research and evaluation tools
All research involves the use of rigorous and systematic methods to explore questions, problems, and topics with the aim of gathering data that will inform greater understanding (Bellamy, Bledsoe & Traube 2006). The discovered data and understanding may be very specific, or general, depending on the type of research being undertaken and the type of data sought. Research can range from basic/scientific to an applied social investigation. Generally speaking, basic research will be driven by the researcher’s interests and may be unrelated to immediate practical questions, problems or topics. In contrast, applied social research is more likely to be driven by social interests and be closely related to immediate practical questions, problems or topics (Stoecker, 2005). Research and for that matter social work research is a scientific way of knowing. The ability to question things and look for evidence for making practice decisions in social work is researching in a scientific research, (Shaw 2008). The purpose of research is to inform action. It is important for every researcher to contextualize the findings of his/her research within the larger body of research. Results of research should have implications for policy and project implementation and social work research is no exception. I held a prejudice about researchers as people who are unwilling to be involved with clients on a day to day basis. However looking back to the topics we discussed throughout the two years under research, I now believe that while all social workers may not want to participate in or conduct research in their practice, we all have the responsibility to explore the validity of methods we use by keeping informed of current research
Through my research courses, I have some common understanding that while some basic commonalities exist between social work research and other forms of research, there are some aspects of it that make it quite distinctive and unique from other disciplines. These include among others the research designs used, its accountability and social justice/action piece, researching with and/or into vulnerable, marginalized and diverse populations. Social work research tend to explore areas or issues that has practical importance to the profession, helps workers identify and select appropriate interventions including services and programs, whilst monitoring to see its effectiveness and advocate for change through policies. First of all, social work research is about people who are usually referred to as participants as compared to study subjects in a research. As a result, a high level of emphasis is placed on ethical issues. Most researchers if not all before go through Ethics Board to be approved. However in social work, ethical approval or researcher being aware of and sensitive to the ethical and governance aspects of the research take a special ‘shape’, (Shaw 2007, p.660). I personally experienced this as a research assistant with the Victim Support Model for Child Abuse/Neglect research project conducted by the Faculty of Social Work.
Rubin & Babbie (2008) argue that social work research often intrude into individuals lives which may reveal personal information. They further state that social work researchers have the tendency to think that the collection of such data from people is to help serve them better. However it is reiterated that no matter how much it is going to benefit that individual, no one should be forced to participate and must also be informed of all consequences of the study and every participant must consent to participate before undertaking the research. Again ‘social work research should never injure the people being studied regardless of whether they volunteer for the study’ (Rubin & Babbie 2008, p.71). In social work research, researchers are called to be aware of this and avoid them completely, (Rubin & Babbie, 2008). This is an important aspect of social work research that resonates so much with me especially in research with vulnerable people that would guide my practice.
As a practice model for my career after this program, I have resolved to be more of a research consumer. As a student and a future social worker, I am obligated to be a research consumer and if possible a creator as well since research is a valuable tool for social work practitioners and scholars. This is so because research is instrumental in the development of effective practice outcomes or the outcomes of professional activities that have been designed to improve or change the well-being of an individual, agency or other systems. Again, the role of research and evaluation is not simply concerned with the work of social workers but also with the programs of community development in the context of poverty, with a focus on the needs of a particular group, for instance, people with disabilities. Research and possibly evaluation play an important part in informing social work theory, policy and practice. For instance, the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers say that “social workers should promote and facilitate research and evaluation to contribute to the development of knowledge”. This is a professional obligation in the social work profession which is binding on every social worker. However I will take a pragmatic approach to this professional obligation through the use of applied research in my practice. As social workers, we are accountable to our clients and society for the role we play. Again research can generate evidence in social work that can be used to inform practice, policy and also demonstrate accountability.
How can social work research be used to inform practice and policy have been a long standing debate within the profession. According to Corby (2006), research and social work has been an uneasy alliance over time. Whilst others think that research is not necessary or important to practice probably due to its historical (philanthropic) beginning, it has now become evident that social work practice cannot be done without scientific research. Social work research mostly carried out by academics have the main goal of examining social work interventions for quality and effectiveness purposes so as to improve outcomes and also strengthen the knowledge base, (Corby 2006).
Evidenced based practice is one such example that can be used to demonstrate accountability. Evidence base practice is a process in which the practitioner combines well researched interventions with clinical experience, ethics, client preferences and culture to guide and inform the delivery of treatments and services, (Wharton & Bolland 2012). In this approach, the practitioner, researcher and client work together to identify what works for whom and under what conditions. This approach ensures that treatments and services when used as intended will have the most effective outcomes as demonstrated by research. It also ensures that programs with proven success will be more widely disseminated and will benefit a greater number of people. EBP can be used to demonstrate accountability by the development of guidelines. For example in clinical practice, guidelines are systematically developed statements that would assist practitioner decisions about appropriate care for specific clinical circumstances (Greenhalgh, 2001 p.140), and are designed to make standards explicit and accessible, simply decision making and improve cost effectiveness. Practice guidelines are also used to assess professional performance and to externally control practitioners to delineate divisions of labor, as well to educate patients and professionals about best practices
Through my research courses, I have some common understanding that while some basic commonalities exist between social work research and other forms of research, there are some aspects of it that make it quite distinctive and unique from other disciplines. These include among others the research designs used, its accountability and social justice/action piece, researching with and/or into vulnerable, marginalized and diverse populations. Social work research tend to explore areas or issues that has practical importance to the profession, helps workers identify and select appropriate interventions including services and programs, whilst monitoring to see its effectiveness and advocate for change through policies. First of all, social work research is about people who are usually referred to as participants as compared to study subjects in a research. As a result, a high level of emphasis is placed on ethical issues. Most researchers if not all before go through Ethics Board to be approved. However in social work, ethical approval or researcher being aware of and sensitive to the ethical and governance aspects of the research take a special ‘shape’, (Shaw 2007, p.660). I personally experienced this as a research assistant with the Victim Support Model for Child Abuse/Neglect research project conducted by the Faculty of Social Work.
Rubin & Babbie (2008) argue that social work research often intrude into individuals lives which may reveal personal information. They further state that social work researchers have the tendency to think that the collection of such data from people is to help serve them better. However it is reiterated that no matter how much it is going to benefit that individual, no one should be forced to participate and must also be informed of all consequences of the study and every participant must consent to participate before undertaking the research. Again ‘social work research should never injure the people being studied regardless of whether they volunteer for the study’ (Rubin & Babbie 2008, p.71). In social work research, researchers are called to be aware of this and avoid them completely, (Rubin & Babbie, 2008). This is an important aspect of social work research that resonates so much with me especially in research with vulnerable people that would guide my practice.
As a practice model for my career after this program, I have resolved to be more of a research consumer. As a student and a future social worker, I am obligated to be a research consumer and if possible a creator as well since research is a valuable tool for social work practitioners and scholars. This is so because research is instrumental in the development of effective practice outcomes or the outcomes of professional activities that have been designed to improve or change the well-being of an individual, agency or other systems. Again, the role of research and evaluation is not simply concerned with the work of social workers but also with the programs of community development in the context of poverty, with a focus on the needs of a particular group, for instance, people with disabilities. Research and possibly evaluation play an important part in informing social work theory, policy and practice. For instance, the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers say that “social workers should promote and facilitate research and evaluation to contribute to the development of knowledge”. This is a professional obligation in the social work profession which is binding on every social worker. However I will take a pragmatic approach to this professional obligation through the use of applied research in my practice. As social workers, we are accountable to our clients and society for the role we play. Again research can generate evidence in social work that can be used to inform practice, policy and also demonstrate accountability.
How can social work research be used to inform practice and policy have been a long standing debate within the profession. According to Corby (2006), research and social work has been an uneasy alliance over time. Whilst others think that research is not necessary or important to practice probably due to its historical (philanthropic) beginning, it has now become evident that social work practice cannot be done without scientific research. Social work research mostly carried out by academics have the main goal of examining social work interventions for quality and effectiveness purposes so as to improve outcomes and also strengthen the knowledge base, (Corby 2006).
Evidenced based practice is one such example that can be used to demonstrate accountability. Evidence base practice is a process in which the practitioner combines well researched interventions with clinical experience, ethics, client preferences and culture to guide and inform the delivery of treatments and services, (Wharton & Bolland 2012). In this approach, the practitioner, researcher and client work together to identify what works for whom and under what conditions. This approach ensures that treatments and services when used as intended will have the most effective outcomes as demonstrated by research. It also ensures that programs with proven success will be more widely disseminated and will benefit a greater number of people. EBP can be used to demonstrate accountability by the development of guidelines. For example in clinical practice, guidelines are systematically developed statements that would assist practitioner decisions about appropriate care for specific clinical circumstances (Greenhalgh, 2001 p.140), and are designed to make standards explicit and accessible, simply decision making and improve cost effectiveness. Practice guidelines are also used to assess professional performance and to externally control practitioners to delineate divisions of labor, as well to educate patients and professionals about best practices