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SP52116: Research for social work: values, methods and contexts

[Page last updated: 15 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 100
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CWES 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Essay (CWES 100% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, you, 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.


Synopsis: Gain the skills needed to undertake social work research in rapidly changing inter-professional and organisational contexts. You'll study key research methodologies to develop your understanding of the underpinning ethical and epistemological dimensions of social work research. This will prepare you to conduct your own research into the development of social work practice, policy and learning.

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.

Course availability:

SP52116 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
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