Social Work Research

Catalog description

Social Work Research is a one-semester course. The purpose of this course is to prepare the BSW practitioner to understand the research process, take part in a research project through the steps of design, develop a survey instrument, and seek approval for the project from the La Salle University Institutional Review Board. The student will also be required to read and critique current research articles. The student will be exposed to a variety of social research processes and methods, including qualitative and quantitative methodologies; program evaluation; and needs assessment research. Emphasis on understanding and applying social work values to research will be included. Students will be asked to examine ethical dilemmas which face researchers and those studying research, especially as this relates to work with vulnerable populations. The student will be introduced statistical analysis software used in social work research. Efforts will also be made to incorporate into the class research analysis of current ethical, advocacy, or practice issues, as identified by the instructor and/or students. The underlying values for this course are taken from the NASW Code of Ethics, which will permeate course content and process. Special emphasis will be placed on how research interfaces with successful social work practice.