Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
• Understand the importance of research to inform policy and practice in the social sciences generally and in social work contexts specifically
• Acquire an understanding of a range of research methods and frameworks in undertaking social research
• Develop the skills required to critically evaluate academic journal articles and other published findings
• Develop an understanding of 'the hierarchy of research evidence'
• Develop an understanding of research ethics and of researching topics considered to be sensitive
• Be familiar with large quantitative data sets relevant for social research
• Develop the necessary skills for undertaking a literature search
• Develop the necessary research skills for undertaking a literature review
• Demonstrate the ability to prepare a comprehensive research proposal


This module also satisfies the requirements for the following CORU Domains:

Domain1. Professional Autonomy and Accountability
18. Recognise personal responsibility and professional accountability for one’s actions and be able to justify professional decisions made

Domain 3. Safety and Quality
6. Be able to demonstrate an evidence-informed approach to professional decision-making, adapting practice to the needs of the service user and draw on appropriate knowledge and skills in order to make professional judgements
9. Understand the need to monitor, evaluate and/or audit the quality of practice and be able to critically evaluate one’s own practice against evidence-based standards and implement improvements based on the findings of these audits and reviews

Domain 5. Professional Knowledge and Skills
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of social research, including consideration in a global context
9. Demonstrate an awareness and critical understanding of how social work practice is influenced by regulations, national guidelines and standards, findings of inquiries, investigations, associated reports; issues and trends in public and policy development; and be able to access new and emerging information which affects social work practice
21. Know and critically understand the principles, ethics and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment/intervention efficacy, the research process and evidence-informed practice
25. Demonstrate ability to participate in clinical, academic or practice-based research

Indicative Module Content:

The module introduces students to a range of research approaches and methods relevant to social research and social work practice. The topics covered in the module include: An introduction to qualitative and quantitative research approaches; Critical appraisal of the literature; Research ethics and researching sensitive topics; Action research and participatory methodologies; The module will facilitate students to develop the necessary skills for undertaking a literature search and to develop the ability to prepare a comprehensive research proposal.

Student Effort Type	Hours
Lectures	15
Autonomous Student Learning	55
Total	70

Not applicable to this module.

Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  

Description	Timing		Component Scale		% of Final Grade
Assignment: Students will be required to complete a 1500 word assignment which will focus on developing a research proposal for their literature review dissertation	Unspecified	n/a	Graded	No	100

 

Resit In	Terminal Exam
Summer	No

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

A feedback sheet on the assignment will be made available to each student post assessment

Core Reading
Campbell, A., Taylor, B., McGlade, A., (2017) Research Design in Social Work: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Supplementary Reading

Albtran, A., Al-Dubaee, S., Al-Hashimi, H.,Beja, M., N.F. Gilson, Izzeddin, A., Kirkwood, S., Mansaray, A., Mpofu, S.D., Ní Raghallaigh, M., O'Reilly, Z., Smith, K., Zamir, M. (2022) Research with people of refugee background: Considerations for ethical engagement. Dublin: UCD. Available here
Coulter, S., Campbell, J., Duffy, J., & Reilly, I. (2013). Enabling social work students to deal with the consequences of political conflict: engaging with victim/survivor service users and a ‘pedagogy of discomfort’. Social Work Education, 32(4), 439-452.
Efron, S. E., & Ravid, R. (2018). Writing the literature review: A Practical
Guide. Guilford Publications (e-book is in the library).
Donnelly, S., Ní Raghallaigh, M., Foreman, M. (2019) Reflections on the use of community based participatory research to affect social and political change: examples from research with refugees and older people in Ireland. European Journal of Social Work, 22(5): 831-844.
Farragher, R & Coogan, D (2020) Constructivist Grounded Theory: Recognising and Raising the Voice of Young People with Experience of Care Systems, Child Care in Practice, 26:1, 38-4.
Flynn, C. & McDermott F., (2016) Doing Research in Social Work and Social Care: The Journey from Student to Practitioner Researcher. London: Sage Publications.
Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. London: Sage.
Logie, C., Bogo, M., Regehr, C., & Regehr, G. (2013). A critical appraisal of the use of standardized client simulations in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 49(1), 66-80.
McCartan, C., Byrne, J., Campbell, J., Coogan, D., Davidson, G., Hayes, D., Kirwan, G., MacDonald, M., McCaughren, S., McFadden, P., McGregor, C., Montgomery, L., Pentaraki, M., Roddy, S., Roulston, A., Shore, C., & Wilson, E. (2022). Social work students on the island of Ireland: a cross-sectional survey. Social Work Education: the international journal, 41(2), 228-247.
Mooney, J. (2021) How Adults Tell: Using a Biographical Narrative Interviewing Methodology to Explore Adults’ Experiences of Sexual Abuse in Childhood. In: L. Moran, K. Reilly, B. Brady (eds) Narrating Childhood with Children and Young People: Diverse contexts, methods and stories of everyday life. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Name	Role
Dr Mary Kennedy	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Alan Maddock	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Gráinne Murtagh	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Muireann Ní Raghallaigh	Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Spring
Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 34, 35	Tues 09:00 - 12:50
Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 34, 35	Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 34, 35	Wed 09:00 - 12:50
Lecture	Offering 1	Week(s) - 34, 35	Wed 14:00 - 15:50
Spring