Allison May's BSW Portfolio

Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

Social workers understand quantitative and qualitative research methods and their respective roles in advancing a science of social work and in evaluating their practice. Social workers know the principles of logic, scientific inquiry, and culturally informed and ethical approaches to building knowledge. Social workers understand that evidence that informs practice derives from multi-disciplinary sources and multiple ways of knowing. They also understand the processes for translating research findings into effective practice. Social workers:

use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research;
apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings; and
use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.

Introduction: Competency 4 focuses on research based learning. While receiving formal education, research is something developing social workers do quite often. We are then challenged to continue to research and stay informed regarding up to date interventions, resources, policies, etc. Staying informed may look like conducting your own research studies, reviewing studies done by other individuals in the field, or participating in trainings. The first artifact I chose to showcase is a literature review 2 of my peers and I completed. While enrolled in Social Work Research, my group members and I conducted research on the effectiveness of involuntary vs. voluntary mental health treatment. The second artifact I chose is a transcript from a series of motivational interviewing trainings I was in the process of completing during my senior year.

Competency 4-2

This artifact is a literature review two of my peers and I conducted on the topic of effectiveness for involuntary vs. voluntary mental health treatment. Within our literature review, there are various journal articles highlighting quantitative and qualitative methods of research to address this topic. The reasons for conducting this research were tailored towards our interests and similarities within our internships as we approached the final two semesters of undergrad career. Our goal was to expand our knowledge regarding the field of mental health and the treatment we were witnessing in some capacity during our field placements. Throughout the highlighted sections of our literature review are major areas of learning and reflection on the part of my group members and I. In addition, these highlighted sections bring about increasing curiosity and motivation to continue to research and learn more about the multitude of aspects that exist within mental health personally throughout my career.

This artifact is my current transcript towards my motivational interviewing certificate. My internship guided me towards this series of training modules to learn about and implement motivational interviewing techniques throughout the course of my internship. Motivational interviewing has many beneficial techniques towards working with clients who are presenting anywhere on the continuum for change. Whether ambivalent towards change or not, motivational interviewing assist in teaching techniques to guide the helping professional towards client-centered approaches and conversations that may evoke a client's desire to change. While I had been exposed briefly to motivational interviewing during social work courses, these modules are further expanding my knowledge and application in the field. Continuing to move forward, I am planning on completing all 20 modules in order to gain my motivational interviewing certificate. In addition, these trainings are accessible online and a good tool for me to review as I move further through my career and interacting with clients.

Conclusion: Competency 4 challenges social workers towards continuous research beyond the class room and throughout their professional careers. Researching involuntary and voluntary mental health treatment informed not only myself as a developing professional, but also my work as an intern. It is important to be motivated to learn no matter how much knowledge you might think you have. There will never be a point in our careers in which we know everything and we would not benefit from learning. Completing motivational interviewing trainings assists me to reflect on approaches to one-on-one client sessions and how I may structure my own practice in the future. In addition, these trainings are something I can reflect on and review in the future to either expand or reinforce previous knowledge. While reflecting on these two artifacts in relation to competency 4, not only is the research and knowledge important, but it is the underlying skills and tools you take away which assists in working with any client population you may face in the future.