A Pedagogical Approach to Engaging Social Work Students in Research

Abstract

Attitudes of US-based students in graduate-level social work master's in social work (MSW) toward required research courses often appear ambivalent, but developing an effective pedagogical approach to research could have lasting implications on students, educators, and the field. This article uses Bandura's social learning theory (SLT) to provide a framework for successfully engaging MSW students in the content of an introductory research class. This article outlines the thinking behind and the strategies used to engage students in the course content.

Keywords:

• Research
• Social Learning Theory
• Social Work Education
• Self-Efficacy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

^[1] We recommend another student in the class or a friend as the research subject to maintain the activity as a learning exercise rather than an actual client intervention. We further suggest the ‘problematic behavior’ be something relatively simplistic with low stakes (e.g., better sleep) rather than a major health problem (e.g., depression) that should be treated by a licensed professional instead of a student.

^[2] We recommend the chosen intervention also be relatively simplistic, with no requirement for formal training and low stakes for potential harm (e.g., listening to soothing music before bedtime to increase sleep).