ABSTRACT

Research courses are often the least popular among BSW and MSW students because the connection between social work practice and research is not always evident. This teaching note introduces the structure of the Social Work integrative Research Lab (SWiRL), which was implemented in a social work program without a doctoral program at a large public university. SWiRL offers students opportunities to engage meaningfully in a variety of social work research projects using a framework of nested mentoring. Students gain hands-on research experience while they develop confidence, leadership, and mentoring skills within this structure. The authors discuss recommendations for other social work programs that do not have doctoral education or an established research environment.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Megumi Inoue

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

Laura Cordisco Tsai

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

JoAnn S. Lee

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

Emily S. Ihara

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

Catherine J. Tompkins

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

Jose Aguimatang

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

Kathleen Fountain

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

Sonya Hudson

Megumi Inoue, PhD, MSW, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Laura Cordisco Tsai, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor, JoAnn S. Lee, PhD, MSW, MPA, is an Assistant Professor, Emily S. Ihara, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor, and Catherine J. Tompkins, PhD, MSW, is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Jose Aguimatang, BSW, is an MSW Student in the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis. Kathleen Fountain, BA, is an MSW Student in the Department of Social Work, George Mason University. Sonya Sonneman, MSW, is Management Analyst I, Kinship Family Institute, Family Engagement Program, Fairfax County Department of Family Services.

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