Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
Social workers use ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approaches in conducting research and building knowledge. Social workers use research to inform their practice decision making and articulate how their practice experience informs research and evaluation decisions. Social workers critically evaluate and critique current, empirically sound research to inform decisions pertaining to practice, policy, and programs. Social workers understand the inherent bias in research and evaluate design, analysis, and interpretation using an anti-racist and anti-oppressive perspective. Social workers know how to access, critique, and synthesize the current literature to develop appropriate research questions and hypotheses. Social workers demonstrate knowledge and skills regarding qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis, and they interpret data derived from these methods. Social workers demonstrate knowledge about methods to assess reliability and validity in social work research. Social workers can articulate and share research findings in ways that are usable to a variety of clients and constituencies. Social workers understand the value of evidence derived from interprofessional and diverse research methods, approaches, and sources.
Social workers:
- apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy, and programs; and
- identify ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies that address inherent biases for use in quantitative and qualitative research methods to advance the purposes of social work.
Incorporating research into social work practice is at the core of this competency. It is important that social workers use research to improve and inform social work interventions. Research findings provide empirical evidence about the effectiveness that various approaches have in addressing social issues and in meeting the needs of individuals, families, and communities. It is important for social workers to use knowledge from their personal practice when engaging in research. Perspectives and observations from the field can enhance the research process by using the lived experiences of clients. This competency challenges me to continue engaging in research that is essential to my social work practice. I am dedicated to furthering my competency by conducting evidence-based research on sexual assault and domestic violence and I will apply the knowledge gained to my social work practice. Using evidence-based methods will ensure that we offer trauma-informed care to survivors. Incorporating research findings will enhance the quality of care and support provided to individuals impacted by these issues. Finally, I am committed to using my social work practice experiences to contribute to the field of social work through original research. My goal is to explore current intervention methods, drawing from real client experiences, to critically evaluate their effectiveness.
During the school years I engaged in a variety of activities that helped me develop mastery of this competence. I have completed assignments that have helped me in my development of competency four and have practiced competency four in my practicum setting.
School Work: Final Research Paper
This assignment is from my Research methods II class. We are looking at how the practices and perceptions of self-care relate to burnout and resilience in undergraduate students at Southern Adventist University. I helped to obtain research results through our survey and through our interview process and applied those research findings to our initial research question. Through my involvement in obtaining research results via surveys and interviews, I gained practical experience in data collection methods, including survey design, administration, and qualitative interviewing techniques. I also developed skills in data analysis, including quantitative analysis of survey responses and qualitative analysis of interview transcripts. This involved learning how to interpret and synthesize research findings to answer research questions effectively. Through my participation in the project, I developed the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to conduct research ethically and effectively, contributing to my growth and development as a researcher in social work practice.
Field: Research Paper on Trauma Informed Practice
I wrote a research paper on trauma-informed practice for domestic violence survivors. The paper outlined what is trauma, what is trauma-informed practice, and how trauma-informed practice can be beneficial when working with survivors of domestic violence. Through this process, I utilized skills in research analysis by compiling multiple empirical articles to guide my writing and provide me with evidence-based results. I synthesized information from different sources which helped me to effectively communicate my research findings to my targeted audience. I also learned more about trauma-informed practice and domestic violence as a whole, which will benefit me throughout my social work career. I chose this topic because it applies perfectly to my internship setting since we work with survivors of intimate partner violence. This has allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and I believe that the results will benefit Partnership’s trauma-informed practice with our domestic violence clients.
Other Evidences: Sexual Assault Poster/Event
This was an assignment that I did for my Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention class. Our group did a booth about sexual violence, rape, and assault in the Beitz center at Southern Adventist University. We talked to the students about this topic while also providing resources through a brochure. I was able to advocate for this issue by spreading awareness to university students as well as by providing resources to students who may be struggling with this issue in silence or who may know someone who is struggling with this issue. Through preparing and presenting at the booth, I gained knowledge about the prevalence, impact, and prevention of sexual violence, rape, and assault. I also developed skills in communication/public speaking and advocacy by engaging with students about this issue. These are key skills to have when engaging diversity and difference in practice. I chose to participate in this activity because I recognized the importance of raising awareness about sexual violence and providing support to survivors. By actively engaging in advocacy and education efforts, I demonstrated competency in addressing the root causes of sexual violence and promoting social justice.