Knowledge Forms and Empirical Research Concepts in Social Work

The contribution deals with knowledge forms and the possibilities of empirical research in Social Work. Different authors discuss the question which knowledge forms researchers use (c.f. v. Spiegel 2004, Häder 2010,... [ view full abstract ]

The contribution deals with knowledge forms and the possibilities of empirical research in Social Work. Different authors discuss the question which knowledge forms researchers use (c.f. v. Spiegel 2004, Häder 2010, Heimgartner 2011). Examples are existence, description, evaluation, explanation, effect or planning. Little attention is dedicated to the connection of knowledge forms and research concepts. Although single research concepts are often discussed (e.g., evaluation, ethnography, case studies, effect analysis), a collection of research concepts for Social Work is not given. The contribution tries to counteract against that scientific situation and tries to present a collection of research concepts. Besides, it is considered, which knowledge forms by which research concepts are accented. This analysis is embedded in a typical course of studies, for which, moreover, different dimensions of quality can be defined.

Different empirical research examples are given to illustrate the relationship between knowledge forms and research concepts. The research examples refer especially to an ethnografic study in the area of after-school clubs (Gpurning, Heimgartner, Leitner & Sting 2011), a social planning study in the area of the children and youth help (Heimgartner & Scheipl 2013) and an evaluation study in the area of school social work with ten different empirical modules (Bugram, Gspurning, Heimgartner, Hofschwaiger, Pieber & Stigler 2014).