Engaging Students in Community-Based Research

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a model for teaching social work research courses that features collaboration between social service agencies and M.S.W. students on community-based research projects. The model encourages student interest and skill development through experiential learning, empowerment in decision-making, group interaction, and application of research principles and techniques. It also fosters community development and linkages between community agencies and universities by responding to agency research needs, and has the longer-term goal of contributing to the research skill base in communities. The processes for implementing the model are discussed, including the roles of instructors, students, and agency staff. Examples of completed research projects also are described. Student evaluations of the model are presented, as are the implications of the model for the development of community-based research.

Key Words:

• Collaboration
• research methods
• empowerment
• community building
• community development