Competency 4
ENGAGE IN PRACTICE-INFORMED RESEARCH AND RESEARCH INFORMED PRACTICE
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.
To represent my growth within Competency 4, an artifact I selected is a group research proposal from the course SW 430: Social Work Research. For this course, I worked within a group of 3 other students, and throughout the semester we researched the topic of LGBTQ+ Adoption. This research proposal contains an introduction, a full literature review, a problem statement, a hypothesis, a model survey, a model design and consent form, and an in depth analysis of the purpose of the study. This artifact is representative of thorough research methods and processes. For my second artifact, I selected more informal research I participated in for my internship. I chose to research the effectiveness of Art Therapy because at the time, I was invloved with the coordination of an ongoing Art Therapy Class program for refugee women at my internship. This artifact is an example of a time I applied research methods directly to my practice.
Research Proposal: SW 430
This research proposal is centered around the topic of LGBTQ+ adoption. More specifically, the discrimination of faith-based adoption agencies towards LGBTQ+ prospective parents, and the legal discourse surrounding this issue. My group found that this is a controversial topic as the number of children in foster care continues to grow exponentially, yet fit parents are being denied adoption privileges on grounds of their sexual orientation. While this seems like a direct limitation of rights, and inherently is for those of the LGBTQ+ community, there is also argument that any laws that would prohibit this discrimination would infringe on the rights of faith-based adoption agencies to practice their freedom of religion. My group found that there was a gap in research in the area of the opinions and feelings of children in foster care concerning being adopted into a family with LGBTQ+ parents. To target this gap, we conducted a mock survey that would be administered to foster care children in between the ages of 12 and 17 to gather insight on whether or not they would be comfortable with being adopted by LGBTQ+ parents. While this study was not actually carried out, it gave me valuable knowledge on the correct processes to conduct research correctly and accurately in the field of social work, as well as how to contribute to preexisting research.
Art Therapy Research
While the research I personally conducted on the effectiveness of Art Therapy in the Treatment of Traumatized Adults was a much more informal process than my research proposal, I still found that taking the time to do this research was helpful and applicable to my practice. At my internship, I would facilitate an Art Therapy class for refugee women that was designed to target their present and prior trauma, as well as treat PTSD. Prior to these classes, I did not have much background knowledge in Art Therapy or its effectiveness, especially considering it is a relatively new method of therapy. To address this gap in my knowledge, I spent time reading scholarly articles pertaining to this topic, and annotated quotes I found especially compelling. I was able to use what I learned from this brief research to recognize how Art Therapy tactics were used when I observed the art class. It was miraculous to see how the therapist was able to draw out unprocessed emotions and feelings from the women taking the class simply from engaging in painting or drawing or sculpting. It was especially interesting to see how these therapy methods applied in a real life scenario in a unique setting, considering that there were language barriers between the therapist and the students, and translation services often had to be used. Ultimately, I found that engaging in research as Competency 4 illicits was useful to both my understanding and application of an area of therapy I was not previously familiar with.
Prior to the BSW program, the idea and practice of research was one that I had a complex relationship with. In my free time, I enjoy going on rabbit-holes where I inform myself on various topics that I find interesting, whether it be a current political issue, the importance of hormonal balance for women's health, or the height of the actors in a movie I'm watching. However, in my academic career, I found research related assignments egregiously formal, with calculated processes that were intimidating and tedious. Yet, through my growth within Competency 4, I found that I can apply my general desire for information and knowledge to my practice, and that research-informed practice has a range of levels, and engaging in this research doesn't have to be a daunting task, but rather a helpful tool to help me become more competent in my practice.