Module 2 Introduction

Before we can design social work interventions to address specific problems and help specific populations impacted by the problem, we first need to understand the nature of these problems for which populations might be seeking help. In this module, we explore how social work professionals identify, access, assess, and utilize evidence in understanding diverse populations, social work problems, and social phenomena. (The SWK 3402 course involves exploring research and evidence related to understanding interventions.) In this Module 2 coursebook, we learn about the implications of different types of research questions, the role of theory in addressing research questions, and strategies for identifying and analyzing existing knowledge related to a research question.

READING OBJECTIVES

After engaging with these reading materials and learning resources, you should be able to:

• Recognize different types of research, research questions, and specific aims of a study to address those questions;
• Begin linking theory to research questions about diverse populations, social work problems, and social phenomena;
• Begin identifying and assessing empirical evidence about diverse populations, social work problems, and social phenomena.
• Define key terms related to identifying and assessing evidence.