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.

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.

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.

Does Feminism Convince Us

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clio Belle Weisman
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
Feminist Perspective ◽  
Human Suffering ◽  
Full Understanding ◽  
Feminist Standpoint ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Standpoint Epistemology

A response to the critique of where social work research currently stands, as put forth by Garrow and Hasenfeld, and their position that social work research should be undertaken from a feminist perspective. It is important to remember the origins and foundation of feminist thought and to approach research and practice with a full understanding of what both empiricist epistemology and feminist standpoint epistemology actually means. Maintaining a balanced perspective and recognizing the value in varied approaches to scientific inquiry will keep the field of social work moving toward its ultimate goal of reducing the plight of marginalized and oppressed peoples. Social work research and practice has always claimed itself to be committed to furthering social justice and equality and to building a society with a minimum of human suffering. In order to remain focused on these goals, perhaps a shift in perspective is necessary.

scholarly journals Metaphors of change

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Organizational Studies ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Psychiatric Units ◽  
One Year ◽  
Object Of Study ◽  
Place Descriptions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how a study of a practice can lay the foundation to describe this very practice whilst transformations of it were taken place. Descriptions of changes to the practice of social work which was observed empirically serve as a starting point for experimenting with how social scientists, though often exploring transformative study objects, can remain focused on describing the object, under study. Design/methodology/approach The study was done through circa one year of fieldwork conducted with participant observation in two Danish municipal units offering services to socially marginalized people and interviews with social workers and employees in drug/alcohol treatment and psychiatric units. Findings The object of study within social sciences, though changing, is able to be described. Through the theories of “Social Navigation” (Vigh) and “Strategy and Tactics” (de Certeau), the practice of social work can be described as one concrete bounded practice but one which is performed within a transformative/changeable environment that are capable of influencing it. In this case, the experience of a changeable seascape might serve as a metaphor for how study objects change within an environment of change; how they can be viewed as “motion within motion” (Vigh). Originality/value Even though fields such as anthropology and organizational studies seem to rid themselves from their objects of study (culture and organization, respectively) and dissociate themselves from descriptions thereof these objects might still be of value to us. Even though the objects of study in postmodern anthropology and organizational studies are defined as unbounded, anti-essential, ephemeral, ever-changing non-objects, this might not be the entire picture. Despite their ever-changing shape, we might still be able to study and describe them if we take their changeable form and environment into account.

scholarly journals ANTROPOLOGI OG SOCIALE PROBLEMER: Etiske bekendelser fra feltarbejder blandt voldsofre

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofie Dannieskiold-Samsøe
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Life World ◽  
Refugee Families ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Victims Of Violence ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Universal Morality

Sofie Danneskiold-Samsøe: Anthropology and Social Problems. Ethical Confessions from Fieldworks among Victims of Violence This article addresses the ethical questions and dilemmas anthropologists and researchers may face when they encounter social problems, and in particular gender-based violence in refugee families. When anthropologists face ethical questions they usually seek answers by putting informants in context and by avoiding mechanical conclusions based on given rules or instructions. The question is, however, whether anthropologists should inform authorities or not? Do anthropologists in fact protect the most vulnerable informants by taking their perspective and life world as starting point? The article discusses these questions and examines the tension between universal and particularistic morality. Keywords: ethics, social problems, social work, violence, ethnic minorities, universal morality, particularistic morality   Sofie Danneskiold-Samsøe: Antropologi og sociale problemer. Etiske bekendelser fra feltarbejder blandt voldsofre Artiklen behandler de etiske spørgsmål og dilemmaer, antropologer og forskere kan stå over for, når de bevidner sociale problemer, her særligt kønsbaseret vold i flygtningefamilier. Når antropologer står over for etiske spørgsmål, søger de gerne svar ved at forstå informanter i deres kontekst og ikke drage mekaniske slutninger ud fra givne regelsæt eller anvisninger. Spørgsmålet er imidlertid, om antropologer gør deres informanter en bjørnetjeneste ved (ofte) ikke at underrette myndigheder, der kan gribe ind og sikre de mest udsatte borgeres rettigheder? Eller om vi netop beskytter informanterne ved at tage udgangspunkt i deres perspektiv og livsverden? Artiklen diskuterer disse spørgsmål og undersøger herunder spændingsfeltet mellem universel og partikularistisk moral. Søgeord: etik, sociale problemer, socialt arbejde, vold, etniske minoriteter, universel moral, partikularistisk moral  

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