Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
As a competent social worker, I desire to effectively meet the needs of my clients. Therefore, I will read peer-reviewed articles and stay informed about the latest empirical and evidence-based research from multi-disciplinary sources, and I will understand how to translate research findings into effective practice. Additionally, I will conduct my own research, when necessary, to better meet the needs of clients and to further advance my profession.
“America’s future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what he is taught; we must watch what we teach and how we live.” Jane Addams
PRACTICE BEHAVIORS:
4A: Engage in a review of contemporary best practices.
Academic Evidence: Using research and writing skills, I wrote a literature review paper on hoarding disorder for my Mental Health emphasis class. This research paper focused on a mental health disorder that is a more recent addition to the DSM-5 and the best practices in assessing, diagnosing, and intervening with individuals with hoarding disorder. I was able to integrate scholarly research and empirical evidence with best practices and theoretical perspectives, particularly attachment theory.
Field Evidence: Using research skills, I wrote a literature review of contemporary best practices for working with diverse hospice patients. This research was the initial step in conducting a project on “Diversity in Death & Dying” and increased my knowledge base in working with hospice patients from different cultures and backgrounds.
Other Evidence: In my Mental Health Emphasis class during the summer of 2019, I researched medications used to treat people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and wrote a research paper on my findings. I learned that the best method in treating this debilitating disorder is a combination of pharmacology and cognitive behavioral therapy and later applied this knowledge to my Advanced Clinical class in the fall of 2019 when learning CBT skills.
4B: Conduct research that responds to social work practice needs.
Academic Evidence: In my Advanced Administrative Practice and Leadership 1 class, I conducted research for a program proposal. This proposal was for a self-care program for a local hospice. I wrote the literature review for my group by researching interventions that have previously been done for hospice social workers who work in the stressful field of end-of-life care and are in need of better self-care practices. This required both research and writing skills, as I categorized (cognitive level: synthesis) the various interventions that are used for this target population. I volunteered (affective level: responding) to serve as the editor of the group project and final paper.
Field Evidence: For my “Diversity in Death & Dying” project at my hospice practicum, I created (cognitive level: synthesis) a research questionnaire to assess and evaluate the cultural competency of the social workers from three different hospice offices after leading a training session on cultural diversity at the monthly social worker meeting in September. I used organizational and writing skills in making the survey questionnaire.
Other Evidence: In 2018 I was honored to receive the 2018 MSW Rene’ Drumm Research Award for a research proposal project in my Research Methods course on social isolation and loneliness among elderly immigrant adults in the Atlanta area and how it correlates with technology. This very detailed research project took several months to complete and taught me knowledge about the steps taken in conducting research. As editor of the project, I wrote about 95% of the content myself and demonstrated the NASW value of competence in learning about both applying research skills and studying the specific needs of elderly immigrants
