Assessing Research Competency in Social Work Education: Compendium of Helpful Practices

CSWE Commission on Research Special Project

Funded by the 2024 Special Project Funding for CSWE Commissions and Councils, this Compendium includes resources on helpful assessment practices focusing on EPAS competency 4 “Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice” and Competency 9 focuses on “Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.” We specifically appreciate our contributors who responded to an open call and shared their assignments, assessment rubrics, and syllabi pertaining to teaching and assessing research competency in social work. 

In addition to posting the selected assignments, rubrics, and course syllabus, the Compendium provides information on the course level, a brief description of course assignments and focus as well as the selected assignments, EPAS competency to be addressed by the posted assignments, and assessment level of each posted assignment.

Our best hope is to provide useful resources, facilitate mutual learning, and resource sharing pertaining to assessing and teaching research competency among social work educators. 

Module 1 - Bartzen - Spring Arbor University

Module 2 - Bessel - Daemen University

Module 3 - Coatney - Evangel University

Module 4 - Cruz-Candelaria - Inter-American University of Puerto Rico

Module 5 - Deshong-Cook - Juniata College

Module 6 - Kwong - Touro University

Module 7 - Kim - George Fox University

Module 8 - McMillan - Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University

Module 9 - Nelson - Alabama State University

Module 10 - Rand - New Jersey City University

Module 11 - Ronnenberg - University of Iowa

Module 12 - Schulz - Ashland University

Module 13 - Sledge - University of Missouri-St. Louis

Teaching Research Series

This collaboration between CSWE’s Commission on Research and the Social Work Engagement in Research Learning (SWERL) initiative at Indiana University provides practical suggestions for engaging approaches to teaching research to social work students at the baccalaureate and master’s levels.

Presented by Jill Chonody, Boise State University


This module includes an overview of effective techniques and engaging activities to use when teaching research online. Links to the videos and other materials Dr. Chonody references in the module are available by downloading the PowerPoint presentation

Presented by Anupama Jacob, Azusa Pacific University


This module presents an approach to teaching research through engaging students with community agencies. After you download and open the PowerPoint presentation, click "play slideshow" to hear the recorded presentation uninterrupted.

Presented by Kristin Bolton, University of North Carolina at Wilmington


This module presents ideas for engaging students when teaching research face-to-face. After you download and open the PowerPoint presentation, click "play slideshow" to hear the presentation uninterrupted. 

Webinars

Assessing and Teaching Research Competency in Social Work Education

Presented by members of the Commission on Research, this webinar presented the findings of a project that aims to examine the assessment methods adopted by social work programs for teaching and assessing research competency in accredited undergraduate and graduate programs. The focus will be on identifying innovative and helpful practices related to pedagogical and assessment methods.