Module 1 Introduction

Our first module allows us to become oriented to the importance of research and evidence in social work, as well as ethical practices in social work research. Exploring these topics prepares you to become engaged in locating, analyzing, and using evidence to inform your social work practice and to become engaged in social work research efforts, as well. Additionally, we borrowed a quote from Bannon et al. (2015) to inform development of the coursebook materials:

“The class operates upon the belief that learning is a product of performing quantitative analysis, not just reading about the process” (p. 3).

Thus, throughout our online coursebooks we work with files and learning activities involving the Excel software program. These are noted in green boxes throughout the coursebooks; each green box refers you to a specific location in the online, interactive Excel Workbook.

Reading Objectives

After engaging with the Module 1 reading materials and learning resources, you should be able to:

• Recognize and analyze different types of knowledge that inform social workers’ understanding of social work problems, diverse populations, and social phenomena;
• Identify principles of critical thinking;
• Distinguish between evidence from science, emerging science, pseudoscience, and opinion;
• Describethe roles of research in social work and in promoting social justice;
• Identify the philosophical roots of different research methodologies that inform social workers’ understanding of social work problems, diverse populations, and social phenomena;
• Explain important relationships between theory, research, and practice in understanding diverse populations, social work problems, and social phenomena;
• Analyze important human subject research principles and the ethical conduct of research;
• Locate sources of empirical evidence;
• Define key terms related to social work research and research ethics