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  2. Social Work Research: Honours [SWK4123]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Work Research: Honours

  • Unit Code

    SWK4123

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Lynelle Joy WATTS

Description

This unit introduces students to social research methodologies for social work research. The students will learn how to carry out their own research, as well as how to assess research done by others. Students will examine key research issues (e.g. the uses of research, research and social power, participatory research).

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Students will participate in a two-day on campus workshop.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SWK3106

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Create an outline design for a research project to examine a practice situation or issue.
  2. Critically analyse research methodologies and their contribution social work practice and social welfare policy.
  3. Define a research problem or topic.
  4. Evaluate the contribution of qualitative and quantitative research approaches and the types of questions each can be used to answer.
  5. Judge the ethical issues around practitioner research, and how to encourage participation and power-sharing in the research process (themes of inter-subjectivity, accountability and participation).
  6. Understand some of the various methods practitioner researchers can use to collect qualitative and quantitative data, and the advantages and disadvantages of these.

Unit Content

  1. Accessing literature and writing a literature review.
  2. Advantages and disadvantages of various research methodologies and methods.
  3. Choosing a research question or topic.
  4. Power and ethics in research.
  5. Proposal writing.
  6. Reading research critically.
  7. Research methods.
  8. Research paradigms.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit is taught in block mode and via Blackboard.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationPresentation40%
AssignmentResearch design60%

Core Reading(s)

  • Sarantakos, S. (2012). Social research (4th ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Mcmillan.

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK4123|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Social Work Research: Honours

  • Unit Code

    SWK4123

  • Year

    2017

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Lynelle Joy WATTS

Description

This unit introduces students to social research methodologies for social work research. The students will learn how to carry out their own research, as well as how to assess research done by others. Students will examine key research issues (e.g. the uses of research, research and social power, participatory research).

Non Standard Timetable Requirements

Students will participate in a two-day on campus workshop.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded SWK3106

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Create an outline design for a research project to examine a practice situation or issue.
  2. Critically analyse research methodologies and their contribution social work practice and social welfare policy.
  3. Define a research problem or topic.
  4. Evaluate the contribution of qualitative and quantitative research approaches and the types of questions each can be used to answer.
  5. Judge the ethical issues around practitioner research, and how to encourage participation and power-sharing in the research process (themes of inter-subjectivity, accountability and participation).
  6. Understand some of the various methods practitioner researchers can use to collect qualitative and quantitative data, and the advantages and disadvantages of these.

Unit Content

  1. Accessing literature and writing a literature review.
  2. Advantages and disadvantages of various research methodologies and methods.
  3. Choosing a research question or topic.
  4. Power and ethics in research.
  5. Proposal writing.
  6. Reading research critically.
  7. Research methods.
  8. Research paradigms.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The unit is taught in block mode and via Blackboard.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationPresentation40%
AssignmentResearch design60%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SWK4123|1|2