Social Work 679

SOWK 679: Examining Practice, Theory, Policy, and Research in Preparation for Clinical Practice

Prerequisite:   Admission to the graduate program in social work. Students may not earn credit for SOWK 679 if they have already completed SOWK 772.

Credit Hours: (3)

Instructional Method: Three hours lecture

Catalog Description
This course is required for all Advanced Standing students and is offered as elective course for graduate social work students in the standard program prior to having taken SOWK 772. The goal of this course is to enhance skills and knowledge in research in preparation for engaging in evidence-based practice and evaluation of social work practice. Students will be able to produce, present, and defend a well- developed research proposal at the end of the semester. The key themes and concepts explored in this course include: social work theories and clinical practice; diversity in the context of clinical practice; social welfare policy; racial, social, economic, and environmental justice; the role of research in social work practice; examining existing literature in the context of writing a focused literature review; and research methodology.


Detailed Description of Content of Course

Overview of Research Proposals:

  • Evidence-based practice
  • Getting started with research
  • Developing research questions
  • Types of Research Projects Review samples of research proposal

Scholarly Literature

  • Literature search
  • Peer-reviewed articles
  • Annotating an article

 

Problem formulation

Conceptualization& operationalization

Research Ethics

Concepts

  • Measurement
  • Reliability and validity Sampling
  • Survey design 
  • Threats to validity 
  • Causal inference 
  • Experimental designs
  • Quasi-experimental designs

Types qualitative research

Trustworthiness in qualitative research

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course is organized around student-centered learning principles, experiential activities, films/videos, lecture, and individual and group investigation of the issues. Students are encouraged to be active participants in the learning process; this requires that you keep up with the readings and make a concerted effort to relate the course material to your personal and professional experiences. The course will involve the presentation of course content both synchronously and asynchronously. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Critically analyze the relationship between theory and practice and demonstrate the integration of anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational community, research, and policy levels.

2. Describe and analyze a current or recent policy, the societal events and trends leading to the development of that policy, and the impacts of the policy for racial, social, economic, or environmental justice.

3. Articulate the relationship among research, policy, theory, and practice at all levels of social work practice (micro, mezzo and macro).

4. Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of quantitative and qualitative research design.

5. Design an actual research project relevant to social work practice and develop research proposal writing skills.

6. Explain the function of social work research in the advancement of professional knowledge and in ethical social work practice. 

Assessment Measures

Students will be assessed on the following items:

Background and literature review

 

Research questions or hypotheses

Study design and procedures

 

Proposal presentation

CITI training

Practice Module Policy Module

 

Other Course Information

Course will utilize CITI training, and focus on the development of a research proposal.

 

Review and approved

June, 2023