Understand the Meaning of Research, Social Research & Social Work Research and How Social Workers should do Research ?Social Work Research is the application of Research methods to the production of knowledge that Social Workers need to solve problems they confront in the practice of Social Work.Learn the types of Types of Social Work Research

1. Session I : Review
Meaning of Research, Social Research & Social Work
Research
Dr.PANKAJ DAS
Assistant Professor
YASHWANTRAO CHAVAN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK, SATARA
www.ycssw.edu.in

2. Reference Books you must go through

3.  For Social Workers , knowledge of research is must.
 How Social Workers should do Research ? (British Code of Ethics for Social
Work, British Association of Social Workers, 2000) .
 National Association of Social Workers, U.S.A., Code of Ethics , Section
5.02 includes ‘Evaluation and Research’.
 Australian Association of Social Work 4.5.2 ‘Research’ , AASW 2000, p.20.
 Reference : Margaret Alsten & Wendy Bowels ‘Research for Social Workers : An Introduction to Methods’, p.22)
Why Research is important for Social Workers ?

4.  Research helps to develop analytical skills. A Researcher collects
information(data) to analyze and interpret and to present finding to others.
 Research plays significant role in theory building.
Motivation in Research:
 Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential benefits; To
those students who are to write a master’s or Ph.D. thesis, research may
mean a careerism or a way to attain a high position in the social structure.
 Desire to face the challenge in solving the unsolved problems, i.e.,
concern over practical problems initiates research;
 Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some creative work;
 Desire to be of service to society;
 Desire to get respect.
Why Research is important for Social Workers ?
Reference: Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, C.R. Kothari, p.2

5. Motivation in Research:
• To professionals in research methodology, research may mean a
source of livelihood;
• To philosophers and thinkers, research may mean the outlet for
new ideas and insights;
• To literary men and women, research may mean the development of
new styles and creative work;
• To analysts and intellectuals, research may mean the generalizations
of new theories.
• Thus, research is the fountain of knowledge for the sake of
knowledge
Why Research is important for Social Workers ?
Reference: Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, C.R. Kothari, p.2

6. “Quality means doing it right when no one is
looking”.
Henry Ford
At the end of the session you will learn:
1. What is Science?
2. What is Social Science ?
3.What is Research?
4. Meaning and Definition of Social Science
Research?
5. Basic classification of Research.
7.Meaning and Definition of Social Work Research?

7. • Science-Latin Word Scienta=‘To Know’
• Science is systematic(methodological) and evidence based
study of particular phenomena or event.
• Science relies on Facts & truths.
• Fact: Water is combination of H2+O=H2O
• Truth: Law of Gravitation
1. What is Science?

8. • The main concern of all sciences is to contribute to
knowledge.
• People acquire knowledge by various methods. e.g.
observation, experience, learning etc. which may be affected
by individual biasness .
• Hence it was felt necessary to evolve a Scientific method by
which individual thinking has no effect on conclusion.
1. What is Science? Continued…

9. • According to George Lundberg(1946) Scientific method
consists of three steps: Systematic Observation,
Classification and Interpretation of Data.
• Through these steps, scientific method brings verifiability and
validity of conclusions.
• Thus, Science is an attempt to acquire knowledge by using a
particular method.
1. What is Science? Continued…

10. • Social Science is concerned with understanding
society, its nature and working.
• e.g. Socialization process, Social Structure, Social
Stratification, Social Change , Social mobility,
Poverty, Migration etc.
2. What is Social Science?

11. Research involves asking questions and attempting to
answer them systematically and scientifically
(Whether we realize or not, we are involved in research like activities)
Research is a systematic study of a subject to gain
new knowledge.
3. What is Research ?

12.  Why to ask Questions ? What is the need of seeking answers of
critical things?
 “All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than
overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to
invention” - Hudson Maxim
 A Sociology student wants to know why there is sudden increase in
incidents of domestic violence against women in particular
geographical area?
 A Psychology student has to find out why adolescents are attracted
towards drug addiction ?
3. What is Research ?

13. Scientific Research Social Research
5. Basic classification of Research
Systematic and critical
investigation of natural
phenomenon (occurrence)
Social Research is the process of
systematically acquiring data to
answer a question or solve a
problem of casual relationship in
human behavior

14.  Social Science Research pertains to study the subject related to
Society such as poverty, illiteracy, migration etc.
 Social Science Research is the process of systematically
acquiring data to answer a question or solve a problem of casual
relationship in human behavior .
6. What is Social Science Research ?

15. Social Work Research is the application of Research methods to the
production of knowledge that Social Workers need to solve problems
they confront in the practice of Social Work.
 E.g. A Social Worker wonders what difference MGNREGA
programme has brought in the lives of poor people ?
 A Social Work Educator wants to find out the attitude held by Social
Workers regarding Religion and Spirituality
7. What is Social Work Research ?

16. Types of Social Work Research
INTERVENTION RESEARCH
(Core Area)
RESEARCH IN SOCIAL WORK
(Academic)
To measure the effectiveness of
Social Welfare programme.
To study the Social Work education
structure , to examine the
knowledge base of social work.
 Impact of MGNREGA programme
on socioeconomic well being of daily
wage laborers in Satara taluka
 Attitude of Social Work educators
in Maharashtra towards Religion
and Spirituality

17. End of Session
Next
Steps in Social Research &HYPOTHESIS