Social work research

Course Details

Course Number: 3643  Section Number: 01

Fall 2012

Location: Online

Days & Times:

online any time

Course Attachments

Textbooks
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Gary Fashimpar   
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Course Objectives

1.  Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.

2.  Understood the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles and practice accordingly.

3.  Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice and evaluate their own practice interventions.

4.  Provide students with information that will allow them to use Blackboard and the internet for accessing research, class assignments and lecture modules.

5.  Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes.

6.  Apply appropriate technical and ethical factors in designing diversity sensitive research and in drawing inferences about special populations from research data and reports.

7.  Provide content on the use of research as a knowledge base to support professional interventions and decisions.


Course Expectations

Internet Assignments. Go to Web CT and click on Assignment Icons

 

Assignment 1- Evidence Based Practice.

 

Learning to locate research studies which can help you be a more effective social worker is the purpose of this assignment. Choose a topic which interests you. Go to data bases and search engines and search for research studies which have useful implications for social work on your topic. You can use the Mofett Library databases by clicking on Library on the msu home page and then clicking on databases. Academic Search Premiere is one of the better databases for social work. Google Scholar is also good. If you prefer you can browse through recent social work journals in the library. However you proceed read the abstract first to help you identify if the study reports on  effective interventions, programs or policies. Find a study which has useful implications for social work practice.

 

The written part of this paper must be submitted on Blackboard and include the following. The bibliographic reference information for the study you read. A brief statement of the conclusions of the study. Describe how the knowledge produced by the study could be used to guide a social workers practice.

 

Assignment 2  Informed Consent Assignment

 

1.  Go to Web CT. Click on Assignment 2.  Create an informed consent form and submit through Blackboard. Your text provides examples of informed consent forms.

 

Assignment 3  Hypothesis Writing Assignment

1.  Go to Web CT, click on Assignment 3. Assignment 3;Hypotheses and the scientific method. Students turn in a hypothesis written in the if-then format.

 

 

Assignment 4   Single Subject Research assignment

Choose a self improvement project for yourself. You could study more, get angry less, exercise more, reframe events positively in your mind, lose wieight etc. You can change any behavior, thought, emotion or habit you choose.          

Graph

Gather baseline data on your target for change. That is, record how often it occurs a day for at least  7 days. Then start your self improvement intervention. Record how often the behavior occurs for 10 days. Then stop the intervention and record for a week how often the behavior occurs each day. Display this data as a graph using Excel or a similar program. Graph the data for the preintervention, intervention and post intervention time periods which is a minimum 24 day period. Submit the graph.

Evaluation of your practice intervention

 Identify the specific single subject research design and explain why you used it. (see ch. 12 and Single Subject Module). Present and analyze the data you gathered. Describe your area of self improvement. Describe your intervention into the target behavior. How well did the intervention work? Use your knowledge of single subject design to explain the certainty or lack of certainty of your conclusions based on your data..

 

 

Practice Exams

 

Student practice exams are available online for all assigned chapters.  Complete all tutorial exams and improve your exam grades in class. 

 

 

Course Grading System:

 

                                                                                    Points                        

Evidence Based Assignment                                      30

Hypothesis Assignment                                              10       

Informed Consent Assignment                                   10

Single subject research assignment                           50

 

Quiz 1 over text                                                          100                             

Quiz 1 over modules                                                   100                             

Quiz  2                                                                         100

Quiz  3                                                                         100

Final Quiz                                                                    100

Total                                                                            600

 

 

 


Grading Standards

A=90% of available points

B=80-89% of available points

C=70-79 % of available points

D=60-69% of available points

F=0-59% of available points


Final Exam12/8/2012  10:00 am

Submission Format Policy

submit through Blackboard.



Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

loss of 10% of points for late assignment


Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.