Open educational resources and graduate social work students: Cost, outcomes, use, and perceptions

Researchers conducted a dual-site pilot experiment evaluating the impact of an open textbook on graduate social work students in research methods courses. Students using the commercial and open textbook demonstrated equivalent final grades and test scores. The open resource was more likely to be used on a weekly basis by students and was described as straightforward and easy to access. Among students who extensively used the open textbook, it was associated with improved attitudes towards research methods. The impact of open textbooks on student use, perceptions, and access varied by hybrid and in-person course format. These results validate the work of social work educators creating, sharing, and implementing open educational resources as way to address the barriers to access and engagement with social work knowledge.