MSW Students’ Perceptions of a Research Methods Course and Its Influence on Their Perspectives of Themselves as Eventual Social Workers

ABSTRACT

Based on CSWE’s 2015 EPAS, students in MSW programs are expected to have knowledge of research methods. However, an understanding of how students perceive these courses as they pertain to their future careers as social work practitioners is less known. This qualitative study examined what MSW students learned about themselves as a result of taking a foundational research method course taught with a social justice lens. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis including critical thinking, using research as a social worker, research and social justice, expanded ability to engage in research, and what students learned about themselves. Implications of including critical reflection and social justice in research courses for MSW students are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Research methods courses
• MSW students
• social justice
• research capacity
• professional identity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.