HSS2850 Research Methods in Human Service Studies
Effective human services practice—whether in direct practice, community work, or policy—relies on evidence-based approaches and programs, and the ability to evaluate their impact. This research methods course, grounded in an anti-racist framework, will equip you to critically analyze and construct empirically based knowledge while considering the role of power and oppression in shaping research. You will explore both quantitative and qualitative methods, learning how to design studies that identify needs, assess strengths, monitor interventions, and evaluate outcomes in generalist HSS practice. Throughout the course, you will engage deeply with research as both a tool for social change and a reflection of systemic inequities. By critically examining the empirical literature, you will develop the skills to inform and improve human service practice, policy, and service delivery with a focus on equity and justice.
Prerequisite
HSS 1110
Course Types
Society
Course Outcomes
- 1. Understand and apply existing research to human service studies using an anti-racism lens and critical thinking skills to recognize the role of power in the research process.
- 2. Understand and critique the primary concepts and skills utilized in qualitative and quantitative social science research methods.
- 3. Design research projects that can assess need, identify strengths, monitor interventions, and/or assess outcomes in generalist practice with diverse populations.
- 4. Understand the potential harm and oppression that can be produced by human subjects research and identify strategies that reduce the risks borne by participating individuals and communities.
- 5. Understand the relationships between research and practice, distinguishing between the use of research in evidence-based practice and the use of research to evaluate human service practice.
- 6. Develop a practice of self-reflexivity regarding your own positionality (e.g., in terms of your gender and racial, class, and cultural identities) and how it shapes not only your research interests and methodologies, but also how you interpret and evaluate research.
- 7. Apply APA Style Guidelines to writing, including appropriate citation to avoid plagiarism.