What do social work students think social work research is?

Anita Gibbs

doi:10.11157/anzswj-vol24iss2id131

Abstract

In New Zealand, social work students often undertake social work research training as part of their first qualification in social work. The focus of this article is to consider what social work students think social work research is and whether they think social work research should be part of normal, everyday practice or not. Forty-three social work students from Otago University participated in a small research project during 2009 aimed at exploring their constructions of social work research. They emphasised that social work research should be compatible with social work values like empowerment and social justice, and bring about positive change of benefit of service users.

Highlights

There has been much controversy and debate in the literature concerning definitions and constructions of social work research (Beddoe, 2010; Fook, 2009; author, 2005; Shaw, BriarLawson, Orme and Ruckdeschel, 2010)
As they read more about social work research and gathered information for their written assignments they expressed more commitment to a view of social work research being compatible with traditional social work values and practices
As one student put it: Social work research incorporates many different components, theories and practice approaches, all of which aim to be sympathetic towards the work and uphold core social work values

Summary

Introduction

There has been much controversy and debate in the literature concerning definitions and constructions of social work research (Beddoe, 2010; Fook, 2009; author, 2005; Shaw, BriarLawson, Orme and Ruckdeschel, 2010). McDermott (1996) understood social work research to be about intervention, use of the ecological model and focused on the poor and vulnerable. Dominelli (2005) argued that social work research focuses on marginalised groups, and engagement with practice to transform it. Others have identified important unique aspects of social work research: for example, Witkin (2000) has long been an advocate of social work research as empowerment, Humphries (2008) as social justice, Martinez-Brawley (2001) argued for inclusionary practices, and Beresford and Croft (2001) proposed service-user involvement

Methods

Results

Conclusion