Social Work Research

Paper Code: 
24 MSW 124
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course will enable the studentsto understand social work research methods, ethical considerations, and their application to practice, preparing them to apply research findings to address social issues .

12.00
Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcome

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course

Title

 

24MSW124

Social Work Research

(Theory)

 

CO19: Examine the need for research in social work practice

CO20 : Competence in formulating hypothesis and theory building

CO21: Competence in research design.

CO22: Able to do measurement and sampling

CO23: Competence in datacollection,analysis and report writing

CO24:  Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction

 

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Power Point Presentations, Discussion, Tutorials,Case Studies

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self- learning assignments, Effective questions, Simulation, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks

 

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation,Individual and group projects
 

 

Unit I: 
Basic Concepts
  • Social Work Research: Meaning, purpose(s) and process
  • Inductive and deductive reasoning; quantitative and qualitative data.
  • The Ethics and politics of social work research.

 

12.00
Unit II: 
Theory And Hypothesis
  • Theory and its Components: Meaning, functions and types of theory  
  • Variable and their relationships
  • Hypothesis – meaning, attributes of a sound hypothesis and types
12.00
Unit III: 
Research Design

o   Research design: Meaning, functions and characteristics of good research design

o   Research designs based on: Purpose-exploratory, descriptive, explanatory; Unit of analysis-case (individuals), group and community; Method-survey, case study, experimental, Time dimension-cross-sectional studies and longitudinal studies.

o   Evaluation and action research

Unobtrusive research: content analysis

12.00
Unit IV: 
Measurement and Sampling
  • Measurement and Scales: Meaning and levels of measurement, criteria of measurement quality; types of scales.
  • Sampling procedures: Probability and non-probability types; determination of size.

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Data Collection And Report Writing
  • Data collection techniques: Questionnaire, interview and observation; Participatory and rapid appraisal techniques.
  • Data Processing: Editing, classification, tabulation and coding.
  • Writing social work research: writing quantitative proposals and reports; qualitative proposals and reports.
Essential Readings: 
  • Ahuja. R, 2006, Research Methods, Jaipur: Rawat Publications.
  • Royse, David. 2008(5th edition). Research Methods in Social Work.New York: Thomson Publishing.
  • Singh R.S., 2013, Social Work Research, New Delhi: Anmol Publication
  • Reissman, Catherine K., 1994, Qualitative Studies in Social Work Research, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Young, P.V., 1988. Scientific Social Surveys and Research. New Delhi: Prentice Hall.
  • Mukherjee N., 1993, Participatory Rural Appraisal, New Delhi: Concept Publishing

 

References: 
  • Marshall, Chatherine & Rossman, Grethcer B., 1995, Designing Qualitative Research (2nd Edition), New Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Feldman, Martha S., 1995, Strategies for Interpreting Qualitative Data, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Rubin. A. &Babbie E., 1989, Research Methods for Social Work, California: Wadsworth Publishing Co.
  • Patton, Michael Q., 1988, Qualitative Evaluation Methods. New Delhi: Sage Publications,
  • Swartz, Omar., 1997, Conducting Socially Responsible Research, New Delhi: Sage Publications.
  • Ramachandran, P., 1990, Issues in Social Work Research in India, Bombay: Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
  • Jayaram, N., 1989,  Sociology: Methods and Theory, Madras: McMillan.
  • Sarantakos, S., 2005, Social Research, London: Palgrave MacMillan.
  • Long Norman & Long An., 1992, ed. Battlefields of knowledge: The interlocking of theory and practice in Social Research and Development, London: Routledge.
  • Sirkin, R. Mark., 1995, Statistics for the Social Sciences, New Delhi: Sage Publications.

 

 

E-resources:

 

  • Journals:
    • Qualitative Social Work, Sage Publications
    • Research on Social Work Practice, Sage Publications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Session: 
2024-25
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