A modern understanding of the category of social development primarily comes from the fact that state social policy should be aimed at creating conditions that ensure free development and a decent life for a person. Social activity is associated with helping people, as well as assisting them in case of difficulties. It is advisable to define the content of the category as a specific type of professional activity, providing assistance to the state and non-state type to a person, his family or several persons, which is aimed at improving their living standards. Our article will focus on the organization and methods of research in social work. Consider their classification and main objectives.
General Provisions
Under the professional work of a social employee, it is necessary to understand the implementation of a number of functions. It is primarily a research and analytical and scientific-cognitive. For their implementation, you need to own the methodology and research methods in social work. Currently, there are several stages of the research process that focuses on social reality:
- The study of social phenomena is triggered by the definition of the subject of knowledge, as well as its external limits.
- The second stage is the recognition of the initial problems, in other words, questions due to which the research team or individual identifies the most relevant aspects of the research subject.
- Finding factors of a causal type that have a significant impact on the appearance of a particular situation or problem.
- The formulation of effective research hypotheses.
- Implementation of key activities related to research; application of appropriate techniques (methods of statistical analysis, research methods in social work).
- Analysis of the information received.
- Development of recommendations aimed at resolving problems and improving the situation.
Definition and forms of social method
The research method in social work should be understood as the method of using theoretical conclusions in the process of solving practical problems. It is important to note that the term “social techniques” is used to denote the totality of methods, methods, techniques, as well as influences used to solve problems of a social nature. Currently, it is customary to distinguish two forms of research methods in social work:
- Programs that contain operations and procedures. In other words, these are means and methods of activity.
- Directly the activity that is built according to the program.
Variety of methods
The diversity of social life, the social world determined the diversity of research methods in social work. Textbooks, in turn, proposed various classifications. It is worth noting that the division of methods can be implemented in accordance with various grounds. It is based on the differentiation of the knowledge and objects used, since specific methods of influence for optimal development and functioning are applicable to each of them.
So, it is advisable to single out social methods of the global plan, social methods in relation to society as a whole, social structure, various areas of public life, social processes, institutions and phenomena. Specialists distinguish such research methods in social work as the search for managerial strategies, forecasting, diagnosis, and social modeling. In addition, it is possible to note innovative, educational and information-innovative methods of past experience. In accordance with the type of tasks to be solved, it is customary to classify the methods into private and universal. It is advisable to highlight the development methods of individual countries, territories, regions in social terms.
Methodology Content
According to textbooks with research methods in social work, it can be seen that they all differ significantly in content. It is advisable to identify the content of the most important techniques. This will help to more fully understand their specifics in social activities. In terms of scale, it is customary to single out global social methods. They are connected primarily with overcoming universal problems. This includes such methods and knowledge that fully contribute to the assimilation and further solution of both domestic and world development trends, as well as establish a connection between nature and society. It is worth noting that their introduction in the direct or indirect sense concerns the life of society, its life and, of course, social security.
Under the social methods of the innovation plan should be understood such methods of innovation work, which are aimed at implementing innovations in society, at the implementation of initiatives. In another way they are called qualitative research methods in social work. The fact is that it is they that cause qualitative changes in various areas of society, and also lead to the rational use of material and other social resources.
Unlike innovative, methods of influencing the processes occurring in society are provided for by routine actions. They are distinguished by a low degree of knowledge-intensiveness, they do not stimulate at all changes and changes in objects and the social system as a whole, and reflect yesterday's social impact. Regional social methods are aimed at studying and further implementing certain laws of the organization of society in the territorial plan, as well as its systematic changes. It should be noted that one of the types of universal techniques is considered to be a global modeling method. This is a study and further resolution of issues related to the conservation of nature, peace, providing the planet's population with material resources, energy, food, and so on.
Conversation as a research method in social work is an excellent example of an informational technique. Its content consists in techniques and methods for optimizing the information process, its functioning and reproduction. Intelligent methods are aimed at stimulating and developing the mental activity of individual units of society, developing the creative abilities of people, and realizing their potential.
Historical methods imply the comprehension of historical knowledge, historical experience. This is the condition for social, spiritual and political diagnosis. Demographic methods are mainly aimed at studying the process of population reproduction, as well as developing methods aimed at changing its distribution, size, composition, and so on.
Modern techniques
In addition to the methods presented above, there are research methods that began to be applied in practice a little later:
- Consent Techniques. We are talking about the ways, methods of reaching agreement between public units (people, their groups) in solving urgent problems and issues of social life, their mutual action.
- Conflict Resolution Techniques. This primarily concerns socio-ethnic disputes and proceedings.
- Political methods. They represent ways to overcome problems of a political nature. In accordance with these methods, policy is developed and implemented, and political activity is carried out.
- Administrative management techniques. They are directly related to management processes. These are methods of operational direct influence on the managed object. It is worth noting that this variety is closely related to the implementation of the tasks of social activity, despite the involvement of the managerial aspect.
- Psychological research methods in social work. We are talking about ways to influence psychological phenomena, qualities, processes and relationships. These methods influence the character, attitudes, the will of the personality, its reactions, interpersonal interactions and so on.
- Psychophysiological techniques. First of all, they are associated with a change in the parameters of the processes that occur inside a person, subject to the presence of disturbing factors. It is worth noting that such methods are widely used to provide medical and social services.
Empirical research methods in social work
It is advisable to classify these techniques into a separate category because of their scale, widespread use and importance in practical activities. Observation as a research method in social work is a way of collecting data that is used in almost all sciences. We are talking about both social and natural areas. The beginning of any science is observation. Interestingly, everything returns to him. So, observation as a research method in social work is also used to confirm certain judgments or conclusions.
This category includes the perception, statement and characteristic of a particular phenomenon occurring in society. It should be noted that any perception and further description cannot be considered an observation. It is advisable here to recall the methods of scientific research in social work. The fact is that scientific observation is significantly different from standard. The latter is considered unsystematic and random. It gives a not quite ordered overall impression. That is why it cannot serve as a basis for the formulation of scientific conclusions.
However, scientific observation is a completely different empirical method of research in social work. It is considered systematically implemented and systematized, aimed at the full knowledge of phenomena. It is scientific observation that serves as an effective tool to achieve research goals. Its results are recorded so that they can be implemented in connection with general judgments.
Empirical techniques also include surveys and all kinds of ways of documentary analysis. However, they are secondary. It is advisable to pay more attention to the observation category.
Observation procedure
As it turned out, observation should be understood as organized, scientifically focused and in a certain way fixed perception of the object of study. The technique is used at the stage of program formation. It is the starting point of knowledge and is used where statistics are weak, where it is impossible or forbidden to carry out experiments. Observation is appropriate when studying the behavior of individuals, forms of communication, and so on. The observation procedure includes the following questions:
- What exactly to observe?
- What technical means to use, that is, how to observe?
- How to record the results of observation?
Sociological methods
Further, it is advisable to consider sociological research methods in social work. This category includes a systematic set of rules that allow you to competently carry out social activities, make reasonable decisions. The instruments in this case are two types of research of the sociological plan: solid, that is, with respect to the main array (it is also called multigraphic research), and also elective. It should be noted that different techniques and methods can be used to implement such operations.
Among them, the decisive role is played by the following: observation, identification of weaknesses, analysis of documentation, various polls, content analysis. Thus, a certain picture is created that characterizes the current state of the problem sphere. At one or another stage of the life of society, key issues can be identified, the efforts of the social worker are directed at overcoming them. In addition, it is advisable to carry out other types of studies in order to form a complete picture of the situation.
Biographical technique as a specific category
Consider the biographical method of research in social work. It covers a significant number of methods for measuring and subsequent evaluation of vital historical evidence, information provided or told about life in the opinion of those who lived it. It is worth noting that in the center of research of the biographical type is the study of the course of human life, its "comprehensiveness" in society, and internal dynamics. Biographical techniques are aimed primarily at the reconstruction of scenarios and personality development programs, as well as the spatio-temporal organization of her family, business, spiritual life, social and natural environment. The application of this method involves obtaining information, the sources of which later become an autobiography.
Factors that contribute to the development of biographical methods:
- Changes in social science, in other words, the growing dissatisfaction of scientists and researchers with the surface features of mass polls.
- Certain historical changes in public life. It is advisable to include the process of individualization of life, subjectivization.
History and features of the method
In the textbook for bachelors I. V. Namestnikova "Research Methods in Social Work" a biographical technique is described in sufficient detail. Her story begins in the 18th century. Nevertheless, the culmination of development occurred in about 1960-1980. It is important to note the following features of the method:
- Multinational character.
- Different theoretical orientations.
- Variety of subjects.
- Expanded methodological and methodological reflection.
Among the main concepts of the topic - life path, biography, biography, autobiography. All these categories can be attributed to the methods and objects of the presented method.
Classification of methods by level
In social work, it is also customary to classify methods in accordance with the levels of:
- Simple methods that are available to non-specialists.
- Complex, which require qualifications in various fields.
- Sophisticated, which require specialist qualifications in one area.
In addition, there are methods used in social work:
- With groups of people who for one reason or another ended up outside the country (for example, Russian citizens in the CIS countries).
- With people living in the same country.
- Social methods that are used both in the Russian Federation and abroad. There are few of them. This is primarily due to different living conditions, cultural traditions, the level of economic development and other features.
Conclusion
So, we examined the classification and goals of the main research methods in social work. In conclusion, it should be noted that there is a very close relationship between the classification of methods in social activity and social methods. In some respects, they consist not only in interconnection, but also in interdependence. For example, the set of research methods for social work with children with disabilities is formed on the basis of the two categories.
One of the key functions of social activity is to determine the causes of various changes that occur in society. Its implementation allows you to have a targeted impact on the processes taking place in society both in the interests of the individual and in relation to society as a whole. For this reason, there is a need for social diagnosis. It should be noted that the results of this methodology should make it possible to judge the “social health” of the population.
It is diagnostics in the social plan that allows us to fully study the essence and nature, trends, nature of social processes and phenomena. , - , -, -, -, -, - .
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