Addressing Barriers to Research-Informed Practice: A Library and Social Work Collaboration to Empower Future Practitioners

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Addressing Barriers to Research-Informed Practice: A Library and Social Work Collaboration to Empower Future Practitioners
Language: English
Authors: Amanda Dinscore, Debbie Gonzalez
Source: Communications in Information Literacy. 2024 18(1):38-55.
Availability: Communications in Information Literacy. e-mail: editors@comminfolit.org; Web site: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/comminfolit/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Barriers, Research and Development, Theory Practice Relationship, Librarians, Faculty, Social Work, Caseworkers, Librarian Teacher Cooperation, Research Utilization, Information Literacy, Bachelors Degrees, College Seniors, Advantaged, Access to Information, Open Education, Power Structure, Empowerment
ISSN: 1933-5954
Abstract: Social work education prioritizes the use of research to inform practice. As university students, prospective social workers have a wealth of research available to them as well as librarians to help them find, evaluate, and use that information. However, access to much of this research ends once the student graduates - at a time when it is most needed to inform their professional practice. To address this challenge, a librarian and a social work faculty member worked with one class of students in their final semester of a bachelor's degree in social work program to promote awareness of information privilege and barriers to access, to expand their understanding of authority to include marginalized voices, and to utilize an open pedagogy assignment as a means of proactively addressing these challenges. This article describes what was learned from this effort, including the results of surveys conducted with students before and after instruction.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1430814
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Social work education prioritizes the use of research to inform practice. As university students, prospective social workers have a wealth of research available to them as well as librarians to help them find, evaluate, and use that information. However, access to much of this research ends once the student graduates - at a time when it is most needed to inform their professional practice. To address this challenge, a librarian and a social work faculty member worked with one class of students in their final semester of a bachelor's degree in social work program to promote awareness of information privilege and barriers to access, to expand their understanding of authority to include marginalized voices, and to utilize an open pedagogy assignment as a means of proactively addressing these challenges. This article describes what was learned from this effort, including the results of surveys conducted with students before and after instruction.
ISSN:1933-5954