Research Specialization
Brief Description
The Research Specialization in the MSW curriculum prepares students for research roles and
responsibilities in social work practice. These students may be committed solely to research, or
may be direct practice students who expect to move into evaluation and research positions after
graduation. The specialization aims to provide students with an understanding of advanced
research planning, design and implementation in both established and innovative social programs
and projects. The specialization offers students contemporary technical procedures for target
population selection, program monitoring and impact assessment.
The Research Specialization is an elected option above and beyond foundation and concentration
requirements. It consists of a structured set of electives in the curricula, which combine with
research content in the concentration practicum.
Competencies
Within the context of the specialization, research is defined as the systematic assessment and
evaluation of an issue or topic relevant to the practice of social work. Research specialization
courses are designed to build upon the following 10 areas of competence supported by
foundation and concentration courses and practica. Competencies are measured by practice
behaviors that are detailed on each course syllabi as appropriate to the content. They include:
1. Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
Research specialization course work builds on the content of S15-5005 Research Methods
and S15-5999 Evidence Based Practice Skills for BSW Graduates in the foundation and S505050 Evaluation of Programs and Services or S40-5842 Social Policy Analysis and
Evaluation in concentration curriculum. All required research specialization courses support
this competency.
2. Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
Research specialization course work builds on the content of S15-5015 Social Justice and
Human Diversity, S15-5005 Research Methods and S15-5999 Evidence Based Practice Skills
for BSW Graduates in the foundation and S50-5050 Evaluation of Programs and Services or
S40-5842 Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation in concentration curriculum. All required
specialization courses support this competency.
3. Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
This content is integrated throughout the foundation, concentration, and specialization
courses and practica expectations.
4. Engage diversity and difference in practice.
This content is integrated throughout the foundation, concentration, and specialization
courses and practica expectations.
5. Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
This content is integrated throughout the foundation, concentration, and specialization
courses and practica expectations.
6. Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
Because of the focus on evidence-based practice at the Brown School, this content is
integrated throughout the foundation, concentration, and specialization courses and practica
expectations.
7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
This content is integrated throughout the foundation, concentration, and specialization
courses and practica expectations.
8. Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective
social work services
Research specialization course work builds on the content of S15-5012 Social, Economic and
Political Environment, S15-5015 Social Justice and Human Diversity, S15-5039, Social
Work Practice with Organizations and Communities, S15-5040, Social Welfare Policies and
Services, S15-5005 Research Methods and S15-5999 Evidence Based Practice Skills for BSW
Graduates in the foundation curriculum. At the concentration level the content of the
specialization build upon S50-5050 Evaluation of Programs and Services and S40-5842
Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation and concentration field practicum.
9. Respond to contexts that shape practice.
Research specialization course work builds on the content of S15-5005 Research Methods,
S15-5015 Social Justice and Human Diversity, S15-5999 Evidence Based Practice Skills for
BSW Graduates and the foundation practicum in the foundation curriculum. This content is
integrated throughout the concentration courses, especially in S50-5050 Evaluation of
Programs and Services and S40-5842 Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation and
concentration field practicum
10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities
Research specialization course work builds on the content of S15-5005 Research Methods,
S15-5015 Social Justice and Human Diversity, S15-5999 Evidence Based Practice Skills for
BSW Graduates, and S15-5040 Social Welfare Policies and Services and the foundation
practicum in the foundation curriculum. At the concentration level the research
specialization content is supported in S50-5050 Evaluating Programs and Services or S405842 Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation and concentration field practicum.
Competencies Specific to the Research Specialization
11. Select an area of study and compose a statement of its importance.
Content is covered in S15-5005 Research Methods, S50-5050 Evaluation of Programs and
Services, or S40-5842, Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation, S81-5050 MSW Research
Seminar I, and S80-5051 MSW Research Seminar II. Students read and discuss various areas
of study and different ways of justifying the importance of an area. Students write and
defend the importance of their particular area of study.
12. Demonstrate the ability to review diverse theoretical and empirical work related to the area of
study.
Content is covered in S15-5005, Research Methods; S50-5050, Evaluation of Programs and
Services or S40-5842, Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation; S81-5050, MSW Research
Seminar I; and S80-5051, MSW Research Seminar II. Students review theoretical and
empirical work related to their areas of study. Discussions take place across different areas
of study. These discussions cultivate awareness, understanding, and respect for differences.
13. Identify a general research/evaluation question.
This content is covered in S15-5005, Research Methods; S40-5842, Social Policy Analysis
and Evaluation or S50-5050, Evaluation of Programs and Services; S81-5050, MSW
Research Seminar I; and S80-5051, MSW Research Seminar II. Students apply scientific
criteria to establish useful research or evaluation questions.
14. Identify or create a general theoretical approach within which they can study the proposed
question.
Content is covered in S15-5005, Research Methods; S40-5842, Social Policy Analysis and
Evaluation or S50-5050, Evaluation of Programs and Services; S81-5050, MSW Research
Seminar I; and S80-5051 MSW Research Seminar II. Students establish the key assumptions
underlying the theoretical approach appropriate to their research question, and they derive
testable models from these sets of assumptions.
15. Specify one or more hypotheses that follow from the theoretical framework.
Content is covered in S15-5005, Research Methods; S40-5842, Social Policy Analysis and
Evaluation or S50-5050, Evaluation of Programs and Services; S81-5050, MSW Research
Seminar I; and S80-5051, MSW Research Seminar II. Students specify the nature of the
relationships implied in their theoretical model and the reasons for these relationships.
16. Develop and implement a study design that provides data to test the hypotheses.
Content is covered in S80-5230, Applied Linear Modeling; S40-5842, Social Policy Analysis
and Evaluation; or S50-5050, Evaluation of Programs and Services; S81-5050, MSW
Research Seminar I; and S80-5051, MSW Research Seminar II. To the extent possible,
students apply design criteria that minimize the opportunity for alternative hypotheses.
17. Analyze data using appropriate tools.
Content is covered in S80-5230, Applied Linear Modeling; S40-5842, Social Policy Analysis
and Evaluation or S50-5050, Evaluation of Programs and Services; S81-5050, MSW
Research Seminar I; and S80-5051, MSW Research Seminar II. Students apply a wide
variety of standard descriptive and inferential statistics derived from the general linear
model.
18. Write a research report.
Content is covered in S15-5005, Research Methods for Social Work Practice; S40-5842,
Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation or S50-5050, Evaluation of Programs and Services;
S81-5050, MSW Research Seminar I, and S80-5051, MSW Research Seminar II. Students
write empirically based papers in each of these courses.
19. Disseminate findings.
Content covered in S81-5050, MSW Research Seminar I and S80-5051, MSW Research
Seminar II. Each student presents his or her study at a community colloquium sponsored by
the Brown School.
The curriculum requirements for the specialization draw on the existing strengths and resources
of the school. Because our curriculum has traditionally focused on quantitative methods,
students in the Research Specialization acquire an advanced set of skills in this method of
analysis. However, the specialization also supports the development of research expertise in
other methods of scientific inquiry (e.g., qualitative methods), and assists students who choose
these approaches.
The Research Specialization requires completion of:
S80-5230 Applied Linear Modeling
S81-5050 MSW Research Seminar I
S81-5051 MSW Research Seminar II
and one of:
S50-5050 Evaluation of Programs and Services
S40-5842 Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation
The above requirements are to be completed as part of the concentration course work.
S80-5230: Applied Linear Modeling: (3 credits) course will be required for all students taking
the Research Specialization. This is an advanced bivariate and multivariate statistics course that
teaches students advanced skill in data analysis.
S81-5050, MSW Research Seminar I and S81-5051, MSW Research Seminar II: (6 credits) a twosemester course required of all students taking the Research Specialization. This course will
start every fall semester and will meet three hours a week (2 hours of class work and one hour of
lab work) for two semesters. The primary purposes of the MSW Research Seminars are to: 1)
facilitate student progress in developing and implementing the research, and 2) provide research
content not obtained in formal courses.
A major research project and written report is required for successful completion of the Research
Specialization. The research must represent an attempt to answer a question in a substantive area
as specifically and systematically as possible. The written report can include: 1) an academic
thesis, 2) an agency document or final report, or 3) a publishable research article. All students
will be required to make an oral presentation of their research at a colloquium sponsored by the
Brown School at the end of spring semester.
Practicum
A student may undertake a research project at his/her concentration practicum site (e.g.,
involvement in program evaluation efforts, development and implementation of quality
assurance indicators, systematic assessment of a clinical issue) to fulfill the partial requirements
of the research specialization upon approval by the Coordinator of the Research Specialization
and Office of Field Education. The Research Specialization does not have standardized
practicum learning objectives, which apply to all students. Rather, the student, the academic
advisor, and the practicum instructor negotiate content for the research project in the practicum
on a case-by-case basis. This content, although individually designed, must be clearly related to
the outcomes of the Research Specialization, must build on research course work, and must lead
to development of a written research report.
Faculty Coordinator
For further information on the Research Specialization, contact Shanta Pandey, Ph.D., Goldfarb
235, (314) 935-4878, [email protected].
Rev6/7/12