Social Science in Social Work Practice: The Case for an Action Research Approach

1975 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Action Research Approach

Epistemology

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Hugh Cole
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Necessary Conditions ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Types Of Knowledge ◽  
Social Work Theory ◽  
Pluralistic World

This entry discusses principal ways in which knowledge and knowing have been understood within philosophy, science, and social science, with implications for contemporary social work practice. Attention is given to various types of knowledge, its necessary conditions, scope, and sources. It focuses particularly on how practice wisdom remains a key source of knowledge for social work theory and practice, and suggests that greater epistemological clarity could further competent social work practice in an increasingly pluralistic world.

Learning in Finnish Social Work Practice and Research

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anniina Tirronen ◽  
Tony Kinder ◽  
Jari Stenvall
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Academic Journals ◽  
Situated Action ◽  
The City ◽  
New Framework

Abstract Accepting Bartlett’s vision of social work’s evolution resulting from action research, the article argues that in Finland, extensive action research is occurring, and this is resulting in service innovations. However, little of this research is published in academic journals and has only limited dissemination. Drawing on data from new interviews with experienced social workers in the City of Tampere, Finland, the article details the nature and extent of action research by social workers. A new framework with which to analyse action research from the logic-of-practice is used to show not only how extensive the action research is, but also how readily situated action research can be analysed from a broader perspective, making dissemination easier.

Radicalising Community Development within Social Work through Popular Education—A Participatory Action Research Project

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 2207-2225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Westoby ◽  
Athena Lathouras ◽  
Lynda Shevellar
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Popular Education ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
Action Research Approach

AbstractThis article reports upon the efforts of three social work/social science academics in partnership with social and community practitioners, at radicalising community development (CD) within social work. The project was motivated by painful political events and processes unfolding around the world in 2017 and led to the design of a participatory action research approach with thirty-three practitioners. Engaging in several cycles of research (pre- and post questionnaires, observation, focus groups and interviews) and action learning (a popular education knowledge exchange day, a community of practice day and prototyping new projects) several new initiatives were implemented, including the formation of a new Popular Education Network. Reflections and discussion consider the implications of radicalising CD within social worker practice through combining education, organising and linking to progressive social movements. The article overall makes the case that popular education could be a crucial element in enabling the radicalisation of CD within social work.

Conclusion

2014 ◽  
pp. 339-350
Author(s):  
Margaret Pack
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Service Users

This chapter gathers together and synthesises the concepts used and developed throughout this book. These themes include the challenges posed for social work as a profession in relation to notions of rationality and scientific research methods when considering what constitutes “evidence” for social work practice. This critique challenges the definition and application of evidence to complex scenarios where there are no easy answers, yet the agency and systems seem to demand them from social workers. In response to these challenges, social work has developed expertise in the use of case study and action research methods, drawing from interpretive and participative epistemologies. Such research studies aim to give resonance to voices hitherto missed, marginalised, or ignored. To redress this marginalisation and to provide much needed balance in what constitutes “evidence,” narratives of service-users and their caregivers have become primary sources of evidence, which are used to guide social work practice.

scholarly journals Cognitive technologies, social science and the three-layered leopardskin of change

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saadi Lahlou
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Social Research ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Physical Layer ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
Digital Projection

The current digitization of society brings with it a series of new issues that challenge social science. This article describes the mechanism of digital projection (creation of a digital layer mirroring the physical world) by which society digitizes. In the three-layered leopardskin model of change described here (physical layer, representations and practice, institutions), the physical layer (here, information technology) is changing much faster than the two other layers: representations and institutions. This situation calls for a new stand from social research in these evolutions, a stand which is illustrated by the collection of articles that makes up this issue. A closer link to technology and a different relationship with stakeholders seem to emerge as a new action-research approach in the field.

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