Unit Outline
HGW609
Social Work Thesis A
Semester 1, 2024
Milena Heinsch
School of Social Sciences
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Milena Heinsch
Email: milena.heinsch@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Social Work Thesis A extends your understanding of the purpose and practices of research that you gain in HGW608 Social Work Research Practice. You will do this by conceptualising and beginning to implement a research topic that focuses on improving the wellbeing and life chances of social work clients, service users and other stakeholders. You will learn advanced skills in research design and methods, and you will be required to defend the focus and methods of your research in discussion with others. Upon successful completion of this unit, you will advance the implementation of your research project in Semester 2.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Propose research that can address the tensions and dilemmas associated with the organisational, legal and policy contexts of social work practice.
2.
Formulate practice innovations that are based on research evidence to improve the wellbeing and life chances of social work clients, service users and other stakeholders.
3.
Plan collaborative and cooperative social work projects and research and justify how they can improve people’s lives.
Alterations as a result of student feedback
More support throughout the semester has been provided in 2024, including seminars and learning material on MyLO.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Independent Learning
Individual Supervision, Weeks 2-11
1
Once only (10 times)
Seminar
4 x 2 hour seminars
2
Once only (4 times)
Workshop
Weeks 1 and 12 of Sem.
6
Once only (2 times)
Independent Learning
Online resources and readings
1
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Literature review
Week 6
50 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Presentation of topic and chosen methods
Week 12
50 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Literature review
Task Description:
Literature review (50%)
You will undertake a review of the published research literature in relation to your topic. This extends the literature review you will undertake in HGW608. More information about this assessment task will be provided on MyLO and at the first workshop.

Task Length:
2000 words
Due Date:
Week 6 (12/Apr/2024)
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Devise a rationale for conducting a literature review about your topic (20%)
LO1, LO2
2
Synthesise current research knowledge about your topic through a review of the research literature (60%)
LO1, LO2
3
Communicate in writing in accordance with professional and academic standards (20%)
LO1
 
Assessment Task 2: Presentation of topic and chosen methods
Task Description:
Presentation of topic and chosen methods (50%)
You will create a 30-minute oral presentation about your proposed research topic and the research approach and methods you plan to use. You will deliver your presentation at the final workshop for this unit. To develop your presentation, you will draw on the written research proposal you developed and submitted for the co-requisite unit, HGW608. More information about this assessment task will be provided on MyLO.

You will present at the final workshop for this unit (week
commencing Monday 20th May)
Task Length:
30-minute oral presentation
Due Date:
Week 12 (20/May/2024)
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
 
1
Create a rationale for your proposed research project in the form of a presentation (15%)
LO1, LO2
2
Devise a presentation of your plan for an ethically and methodologically sound research project (50%)
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Defend the focus and methods of your proposed research in discussion with others (15%)
LO1, LO2, LO3
4
Communicate in the form of an oral presentation in accordance with professional and academic standards (20%)
LO1, LO3
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes. To be eligible to pass this unit, you need to:
• Attempt or submit each assessment task
• Achieve an overall minimum mark of 50% in order to pass this unit. You do not need to pass every assessment task to achieve a pass in the unit.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
You will need the following text:
  • Alston, M., & Bowles, W. (2018). Research for social workers: An introduction to methods (4th ed.). Allen and Unwin.
You can purchase this book from online booksellers such as Booktopia. The UTAS library will also have copies (access may be limited in times of high demand). This text is also required for the co-requisite unit HGW608 Social Work Research Practice.
You will also be required to read the following:
  • Gordon, J. (2018). The voice of the social worker: A narrative literature review. British Journal of Social Work, 48, 1333-1350.
  • Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26, 91-108.
  • Munn, Z., Peters, M. D. J., Stern, C., Tufanaru, C., McArthur, A., & Aromataris, E. (2018). Systematic or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping approach. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18, 143.
The above papers will help support your decision making around the type of literature review to conduct as part of your Honours Thesis and will form the basis of some of the content in this unit.
 
Recommended reading materials
There is no set reading list for this unit as you will be provided with resources tailored to your research topic by your unit coordinator and your thesis supervisor as required. You will need to access and reference other research texts, journal articles, and other resources beyond this to successfully complete the assessment tasks in this unit. Further information about accessing these resources will be provided on MyLO and your thesis supervisor will make suggestions. As a starting point, the following texts may be helpful and are available through the UTAS library (many as e-books). Please note that the following texts are recommended only, and you are not required to purchase these for this unit.
  • Aveyard, H. (2014). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. Open University Press.
  • D’Cruz, H. & Jones, M. (2014). Social work research in practice: Ethical and political contexts (2nd ed.). Sage.
  • Flynn, C., & McDermott, F. (2016). Doing research in social work and social care: The journey from student to practitioner researcher. Sage.
  • Grinnell, R., & Unrau, Y. (2014). Social work research and evaluation (10th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Joubert, L. B., & Webber, M. (Eds.). (2020). The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Practice Research. Routledge.
  • Steinberg, D. (2015). The social work student’s research handbook (2nd ed.). Routledge.
  • Strega, S., & Brown, L. (Eds.). (2015). Research as resistance: Revisiting critical, Indigenous and anti-oppressive approaches (2nd ed.). Canadian Scholar’s Press Inc.
 
Other required resources