Factors in Acceptance of Advanced Information Technology Among Social Workers: An Exploratory Study Julie Cwikel Menachem Monnickendarn SUMMARY. Advanced information technology such as diagnostic programs, decision support systems or therapeutic computer games are likely to have far-reaching effects on the nature of social work practice, on the condition that they can be accepted by rank and file workers in human services organizations. T h s exploratory study was designed to develop a valid instnunent that can test the extent to which social workers are willing to use the three most common types of advanced information technology: (1) computerized assessment package (CA), (2) decision support system (DSS), and (3) thera u tic computer games (TG). The instrument was field-tested wi tK" 74 - Israeli social workers. Social workers clearly differentiated between the types of information technology with preference for therapeutic comwter eames (TG. DDS. CA. mean accevtance = 4.14. 3.91. 3.47: respehively)'. The differences between 'b~ and CA, id be: tween DDS and CA were statisticallv simcant in mired t-tests (v = . - .. .000 and .003 respectively). INTRODUCTION Social work educators, researchers and strategic planners have pon- dered about the best method for the introduction of advanced types of Julie Cwikel is affiliated with the Charlotte and Jack Spitzer Department of Social Work at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba 84120, POB 653, Israel. Menachem Monnickendam is affiliated with the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan. Israel 5290. Bitnet: F46026 @ BA- RILVM. @ 1993 by The Haworth Ress, Inc. All rights rese~ed. 279