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Evidence-based Social Work

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:6.00
Study Course Accepted:18.08.2023 14:25:47
Study Course Information
Course Code:LUSDK_009LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Sociology; Social Politics and Organisation of Social WorkTarget Audience:Social Welfare and Social Work
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Silva Rupaine
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Department of Welfare and Social Work
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, socdkatrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061575
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)8Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures16
Classes (count)8Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes16
Total Contact Hours32
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)5Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures10
Classes (count)5Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes10
Total Contact Hours20
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
According to the study program.
Objective:
To promote students' understanding and encourage initiative to understand and implement evidence-based practice in social work.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Evidence-based practice (EBP) and Evidence-based social work (EBSW), its historical development, evidence-based practice in medicine and social work. Steps to evidence-based practice.Lectures2.00auditorium
2Searching for evidence-based information in electronic resources about social work. Types of evidence, research, their differences.Lectures2.00auditorium
3Use of cited electronic resources (online database) for research work in the field of social work research.Lectures1.00computer room
4Use of cited electronic resources (online database) for research work in the field of social work research.Classes2.00computer room
5Evidence-based practice in social work at the macro, meso and micro levels in social work practice in Latvia: establishment of institutions and services, the functioning of institutions, professional ways of searching for evidence to find out the problem, to identify evidence for decision-making, and to measure the effectiveness of practice.Lectures2.00auditorium
6Evidence-based practice in social work at the macro, meso and micro levels in social work practice in Latvia: establishment of institutions and services, the functioning of institutions, professional ways of searching for evidence to find out the problem, to identify evidence for decision-making, and to measure the effectiveness of practice.Classes6.00auditorium
7Decision - making process in evidence - based practice. Principles and criteria for establishing a systematic review.Lectures1.00auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Evidence-based practice (EBP) and Evidence-based social work (EBSW), its historical development, evidence-based practice in medicine and social work. Steps to evidence-based practice.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Searching for evidence-based information in electronic resources about social work. Types of evidence, research, their differences.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Use of cited electronic resources (online database) for research work in the field of social work research.Lectures1.00computer room
4Use of cited electronic resources (online database) for research work in the field of social work research.Classes2.00computer room
5Evidence-based practice in social work at the macro, meso and micro levels in social work practice in Latvia: establishment of institutions and services, the functioning of institutions, professional ways of searching for evidence to find out the problem, to identify evidence for decision-making, and to measure the effectiveness of practice.Lectures1.00auditorium
6Evidence-based practice in social work at the macro, meso and micro levels in social work practice in Latvia: establishment of institutions and services, the functioning of institutions, professional ways of searching for evidence to find out the problem, to identify evidence for decision-making, and to measure the effectiveness of practice.Classes3.00auditorium
7Decision - making process in evidence - based practice. Principles and criteria for establishing a systematic review.Lectures1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
1. To study, analyze and present one type of evidence (research). 2. Social case analysis and solution modeling using the principles and steps of evidence-based practice. 3. Creating your own "mini" systematic report. Analytical compilation of research articles from international databases and other substantiated sources on the topic of the student's course work or practice. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Cumulative assessment - 10% participation in lectures and classes, 20% presentation of one type of research, 30% social case analysis and solution modeling using the principles and steps of evidence-based practice, 40% creation of your own "mini" systematic report. Test criteria: 1. Presentation on one type of research: 1.1. all criteria of the research type were discovered and analyzed, 1.2. open ability to find commonalities and differences with other types of research. 2. Social case analysis and solution modeling using the principles and steps of evidence-based practice: in two parts. The first part: The materials of the specific research are analyzed and the necessary information in the context of the social case is found and the obtained information is compared with the situation in Latvia according to specific criteria (defined social problem, client, environmental resources, identified psychosocial stressors, development stage etc). and a summary was prepared, participation in a role play was taken - an interprofessional team meeting - decision-making on possible solutions to the social case (applying the principles of evidence-based practice). 3.Written exam - creation of your own "mini" systematic report. Find 3-5 articles on the topic of the student's course work in the cited sources and get acquainted with the content of these articles. To develop material for the course work, which covers the content of the studied articles. It is mandatory to add appropriately worded references. Thesis consists of 4 - 5 pages. The work must be submitted electronically. Both the articles themselves and the prepared material must be submitted. Sub-goal - to promote the development of the course paper in accordance with the experience of evidence-based practice. The main task: to perform the work as correctly as possible - so that in the future it can serve as a model for further course work, bachelor's and master's thesis development or research in practice. The task has two subtasks: 3.1. The first task. Other researches (optimally 3 - 5) on the student's chosen topic are analyzed. Criteria for analysis: Research topic Authors Objective of the study Research methodology Sampling key criteria Sample size Where the study was published Language Financing Inclusion and exclusion criteria Discoveries Conclusions If any of the criteria are not described in the original study (eg funding) then it is not described. It is recommended to describe these criteria in a table or descriptively or in combination - part of a short table with an additional description in the text. You can find the most acceptable way, the main thing to make the criteria met. 3. 2. The second task is to compile and analyze all the included studies according to the criteria: -Student-selected search keywords. The keywords included in the search are described in detail, as well as the “path” of the search - databases, websites, what and how many sources were found, how the data were narrowed down and the relevance of the sources included in the mini-systematic review to the research question. The latest possible studies have been selected. If older studies are included, it is mandatory to substantiate their need, taking into account the theoretical material of the study course. - Criteria for inclusion and exclusion of research included in the student -The purpose of the student's systematic review -Tasks of the student's systematic review -Study's systematic review question -Make detailed conclusions about the obtained data after their collection. -Identify common and different study results between covered studies. -Whether and how the obtained conclusions could be applied to social work practice. -References in the text to literature sources. -Includes at least 3-5 studies. At least 2 studies are in English (there can be no studies only in Latvian). -Prepared in a Word document and uploaded into e-studies, as well as used research in PDF format (or a link to them).
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:The nature and directions of evidence-based practice: (Evidence-based practice (EBP) and Evidence-based social work (EBSW)). Ways of obtaining and searching information. Selection of an electronic resource (database, website). Knows the types and hierarchy of evidence-based research. Creating a search formula. Search terms and wildcards. Preliminary research. Evidence as a tool for social work practice. Familiar with evidence-based practice steps. Criteria for creating a systematic review. Examples of evidence-based practice at micro, meso, macro levels. Identification of evidence. for solving a social case, developing social services in the community. Social case intervention based on evidence-based information. Ethics in evidence-based practice.
Skills:Digital competence sub-competence - ability to select information (information literacy), improvement of resolution: Ability to find materials in both public search engines and publish evidence-based reports in various international citations. Ability to apply online databases, apply critical evaluation to the information found. Ability to include in the research report appropriate and substantiated research results. Ability to evaluate and substantiate the adequacy of foreign research data (inclusion or non-inclusion) in the field of Latvian social work. To improve the ability to select possible applicable evidence-based social work tools for problem identification, evidence identification, decision making. Ability to create a systematic overview of the field of social work. Ability to model a social case intervention plan taking into account the principles of evidence-based practice.
Competencies:Students develop digital competence: to use evidence-based information resources in the field of social work. Students develop the competence to think critically (evaluative): to evaluate the reliability and usefulness of the information found, its relevance to the research topic and the specific situation in practice at micro, meso and macro levels - search for social case solutions, decision making using research data. Students develop the competence to understand the need to further develop and deepen the implementation of evidence-based practice in the field of social work.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Spila, D., Znotiņa, I. (2019). Medicīniskās informācijas meklēšana elektroniskajos resursos: mācību materiāls. Rīga: Veselības ministrija.
2Osis, J. (2019). Pierādījumi, pieredze, intuīcija - efektīvas sociālā darba prakses instrumenti. Žurnāls "Sociālais darba Latvijā" Nr.2/2019., 33.lpp.-36.lpp.
3Webber, M. (2014). Applying research evidence in social work practice. Red Globe Press. -228.p.
4Ruffolo, M. C., Perron, B. E., Voshel, E. H. (2014). Social Work Practice: Theories and Skills for becoming an Evidence-Based Practioner. - 280 p.
5Finne, J. (2020). Evidence practice in social work: Who are the critics? Journal Sage Pub.
6Begun, A. L. (2018). SWK 3402 online coursebook: Research & statistics for understanding social work interventions. The Ohio State University, Open Educational Resources.
Additional Reading
1Muižniece, S. (2017). Pierādījumos balstīts sociālais darbs: teorija un pieredze. Bakalaura darbs. Rīga: RSU.
2Nikolajeva, S., Balode, L. Uz pierādījumiem balstīts sociālais darbs - Izaicinājumi un sasniegumi. mājaslapa www.bernskacietusais.lv
3Evidence‐Based Assessments of Children and Families: Safeguarding Children Assessment and Analysis Framework. (2017). The Wiley Handbook of What Works in Child Maltreatment: An Evidence-Based Approach to Assessment and Intervention in Child Protection.
4Dixon, L., Perkins, D. F., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C., & Craig, L. A. (Eds.). (2017). The wiley handbook of what works in child maltreatment: An evidence-based approach to assessment and intervention in child protection. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.db.rsu.lv
5Burgess, C., McDonald, R., & Sweeten, S. (2018). Effective family support: Responding to what parents tell us. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.db.rsu.lv
6American, A. O. P. (Ed.). (2019). Depression and suicide prevention. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.db.rsu.lv
7Fayers, P. M., & Machin, D. (2016). Quality of life: The assessment, analysis and reporting of patient-reported outcomes. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.db.rsu.lv
8Egan, M. (2010). Evidence -Based Interventions for Social Work in Health Care.-150.p. (105-122 p. Pediatric Cancer)
Other Information Sources
1Evidence-based Medicine Resource Center: http://www.ebmny.org/
2Social Work Policy Institute: Evidence-Based Practice http://www.socialworkpolicy.org/research/evidence-based-pra…
3Social Work Resources: Evidence Based Practice. James W. Drisko, Ph. D.,L.I.C.S.W., Professor at the Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton http://sophia.smith.edu/~jdrisko/evidence_based_practice.htm
4Dorian, Traube. Evidenced-Based Practice in the field of Social Work. - USC School of Social Work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPqv9K-IZUI (video)
5Evidence - based behavioral practice. Mājaslapa. Dažādi avoti pašmācībai angļu valodā.
6Social Work Policy Institute: Evidence-Based Practice. Homepage.
7Evidence - Based Policy and Practice Resources. Homepage.