SW 690 Soicial Work Research I
Home SW 693 Social Work Research II SW 680B Chi Kong (Qigong) and Human Services Spiritualities and Human Services SW 690 Soicial Work Research I

 

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Course description:

This is the first class of social research course for social work. The course aims to train the student to become an informed consumer as well as a knowledge creator. The course focuses on the processes of research.

Prerequestes

 

Hours

 

Absent Policy

 

Grading

Texts

 

Tests

Others

 

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

 

SW 690 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS

 

Winter, 1999 Dr. Douglas Chung

Hours: By Appointment Office: 25 Commerce

SW 690A: T. 3-5:50 PM Rm EC 422 Phone: 616-771-6559

SW 690B: TH. 6-8:50 PM Rm EC 417

SW 690C: T. 12-2:50 PM Rm EC 313 SW 690D : Mon. 6-8:50 PM MCC

 

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This is a foundation course in social work research. Its purpose is to learn the basic principles and techniques of social science research in relation to general practice in social work settings. The organizing principles for the course is the research cycle, with an emphasis on the problem identification and formulation stages of the research process, i.e., selecting and defining a researchable problem, describing the relation of the problem to a theoretical framework, and formulating hypotheses or research questions. These then are related to an overview of the various designs for research, data collection, and analysis procedures for social work practice, which will be pursued in a more applied sense in the subsequent field practice. Students are reminded of the ethical use of scientific methodologies for the acquisition of knowledge and its application to social work practice.

II. COURSE GOALS

 

The overriding goal in the course is to train students to become informed consumers and knowledge producers of research in the social work profession. Students will be provided the opportunity to use professional journals, emphasizing the criteria and standards which can be used for assessing the soundness of research methods and studies relevant to various practice concerns in social work. Other goals include the following:

 

1. Enhancing student outcomes of analytical skills in assessment and practice.

2. Developing an appreciation of ethical considerations and issues related to human subject research.

3. Strengthening skills in knowledge-building and application with populations-at-risk.

4. Encouraging students to become active and resourceful participants in developing their own research projects and interests.

III. COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of the course, students will:

 

A. Related to Knowledge

 

1. View research as a way of thinking and problem- solving in social work practice.

 

2. Understand formal elements of the scientific method.

 

3. Understand steps in the process of social science research.

 

4. Comprehend the relationship between the scientific method, the process of social science research, and social work practice.

 

5. Comprehend the roles and relationships between design, measurement, statistics, and the use of computers in practice-based research.

 

6. Be familiar with major research efforts in selected fields of social work practice, especially in relation to populations-at-risk, i.e. the aged, minorities of color and women.

 

7. Be familar with facilitants and barriers to conducting social work research in the social context of populations-at-risk.

 

 

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