This unit introduces students to social research methodologies for social work research. The students will learn how to carry out their own research, as well as how to assess research done by others. Students will examine key research issues (e.g. the uses of research, research and social power, participatory research, etc.).

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. critically analyse research methodologies and their contribution social work practice and social welfare policy;
2. define a research problem or topic;
3. evaluate the contribution of qualitative and quantitative research approaches and the types of questions each can be used to answer;
4. understand some of the various methods practitioner researchers can use to collect qualitative and quantitative data, and the advantages and disadvantages of these;
5. judge the ethical issues around practitioner research, and how to encourage participation and power-sharing in the research process (themes of inter-subjectivity, accountability and participation); and
6. create an outline design for a research project to examine a practice situation or issue.

1. Research paradigms.
2. Choosing a research question or topic.
3. Accessing literature and writing a literature review.
4. Reading research critically.
5. Research methods.
6. Advantages and disadvantages of various research methodologies and methods.
7. Power and ethics in research.
8. Proposal writing.

The following graduate attributes will be developed in this unit:

• Ability to communicate
• Critical appraisal skills
• Ability to generate ideas