| Unit name | Researching Child and Family Welfare |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0011 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Mrs. Wijedasa |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Students must first have completed M level research methods training, or completed SPOLM0013 (PRDSS). |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit focuses on research with children, young people and families and their relationships with education, health and welfare services. It is taught by researchers in the School for Policy Studies who have undertaken significant work for government and charitable foundations on the processes and outcomes of children's services, including adoption and fostering, safeguarding children, residential care, family support and services for disabled children and their families. The unit considers a range of advanced research methods and does so by applying them to child welfare studies in which they have been used. The use of quantitative and qualitative methods will be exemplified. Ethical issues in research concerning children are explored in detail together with skills in engaging children and families in research.
Aims:
To understand the relationship between research and policy, and social work practice with children and families.
On completion of the unit, students will:
The summative assessment tests all of the ILOs and accounts for 100% of the unit mark.
The unit will be delivered through blended learning involving a combination of lectures, group discussion and self-directed exercises.
A written assignment of not more than 4,000 words based on a major, completed, empirical study of a child welfare topic. The assignment should critically examine some of the main political, academic and ethical challenges in the study; children and young people's involvement; and the major potential problems involved in the research.
The assignment will assess all of the intended learning outcomes for this unit.
The summative assessment tests all of the ILOs and accounts for 100% of the unit mark.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0011).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
