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Researching Social Work Practice 1 (SCWK90069)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
Contact information
September
Dr William Abur
Overview
| Availability | September |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The aim of the subject is to familiarise students with a range of approaches useful for researching social work practice. In this subject “practice” is defined broadly to encompass policy and organizational practice as well as practice with individuals, groups and communities.
Social work research methods are used in all aspects of social work practice from describing and attempting to understand the issues with which, and the people with whom we work, to establishing the effectiveness of what we do. There is increasingly an emphasis on evidence-based practice, which necessitates an ability to evaluate and use research evidence to inform practice. Social workers move in increasing numbers and earlier in their careers into roles requiring them to initiate as well as participate in practice based research. The organizations in which social workers work are increasingly promoting a culture of practice research in an attempt to plan and evaluate service delivery in a reflective and thoughtful way.
The lectures and seminars will present a range of practice research issues, broadly mirroring the research process in the field. They will also offer examples and identify opportunities for practice research and the challenges confronting practitioners in undertaking it.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Describe and discuss the diverse methodologies that inform social work practice research in a diverse range of contexts;
- Identify recent developments in social work research;
- Articulate ethical issues involved in social work research; and
- Describe the processes for engaging service users or consumers in social work research.
Skills
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Critically analyse research literature as a basis for evidence-based practice;
- Communicate the results of social work practice research in ways relevant to both academic and practice contexts;
- Undertake independent practice-based research on questions of relevance to social work; and
- Formulate research questions arising from social work practice situations including those concerning social policy and program development.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
On completion of the subject, students should be able to:
- Utilise and analyse methodological pluralism in relation to social work practice research;
- Apply knowledge and skills to evaluate and implement research findings in the fields of social work practice, including child and family health and mental health; and
- Apply foundational skills in developing and implementing a research design through appropriate data collection and analysis methods.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- critically analyse texts and practices
- understand recent developments in social work contexts of practice
- link theory to practice
- competently communicate in ways relevant to both academic and practice contexts
- undertake independent research
Last updated: 10 February 2024