Introduction



Introduction

Social work research is driven by the search for meaning; therefore, researchers strive to create research that is meaningful to clients, practitioners, and policy markers. The search for meaning may be considered the greatest distinction between social work research and research in other disciplines. However, social work research has numerous distinctions: it pursues social justice through participatory action research (PAR); it focuses on collaboration; it empowers participants and social workers; and it focuses on culturally sensitive and respectful research. Despite these distinctions, there are similarities between social work research and research in other disciplines. These similarities are: a professional code of ethics, qualitative research designs, quantitative research designs, and mixed methods research designs. Furthermore, social work research is of value to policy, as its roles within policy are to inform, evaluate, encourage reflection, and encourage critical thinking. Additionally, social work research is of value to practice, as it empowers social workers and their clients. I hope to integrate social work research into my future work as a social work practitioner by creating a research culture within my workplace and collaborating with researchers and clinicians. However, I may encounter barriers that will impact my ability to create and consume research, such as a lack of time to create research, an inability to find participants, and a lack of access to research. Also, I may encounter enablers that will impact my ability to create and consume research, such as an employer who supports research within the workplace, research funding, and colleagues who are equally enthusiastic about creating, consuming, and discuss research.

Distinctions and Similarities between Social Work Research and Research in Other Disciplines

The search for meaning within research is what primarily makes social work research distinct from research in other disciplines, as interpretative inquiry drives social work researchers to find subjective meaning within research designs that are predominately qualitative. It is this search for meaning that guides researchers and forms the foundation of social work research. One purpose of meaningful research is that it gives researchers the tools to take action toward social justice, referred to as the democratization of knowledge (Barbera, 2008, p.142). One such tool is participatory action research (PAR), as it is a qualitative research approach that allows social work researchers to turn meaning into social action. Additionally, PAR is a distinct component of social work research because it is congruent with social work values (Barbera, 2008, p.145). PAR is also a form of collaboration, another distinct component of social work research, as “PAR methodology permits interaction, social dynamics, and partnership in all aspects throughout the research process and recognizes that a relationship must exist between the researcher and the participants” (Barbera, 2008, p.143). Thus, the relationship between researchers and participants is yet another distinct component of social work research.

In various disciplines, such as psychology, researchers attempt to separate themselves from their research; however, PAR makes social work research distinct from such disciplines by granting researchers the opportunity to immerse themselves within their research, as “…research is a process in which one must invest all of oneself, reflecting on one’s own role as well as that of the participants in the study, not overly intellectualizing the process but recognizing that emotions penetrate the work and process” (Barbera, 2008, p.142). Thus, social work research, e.g. PAR, recognizes that researchers are not separate from their research, but rather they are a part of the meaning of their research. This distinguishes the role of social work researchers from the role of researchers in other disciplines. Furthermore, PAR is also an example of a research approach that incorporates empowerment into its design (Barbera, 2008, 142). Participants within PAR are empowered by being a part of social action that pursues social justice. This is significant because empowerment is a key component of social work practice, thereby marking empowerment a distinct component of social work research.

Empowering participants may also coincide with being a culturally sensitive and respectful social work researcher, as being sensitive and respectful toward participants is the first step toward empowering them. Thus, being a culturally sensitive and respectful researcher is a distinct part of social work research. Jackson purposes four strategies for multiracial research that will help social work researchers to be culturally sensitive and respectful. The strategy that is perhaps the most helpful when attempting to be culturally sensitive and respectful is strategy three: incorporate more culturally sensitive measures and instrumentation into research, such as permitting participants to identify as multiracial (Jackson, 2010, p.6). Incorporating such measures and instrumentation into research is a significant part of being a culturally sensitive and respectful researcher because such measures inhibit researchers from imposing their beliefs and biases on participants. Furthermore, involving participants in research projects, such as Photovoice projects, allows participants to be the experts of their own experiences. This is a form of culturally sensitive and respectful research because the participants define what is significant about their experiences, rather than the researchers. Therefore, PAR, collaboration, empowerment, and culturally sensitive and respectful research are all part of what makes social work research distinct from research in other disciplines.

As it has been shown, social work research is distinct from research in other disciplines; however, social work research is similar to research in other disciplines, as it too is guided by a professional code of ethics. The CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice outlines five ethical responsibilities in research: (1) responsible research practices, (2) minimize risks, (3) informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality, (4) avoid deception, and (5) accuracy of report of research findings (2005, p.19-21). The ethical responsibilities in social work research are similar to the ethical responsibilities in psychology, sociology, and medical research. However, social work researchers are also required to adhere all other ethical guidelines within the CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice, not only the five ethical responsibilities in research; thus, social work researchers and researchers in other disciplines have similar ethical responsibilities in research, but they have distinct ethical responsibilities outside of research. In addition to research and professional ethical responsibilities, social work researchers also maintain universal social work values while researching, such as generosity of spirit, trustworthiness, and fortitude (Barsky, 2010, p.3). These universal values make social work research distinct from that of other disciplines.

Due to the limited amount of ethical responsibilities within social work research, which is a similarity between social work research and that of other disciplines, some researchers develop their own ethical responsibilities within research in addition to those found within the CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice. This is a useful practice, as the answers to numerous questions concerning research ethics may not be found within the CASW Guidelines for Ethical Practice. Social work researchers’ ability and desire to develop such additional ethical responsibilities within research demonstrates that social work researchers are highly concerned with ethics, as they take it upon themselves to ensure that social work research maintains a high ethical standard. Butler is one social work researcher who has created his own list of ethical responsibilities within research, titled “A Code of Ethics for Social Work and Social Care Research” (2002, p.245). In this list he outlines fifteen ethical responsibilities within research. The third ethical responsibility states that social work researchers should work together with disempowered groups, individuals, and communities (2002, p.245). This highlights another distinction between social work research and research in other disciplines, as social work research gives a voice to those who would otherwise go unheard.

Research designs in social work research represent another similarity between social work research and research in other disciplines. For instance, qualitative research designs are used in a variety of disciplines, such as education and nursing (Padgett, 2009, p.101). Although qualitative research designs are not unique to social work research, they are nevertheless part of what makes social work research valuable. This may be said as qualitative research designs help to capture participants’ thoughts, feelings, and perspectives; thereby, giving meaning to social work research, as it thrives on the meaning of participants’ personal experiences. In contrast, quantitative research designs operate on a numerical level, and therefore use statistics to represent participants’ thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Quantitative research design are another similarity between social work research and research in other disciplines, as quantitative research designs are used by a variety of disciplines, such as psychology and biology. Although qualitative and quantitative research designs may be polar opposites, “shared commitment to transparency and rigor unites quantitative and qualitative methods even as their respective strengths are complementary and necessarily distinct” (Padgett, 2009, p.104). Thus, qualitative and quantitative research designs have different strengths, which make them valuable to social work research.

In comparison to qualitative and quantitative research designs, mixed methods research designs also represent a similarity between social work research and research in other disciplines. Mixed methods research designs are rising in popularity (Padgett, 2009, p.104), which may be due, in part, to researchers’ attempts to capitalize upon the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Furthermore, Padgett states that mixed methods research designs present unique possibilities for synergy and knowledge growth (2009, p.104). One possibility results from the fact that mixed methods research designs encourage collaboration within research more so than qualitative and quantitative research designs: “the required expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods does not necessarily rule out the solo investigator, but this approach [mixed methods] is far more plausible for larger resourced studies and teams of investigators” (Padgett, 2009, p.104). Thus, mixed methods research designs, although not unique to social work research, are particularly valuable to social work research because of their collaborative nature. Therefore, social work research is similar to research in other disciplines in terms of ethical responsibilities in research, qualitative research designs, quantitative research designs, and mixed methods research designs.

The Value and Role of Research in Social Work Policy and Practice

Research and policy are often viewed as separate entities; however, they are interdependent, as research informs policy and policy evaluation leads to research. Thus, two roles of research in policy are to inform policy and to evaluate policy. When attempting to inform policy makers “many social work practitioners are caught in the quagmire of finding the right research evidence to convince policy makers and other professionals to bring promising results ‘to scale,’” (Carrilio, 2001, p.54). Therefore, social work researchers must, and often do, take it upon themselves to conduct research that will help to inform policy makers in forming new policies and amending old policies. This is not to say that social work researchers should conduct research that will lead to one viable policy option, but rather that social work researchers should conduct research that will lead to the discovery of several viable policy options that may be presented to policy makers. Additionally, after research has been used to inform policy makers in forming new policies and amending old policies, research should be used as a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of those policies, and if necessary research should be conducted when determining whether or not to terminate those policies. Thus, research is of value to policy because it may be used during the formation, evaluation, and termination of policies.

Research is also of value to policy because it encourages researchers and practitioners to reflect and critically think about the formation, evaluation, and termination of policies, which contributes to better policy development. For instance, in a study aimed to identify key factors and barriers in developing a research culture in a human services organization, researchers found that “…reflection became part of the agenda of team meetings as a strategy to explore and address issues, such as thinking about policy development” (Gardner & Numan, 2007, p.342). Thus, an organization where research is encouraged and supported may lead to reflection, which in turn may enhance policy development within the organization. Therefore, when practitioners show increased interest in research, they may also show increased interest in policy development, as policy development can be part action research. Furthermore, when researchers and practitioners reflect and critically think about policies, they are helping to enhance the interdependent relationship between research and policy. Thus, research is of value to policy because it encourages researchers to reflect and critically think about the formation, evaluation, and termination of policies, which helps to enhance researchers and practitioners’ ability to inform policy makers.

In comparison, research also has valuable roles within social work practice, as it has the ability to empower social workers and their clients. Upon examination, it is evident that research and practice, like research and policy, are interdependent because good research leads to good practice and vice versa. When social workers conduct and consume research they become more informed and effective practitioners (Gardner & Numan, 2007, p.342); thereby demonstrating that research is a form of empowerment. Additionally, using research within practice may also empower clients, as the experience of being consulted and involved is a reinforcement of respect for clients’ ideas and experiences (Gardner & Numan, 2007, p.342). Involving clients in research may also help to create stronger relationships between social workers and their clients, as clients may be more likely to trust social workers who respect and value and their opinions. Clients’ involvement in research may also help to create reciprocal relationships between social workers and their clients, as both clients and the social workers contribute to the research process. Therefore, research is of value to practice because it empowers social workers by making them more informed and effective practitioners and it empowers clients by respecting their experiences and opinions concerning research.

Integration of Research into my Future Work as a Social Work Practitioner

There are numerous ways that I may integrate research into my future work as a social work practitioner; however, I think the most effective way to do so will be to create what Gardner and Numan call a research culture within my future workplace (2007, p.335). In order to establish a research culture, I will first have to demonstrate the value of research within practice to my colleagues. In order to accomplish this, I will conduct research studies pertaining to the effectiveness of programs and interventions used by my workplace. I will then present my findings and recommendations for future practice to my colleagues. Ideally, this will demonstrate that research leads to effective practice, thereby encouraging my colleagues to conduct their own research. Additionally, I will encourage my supervisor to set aside time every week, during which all members of our workplace will discuss and evaluate research that has been read, research that is currently being conducted in our workplace, and recommendations for future research in our workplace. Thus, I will integrate research into my future social work practice by creating a research culture, in which my colleagues and I will consume, create, and evaluate research.

Collaborative research, like consumption, creation, and evaluation of research, is another component of the research culture that I will attempt to create within my future workplace in order to integrate research into my future social work practice. I will seek to collaborate with researchers and clinicians outside of my workplace and I will encourage my colleagues to do the same, as “ …through partnering with researchers interested in clinical studies, it is essential that researchers and clinicians become more truly collaborative and seek to understand and respect one another’s values and languages” (Goldstein, 2006, p.22). Through collaborative research, I may conduct research that is consistent with the values of both researchers and clinicians. Furthermore, I will also seek to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines, such as gerontology, education, and nursing, in order to create a research team that draws upon the strength and knowledge of various disciplines. Therefore, I will integrate research into my future social work practice by collaborating with researchers and clinicians outside of my workplace and by collaborating us with researchers from other disciplines.

Barriers and Enablers that may Impact my Ability to Create and Consume Research

Despite my best efforts to create and consume research, I will inevitably encounter barriers that may impact my ability to do so. I foresee one of those barriers as being a lack of time to create research. A lack of time may be a barrier because it may be difficult to find enough time during work hours to create research. A lack of time will especially be a barrier if my future employer will not provide time during work hours to create research. Furthermore, a lack of time is a common barrier among practitioners, as stated by Gardner and Nunan (2007, p.344). Another possible barrier to creating research may be an inability to find clients who are willing to participate. This may be a barrier because clients may be hesitant to participate if I have little or nothing to offer them in return, i.e. incentives. Additionally, a barrier that may impact my ability to consume research may be a lack of access to research, such as an online database. Therefore, barriers that may impact my ability to create and consume research may be a lack of time to create research, an inability to find participants who are willing to participate for little or no incentives, and a lack of access to research.

Although I may encounter barriers that may impact my ability to create and consume research, I hope that I will equally encounter enablers that may impact my ability to create and consume research as a practitioner. One enabler that may impact my ability to create research could be to have a supervisor and/or an employer who supports practitioners who create research by providing them with time during work hours to create research. This would be an enabler because it would show me that my employer values both my time and my research. Another enabler that may impact my ability to create research could be the provision of research funds from my employer or research grants. This would be an enabler because I would be able to offer participants incentives, which may increase the likelihood of finding research participants. Additionally, an enabler that may impact my ability to consume research could be to have colleagues who consume research and enjoy discussing research. This would be an enabler because I would be encouraged to consume research so that I may equally participate in research discussions. Therefore, enablers that could impact my ability to create and consume research may be an employer who supports research, research funding, and colleagues who consume and discuss research.

Conclusion

The search for meaning propels social work research, making research an integral part of practice and policy. Distinctions between social work research and research in other disciplines, such as the pursuit of social justice and a focus on collaboration, demonstrate the importance of social work research. Similarities between social work research and research in other disciplines, such as a professional code of ethics, qualitative research designs, and quantitative research designs, help to give social work research creditability. However, it is the value of social work research to practice and policy that truly makes social work research powerful. This power is derived from an ability to inform, evaluate, encourage reflection upon policy, and empower social workers and their clients. Furthermore, I hope to integrate research into my future practice by creating a research culture within my workplace and collaborating with other researcher and clinicians. Additionally, I may encounter barriers that may impact my ability to create and consume research, such as a lack of time to create research and an inability to find participants. However, I hope that these barriers will be counteracted by enablers, such as an employer who supports research within the workplace and colleagues who are equally enthusiastic about creating, consuming, and discussing research. Finally, social work research is a vital part of social work, as it ensures that the search for meaning continues.

References

Barbera, A. (2008). Relationships and the research process: Participatory action research and social work. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 19(2), 140-157.

Barsky, A. (2010). The virtuous social work researcher. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 7(1), n.p.

Butler, I. (2002). A code of ethics for social work and social care research. British Journal of Social Work, 32, 239-248.

Canadian Association of Social Workers. (2005). Guidelines for Ethical Practice.

Carrilio, T. (2001). Family support program development-integrating research, practice and policy. Journal of Family Social Work, 6(3), 53-73.

Gardner, F., & Numan, C. (2007). How to develop a research culture in a human services organization: Integrating research and practice with service and policy development. Qualitative Social Work, 6, 335-350.

Goldstein, E. (2006). Social work education and clinical learning: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Clinical Social Work Journal, 35, 15-23.

Jackson, K. (2010). Ethical considerations in social work research with multiracial individuals. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 7(1), n.p.

Padgett, D. (2009). Qualitative and mixed methods in social work knowledge and development. Social Work, 54(2), 101-105.

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