Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Social work occurs in a very wide range of practice contexts. This unit provides you with an opportunity to develop skills in researching a particular area of practice, skills which are highly relevant to good practice and ongoing professional development. Project outcomes will be negotiated at the beginning of the project and subject to the approval of the unit coordinator.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop your' capacity to research questions relevant for social work practice, and through this further deepen your understandings of practice in a particular field and further develop life-long learning capacities.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. design a program of study with appropriate scope and emphasis in view of the purposes and scope of the unit (GVS3 - 3.4, 3.5);


2. participate in research using appropriate methodologies and in keeping with the ethics and values of the social work profession and, where appropriate, in collaboration with peers and service providers (GVS2 - 2.6; GVS3 - 3.5);


3. present a report that demonstrates a scholarly capacity to identify where a research project fits within the existing body of social work policy and practice literature and undertake research in a well organised manner (GVS2 - 2.3, 2.5; GVS3 - 3.1, 3.5); and


4. present a report that demonstrates ability for effective and timely organisation of a research study, and exemplary presentation of text and documentation and the articulation of coherent and justifiable arguments or recommendations (GVS1 - 1.9; GVS2 - 2.5; GVS3 - 3.5).

Generic capacities of being able to conduct research in socially and ethically responsible ways and of valuing and promoting truth, accuracy, honesty and accountability will be developed through this unit.

Learning outcomes link to:
AASW Education and Accreditation Standards: 3.5, 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.2.1
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5

Content

Key content relates to knowledge and skills for:

• Selection of a social work practice related question or topic suitable for investigation;


• Undertaking a review of selected literature;


• Developing a project plan;


• Sourcing and analysing data;


• Writing a research report.

Students will work closely with the unit coordinator and other students to produce a project plan and successive drafts of their project report. Students doing placement are encouraged to collaborate with their agency in determining the focus of their research. Students on placement outside Brisbane, and especially students doing international placements, are encouraged to develop a project related to their placement work.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is taught through a combination of compulsory orientation week intensive workshop (see the unit coordinator if you expect to be away on placement) followed by face-to-face and virtual engagement with unit staff and other students. Students will provide peer support and review to other students as a way of developing their own peer network and research skills. High level ability in terms of self management and independent learning will be required.

Assessment

There are three pieces of assessment for this unit all focused on the development and presentation of the project report.Formative assessment: The unit coordinator will assist students to identify tasks to be completed and provide advice and feedback on the quality of your work (formative assessment). In addition summative assessment is in the form of a research plan and the project report.

Assessment name: Project Plan
Description: This document presents the outline for your study across the semester, including a time line with expected outcomes. If you are collaborating with a placement agency it will be developed in consultation with your supervisor. It will be a maximum of five pages and will also include as an appendix an annotated bibliography of no less than 15 sources. This plan will include:

• A statement of project topic, guiding question(s), aims and anticipated outcomes (especially if planning an alternative outcome - see Project (research) 2 below);


• An outline of the approach, including proposed methods of data collection and analysis and any risks associated with conducting your project (maximum two pages)


• A detailed time-line identifying tasks and due dates.


• An annotated bibliography of no less than 15 key references

Submit:
draft to Blackboard for feedback/questions for clarification from other students as selected in consultation with the unit coordinator - a template will be provided - and then electronically to the Unit Coordinator.

Due date: Week 3 lodge draft on Blackboard for peer review and comment; Week 4 incorporate peer comment and lodge revised plan on the Blackboard site.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 3 & 4

Assessment name: Project- Work in progress
Description: This assessment item will present the work done to date on the completion of your project as per the plan presented in week 4. It will be between 2,000 and 4, 000 words.

This report will incorporate:

• A brief statement of guiding question and aims of the study;


• A summary of the research design including the scope and nature of the data to be analysed and the method of data analysis;


• Presentation and analysis of information (from reading or other data) which may be a rationale for resource being developed; and


• Statement of preliminary findings or recommendations.


Submit: draft to Blackboard for feedback/questions for clarification from selected students and then revise for reloading for unit coordinator assessment. Part of the mark will relate to student contributions to a selection of other student's projects. Advice will also be sought from agency collaborators where relevant.

Due date: Week 7 Lodge draft for peer feedback and discussion; Week 9 lodge revised work in progress for assessment by unit coordinator.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 7 & 9


Assessment name: Project - Final Project Report
Description: This assessment item will present the final report on your project. The standard outcome for the work will be a report of 5,000 - 6,000 words. Alternatively the outcome may for example, incorporate a submission for funding, a new service policy, a training program, an education or promotional campaign, a website or other online project or a new resource (e.g., materials developed for particular client groups). While alternative projects are permitted, at minimum the material submitted for examination will incorporate a 3,000 word exegesis or explanation of the rationale for the undertaking such a project, a description of the research process (ie, systemat6ic review of similar or related programs or resources), and a critical account and evaluation of the material which is also to be presented at the time of submission.

Submit: lodge on the unit Blackboard site. The report will be marked by the Unit Coordinator and one other staff member who will be selected by the Unit Coordinator. Advice will also be sought from agency collaborators where relevant.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3, 4
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13


Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Students and the unit coordinator will develop individualised reading programs. See also the Learning Resources page of the Blackboard site for links to useful websites and the unit Course Materials Database.

Students might also find the following resources useful.

Alston, M. & Bowles, W. (2003). Research for social workers: an introduction to methods (2nd ed.) [E-Book]. London: Routledge.
D'Cruz, H. & Jones, M. (2004). Social work research: ethical and political contexts [E-book]. London, UK: SAGE.
Grinnell, R.M.& Unrau, Y.A. (2005). Social work research and evaluation: quantitative and qualitative approaches. New York: Oxford University Press.
Martin, K. (2003). Ways of knowing, being and doing: a theoretical framework and methods for indigenous and indigenist re-search. Journal of Australian Studies, 76, 203-214.
Rubin, A. & Babbie, E. (2010). Essential research methods for social work. Belmint, CA: Brooks / Cole.
Shaw, I. (2004). Evaluation research for practitioners [videorecording]. Brisbane: Information Technology Services, University of Queensland.
Whittaker, A. (2010). Research skills for social work [E-book]. Exeter, UK: Learning Matters.
Yegidis, B.L. & Weinbach, R.W. (2009). Research methods for social workers (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

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Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 09-Apr-2013