SWN019 Research for Social Change

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

All qualified social workers need to appreciate the relevance of research for practice, including meaningful and broadly understood evidence-based practice. Research informs practice decision-making about reach, efficacy and the wellbeing of the organisations in which this takes place. Critical research is also foundational for advocacy and social change. In this unit you will design a research project, focussing on the research proposal. In the subsequent research unit, SWN020, you will build on this learning and carry out a research project using one of three methodologies: systematic literature review; critical reflection; or critical discourse analysis. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Locate, access and critique appropriate academic literature related to your field of interest, while developing your online research skills
2. Apply ethical standards for the conduct of human research in the design of a research project
3. Design a research project that is logical and coherent and has clear links between the research problem, the question, and the methods of data analysis
4. Critically apply knowledge of social research principles and methods and other forms of inquiry, including participatory approaches, that align with social work values and ethics to a research problem relevant to social work

Content

Learning Approaches

A teaching and learning approach will offer a mix of face-to-face and online workshops, and self-directed activities in between workshops. In the workshops, small group exercises and discussions will be used, requiring the application of relevant theory and methods. Peer review will be emphasised as a critical part of iteratively developing research proposals. A tutorial program will provide additional support throughout the semester.

Career development and employability: 

There is an emphasis on you developing 'real world' research skills including but not limited to:

- Selecting a topic area that focuses on real-world, significant social issue or practice concern. 

- Critical thinking and analysis,

- Design of a viable and theoretically coherent research proposal

- Showing how you might use such a proposal in your future practice post graduation. 

- Peer networking made available through the on-campus, in-person workshops, and various social media groupings. 

- In class group discussions offer opportunities to share you work in progress to give and get peer feedback. 

All these activities are part of wider discussions of social work research careers and your future practitioner roles, which also incorporate these research skills. 

Embedded support for learning: Student Success staff assist the delivery of this unit to offer support to both individuals and groups, including through Studiosity. Weekly postings of the Student Success offerings are made through the unit's online learning platform.  Unit staff also offer students considerable 'pastoral care' and make referrals to the QUT Counselling Services when necessary. There is a formal session facilitated by the library in class time to take you through using library related research tools. The Library Liaison person is on hand to assist with the sourcing of learning materials and show you how to use various data bases after this session. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be given formative feedback on your research ideas and initial design, and written feedback on your written pieces of assessment: the literature review and the research design. Peer review will be an important part of the feedback cycle, with opportunity for students to share their ideas and receive constructive feedback from each other in class.

Assessment

Overview

There are two related items of assessment for this unit. The critical literature review you prepare for the first assessment will provide the basis of developing the research plan in the second assessment item. 

Authentic assessment:

Both assessment items in this unit are authentic. 

1. Critical literature review: The authentic role you will be occupying is as a social work researcher. You will write a critical literature review on a real-world social issue or practice concern. Using relevant literature located via appropriate research databases your critical literature review will provide a synthesis of relevant research in terms of their scope, methods and findings, and will identify a research problem or issue (outcome) that would benefit from further research (purpose). The ability to write a literature review develops your ability to identify relevant literature, assess its quality, and synthesise key ideas, arguments, findings in a clear and convincing manner. Similar writing skills are necessary for future employment, such as funding submissions, evaluation reports, and research projects. These skills will assist you to perform as a social worker, even when you are working on the frontline because you will still need to synthesise contemporary research as you engage in ongoing professional development. 

2. Research Proposal: Research is one of the five modes of social work practice. The authentic role you will be occupying is as a social work researcher. Based on the gap or identified need you discover from your literature review, you will write a research proposal on a real-world social issue or practice concern. Using relevant design and research methods you will explain your rationale for your study and how you will conduct your study in the sister unit, SWN020 Practice Research Project. This is authentic because social work graduates must meet AQF9, which means you are able to develop a theoretically coherent and viable study to address an important social issue. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Critical Literature Review

As a social work researcher, you will write a 2,200 word critical literature review on a real-world social issue or practice concern of your choice. Using relevant literature located via appropriate research databases your critical literature review will provide a synthesis of relevant research in terms of their scope, methods and findings, and will identify a research problem or issue that would benefit from further investigation.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Research Proposal

As a social work researcher you will develop a detailed research proposal that will investigate your identified research problem. You will provide a rationale for the research project and will choose from one of three methods, systematic literature review, critical reflection, critical discourse analysis, to investigate your topic. Your 3,500 word proposal will provide a template for conducting your chosen project in SWN020, and will include your identified research questions and aims, description and justification of an appropriate methodology, data analysis, timeframe and ethical considerations relevant to the conduct of the proposed research.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Alston, M., & Bowles, W. (2012). Research for Social Workers. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Risk Assessment Statement

No out of the ordinary risks are associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

SW81 Master of Social Work - Qualifying

1. Critically evaluate and apply critical social work theories, knowledge and skills that reflect the professional standards of the discipline and identify with the values and ethics that guide professional practice, including the recognition of diversity, human rights and promotion of social equality and justice.
   Relates to: Critical Literature Review, Research Proposal
2. Formulate strategies for engaging in critical thinking, decision making, critically reflective and culturally safe practice to create innovative and contextually responsive interventions that work towards emancipatory change.
   Relates to: Research Proposal
3. Apply digital capabilities while accessing and evaluating relevant bodies of knowledge that guide collaborative, intra- and inter-professional practice with diverse populations (individual, groups, communities) to promote and advancing socially just outcomes.
   Relates to: Critical Literature Review, Research Proposal
4. Practise professional integrity, and effective written, oral and digital communication to analyse and convey complex information and build productive relationships across diverse stakeholders to promote ethical social work practice.
   Relates to: Research Proposal