SOAD3006 Research and Evaluation

This topic provides a balanced introduction to quantitative and qualitative research relevant to social work, social policy and human service planning. It introduces ways of searching the literature, defining research questions, choosing appropriate research tools, using data collection methods, and reporting the results of the data analysis. A range of inferential statistics is introduced.

This topic aims to:

• Introduce students to the concept of research within a practice context, and show its relevance in their professional setting
• Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative approaches to research
• Develop skills to critique research undertaken by colleagues or presented in the literature
• Enable students to utilise data collection and data analysis procedures
• Develop students' writing skills

1. Synthesise and analyse existing social research and its relevance to various professional settings
2. Compare and critically analyse current literature and determine its relevance to a chosen research area
3. Apply appropriate qualitative research methodologies and methods to a chosen research area
4. Construct a research proposal using appropriate methodologies, including evaluation, and considering ethical and cultural dimensions