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Subject: Social Work Class: M.S.W Semester: Iiird

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44 views25 pages

Subject: Social Work Class: M.S.W Semester: Iiird

Uploaded by

Utkarsh Gupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Subject: Social Work

Class: M.S.W
Semester: IIIrd
Paper Name: Social Work Research & Statistics
Topic: Concept and Scope of Social Work Research
Sub Topic: Concept of Social Work Research
Key Words: Social Work Research, Social Research

Name: Dr. Nimisha Gupta


Department of Social Work
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi -02
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer

The content is exclusively meant for academic purposes and for


enhancing teaching and learning. Any other use for
economic/commercial purpose is strictly prohibited. The users of the
content shall not distribute, disseminate or share it with anyone else
and its use is restricted to advancement of individual knowledge. The
information provided in this e-content is authentic and best as per my
knowledge.

The content in this presentation has been taken from IGNOU site,
which has been duly referred.
Learning Objectives

• By the end of this module you will be able to:


• Understand the concept of Social Work Research
• Differentiate between Social Research and Social Work
Research
• Gain knowledge about areas, scope and goals of Social
Work Research
What is Social Work Research?

• Social Work Research is the application of research methods to solve


problems that social workers confront in the practice of social work.

• It provides information that can be taken into consideration by social


workers prior to making decisions, that affect their clients,
programmes or agencies such as use of alternative intervention
techniques or change or modification of
programme/clients/objectives and so forth.
Where can we practice Social Work
Research?
• Some Examples….

• In assessing the nature and extent of the problem of a client who has
been facing marital maladjustment ( to know to what extent the
intervention would be effective)

• To assess which group work technique is effective in increasing


knowledge of drug abuse among school going children
Contd.....

• A community organiser wants to know the views of the community


before he takes a decision to change the programme/objectives

• A director of special school for mentally retarded children wants to


know whether group therapy is as effective as individual therapy in
increasing their adaptability

• A social work administrator is concerned about effectiveness of


implementation of new programme launched
Defining Social Work Research

• Systematic investigation into the problem in the field of social work.

• The study of concept, principles, theories underlying social work


methods and skills are the major areas of social work research

• It involves the study of the relationship of social workers with their


clients on various levels of interaction or therapy as well as their
natural relationships and functioning within the organisational
structure of social agencies
Contd…

• On theoretical side it re-examines the special body of knowledge;


concepts and theories

• In area of practice it tries to evolve a systematic theory and valid


concepts, to know the efficacy of different methods / interventions of
social work as to search for alternate/innovative interventions and
treatments
Social Work Research therefore...

• concerns itself with the problems faced by social workers

• encompasses those questions which are encountered in social work


practices or in planning or administering social work services which
can be solved through research and which are appropriate for
investigation under social work auspices
Are both Social Research and Social Work
Research same?

• Social work research utilizes the same scientific methods and


techniques, as does social research.

• When some procedures (research designs) of social research are not


suitable to social work research it would be necessary to develop the
tools which would be appropriate to social work research
Social Work Research: The Process

• Is not completely identical to social research

• Though there are many similarities, social work research has some
additional steps designed to suit its objectives

• By following the process social work researchers are in a position to


know precisely what intervention was applied and how much effect
was produced

• The process also links research and practice.


Contd...

• Starts with problem identification and setting up of goals

• Followed by assessment (or need assessment) of the client’s


problems

• During initial stages researcher strives to obtain a clear and specific


understanding of the problem using assessment tools as interviewing
Steps

• Set up the goals to be achieved (goals should be specific, precisely


defined and measurable in some way)

• Pre-intervention measurement

• Introduce intervention

• Assess the effects of intervention by comparing the two


measurements
THE SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH PROCESS

Identification of problems

Assess the Intervention Need Assessment


Effects

Introduce intervention Selection of Social Work


Research Design

Pre-Intervention Measurement
(Data Collection)
Relevance of Research in Social Work

• Search for answers to questions raised regarding interventions or


practice effectiveness

• Attempts to provide knowledge about what interventions or treatments


really help or hinder the attainment of social work goals

• Answers to problems or difficulties faced by social work practitioners in


the practice of their profession
Contd......

• Builds knowledge base for social work theory and practice

• Deals with problems faced by professional social workers, social work


agencies and community in its concern with social work functions

• Focuses on assessment of practitioner’s work with individuals,


groups, families, communities or appraisal of agencies or
programmes
Contd......

• Lays special emphasis on evaluation (also understood as evaluative


research)

• Thus in social work research the study of a problem is from the point
of view of social work and that of professional social work i.e. adding
new knowledge to social work theory and practice and improve the
efficiency of professional social workers.
Scope of Social Work Research

• Assumptive knowledge hypothetical knowledge validated or tested


knowledge

• Not all concepts or theories used by professional social workers have


been tested and validated

• Social work research embraces the entire gamut of social work


profession: concepts, theories, methods, programmes, services, and
the problems faced during practice.
Areas of Social Work Research

• Studies to establish, identify and measure the need for service

• To measure the services offered as they relate to needs

• To test, gauge and evaluate results of social work intervention

• To list the efficacy of specific techniques of offering services

• Studies in methodology of social work


Research areas could be.......

• Community development
• Community health
• Child welfare
• Women welfare
• Youth welfare
• Aged welfare
• Welfare of SC & ST groups
• Poverty alleviation
Contd......

• Physical and mental disabilities

• Juvenile delinquency

• Crime and correction etc.

• Management of Social Welfare Department and Organisation

• Disaster management

• Industrial social work

• Issues concerning Advocacy and Networking


Goals of Social Work Research

• Social work practitioner will be more effective if guided by findings of


social work research

• Seeks to accomplish same humanistic goals as does a social work


method
Check Your Progress

• Define Social Work Research.


• How is Social Research different from Social Work Research?
• Write down the steps of Social Work Research
• Throw light on the scope of Social Work Research.
References & Suggested Readings

• Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R. (2016). Empowerment series: Research


methods for social work. Cengage Learning.
• Alston, M., & Bowles, W. (2019). Research for social workers: An
introduction to methods. Routledge.
• Ramachandran. P. (1968), “Social Work Research and Statistics” in
History & Philosophy of Social Work in India, Allied Publishers,
Bombay.
• Lal Das, D.K. (2000), Practice of Social Research : A Social Work
Perspective, Rawat, Jaipur.
• http://www.ignou.ac.in/upload/Bswe-003%20Block-4-UNIT-16-
small%20size.pdf
Thanks!!!

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