The Epistemological Challenges of Social Work Intervention Research

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 494-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eve E. Garrow ◽  
Yeheskel Hasenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Intervention Research ◽  
Structural Determinants ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Intervention ◽  
Dominant Ideologies ◽  
Standpoint Epistemology

We argue that the dominance of an empiricist epistemology in social work research steers much of the research away from studying and explaining the structural forces that cause the conditions of oppression, exploitation, and social exclusion that are at the roots of the social problems addressed by the profession. It does so because it assumes that the research enterprise can be insulated from the broader cultural, socioeconomic, and political forces that inherently slant the research to echo dominant ideologies that celebrate individualism. In contrast, we present the feminist standpoint epistemology, which directs researchers to start from the daily lives and conditions of the oppressed and marginalized. Such strong objectivity leads the researchers to interrogate the structural determinants of the oppressed and marginalized. We propose that it provides a more effective starting point for social work intervention research that supports the mission of the social work profession.

What’s Epistemology Got to Do With It?

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-507
Author(s):  
Richard K. Caputo
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Intervention Research ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Feminist Standpoint ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Work Intervention ◽  
Standpoint Epistemology ◽  
Structural Aspects

Feminist standpoint epistemology is neither a necessary nor a sufficient starting point for social work intervention research. Contemporary social scientists readily grapple with cultural, political, and/or structural aspects of social problems either in the absence of or in conjunction with an explicitly formulated feminist standpoint epistemology. The article also argues against privileging any group’s voice for purposes of social work intervention research, including the voices of marginalized and oppressed groups whose judgments, perceptions, and statement of facts are as prone to error or likely to be as mistaken as anyone else’s.

scholarly journals IMAGINAÇÃO, CRIATIVIDADE E LIBERDADE: PENSAR A ÉTICA RELACIONAL EM SERVIÇO SOCIAL

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 58-74
Author(s):  
Raquel Marta
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Social Ethics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Intervention ◽  
German Philosopher ◽  
Ethical Thinking ◽  
The Moment

Sublinhando as formas fundamentais da subjectividade subjacentes à intervenção do assistente social, o presente artigo explora diferentes contributos para a ética no serviço social contemporâneo. O trabalho do filósofo alemão Fichte fornece-nos o ponto de partida para a incorporação da imaginação e da liberdade no pensar ético. O acto da invenção criativa não é um acto solitário, mas antes um acto animado na e pela relação com o Outro. Nesta relação, a atenção ao contexto, ao instante, ao acontecimento e à singularidade que contribuem para o pensar e o agir ético do assistente social são ainda considerados sob diferentes perspectivas. Underlining the fundamental forms of subjectivity implicit on the of social work intervention, this article explores different contributions to contemporary social ethics. The work of the German philosopher Fichte provides a starting point from which to incorporate imagination and freedom in ethical thinking. The act of creative invention is not a solitary act, but developed in and through the relation with the Other. In this relation, attention to the context, to the moment and uniqueness of the ethical event are also considered as contributes to the social worker ethical thinking and action.

scholarly journals Role of Narrative and Social Networks in Thwarting Violence and Sexual Abuse in Young People’s Lives

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 2172-2190
Author(s):  
Margareta Hydén ◽  
David Gadd ◽  
Thomas Grund
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Young People ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Her Family ◽  
The Social ◽  
Work Intervention

Abstract Combining narrative analysis with social network analysis, this article analyses the case of a young Swedish female who had been physically and sexually abused. We show how she became trapped in an abusive relationship at the age of fourteen years following social work intervention in her family home, and how she ultimately escaped from this abuse aged nineteen years. The analysis illustrates the significance of responses to interpersonal violence from the social networks that surround young people; responses that can both entrap them in abusive relationships by blaming them for their problems and enable them to escape abuse by recognising their strengths and facilitating their choices. The article argues that the case for social work approaches that envision young people’s social networks after protective interventions have been implemented. The article explains that such an approach has the potential to reconcile the competing challenges of being responsive to young people’s needs while anticipating the heightened risk of being exposed to sexual abuse young people face when estranged from their families or after their trust in professionals has been eroded.

Editorial: Refashioning stories for celebrity counterpublics

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Moro ◽  
Samita Nandy ◽  
Kiera Obbard ◽  
Andrew Zolides
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Identity Politics ◽  
Public Intellectuals ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Social Significance ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dominant Ideologies ◽  
Ted Talks

Using celebrity narratives as a starting point, this Special Issue explores the social significance of storytelling for social change. It builds on the 8th Centre for Media and Celebrity Studies conference, which brought together scholars and media practitioners to explore how narratives inspired by the lives of celebrities, public intellectuals, critics and activists offer useful rhetorical tools to better understand dominant ideologies. This editorial further problematizes what it means to be a popular ‘storyteller’ using the critical lens of celebrity activism and life-writing. Throughout the issue, contributors analyse the politics of representation at play within a wide range of glamourous narratives, including documentaries, memoirs, TED talks, stand-up performances and award acceptance speeches in Hollywood and beyond. The studies show how we can strategically use aesthetic communication to shape identity politics in public personas and bring urgent social change in an image-driven celebrity culture.

Statistics Used in Current Social Work Literature: Curricular Needs of Undergraduate Students

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-90
Author(s):  
Bushra Sabri ◽  
Mercedes Bern Klug
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Statistical Methods ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Curricular Needs

This study sought to identify the most commonly reported statistical methods in a section of the social work literature and demonstrate the need for including them in the statistical curricula for social work undergraduates. The authors reviewed 417 articles from Health & Social Work, Social Work, Social Work Research, and Children & Schools in 64 issues published from January 2005 to December 2008. The quantitative empirical research articles (47.9%; n=200) were then selected to ascertain the most frequently reported statistical methods, which were found to be correlation, regression, and chi procedures. This study's results may contribute to the knowledge of statistics usage in the social work literature and help to define vital emphases for undergraduate research courses in social work.

scholarly journals Researching home in social work

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1095-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole Zufferey ◽  
Nilan Yu ◽  
Tammy Hand
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Sense Of Community ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
Supportive Family ◽  
Cultural Self ◽  
Sense Of Home

Home and belonging are emerging areas of social work research. Very few studies in the social work discipline critically examine how home is broadly experienced or understood. Whilst the notion of home is contested, social work researchers can explore meanings of home in their quest to understand how social workers can contribute to developing a sense of community and belonging. This article presents the findings of an intersectional qualitative study that explored meanings of home in a capital city of Australia, drawing implications for social work. A thematic analysis of 13 semi-structured interviews found that home was experienced as both a material and emotional place. Home was associated with (1) the material security of housing, including homeownership and the safety of suburbs and neighbourhoods; (2) a connection to multiple homes and the making of home in migration, such as when re-settling in a new country; (3) belonging to a family, including emotional connections to lost family members or acknowledging a supportive family and (4) religious, ethnic and cultural self-expression. This paper argues that researching meanings of home is relevant to social work as a discipline that espouses human rights and social justice because a sense of home is central to the politics of belonging to a safe community and society.

Rethinking Social Justice: A Contemporary Challenge for Social Good

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Levin
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
International Institutions ◽  
Special Relationship ◽  
Social Good ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
The Social

Social justice’s special relationship with the social work profession has recently been confirmed by new definitions of social good that identify the promotion of social justice as a primary goal of social work research and practice. This contemporary use of the ideas and ideals of social justice creates an opportunity to reexamine it in the context of modern societies and postmodern knowledge. This article presents four steps for reassessing existing definitions of social justice, as reflected by three cases documented by international institutions that define themselves as promoters of social justice. Through this reassessment, this article seeks to contribute to the regeneration and advancement of interdisciplinary debate over the contents and nature of social justice, under the presumption that any effort toward social good aimed at enhancing social justice should first identify or discuss to what sort of social justice it aspires.

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