Studying at York
Research Dissertation - SPY00074M
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
| B | Spring Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The aims of this independent study module are to enable students to understand how to undertake research which informs social work practice; to be able to write a research-based dissertation; to be able to apply research findings to social work practice.
Relationship to the domains of the PCF
This module aims to contribute to the ability of students to demonstrate that they have reached the qualifying level descriptors in all 9 of the domains of the PCF
Module learning outcomes
Subject content
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
- Develop a research question of relevance to social work practice
- Undertake a full, or systematic, literature review, including an appraisal of the quality of research evidence
- Design a research project or systematic review which is ethical, feasible, robust and of relevance to social work practice
- An understanding of how a commitment to evidence, understanding and justice informs how social work research is undertaken and understood
- Their ability to integrate academic and practice based knowledge and understanding over the course of a lengthy and sustained piece of work
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of appropriate research methodologies to answer different research questions of relevance to social work practice
- Undertake a research project or systematic review of relevance to social work practice
- Analyse quantitative, qualitative or secondary data (including the findings of other studies)
- Report their research findings and critically evaluate their implications for social work practice
Academic and graduate skills
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
- demonstrate the ability to undertake independent research of relevance to social work practice
- demonstrate an ability to manage their time and resources to undertake a significant piece of independent study and present the findings in a professional manner
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
None
Module feedback
Students will receive written feedback within four weeks
Indicative reading
- Alston, M. & Bowles, W. (2012) Research for Social Workers. An Introduction to Methods, 3rd ed, Abingdon: Routledge.
- Aveyard, H. & Sharp, P. (2009) A Beginners Guide to Evidence-Based Practice in Health and Social Care, Maidenhead: Open University Press McGraw Hill.
- Carey, M. (2009) The Social Work Dissertation. Using Small-Scale Qualitative Methodology, Maidenhead: Open University Press McGraw Hill.
- Dodd, Sarah-Jane & Epstein, Irwin (2012) Practice-Based Research in Social Work. A Guide for Reluctant Researchers, Abingdon: Routledge.
- Newman, Tony et al (2005) Evidence-Based Social Work. A Guide for the Perplexed, Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.
- Thyer, B. (ed.) (2010) The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods, 2nd ed, London: Sage Publications.
- Webber, M. (2011) Evidence-Based Policy and Practice in Mental Health Social Work, 2nd ed, Exeter: Learning Matters.
- Webber, M. (ed.) (2014) Applying Research Evidence in Social Work Practice. Palgrave