Exploration of Chinese social workers' experiences of ethical decision-making in practice: A phenomenological study

The purpose of this study was to explore social workers' lived experiences of making ethical decisions in the Chinese context. Guided by a hermeneutic phenomenology approach, the authors recruited twelve social workers from seven social services agencies in Beijing. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted from 2021 to 2022. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using hermeneutic phenomenological analysis. Data analysis yielded three major interpretative themes: decision made through group discussion, decision based on one's emotions and understanding of local customs, and decision reached by seeking a compromise. This study illuminates the influence of contextual forces on ethical decision-making of Chinese social workers. The findings imply that fostering group discussion and encouraging collaboration between practitioners and scholars would enhance the support system for social workers to address ethical issues in China's practice settings.