Conducting practice research

ABSTRACT

The conduct of practice research is both similar and different from traditional social science and social work research. It is similar in terms of common research methods applied to essential social work practice issues. But practice research is quite different when it comes to framing and negotiating the research questions, engaging in participatory data analysis, and using research findings. This paper introduces core elements of practice research to social work scholars and researchers in relation the evolving context of social service delivery in China. This analysis features the evolving definition of practice research along with the principles that guide the conduct of practice research. Included in this discussion is a comparative analysis with other research methods and an illustrative case related to evidence-informed practice. It concludes with a discussion of considerations for scholars and researchers invested in the improvement of social services in diverse Chinese contexts.

摘要

实践研究的开展与传统的社会科学与社会工作研究有所异同。在应用于基本社会工作实践问题的常用研究方法方面, 它们是相似的。例子包括如何设计调查, 或使用焦点小组来促进对社会工作科学的理解。但实践研究在研究问题的框架与磋商、参与式数据分析及研究成果使用方面则大不相同。本文向社会工作学者与研究者介绍了与中国社会服务递送发展相关联的实践研究核心要素, 这一分析聚焦于实践研究不断演变的定义以及指导实践研究开展的原则。本文最后总结讨论了学者与研究者在中国多元背景下致力于改善社会服务的考虑因素。

KEYWORDS:

• Practice research
• stakeholders
• service user involvement
• social service organisations

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The description of the relevant principles is abstracted from: Austin and Carnochan (forthcoming in Chinese). Practice Research in the Human Services: A University-Agency Partnership Model (168-183).

2. Examples of tensions include delays by university human subjects review boards, delays within an agency regarding the clearance of approvals for securing staff involvement, problems with agency sampling issues such as selecting case records or staff to be interviewed, complex data coding processes, securing a large volume of administrative data in a timely fashion, completing a literature review in advance of framing the research questions, interruptions due to staff turnover, unanticipated demands from elected officials, and fluctuations in client service needs that can interfere with the ability of agency staff to engage in practice research.

3. The description of the complementary methodologies is abstracted from: Austin and Carnochan (forthcoming in Chinese).