.
Master Thesis
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:6.00
Study Course Accepted:11.12.2023 12:45:27
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | LUSDK_252 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 24.00 | ECTS: | 36.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Sociology; Social Politics and Organisation of Social Work | Target Audience: | Social Welfare and Social Work | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Anna Broka | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Department of Welfare and Social Work | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Riga, 26a Anniņmuižas boulevard, socdk rsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061575 | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 6 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 12 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 6 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 12 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 24 | ||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.2 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 6 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 12 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 6 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 12 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 24 | ||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.3 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 0 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 0 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 0 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 0 | Class Length (academic hours) | 0 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 0 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 0 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Obtained knowledge in the course "Social Research Methodology". | ||||||||
| Objective: | Apply and use of methodology and methods in the field of social work, i.e., evidence based research practice, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, social welfare policy analysis etc. Thus to develop ability to identify, critically assess and find creative and innovative solutions for social problems and societal challenges in the social work with children and youth. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Defining the research topic, description of methods and preparation of literature review | Lectures | 6.00 | E-Studies platform | |||||
| Classes | 6.00 | E-Studies platform | |||||||
| 2 | Research planning and development | Lectures | 6.00 | E-Studies platform | |||||
| Classes | 6.00 | E-Studies platform | |||||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | To select and analyze the literature related to the research topic, choose the appropriate research methods in order to answer on the research question(-s) and complete the tasks; to develop a research project – a theoretical part based on literature review and research in the field, critically assess the risks, describe research ethics principles and present a research project. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | Prepared introduction, literature review, description of methodology; a presentation of the research project has been prepared. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Defence (Master’s thesis) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Understands, compares and critically evaluates various theoretical approaches and empirical data, as well as the relevance of the applied methods for the chosen research topic; understands the requirements and evaluation criteria for the development of a master's thesis. | ||||||||
| Skills: | Is able to identify and formulate a research problem, set research goals and objectives, formulate questions / hypotheses, as well as is able to perform systematic literature review, select and analyze available empirical data and other relevant information, taking into account the basic principles of social work and research ethics. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Independently plan and conduct research, as well as present it, taking into account the requirements of the master's thesis and observing the basic principles of research ethics. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Shaw, I., Gould, N. Qualitative research in social work. London: Sage, 2001. | ||||||||
| 2 | Vinjamuri M., Warde, B., Kolb, P. The reflective diary: an experiential tool for enhancing social work students’ research learning.Social Work Education, 2017, VOL . 36, NO . 8, 933–945. | ||||||||
| 3 | Bochicchio, L., McTavish, Ch., Stefancic, A. From the Ivory Tower to the Treatment Trenches: Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice. Social Work. Apr 2021, Vol. 66 Issue 2, p173-175. | ||||||||
| 4 | Flynn, C. Doing Research in Social Work and Social Care : The Journey from Student to Practitioner Researcher. London: SAGE Publications, 2016. | ||||||||
| 5 | Martinez, L.S., Richards-Schuster, K., Teixeira, S., Augsberger, A. The Power of Prevention and Youth Voice: A Strategy for Social Work to Ensure Youths' Healthy Development. Social Work. Apr 2018, Vol. 63 Issue 2, p135-143. | ||||||||
| 6 | Pomeroy, E. Ch. Direct practice skills for evidence-based social work : a strengths-based text and workbook / Elizabeth C. Pomeroy and Renée Bradford Garcia. New York, NY : Springer Publishing Company, LLC, 2018. | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Lauve-Moon, K., Enman, Sh. Hentz, V. Mainstreaming Gender: An Examination of Feminist Methodology in Social Work Research.Social Work. Oct 2020, Vol. 65 Issue 4, p317-324. | ||||||||
