Units / SWM5112
SWM5112 · Research for social work practice
2026 Handbook12 credit pointsLevel 5Social Work
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
In all fields of contemporary social work, practitioners need the skills to effectively understand, generate and integrate research knowledge, including valuing knowledge from other sources. In this unit you will develop your knowledge and understanding of research and the role it plays in the delivery of evidence-informed practice (EIP). You will learn to formulate practice-relevant research questions, and to find and critique relevant research. You will also learn to integrate the best available evidence with the social work context or setting, client culture, preferences, needs and circumstances, in order to inform social work decisions and responses. The unit will explore study design and ethical research methods, and you will also begin to develop your knowledge and skills around how to be a critically minded producer of research. You will learn the language and terminology of research, within a critical thinking framework.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Caulfield | First semester (extended) | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
| Caulfield | Second semester (extended) | Activities scheduled as a mix of on-campus and online activities in a block period (BLD-BLK) |
| Caulfield | Second semester (extended) | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Literature search and evidence summary (2,000 words) | Written | 30% | — |
| 2 | Literature review and critical appraisal (2.500 words) | Written | 40% | — |
| 3 | Research proposal (6 min oral presentation) | Presentation | 30% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prohibitions
- SWM5105 — Social work practice and research
Learning outcomes
- Create practical and applied research questions related to social work, using a range of sources of knowledge.
- Prepare and implement appropriate literature search strategies to locate relevant evidence.
- Appraise the quality and applicability of evidence in response to a research question.
- Synthesise, interpret and critique evidence to provide guidance for evidence-informed decision making.
- Distinguish between a range of study designs, data collection and analytic methods that are aligned to a research question and social work issue.
- Design a research project that is methodologically rigorous, feasible and ethical.
- Identify the ethical issues relevant to the conduct of research, and outline strategies to manage ethical risks.
- Effectively communicate research approaches and findings to peers and relevant professionals.
Workload
• 24 hours of tutorials - 3 hours per week for 8 weeks • 12 hours of lectures (recorded); 45mins x 2 per week • On-campus workshops for Flex-Blk students only (5 days) Attendance requirement for off-campus students: 5 days of on-campus workshops
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 12 hours |
| Workshops | 35 hours |
| Tutorials | 24 hours |
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