HSW322 - Applied Social Research in Ethical and Political Context
Unit details
Year | 2025 unit information |
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Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Online^ with significant campus requirements |
Credit point(s): | 1 |
EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Priscilla Dunk-West |
Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work (H330) |
Prerequisite: | HSW221 and HSW314 (or appropriate experience in human services organisations as approved by the unit chair) |
Corequisite: | Nil |
Incompatible with: | Nil |
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online students only: Online independent and collaborative learning activities will support learning across the trimester. NIKERI-CBD students only: Online independent and collaborative learning activities including online practical experiences (workshops). |
In-person attendance requirements: | Online students only: All online students must attend a compulsory 1 day intensive at the Geelong Waterfront Campus at which core practical learning requirements will be taught. NIKERI-CBD students only: there are compulsory intensives for all students at the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus. These intensives are arranged by year-level. Please contact the NIKERI Social Work Course Team for more information on 1800 063 383. 2025 intensive dates and locations information will be available mid November. |
Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
The unit aims to develop students' research skills as another social work method or approach, through an understanding of research as applied in evaluation and needs assessment. The unit shows how applied research through evaluation and needs assessment is linked to policies, programs and modes of practice (case work, group work and community work), and can facilitate change through identifying gaps in services and evaluating the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of existing policies, programs and practices. The unit will introduce students to approaches, designs and methods that can be applied through appropriate research to enhance social work practice and to achieve social change.
Learning Outcomes
ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
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ULO1 | Articulate how evaluation and needs assessment are linked to social policies, programs and modes of social work practice (case work, group work and community practice). | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO2 | Explain how applied social research can facilitate change through identifying gaps in services and evaluating the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of existing policies, programs and practices. | GLO2: Communication |
ULO3 | Critically evaluate needs assessment and program evaluation research. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO4 | Critically evaluate the appropriateness of a range of approaches, designs and methods for application to a particular kind of evaluation research (either formative, process or outcome) or needs assessment. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO5 | Develop a proposal employing an appropriate research design relevant to addressing a particular social problem and human service delivery. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
Trimester 2:Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
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Assessment 1: Research question and literature review | 2000 words | 40% |
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Assessment 2: End-of-Unit Assessment | 2500 words | 60% |
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The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Hurdle requirement
- Attendance at a 1 day intensive held during trimester at Waterfront (Geelong) campus.
2025 intensive dates and locations information will be available mid November.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HSW322 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
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