How much research is undertaken at the front line of social work practice? What are the impediments to research as a feature of practice? How can research undertaken in practice settings inform good social work practice? How can we grow the use of evidence in practice settings?
These questions stimulated the GRIP project. The project began as an initiative by staff in the social work programme of the University of Auckland (Liz Beddoe and Phil Harington) and ex-Massey colleagues (Christa Fouche and Neil Lunt), Albany campus, to invite social workers from a variety of agency settings to attend a workshop where we outlined a strategy to support research undertaken by practitioners.
It concerned the researchers that there was a low profile of research activity in the local social work practice. Prior to the GRIP project being undertaken the four principal researchers had noted;
- the low research base that exists in New Zealand across a range of fields of practice (level);
- the lack of confidence practitioners had in undertaking and making use of research (confidence);
- the interest practitioners expressed in hearing more about small-scale practitioner research (commitment);
- a broader gap in theoretical understanding around how practitioners make use of research findings and incorporate ‘evidence’ into their work and decision-making (uptake);
As a result the GRIP programme sought to generate debate and skill development within the discipline that could improve the readiness of practitioners to undertake research and for social services to see research as a key part of the contribution they can make to the wellbeing of the client’s communities and staff. The programme developed a collection of resources and culminated in a symposium where practitioners presented their research.
Resources
Growing Research in Practice- A collection of resources (3MB)
Growing Research in Practice- the symposium papers (63kB)
Susan Groundwater Smith In praise of practice (108kB)
Presenting GRIP in Wales (198kB)
GRIP Suggested Reading on Practitioner Research (73kB)
