Research Methods

Catalog description

This generalist course will provide students with a tailored learning experience to develop their skills in systematic inquiry into problems of social work practice. The course is guided by the questions: (1) What is systematic inquiry? (2) What purposes can it serve? and (3) Where does it fit within my social work practice? The course values multiple ways of knowing including evidence-based practice and practice- based evidence. Students will develop skills in formulating effective practice questions, developing interventions based on available evidence and designing evaluations to assess effectiveness of planned interventions. Students will also develop a basic knowledge of program evaluation. In all activities, including data collection and analysis, students will apply an equity lens asking what assumptions are being made, who is benefitting and who is being marginalized, and how do participants have a voice in the process.