Research

Research in SWS is organised under two broad groupings: professional practice research and child and family well-being. Much of the work of these groups is carried out under two initiatives: the Southampton Practice Research Initiative Network Group (SPRING) and the Child Well-Being Research Centre (CWBrc). The Division is actively attracting postgraduate research students in line with these initiatives as well as developing interdisciplinary and collaborative research with other subject areas. Most of this research is applied and practice-based with a central focus on research user and participant views. International research links are being strengthened and further developed through these initiatives.

Professional Practice

The Southampton Practice Research Initiative Network Group (SPRING) aims to support and resource practice researchers, and to facilitate links between field and university-based practice researchers. Activities include the development of: a resource holding of relevant literature (accessible to all members of the network worldwide); capacity building workshops and an on-line working paper series to enable publications. An international forum is planned to devise an international statement on practice research (June 2008).

Child and Family Well-Being

The Child Well-Being Research Centre (CWBrc) aims to progress understanding of children’s well-being and evaluate the outcomes of services for children and their families. Based initially on an collaboration between the Schools of Social Science and Education, further links are being developed with Child Health. The Centre hosts national and international interdisciplinary conferences, conducts primary research and also provides resources through its Network of Friends from education, social care and child health. It has been invited to host the Ninth Annual Seminar of the International Association for Outcome-Based Evaluation and Research in Family and Children's Services (July 2009).

Research students

Current research students are funded from a diverse range of sources including ESRC (3 current 1+3 awards), ORS, EPSRC as part of the DTI Futures Programme as well as local authorities, voluntary agencies and health authorities. SWS hosts the MSc in Professional Studies (Research Methods) which has ESRC RT Recognition. The LASS Faculty Graduate School provides over 40 courses to assist students with research supervision and publishing. Students also have many opportunities to present their work at interdisciplinary forums (e.g. the Graduate School Conference; Divisional seminars). Research students are actively encouraged to present at major conferences and subsequently to submit papers to refereed journals.

Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Research

The Social Work and Social Policy Higher Education Academy Centre (SWAP ) within the School, provides prime opportunity for collaboration and funding for pedagogic research. The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM), other Centres (e.g.Centre for Research on Ageing) within the School, and the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for Inter-professional Learning within the University provide for the development of complementary research agendas.

Research User and Participants

SWS has had a history of developing formal links with research users and participants at local and regional levels. This policy of appointing senior managers to visiting positions encourages the involvement of research users both as researchers/participants, and also as beneficiaries of research. As a result research users (social work practitioners) may become skilled as researchers, using the results directly in their professional practice.

International Links

SWS sees the development of international links as integral to the maintenance of a vibrant research culture. A number of international academics (from Japan, Sweden, Israel, South Africa and the West Indies) have held formal visiting appointments in SWS since 2001. Staff have strong international links through international research projects, editing of international books, presentations at conferences and membership of international research associations.