Brown Bag Session: Overview of

Scholarship MethodsRandy Basham Ph.D.

March 5th, 2012University of Texas at Arlington

School of Social WorkCenter for Research and Community Outreach

Randall E. Basham Ph.D.© Pending 2012

Brown Bag Presentation

OPart 1: Scholarship and Research in Social Work

Scholarship and Research in Social Work (Reviewing an earlier in house

definition)O As a professional practice discipline, social

work maintains an interest in an exceptionally wide range of human conditions and social phenomena, as well as in interventions and policies to aid individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Scholarship to support the profession’s need to know is similarly broad. The profession values the development and application of theory, ethical frameworks, models for policy analysis, and other conceptual scholarship.

Scholarship and Research in Social Work (Reviewing an earlier in house

definition)O Social work researchers explore subjects of interest

using methods that include: case analyses of human systems of all sizes; single system designs; surveys of populations or samples thereof; secondary analyses of administrative data; analyses of public databases; evaluations of social work interventions; action research; systematic reviews or meta-analyses of research; qualitative studies, and quantitative research. Because social work research takes place outside of controlled environments, it very rarely employs a strict scientific method that demands random assignment, control groups, and blind assessments.

In the words of research methods experts Allen Ruben and Earl Babbie

(2005) O Most social work researchers do not fit the

traditional stereotypes of academic researchers. They aim not to produce knowledge for knowledge’s sake, but to provide the practical knowledge that social workers need to solve everyday practice problems. Ultimately, they aim to give the field the information it needs to alleviate human suffering and promote social welfare. Thus, social work research seeks to accomplish the same humanistic goals as social work practice; and like practice, social work research is a compassionate, problem solving, and practical endeavor. (2005, p. 4-5)Reference: Rubin, A. & Babbie, E.R. (2005). Research methods for social work, 5th edition. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Scholarship Rigor in Social Work

O Social work as a discipline is concerned with both the academic rigor of scholarship and its professional application. Relevant indicators of academic rigor may include: successful peer review of papers, funding proposals, or manuscripts; publication in highly regarded outlets for scholarship in social work and related or allied disciplines; citation of published work by other scholars, and other indicators of rigor for which a case can be made. Relevant indicators of the professional application of scholarship may include: development and use of theories, models, or findings in the delivery of social services or the training of social workers or allied practitioners; development of interdisciplinary or inter-professional applications for scholarship; use of scholarship in influencing or carrying out social policy, or formal acceptance or recognition of scholarly contributions by practice groups and organizations. Candidates for promotion in the School of Social Work are expected to make the case for the academic rigor and professional application of the work presented for review and evaluation.

Scholarship Rigor in Social Work

O For example, candidates for promotion and tenure may defend the impact and rigor of their work by demonstrating:

O •That published scholarship is disseminated in highly regarded publication sources within the profession, or relevant external sources associated with the diverse interest areas of the profession

O •That published scholarship is being cited and used by other scholars in the profession and allied professions,

O •That published or unpublished scholarship or research efforts have been disseminated and adopted through large scale regional, national, or international service delivery entities

O •That either scholarship, research applications, or curricular efforts have been adopted and utilized by social service organizations, professional training associations, educational institutions, or governments.

Brown Bag Presentation

OPart 2: Overview of Scholarship Methods

Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses

O Education Barriers –Needed training, mentoring and skill development

O Information Barriers –Calls for papers, awareness of outlets and procedures (guidelines)

O Technical Barriers-Computing and authoring upgrades and software

O Personal Barriers- Overextending, social and personal commitments and others

O Economic Barriers –Supports and funding for scholarship, research and dissemination

O Workload Barriers-Differential supports in departments, credit sharing

O Cognitive Barriers-Thinking serially, deadline pressures, creativity demands, energy

Journals (Traditional)O Selecting Appropriate Journals- In the

center, or on the peripheryO Rankings and Citation Indexing

(Including Google Scholar)- Academic importance

O Acceptance Rate Documentation- Indicators of journal rigor

O Waiting time to publication- Don’t believe the publishers posted estimates.

BooksO Prospectus and contracting- knowing an

acquisitions editor, cultivating publishersO Co-authored, multi-authored, contracts

royalties, equity issues, reliability of partner(s)

O Edited, call for chapter proposals, contracting, reviewing, verifying permissions, style issues

O Book Chapters- responding to a call, versus invited

Digital or MultimediaO Online Journals and other sources-

faster dissemination and global access, variable quality

O CD Rom-software, curriculum development or support, teaching resources

O Video and Audio, production expenses, marketing issues, distribution and copyright

Conference Dissemination

O Presentations-PowerPoint talksO Papers- Presentation limitation and preparationO Symposia- senior leader, topically

focused presentationsO Posters- Brief paper or digital display of work

to generate discussion or interestO Roundtables/ Panels- Group of equal experts

with a moderatorO Proceedings: published –may be weighted

similarly to a chapter, though often peer reviewed

Brief ArticlesO Encyclopedia entries- opportunities

to define your fieldO Book reviews- a service, but keeps

your name in the market

Alternate PublicationsO Grants- Federal grant applications

treated as publicationsO Manuscripts-Produced from funded

projectsO Technical reports- Summaries annual

or final treated as publicationsO Scales and InstrumentsO Patents (Applies to a process)

Non Peer Reviewed Works

O Articles- Required of officers for newsletters and professional magazines

O Editorials- Voluntary or requiredO Program manuals, etc.- Agency

based works with limited dissemination

The cutting room floor- O When it doesn’t get published

(occurs frequently enough)O When it doesn't get citedO Alternatives to citationO The shelf life of published

scholarshipO The publication immortality of

scholars

DiscussionO Keeping it all in perspective!O Planning your publishing career.