Undergraduate Course: Transforming Lives: applying evidence from social research (SCWR08010)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course enhances a student's understanding of the role research plays in helping shape social work practice, policy, and services across diverse settings, and for different user groups. It does so through critically exploring a range of research methods and their relevance to real-world challenges. |
| Course description |
How can research shape real-world change in social work and beyond? Transforming Lives: Applying Evidence from Social Research equips students with the knowledge and critical skills to understand how research evidence informs social work policy and practice. Drawing on studies in topics such as adoption, loss, childcare, mental health, refugee and forced migration, and offending behaviour, students will explore different research methods, evaluating their strengths, limitations, and real-life applications.
The course encourages reflection on the complex and often challenging relationships between research, policy, and frontline practice. Students will consider not only how evidence can be used to improve outcomes, but also the barriers to applying research in real-world settings - such as political, ethical, and practical constraints. Whether focused on specific interventions or people's lived experiences, the research discussed will deepen students' understanding of how evidence can support change and develop their awareness of some of the complexities of research-informed practice. This course is ideal for those pursuing careers in social work and social science, other helping professions, or preparing for dissertation research. It offers essential insights into both the potential and the limitations of using research evidence to transform lives.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of how research can inform practice, and the importance of developing an evidence base for social work practice
- Outline the challenges of applying research in practice and policy
- Evaluate methodological issues in social science research
- Demonstrate understanding of the place of values in social work research and its application to practice
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Reading List
| To be confirmed. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Social work research,social work practice,research methods |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Georgia Cole
Tel:
Email: Georgia.cole@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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