Let this textbook be a bridge between theory and practice, a tool for education and reflection, and at the same time a contribution to strengthening the professional identity of social work in Slovakia.

Review Opinion Reviewer: doc. ThLic. Mgr. Peter Laca, PhD., VŠZaSP st. Alžbety, n.o., Bratislava

Presented textbook Social diagnosis and case studies in social work by PhDr. Marek Koltáš, PhD., MBA, presents a systematic treatment of the issue of social diagnostics and case studies, which are the main components of professional social work. The text is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the theoretical basis of social diagnostics, its stages, methods and specifics in comparison with social anamnesis. The second part focuses on case studies, their definition, functions, creation methodology, as well as on practical demonstrations and model cases. This approach ensures logical continuity from theory to practical application.

The author conceives the text in an interdisciplinary framework, drawing on ecological-systemic theory, biopsychosocial model and narrative approach. Diagnostics is presented in the textbook not only as a descriptive process, but as an analytical-reflexive tool that includes data interpretation, hypothesis formulation and intervention design. Similarly, the casuistry is processed not only as a description of the case, but as a methodological tool enabling diagnostic, interventional, reflective and research use.

The textbook has a significant didactic dimension. Each chapter is supplemented with summaries, basic concepts and reflective questions that lead to active acquisition of content and knowledge. This element supports the development of critical thinking and increases the applicability of the textbook in university teaching. The text of the textbook is useful not only for students of social work, but also for experts in practice who need systematic methodological support.

A positive aspect of the teaching text is the abundant use of model case studies, which demonstrate the practical use of methodological procedures. The negative is that the teaching text sometimes seems very extensive and terminologically more demanding, which can be burdensome for some students. Nevertheless, it provides a broad theoretical foundation.

We note that the presented textbook fills a space in the Slovak professional literature, which until now has been devoted to the issue of social diagnostics and case studies only fragmentarily. Thus, it provides a comprehensive and comprehensive view of the field, which is crucial for the professional identity of social work and its methodological maturity. The text reflects the ethical, cultural and legal dimensions of practice, thereby providing the reader with a broader framework for understanding the social context of social work.

On the basis of content analysis and professional processing, the textbook Social diagnosis and case studies in social work can be evaluated as a scientifically sound, methodologically clear and didactically usable text. The book meets the criteria of a textbook for university studies in the field of social work, as well as in the further professional education of social workers, and at the same time has the potential to become a reference manual for professional practice.

Review Opinion *Reviewer: doc. PaedDr. Slavomír Laca, Ph.D., Dr.h.c., Prague University of Psychosocial Studies, s.r.o., in Prague, Czech Republic*

University textbook Social diagnosis and case studies in social work by PhDr. Marek Koltáš, PhD., MBA, presents a systematically processed professional text that strives to connect theoretical starting points with the specifics of practical application in social work. The author, who is an established expert in the field of social work, focuses in the work on defining and conceptualizing the process of social diagnostics, while enriching this framework with methodological and causal aspects.

The presented professional text is divided into individual chapters that reflect the goals, functions, structure and phases of the diagnostic process, paying special attention to case studies as a specific method of social work. The author analyzes the individual stages of diagnosis - from the initial contact with the client through the formulation of hypotheses to the synthesis of findings and the proposal of an intervention. Such a structured treatment allows the reader to follow the logical sequence of steps and to better understand the internal links between diagnosis and intervention.

A significant contribution of the professional text of the university textbook is the emphasis on connecting theoretical concepts with social practice. The author uses specific models and examples that illustrate the applicability of diagnostic tools in the context of real situations of clients in a natural social environment. It is also positive that it emphasizes the ethical aspects of social work - it emphasizes the principle of respect for the dignity and autonomy of the client, as well as the requirement of professional integrity of the social worker.

The university textbook shows several significant advantages. First of all, it is its systematic and clear structure, which is based on clearly formulated methodological starting points. Another strong point is the didactic value of the text - the author managed to find a balance between accessibility for students and, at the same time, sufficient professional depth for professional practice. An equally significant contribution is the ethical dimension of the publication, which does not stop at technical procedures, but emphasizes the value and professional aspects of social work. Despite these qualities, the professional text has smaller limits. Its strong orientation to the Slovak context brings the risk of limited comparison with foreign discourse. Expanding on international approaches and trends could provide a broader perspective.

In conclusion, the author clearly characterizes that quality diagnostics is a fundamental prerequisite for effective social intervention. It thus emphasizes not only the professional and methodological level, but also the value and professional responsibility of the social worker. Overall, it can be concluded that the publication Social diagnosis and case studies in social work represents a significant contribution to professional literature in the field of social work. It is suitable as teaching material for students, but also as a practical aid for professionals not only in social services. Despite the partial limitations, the book can be recommended as basic literature for all who deal with the issue of diagnostics and case studies not only in social work, especially for its systematicity, didactic value and emphasis on the ethical dimensions of the profession.

CONTENT

I. SOCIAL DIAGNOSTICS

  1. SOCIAL DIAGNOSTICS – THEORETICAL BASES 1.1 DIAGNOSIS AS A COGNITIVE PROCESS 1.2 DEFINITION OF SOCIAL DIAGNOSIS 1.3 GOALS AND FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL DIAGNOSTICS 1.3.1 Primary objectives of social diagnostics 1.3.2 Functions of social diagnostics 1.4 STAGES AND METHODS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS 1.4.1 Stages of the diagnostic process 1.4.2 Methods used in the diagnostic process 1.5 DIAGNOSIS AS THE RESULT OF THE PROCESS 1.5.1 Functions of diagnosis 1.5.2 Typology of social diagnoses 1.6 DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW 1.6.1 Phases of the diagnostic interview 1.6.2 Used techniques and principles 1.6.3 Ethical principles in the diagnostic interview 1.7 ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS OF DIAGNOSTICS 1.7.1 Informed consent and transparency 1.7.2 Confidentiality, Privacy and Data Protection 1.7.3 Professional boundaries and power asymmetry 1.7.4 Cultural competence and inclusiveness 1.7.5 Ethical reflection and supervision 1.8 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL DIAGNOSIS AND SOCIAL HISTORY 1.8.1 Social anamnesis – descriptive factography and biographical framework 1.8.2 Social diagnostics – interpretive and analytical process 1.8.3 Key differences – comparison of functions and approaches

  2. DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES 2.1. ANALYSIS OF DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS 2.2. OBSERVATION IN DIAGNOSTIC PRACTICE 2.3. CONVERSATION AS A TOOL 2.3.1. The goals and importance of the diagnostic interview 2.3.2 Structure of the diagnostic interview 2.3.3 Techniques in the diagnostic interview 2.4. PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUES 2.5. STANDARDIZED AND NON-STANDARDIZED TOOLS 2.5.1 Standardized tools 2.5.2 Non-standardized tools 2.6. Diagnostic visualization aids (overview)

  3. HISTORY IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL DIAGNOSTICS 3.1. THEORETICAL DEFINITION OF HISTORY 3.2. TYPES OF HISTORY ACCORDING TO THE FOCUS 3.3. ANAMNESTIC INTERVIEW – METHODS AND TECHNIQUES 3.3.1 Functions of anamnestic interview 3.3.2 Structure of the interview 3.4. STRUCTURE AND MEANING OF HISTORY 3.4.1 Structure of social anamnesis 3.4.2 Importance of anamnesis in social work 3.5. ETHICAL ASPECTS OF ANAMNESTIC DATA COLLECTION 3.5.1 Principle of informed consent 3.5.2 Respect for privacy and intimate boundaries 3.5.3 Protection of confidentiality and sensitive data 3.5.4 The principle of respect for the dignity and subjectivity of the client 3.5.5 Ethical dilemmas and conflicts 3.5.6 Cultural sensitivity

  4. DIAGNOSTIC VISUALIZATION TOOLS 4.1 DEFINITION AND MEANING 4.2 TYPOLOGY OF TOOLS 4.2.1 Genogram 4.2.2 Ecomap 4.2.3 Culturogram 4.2.4 Time line 4.2.5 Projective drawing

II. CASE STUDY IN SOCIAL WORK 5 CASE STUDY – THEORETICAL BASES 5.1 INTRODUCTION TO THE ISSUES OF CASE STUDIES 5.1.1 Historical background and development of casuistry 5.1.2 Case studies as an interdisciplinary concept 5.1.3 Case report in the context of education and professional development 5.2 DEFINITIONS OF CASE REPORTS 5.2.1 Expert definition of casuistry 5.2.2 Characteristics of case studies in social work 5.2.3 Distinction: case report, case study and administrative record 5.3 FUNCTIONS OF CASE REPORTS 5.3.1 Diagnostic function 5.3.2 Documentation function 5.3.3 Intervention function 5.3.4 Educational and supervisory function 5.3.5 Research function 5.3.6 Reflective and evaluation function 5.3.7 Advocacy and mediation function 5.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE CASE REPORT 5.4.1 Diagnostic target 5.4.2 Intervention goal 5.4.3 Reflective and ethical goal 5.4.4 Educational and research objective 5.4.5 Sharing in interprofessional cooperation 5.4.6 Support of continuity and transfer of information 5.5 TYPES OF CASE REPORTS 5.5.1 By professional field 5.5.2 According to the methodical approach 5.5.3 According to the purpose and target addressee 5.5.4 By extent, depth and time

  1. CREATION OF CASE REPORTS AND ITS STRUCTURE 6.1 STYLES AND FORMS OF WRITING CASE REPORTS 6.2 LITERARY FORM, LANGUAGE RECOMMENDATIONS 6.2.1 Literary form of casuistry: meaning, use and pitfalls 6.2.2 Language recommendations for professional case studies 6.3 FREQUENT MISTAKES WHEN WRITING CASE REPORTS 6.3.1 Classification of frequent errors 6.4 CHECKLIST FOR EXPERTS AND STUDENTS 6.4.1 Checklist according to parts of the literary case study 6.4.2 Checklist for students 6.4.3 Checklist for experts 6.5 COMPARISON OF CORRECT AND INCORRECT FORMULATIONS

  2. SOURCES AND BASES FOR THE CREATION OF CASE REPORTS 7.1 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES 7.1.1 Primary sources 7.1.2 Secondary sources 7.2 INTERVIEWS, DOCUMENTS, TESTIMONIALS 7.2.1 Interviews 7.2.2 Documents 7.2.3 Testimonials 7.3 HANDLING OF PERSONAL DATA AND GDPR 7.3.1 Basics of personal data protection 7.3.2 Informed Consent 7.3.3 Rights of the data subject 7.3.4 Practical recommendations for social workers 7.4 INFORMED CONSENT AND ITS MEANING 7.4.1 The essence and meaning of informed consent 7.4.2 How to create informed consent: structure and content 7.4.3 Practical advice on obtaining informed consent 7.5 DATA COLLECTION LIMITS AND ETHICAL REFLECTION 7.5.1 Types of Data Collection Limits 7.5.2 Ethical reflection in the data collection process 7.5.3 Practical recommendations 7.5.4 Example of data collection limit and ethical reflection in practice

  3. CASUIST RECORD SHEET 8.1 STRUCTURE AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ITEMS, SAMPLE

  4. MODEL CASES 9.1 LITERARY CASE STUDY 9.2 NARRATIVE CASE STUDY 9.3 ANALYTICAL CASE STUDY

APPENDIX A: METHODOLOGY OF WORKING WITH GENOGRAM - MODEL EXAMPLE APPENDIX B: METHODOLOGY OF WORKING WITH EKOMAP - MODEL EXAMPLE APPENDIX C: METHODOLOGY OF WORKING WITH A TIMELINE - MODEL EXAMPLE APPENDIX D: METHODOLOGY OF WORKING WITH A DRAWING – MODEL EXAMPLE

ORDER THE BOOK: marek.koltas@vssvalzbety.sk

Author: PhDr. Marek Koltáš, PhD., MBA Reviewers: doc. ThLic. Mgr. Peter Laca, PhD. - University of Health and Social Work St. Alžbety in Bratislava, n. o doc. PaedDr. Slavomír Laca, Ph.D., Dr.h.c. - Prague University of Psychosocial Studies, s.r.o., CR Title: SOCIAL DIAGNOSTICS AND CASE STUDY IN SOCIAL WORK Edition: First Release year: 2025 Number of pages: 209 Load: 200 Publisher: University of Health and Social Work St. Alžbety Bratislava, Detached workplace bl. Sáry Salkaházi, Rožňava. Printing: A-print s.r.o., Prešov. ISBN 978-80-8132-305-8 EAN 9788081323058