Research in Social Work: Challenges and Trends

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

All sessions include a substantial element of collaborative exercise work. Much is drawn from recent research and academic production. Students will be encouraged to think about aspects often designed as acquired data - for example, what we mean when we speak of 'method', 'practical', 'evidence', etc., and to illustrate the research perspectives debated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the perspectives that are distinctive to social work research.
2. Understand and be able to engage with some of the central issues and debates within social work research
3. Be able to engage with and critically assess  some of the key sources
4. Be able to critically assess the contribution of social work research within the wider social sciences

At the end of the course the doctoral student should be able to apply the learning to their respective research projects.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Social Work Research as Enabling Understanding and Learning
2. Social Work Research as Promoting Justice in Professional Practice
3. Is Social Work Research Distinctive?
4. Practitioner research and academic research.

Head Lecturer(s)

Cristina Maria Pinto Albuquerque

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 30.0%
Systematization paper of scientific research in the SW field in recent decades : 70.0%

Bibliography

Shaw, I. & K Briar-Lawson, J Orme and R Ruckdeschel  (2010). Sage Handbook of Social Work Research London: Sage Publications Inc.

Becker, S. & Alan Bryman and Harry Ferguson (2012). Understanding Research for Social Policy and Social Work:  Themes, Methods and Approaches. Bristol: Policy Press.

Shaw, I. and Lunt, N. (2011) ‘Navigating Practitioner Research’ British Journal of Social Work 41 (8): 1548-1565.