Course Syllabus
Title of Course: Social Work Research Methods
Prefix and Number: SOCL_WRK 311
Semester and Year [tbd]
Number of Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: Admitted to the Social Work Program
Course Details
Day and Time: [tbd]
Meeting Location: [tbd]
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor Name: [tbd]
Instructor Contact Information: [office location, phone, email] [tbd]
Instructor Office Hours: [click here Links to an external site. for best practices] [tbd]
TA Name: [tbd]
TA Contact Information: [office location, phone, email]: [tbd]
TA Office Hours: [click here Links to an external site. for best practices] [tbd]
Course Description
This course introduces students to social work research and research-informed practice. It reviews principles of and processes for creating research questions; theory construction and testing; selection of study designs and appropriate methodologies including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods; data collection; and report writing. The course also emphasizes the importance of human subjects’ protections and study design and implementation guided by professional values and ethics.
Course Materials
Books:
The textbook for this class is available as an e-book and may be accessed at no cost with the link below.
DeCarlo, M. (2018). Scientific inquiry in social work. Retrieved on April 29, 2025, from Scientific Inquiry in Social Work – Simple Book Publishing Links to an external site.
Other Materials:
Besides the textbook, this course will use other teaching materials such as videos and other reading materials which will be provided on Canvas.
You will need a laptop or device to access course content through online resources and the Canvas Learning Management System. Plan to log into the Canvas course several times per week and check your email frequently for announcements or other information from your instructor.
Fees: N/A
|
Course Learning Outcomes (students will be able to:) |
Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes | Assessment of the Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior | lectures, class discussions, research ethics training | completion of research ethics training, interactive assignments, participation |
| Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice | lectures, in-class discussions, small group activities | assignments, quizzes, final exam |
| Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities |
design research questions, create an annotated bibliography, create a literature review |
assignments, quizzes, final exam |
| Dates | Lesson Topic | Assignment | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Introduction to Research | Ch. 1 | Quiz |
| Week 2 [dates] |
Beginning a Research Project | Ch. 2 | Quiz |
| Week 3 | Reading and Evaluating Literature | Ch. 3 | Quiz; Assignment #1 CITI Training |
| Week 4 [dates] |
Conducting a Literature Review | Ch. 4 | Quiz; Assignment #2A |
| Week 5 [dates] |
Ethics in Social Work | Ch. 5 | Quiz; Assignment #2B |
| Week 6 [dates] |
Linking Methods with Theory | Ch. 6 | Quiz; Assignment #2C |
| Week 7 [dates] |
Design and Causality | Ch. 7 | Quiz |
| Week 8 [dates] |
Creating and Refining a Research Question | Ch. 8 | Quiz |
| Week 9 [dates] |
Defining and Measuring Concepts | Ch. 9 | Quiz |
| Week 10 [dates] |
Sampling | Ch. 10 | Quiz; Assignment #3 Creating an Informed Consent |
| Week 11 [dates] |
Survey Research | Ch. 11 | Quiz |
| Week 12 [dates] |
Experimental Design | Ch. 12 | Quiz |
| Week 13 [dates] |
Qualitative Research & Unobtrusive Research | Ch 13 & 14 | Quiz |
| Week 14 [dates] |
Real World Research & Reporting Research | Ch. 15 & 16 | Quiz |
| Week 15 [dates] |
Bringing it all together | Review | Review |
| Week 16 | Final Exam | Final Exam | Final Exam |
Expectations for Student Effort
It is WSU policy that for every hour of in-class instruction, or equivalent online instruction, students should expect at least 2 hours of outside class course preparation in the form of reading, course assignments, and review of previous lectures.
Grading [add more lines if necessary]
| Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) | Points | Percent of Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Research Ethics Training (#1) | 10 | 10% |
| 2. Assignment #2A | 10 | 10% |
| 3. Assignment #2B | 10 | 10% |
| 4. Assignment #2C | 10 | 10% |
| 5. Assignment #3 | 10 | 10% |
| 6. Assignment #4 | 10 | 10% |
| 7. Quizzes (1-15) | 75 | 15% |
| 8. Attendance and Participation | 10 | 10% |
| 9. Final Exam | 10 | 15% |
| Grade | Percent | Grade | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
94-100 |
C | 74-76 |
| A- | 90-93 | C- | 70-73 |
| B+ | 87-89 | D+ | 67-69 |
| B | 84-86 | D | 64-66 |
| B- | 80-83 | F | <64 |
| C+ | 77-79 |
Standard rounding procedures will be applied to the percentages to calculate grades. For example, an 89% earns a B+ and 90% earns an A-. A student with an 89.5% will be rounded to a 90%.
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
Social work education involves experiential and collaborative learning and the development of high standards of personal and professional responsibility. Every student contributes as a valuable resource, and peer collaboration is fundamental to the learning milieu. It is important for emerging social workers to begin to express critical course-related ideas and reflections in the classroom. Active participation is essential. Students are expected to be present and on time for class. If students are not able to attend class, they must contact the instructor prior to that session to determine if participation/attendance credits can be awarded in an alternative format. (Emergencies may be excused on a case-by-case basis.)
Please contact your instructor prior to a planned absence such as a school sponsored event, conference, etc. If you have an emergency, please contact your instructor as soon as possible through their WSU email address, preferably prior to the class.
Academic Integrity Statement
You are responsible for reading WSU’s Academic Integrity Policy Links to an external site., which is based on Washington State law Links to an external site.. If you cheat on an assignment in this class, you will:
- Fail the assignment.
- Be reported to the Center for Community Standards Links to an external site..
- Have the right to appeal the decision.
- Not be able to drop the course or withdraw from the course until the appeal process is finished.
If you want to ask for a change in the instructor’s decision about academic integrity, refer to the form Links to an external site. at the Center for Community Standards Links to an external site. website. You must submit the request within 21 calendar days of the decision.
If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask your instructor.