Syllabus

Doctorate in Social Work

DSW 811: Integrating Social Work Research and Practice II

Credits - 3

Description

This course introduces doctoral-level social work students to qualitative research methodologies with an emphasis on developing researchable questions relevant to social work practice and policy. Students will explore major qualitative research traditions, sampling strategies, data collection and analysis techniques, and ethical considerations.

Materials

Textbooks (from previous courses)

  • DeCarlo, M., Cummings, C. & Agnelli, K. (2021). Graduate research methods in social work (Dalia Khoury, Ed.). Open Social Work.
  • Single, P. B. (2010). Demystifying Dissertation Writing: A Streamlined Process from Choice of Topic to Final Text (P. B. Single, Ed.; 1st edition, Vol. 1). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003444053

All additional materials are linked in the course.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze qualitative research paradigms and their application to social work practice and policy.
  2. Design and justify a rigorous qualitative research proposal relevant to a significant issue in social work containing researchable questions, appropriate design and methodology, sampling strategy, data collection and analysis techniques, and a discussion on ethical considerations.
  3. Evaluate ethical research practices, examine one’s own positionality, and employ strategies to ensure research credibility, including triangulation, member checking, and transparency in data interpretation.

Assignments

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Grade ItemPoints
Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement1
Introductions4
Week 1 Assignment: Paradigms in Social Work Research10
Week 2 Assignment: Problem Statement and Research Questions for Qualitative Study10
Week 3 Assignment: Qualitative Design Justification for DSW Doctoral Project10
Week 4 Assignment: Sampling Plan for Qualitative DSW Study10
Week 5 Assignment: Drafting a Semi-Structured Interview Guide for DSW Doctoral Project10
Week 6 Assignment: Observational or Document Analysis Plan for DSW Doctoral Project10
Week 7 Assignment: Thematic Analysis of Fictional Interview Transcript10
Week 8 Assignment: Reflexivity Statement and Ethical Considerations for DSW Doctoral Project10
Week 10 Assignment: Draft Qualitative Research Proposal15

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Course Dates: January 14 – March 29

Course weeks run from 12:00 AM ET on Monday through 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, with the exception of Week 1, which starts on Wednesday. 

Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Sunday
Spring Break: Monday – Sunday
Week 9: Monday – Sunday
Week 10: Monday – Sunday

Week 1: Introduction to Qualitative Research in Social Work

Assignment

Paradigms in Social Work Research: A Comparative Analysis paper

Discussion

Introductions

 

Week 2: Developing Researchable Qualitative Questions

Assignment

Problem Statement and Research Questions for Qualitative Study paper

 

Week 3: Qualitative Research Design and Approaches

Assignment

Qualitative Design Justification for DSW Capstone paper

 

Week 4: Sampling Strategies in Qualitative Research

Assignment

Sampling Plan for Qualitative DSW Study paper

 

Week 5: Data Collection Methods I: Interviews and Focus Groups

Assignment

Drafting a Semi-Structured Interview Guide for DSW Capstone paper

 

Week 6: Data Collection Methods II: Observation and Document Analysis

Assignment

Observational or Document Analysis Plan for DSW Capstone paper

 

Week 7: Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

Assignment

Thematic Analysis of Fictional Interview Transcript

 

Week 8: Trustworthiness, Ethics, and Reflexivity

Assignment

Reflexivity Statement and Ethical Considerations for DSW Doctoral Project

 

Weeks 9 & 10: Finalizing the Proposal and Reflection

Assignment

Draft Qualitative Research Proposal

 

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page

UNE Libraries:

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Online Peer Support

Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.

ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.

Career Ready Program

The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!

The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.

Policies

Essential Academic and Technical Standards

Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Confidentiality Statement

Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Attendance Policy

6- to 8-week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

10+ -week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.