© British Association of Social Workers
A Case for Social Work Evaluation of Social Work Education
Imogen Taylor is currently employed as a Research Fellow, Department of Social Work, University of Bristol. Her task is to evaluate a new approach to social work education implemented in 1990. Ms Taylor is also a Doctoral candidate in the Department of Social Work; her research focus is the experience of mature women students in professional education. Prior to joining the staff at the University of Bristol. Ms Taylor was a Social Work Practice Professor at the University of Toronto, Canada, where she had worked as a social worker for ten years in addition to completing her MSW.
Correspondence to Imogen Taylor, Research Fellow, Department of Social Work, University of Bristol, 8 Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1TN
Summary
This paper discusses the importance of evaluation of social work education by social work researchers, particularly given the increasing demands from different interest groups for social work courses to demonstrate effectiveness.
It is noted that educational researchers are dominating the field of educational evaluation, yet it is crucial for the survival of social work that social work education be evaluated by social work researchers. Both the tools and the outcome of such evaluation will shape the future of social work education and social work itself.
Recognizing that cross fertilization of ideas between disciplines is essential, a model for social work evaluation is proposed which is derived from models developed by other disciplines and integrated with social work practice theory. The resulting research model draws a number of parallels between research and practice, bringing together two groups which are often distant and distinct. The model also brings researcher and user closer together. The model is analysed in light of its application to the evaluation of Enquiry and Action Learning, an innovative approach to social work education implemented by the Department of Social Work, University of Bristol.
Central government funding must be available to ensure systematic and rigorous evaluation of social work education rather than the piecemeal research possible so far.