Mutual learning in Social Work education with practitioner research
Wednesday 21st February 15:00 - 17:00 CET Social Work Practice Research SIG
Social Work Practice Research SIG Convenors:
Introduction
Many Social Work master programs (and even bachelor programs) focus on developing research skills and conducting research, in particular practitioner research. This research often takes place in different working fields or internships where the (future) social professionals work and learn. This form of research led by practitioners can lead to quality improvements in daily practice, greater problem-solving abilities and a broader understanding of social work and the real needs of people (Sheikhattari et al., 2022). It can also be seen as a professional learning strategy that contributes to the development of professional skills.
Practitioner research is defined as follows:
Practitioner research consists of empirical studies conducted by social workers, nurses, and other health professionals to answer questions resulting from their practices. The research takes place as an interaction between the practitioner doing the research and his or her colleagues, patients, or clients. The primary goal of practitioner research is to improve one's own practice (Sheikhattari et al., 2022, p. 2).
Through this bottom-up approach, (aspirant) social work professionals can contribute to increasing the body of knowledge, and quality improvement of social work, promoting social change and development.
In practitioner research, perceptions of different stakeholder groups inside and outside the organization can be connected. The research process promotes informal forms of knowledge development that initiate learning. The method forces institutes for social work education to have a responsibility to value, incorporate and disseminate knowledge and innovative solutions that (future) professionals generate through practitioner research. In this, they can help explain the knowledge of social minorities who are grossly underrepresented in the academic world and the specific knowledge of practitioners which can only be partially captured in academic study (Wright, 2019). Therefore, it is important for the staff at these institutions to adopt an inquisitive attitude, to facilitate learning networks and to bring practitioner research into their institutional practice.
Content and purpose of online seminar
Bas van Lanen will go into practitioner research and the method's specific characteristics during this online seminar. He discusses how learning processes can occur and how practitioner research can have a catalytic effect on learning. In particular, he will reflect on quality criteria that can be used to evaluate this specific form of research. These quality criteria can be of value in looking critically at how institutes for social work education can contribute to the mutual learning process. As part of the online seminar, there will be room for interaction and sharing experiences on good practices.
About the presenter/speaker
Bas van Lanen is lecturer for research methods and practice development in the Master of Social Work program at HAN University of Applied Sciences Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Together with Cyrilla van der Donk he developed the practitioner research method and wrote several textbooks on practitioner research for Social Work, Nursing, the Health professions and Education. For over 14 years, the method has offered practitioners guidance to conduct research as an insider. Collaborating with international experts, the practitioner research method is introduced in Germany, Brazil and the United States.
References
Sheikhattari, S., Silver, G., Van der Donk, C., Van Lanen, B., & Wright, M. T. (2022). Practitioner research for social work, nursing and the health professions. JHU Press.
Wright, M. T. (2019) Ten geleide: Bridging the Gap with Practitioner Research. In C. Van der Donk, & B. Van Lanen, B., Praktijkonderzoek in zorg en welzijn (pp. 5-6). Coutinho.
