Please complete a research proposal using the headings below. The word limits below are intended as a guide. Complete the assignment using Arial 11-12pt font (or a similar, clearly defined font), double spaced and standard headings. The assignment needs to go through Turnitin.
Research Question
A brief literature review (around 1700 words):
Overview of existing research findings – themes, issues including your argument. Argue for the proposed study in relation to the existing literature
Aims and objectives of the research
Research design (around 1700 words):
Overall research approach/ methodology including epistemology, theoretical perspective, method: data collection methods/instruments, population and sampling method(s), data analysis and dissemination
Ethics (200 words) Key ethical considerations and how these will be addressed Participant information sheet
Informed consent form
School of Social and Policy Studies
TOPIC GUIDE
SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH IN PRACTICE SETTINGS
SOAD 9206 S1 2018
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Contents
Table of Contents
Contents 2
Introduction 3
Topic coordinator details: 3
Details regarding contact time: 4
Expectations of students 4
Lecture 4
Consultation statement 4
Topic / Educational Aims 5
Expected Learning Outcomes 5
Graduate Qualities 5
Timetable 6
Requirements to complete topic 10
Assessment guidelines / details / expectations 11
FLO 11
Topic readings 13
Introduction
Topic description
Welcome to SOAD9206 Social Work Research in Practice Settings. In this topic you will be encouraged to develop ‘research mindedness’ and think about the world around you in relation to research. This topic will enable social work students to develop a curiosity about research and understand how empirical work is relevant—and crucial—to social work. In addition to this, students will be introduced to the underlying principles and applications of social research in relation to social work practice and theory. This involves equipping students to understand social research methodologies and methods including developing a research question, ethics, data analysis, dissemination so that research-based practice can be understood and critiqued as appropriate.
Topic coordinator details:
Name: Dr Priscilla Dunk-West
Room number: SSS 343
Telephone number: 8201 5288
Email: Priscilla.dunkwest@flinders.edu.au
Details regarding contact time:
Expectations of students
Lecture
Time: 3-5 pm Fridays
Room number: Education Building 1.01 Lecture Theatre
Consultation statement
Dr Priscilla Dunk-West is available for student consultations in room SSS 343 on a drop-in basis Fridays 1-2pm during teaching times.
Topic / Educational Aims
The educational aims of this Topic are:
• Introduce students to the concept of social work research within a practice context, and the relevance of research skills in their professional setting
• Differentiate between different research paradigms, methodologies and approaches,
• Develop skills to critique research undertaken by colleagues and/or presented in the literature,
• Develop students’ writing skills
• Enable students to undertake a capstone piece of research relevant to social work practice.
Expected Learning Outcomes
By completing this topic, it is expected/intended that students will be able to:
• Understand the distinct nature of social work research,
• Understand the different research methodologies available for researching social questions,
• Develop the ability to choose appropriate methodologies for different situations,
• Develop skills to tender research funding opportunities,
• Display the ability to undertake a capstone piece of research in accordance with stated guidelines.
Graduate Qualities
The topic supports the development of the following qualities in students: (taken from Flinders University Graduate Qualities):
• who are knowledgeable
• who can apply their knowledge
• who communicate effectively
• who can work independently
• who are collaborative
• who value ethical behaviour
• who connect across boundaries.
Timetable
DATE LECTURE TOPIC SMALL GROUPS AND ONLINE DISCUSSION
Week 1
2.8.2019 Introduction to the topic, including assessment. What is research and how do we know what we know? In small groups, discuss why social research is important in social work. Share your 3 main thoughts on this topic it on FLO under week 1 discussion
Week 2
9.8.2019 The research question
In small groups, choose an area for research and start to narrow down your focus. Write the final research question on FLO.
16.8.2019 NO LECTURE – OPEN DAY
Week 4
23.8.2019 Guest lecture
Dr Michelle Jones
OPAL project In a few sentences on FLO, summarise what you found challenging/ interesting about today’s lecture and how you might use this information in social work practice.
Week 5
30.8.2019 Guest lecture
Rob Martin – evaluation research Outline how you think evaluation methods could assist in a particular social work area. Outline what methods you might use to evaluate a program or service.
Week 6
6.9.2019 Reviewing the literature In small groups, go to the library database and locate a journal article which is related to social work. Read the article individually and then as a group, work out what the key arguments are in the article. Write these up in dot points on FLO (at least 3 dot points).
Week 7
30.3.18
Practical session – workshopping research questions
Week 8
20.9.2019 Aims and objectives and theoretical perspectives In small groups, imagine you are interested in researching the area of alcohol consumption. Referring to your notes from the lecture, choose one of the theoretical perspectives (below) and design some research around this topic. Outline your chosen approach and a brief outline of the proposed research.
• Positivist approach
• Critical approach
• Interpretive approach
• Postmodern approach
MID-SEMESTER BREAK 23.9.2019-6.10.2019
Week 9
11.10.2019 Ethics in research Select one of the scenarios below and discuss the ethical issues that need to be taken into consideration in relation to the research.
SCENARIO ONE
The local youth centre is carrying out research on:
The impact drug use has on the mental health of young people aged 16 – 25.
They intend to do conduct 100 questionnaires with young people and from these questionnaires select 20 respondents that have been affected by these issues and conduct an in depth interview.
The questionnaires will be given to people attending the youth centre, local shopping centre, youth hostels, local colleges, and night clubs.
The research will be conducted by the youth workers that work in the centre and a few selected young people that use the centre.
What ethical issues do the group need to consider and why?
SCENARIO TWO
Tom is a student at the University and wants to carry out some research. His research question is:
Are there issues of neglect for older people in aged care facilities in Adelaide?
He has 9 months to conduct and complete this research and intends to use the following methods to carry out this research
• Conduct interviews with people that are living in 4 aged care facilities in Adelaide. He anticipates that he will conduct at least 40 interviews (10 interviews at each care home)
• Conduct 4 focus groups with staff in each of the care facilities in Adelaide
What ethical issues will he need to consider and why? Should he change his design?
Week 10
18.10.2019 Data analysis and findings Choose an innovate method and outline how you might analyse data, keeping in line with social work theories and approaches. Share your thoughts on FLO.
Week 11
25.10.2019 Qualitative research in social work: Methods In groups, discuss why you favour a particular research method and match it to a social work practice theory or approach. Summarise your discussion on FLO.
Week 12
1.11.2019 Research dissemination Advanced Literature Reviewing and linking everything together
Q and A for the assignment Imagine you have conducted research and would like to make people aware of your findings. Outline on FLO an innovative or novel approach for publicising/ sharing research findings to the general public.
DUE DATE FOR THE ASSIGNMENT: 9am Monday 11th November 2019
Requirements to complete topic
Student workload / topic requirements:
It is important that assignments are submitted by the due dates. Extensions will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds. While students should not hesitate to approach the Topic Coordinator or Workshop Facilitator about an extension if medical or compassionate grounds exist, all students are expected to meet assignment deadlines to enable effective grading and feedback regarding assignments.
For an extension beyond the Faculty deadline, the request must be submitted to the Faculty Office, on the University form headed ‘Application for a special examination or extension on medical or compassionate grounds’. The request should be submitted directly to the Faculty Office after consulting with the Topic Coordinator or Workshop Facilitator.
Academic integrity
The University regards academic dishonesty as a very serious matter and imposes strict penalties on students who are found to be guilty of an offence under the terms of University policy in this area. The University’s policies and procedures website on academic integrity states the following:
“All students and staff have an obligation to understand and respect the rules and practice of academic integrity. It is therefore expected that students and staff will adhere to high standards of academic integrity. The University will provide resources to assist students and staff to be aware of their responsibilities. It is expected that academic staff will provide appropriate guidance, support and feedback to assist students to become familiar with the normal academic conventions relevant to their discipline. Academic integrity means that all work which is presented is produced by the student alone, with all sources and collaboration fully acknowledged. Any failure to meet the requirements of academic integrity in any form of academic work will be regarded as a breach of the requirements of academic integrity and, depending on the circumstances and the nature of the breach, consequences including penalties may be expected to follow. Breaches of academic integrity may include plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, falsification, double submission of work and misconduct in examinations.”
It is the obligation of all students to understand and respect the principles that underpin academic integrity and to avoid practices that involve academic dishonesty.
Further information for students about academic integrity can be accessed at https://monkessays.com/write-my-essay/flinders.edu.au/aims/. Students also are encouraged to look at the link to “Academic Integrity at Flinders” in their topic listings on FLO (Flinders Learning Online).
Assessment guidelines / details / expectations
Assessment is comprised of the following:
Online FLO contributions to weekly discussions (20%) and Research Proposal (80%).
FLO
FLO is used for weekly discussion. Note discussions are intended to draw from the substantive work you do in small groups. Then FLO comments can be carefully considered, refined and therefore need to be succinct. Around 1000 words for the topic total is what is expected. FLO postings must make sense and reflect the work undertaken in small groups.
You should endeavour to keep up with the weekly postings as they are designed to help you learn about research in social work. The final due date for all postings is 9am Monday 11th November 2019.
Research Proposal
Due date: 9am Monday 11th November 2019
Length: 4500 words
Worth: 80% of final grade
Guidance:
Please complete a research proposal using the headings below. The word limits below are intended as a guide. Complete the assignment using Arial 11-12pt font (or a similar, clearly defined font), double spaced and standard headings. The assignment needs to go through Turnitin.
1. Research Question
2. A brief literature review (around 1700 words):
Overview of existing research findings – themes, issues including your argument. Argue for the proposed study in relation to the existing literature
3. Aims and objectives of the research
4. Research design (around 1700 words):
Overall research approach/ methodology including epistemology, theoretical perspective, method: data collection methods/instruments, population and sampling method(s), data analysis and dissemination
5. Ethics (200 words) Key ethical considerations and how these will be addressed Participant information sheet
Informed consent form
Assignment Presentation and Submission
It is essential that your written assignments be presented in a neat, organised, legible format. Unless otherwise arranged with the topic coordinator, assignments are to be typed.
All assignments should be submitted through FLO.
Referencing
Note that any key ideas that are not your own should be referenced, and wording taken exactly from sources must be identified and cited as quotes. Please refer to the university’s policy on Academic Integrity and the FLO site about academic integrity http://flo.flinders.edu.au/course/view.php?id=104
While there are various referencing systems, the most common and recommended one is the APA system.
Extensions
It is important that assignments are submitted by the due dates. Extensions will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds. While students should not hesitate to approach the Topic Coordinator or Workshop Facilitator about an extension if medical or compassionate grounds exist, all students are expected to meet assignment deadlines to enable effective grading and feedback regarding assignments.
Topic readings
Essential reading:
Alston, M. & Bowles, W. (2012) 3rd edn., Research for Social Workers: An Introduction to Methods, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.
