Unit rationale, description and aim

Social workers are often required to critique and apply empirical evidence and use research and evaluation skills within their practice. Research is considered essential in building capacity to critically analyse theory and use evidence in social work practice. In this unit, students will be provided with a theoretical and practical knowledge of the research process and an understanding of research as central to building evidence-based knowledge for social work practice. The unit will address the purpose and value of research in social work and the development of ethical research practices through an examination of various research paradigms as well as evidence-based knowledge, theoretical approaches and evaluation research. This unit aims to develop skills in planning, designing, and evaluating research in social work practice.


2026 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 1Online Unscheduled

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Articulate the role of research as a core componen...

Learning Outcome 01

Articulate the role of research as a core component of social work practice
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC9

Identify and differentiate a range of research met...

Learning Outcome 02

Identify and differentiate a range of research methodologies appropriate for various types of research designs and evaluation methodologies.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC3, GC6

Critically explore ethical considerations in the r...

Learning Outcome 03

Critically explore ethical considerations in the research process and ethical research practices
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC3, GC7, GC8, GC10

Evaluate research literature and evidence provided...

Learning Outcome 04

Evaluate research literature and evidence provided by research studies applicable for social work practice
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC7, GC8

Apply effective research or evaluation design prin...

Learning Outcome 05

Apply effective research or evaluation design principles in a research proposal.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC9, GC10, GC11

Content

Topics will include: 

Role of research in social work  

  • evidence informed practice 

Research approaches  

  • Research paradigms 
  • Theoretical approaches  
  • Evaluation research 

The research process 

  • Identifying research problems  
  • Conducting literature reviews 
  • Systematic reviews 
  • Principles of research design 
  • Quantitative and Qualitative research methods (data collection, analysis and interpretation) 
  • Dissemination of research findings 
  • Writing a research proposal 

Ethical considerations in the research process  

  • Research codes of ethics and ethical guidelines in research 
  • Research with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people 

Assessment strategy and rationale

This unit takes an authentic assessment approach that allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of the research process and ethical research practices.

Assessment 1 is a short paper designed for students to demonstrate their capacity to identify a research topic that is significant and relevant to social work policy and practice, with a clear aim for the proposed research. This assessment will assist students in developing a focus for their second assessment on literature review.

Assessment 2 (Literature review) will assess student's ability to identify an area of research enquiry and conduct a review of the literature in the identified area of research enquiry using a variety of electronic and other data bases.

Assessment 3 (Research proposal) is a summative assessment that will assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the research process and the importance of research in professional social work practice. 

In order to pass this unit, students must demonstrate the achievement of all learning outcomes, complete and submit all of the assessment tasks and obtain an aggregate mark of at least 50%.

Overview of assessments

Short Paper:  enables students to demonstrat...

Short Paper: enables students to demonstrate capacity to identify a social work research topic that is significant and relevant to social work policy and practice with a clear aim for the proposed research.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5

Literature Review: enables students to identify ...

Literature Review: enables students to identify and critique current literature on their chosen topic, and develop arguments to justify their research as a valid and a significant response to address some of the controversies.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO4, LO5

Research Proposal: this summative assessment is ...

Research Proposal: this summative assessment is intended to assess students’ knowledge and ability to identify a research problem they wish to explore/investigate that will contribute to a significant gap in the current literature, the methodology and the methods they plan to use that are suitable and feasible, ethical considerations, results that are likely to make an original contribution to the gap in the literature, and limitations of the proposed study.

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

ON CAMPUS

This unit involves 150 hours of a combination of lectures, online learning materials, tutorials and self-directed learning. Learning activities include reading, individual research, small group and class discussions. On-campus classes are designed to draw out understandings developed from learning materials to establish deeper and applied conceptual knowledge relevant to social work research.  

ACU ONLINE

This unit involves 150 hours of a combination of online learning materials, discussion boards, weekly interactive online exercises, online collaboration opportunities, reading, individual research and self-directed learning. Students will discuss their understanding of learning materials in an online environment to establish deeper and applied conceptual knowledge relevant to social work research.

Both modes draw on contemporary social work ethics and practice in research to effect social justice change.

Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024)

This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Capabilities and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024) . The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024).

  • Relating to

    Conduct themselves according to the values, principles and guidelines of the AASW

    Code of Ethics 2020

    Relevant learning outcomeLO3

  • Relating to

    Have a clear sense of accountability for their actions and accept responsibility for the

    decisions they make and their professional actions

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1

  • Relating to

    Practise within a professional knowledge framework informed by a critical

    understanding of contemporary social work theory and research

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

  • Relating to

    Contribute their critical perspectives in interactions with other professions in a

    positive and constructive manner

    Relevant learning outcomeLO4

  • Relating to

    Recognise, and use responsibly, the power and authority they have when exercising

    professional judgement affecting people

    Relevant learning outcomeLO3

  • Relating to

    Critically assess the quality and veracity of all relevant information to support their

    decisions

    Relevant learning outcomeLO4, LO5

  • Relating to

    Make decisions aimed primarily at achieving the best possible outcomes for people

    Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4, LO5

  • Relating to

    Assess the nature and level of risk to people and incorporate that into the overall

    assessment

    Relevant learning outcomeLO3

  • Relating to

    Be active learners, open to new and emerging knowledge, research and evidence

    informing their practice

    Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Representative texts and references

Alston, M., & Bowles, W. (2018). Research for social workers (4th ed.). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin.  

Aveyard, H. (2014). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide (3rd ed.). UK: Open University Press. 

Flynn, C., and McDermott, F. (2024). Doing Research in Social Work and Social Care - The Journey from Student to Practitioner Researcher (2nd Edition). Sage Publications.

O’Leary, Z. (2014). The essential guide to doing your research project (2nd ed.). London: Sage. 

Patton, M.Q. (2015). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (4th ed.). USA: Sage. 

Neuman, L. (2014). Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). USA:  Pearson Education. 

Punch, K (2014). Introduction to social research quantitative and qualitative approaches (3rd ed.). London: Sage. 

Rubin, A. & Babbie, E.R. (2014). Research methods for social work (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. 

Sarantakos, S. (2013). Social research (4th ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Walters, M (Ed.). (2019). Social research methods (4th. ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. 

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