A seminar for staff at the School of Social Work.

What is it that makes social work a research discipline? How is practice and research in social work related? How do we relate to other disciplines? What unites us in doing social work research? Are there more differences than similarities between our different studies? How do we, at our department conceptualize our discipline? How do we mediate our discipline to students on different levels?

The main aim for the seminar is to highlight issues about social work research and get a chance to meet each other in open discussions. The seminar will have lectures as introductions followed by small group discussions

Registration

Coffee/tea (morning and afternoon) and lunch will be served. Registration is therefore
required. Please register online before 1 September if you wish to attend.
Questions? Ask Kerstin Svensson, Martin Bergström or Erin Kennedy!

Theories of social work - Reference models for research and practice

We start with an overview of the main paradigms in the theory debate of social work and social pedagogy. In addition we reflect on the systemic and the spatial approach, the relevance of theories for social work research and practice. The final summary highlights different issues and challenges that are emerging between theories, research and practice.

Christian Spatscheck, professor dr. at the Hochschule Bremen, City University of Applied Sciences, a visiting scholar at Lund University and a visiting professor at Pisa University.

Time: 9:15-12:00 Room: 22

Knowledge in social work research

We focus on different types of knowledge in social work research. We use examples from social work research and focus on how ‘knowledge’ is generated in projects. We structure presentations according to three social work research paradigms such as positivism, constructivism and critical realism. We finish the seminar with our own research positions and explore ideas for further debate and discussion on the identity of social work research.

Peter Raeymaeckers, assistant professor at the University of Antwerp.
Johan Boxstaens, lecturer and researcher at Karel de Grote University College and the University of Antwerp, as well as a visiting professor at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

Time: 13:00-16:00 Room: 22