RESEARCH AND EVALUATION IN SOCIAL WORK

The course is designed to offer the student specialized skills in the field of social research applied to social work (production of knowledge aimed at the intervention) and in relation to the assessment of professional interventions.
The first part of the course is dedicated to the study of social research carried out by social workers to improve social work interventions. The theme is explored by showing the contribution made to the production of knowledge for the intervention by action research and through an application in the field of green social work.
The second part of the course is dedicated to the study of assessment as a tool for the production of knowledge for the action.

Knowledge and understanding:
at the end of the course, the student should know and understand:
- The relationship between social work and research.
- The role and characteristics of operational social research in social work.
- The characteristics and utility of action research applied to social work.
- The main contents of green social work and the role of research for interventions in this field of work.
- The theoretical and methodical aspects of the assessment of professional social service interventions.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
at the end of the course, the student will have specific skills in the field of applied social research and assessment, which are helpful in improving professional social work interventions.

Judgement skills:
the course promotes the improvement of the skills of critical and conscious use of theoretical references and methods, especially in relation to assessment and interventions in situations of social disadvantage, the result of inequality mechanisms, such as vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, groups and communities exposed to conditions of vulnerability and distress.

Communication skills:
at the end of the course, the student should have achieved an adequate level of mastery of the technical terminology, which they will be able to use in professional communications with fellow social workers, other professional figures and citizen-users.
The student will also have improved their ability to interact with peers in a critical and reflective way. They will also have had some practice in the public of elaborating on and summarising works on the theoretical-practical issues dealt with in class.

Learning ability:
the course promotes the ability to make a critical assessment of the texts under consideration and the other materials studied during the lessons. The course also fosters the ability to make connections between the various concepts addressed and the possibility of activating circular knowledge paths between theory and practice.

No specific courses are required as prerequisites.

Understand and operate with the complexity of social needs.
- The role of social research in professional social work.
- Eco-social work as a new frontier of research and intervention for social work
- Action research as a research and intervention strategy.
- Assessment and professional duties.

- W. J. Reid, The role of science in social work: the perennial debate in «Journal of Social Work», 1(3), 2001, pp. 273-293.
- C. R. Erickson, Environmental Justice as Social Work Practice, Oxford University Press, New York, 2018. Capitoli 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9.
- J. Dubost, A. Lévy, Origine e sviluppi della ricerca-azione, in Dizionario di Psicosociologia, Edizione italiana a cura di F. Manoukian e C Kaneklin, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano, 2005. Disponibile qui:
http://www.studioaps.it/images/Spunti_9/Spunti%20n.9_pp.%2065-106_J.%20Dubost,%20A.%20L%C3%A9vy.pdf .
- G. Moro, La valutazione delle politiche pubbliche, Carocci, Roma, 2005.
- Online material uploaded on Moodle: https://moodle.unive.it/course/view.php?id=5189 .

Written test divided into three open-ended questions relating to the topics in the course and covered in the reference readings: two of a theoretical nature and one linked to aspects that refer to the practice of the profession. The questions will be formulated in such a way as to bring out the ability to expound upon and make connections between the various topics dealt with by the candidate.

Frontal lessons, realized with slides and videos, will be alternated with didactic moments characterized by the use of typical instruments of participatory teaching. Among them: group re-elaboration work with plenary restitution, simulations and case studies.

Italian

Ca' Foscari applies the Italian Law n. 17/1999 and Law n. 170/2010.
If you have a motor, visual, auditory or other disability, or a specific learning disorder, we invite you to do two things:
1. Talk to your course instructor
2. Contact the office of disability support services: disabilita@unive.it 
Contact the office of disability support services (disabilita@unive.it) for general information: to find out what you are entitled to by law, and to request support and accommodation - www.unive.it/disabilita.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development