SP50158: Research for social work: values, methods and contexts
[Page last updated: 01 August 2022]
| Academic Year: | 2022/23 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 100% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Learning Outcomes: | By the end of the unit students will be able to:
* Identify the main ethical and value dimensions of social work research * Locate social work research within the organisational and policy context of contemporary social services and integrating services * Understand how to negotiate pathways relating to ethical permissions and governance in social work research * Incorporate partnership perspectives, with service users and other stakeholders in the development of research strategies * Understand contemporary debates concerning emancipatory approaches in social research * Articulate contrasting models of research dissemination and utilisation in personal social services * Identify the main contours of the 'evidence-based practice' debate * Understand contemporary debates relating to reflexivity, reflection and standpoint perspectives in social work research * Identify complexities and challenges of undertaking comparative social work research. |
| Aims: | * To prepare students to undertake social work research in rapidly changing inter-professional and organisational contexts * To prepare students to integrate into their knowledge of research methodologies an understanding of the underpinning ethical and epistemological dimensions of social work research. * To prepare students to understand the relationship of research to the development of social work practice, policy and learning. |
| Skills: | Intellectual:
* To think creatively and analytically (f/t/a) * To communicate an argument (f/a) * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence (f/t/a) * To gather information from a variety of sources (f/a) * To synthesize information from a number of sources (f/t/a) Professional: * To develop sensitivity to the values and interests of others (f/t/a) * To apply broad knowledge of research methods to social work issues. (t/a) Transferable key skills * Essay research, preparation and writing skills (f/t/a) * To reflect upon own academic and professional performance (t/a) Knowledge outcomes * Knowledge of research processes impinging on service users (t/a) * Knowledge of the ethical dimensions of social work research(t/a) * Knowledge of empowerment approaches in social work research (t/a) * Significance of ethical and governance frameworks (t/a) * Knowledge of organisational and professonal contexts of social work research (t/a) |
| Content: | * The context of social work research * Social work values and the conduct of research * Ethical permissions and research governance in social work * Power relationships in the production of social work research * Emancipatory research * Research with service users * Researching sensitive topics * Outcome measurement in research (including user-defined outcomes) * Partnership skills in social work research * Research utilisation in social services - the 'evidence based practice' debate * The relationship of research to the development, implementation and evaluation of social work * Reflection and reflexivity in the research process * Unpacking the concept of 'user' in the research context - commissioners, agencies and service users * The challenges of comparative social work research. |
| Programme availability: |
SP50158 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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Notes:
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