Chapter 1 Why Study Research? Outline I. II. III. IV.
V.
Introduction How Do Social Workers Know Things? The Scientific Method Other Ways of Knowing A. Personal Experience B. Tradition C. Authority D. Common Sense E. Popular Media Recognizing Flaws in Unscientific Sources of Social Work Practice Knowledge A. Inaccurate Observation B. Overgeneralization C Selective observation D. Ex post facto hypothesizing E. Ego-involvement in Understanding F. Other Forms of Illogical Reasoning G. The Premature Closure of Inquiry H. Pseudoscience
Behavioral Objectives Upon completion of this chapter, the student should be able to: 1. 2.
Contrast scientific inquiry with nonscientific inquiry. [EPAS 2.1.3] Identify and describe at least five flaws in unscientific sources of social work practice knowledge. [EPAS 2.1.3] 3. Identify the features of the scientific method. [EPAS 2.1.3] 4. Explain the importance of replication in science. [EPAS 2.1.3] 5. Identify the advantages and risks of relying on personal experience, tradition and authority as ways to know things. [EPAS 2.1.3] 6. Explain why common sense and the popular media are risky alternatives to science as sources of knowledge. [EPAS 2.1.3] 8. Explain why utilizing research is a compassionate endeavor. [EPAS 2.1.1] 9. Discuss why it is important for social work practitioners to be able to critique research quality. [EPAS 2.1.3] 10. Describe the fit between research utilization and social work values and professional ethics. [EPAS 2.1.2] 11. Recognize pseudoscience. [EPAS 2.1.10] Teaching Suggestions and Resources 1.
Assign a library research project in which each student finds a study that appears in a social work research journal and which has value in guiding social work practice. Ask each student to report back to the class with a brief summary of the study and how it is useful in guiding practice. [EPAS 2.1.3]
1