Promoting Positive Student Attitudes Toward Social Work Research Using Course Web Sites

Abstract

Evidence conflicts as to whether students of social work hold positive attitudes toward the importance and usefulness of social work research. For this study, WebCT™ sites were developed to supplement a graduate course on research methods. Students were surveyed to measure the extent to which their attitudes toward research changed over the semester. Students' utilization of the WebCT site was also measured, both automatically (electronically) and through the survey. In general, the results indicated that students began the course with a surprisingly positive disposition toward the subject; that their attitudes further improved by the end of the course; and that they partially credited the WebCT materials for bringing about this change.

Key Words:

• Social work education
• course management software
• research methods
• research attitudes