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 | Professor. Berridge |
Open unit status | Open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
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:
Teaching will take place in 12 x 1.5 sessions over a 3 day block. The unit will combine lectures, discussion and practical 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.
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/inform/research/findings/partner_exploitation_and_violence_wda68092.html
Iwaniec, D. and Pinkerton, J. (eds) (1998) Making Research Work: Promoting Child Care Policy and Practice. Chichester: Wiley.