B8733 - Social Science Methodology for Social Work

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide advanced methodological tools for empirical research in the social sciences. Upon completion of the course, students will develop advanced methodological skills in the social sciences, particularly in the empirical investigation of concepts.

Course contents

The course unit aims to enhance the methodological knowledge and skills required for the design of local social services across different areas of social intervention. The course content will also be developed through guest lectures and meetings with managers and coordinators of local social services, officials from public institutions, including the Emilia-Romagna Regional Administration and local authorities, and representatives of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Council of Social Workers.

These meetings will provide students with opportunities to engage with practical experiences in the design and management of social services and to explore the institutional constraints, operational tools, organisational models and professional practices adopted in different local contexts. Opportunities for dialogue will also be offered with coordinators and representatives of partner organisations hosting students’ postgraduate internships, with the aim of strengthening the connection between university education, professional practice and social service settings.

The course will also include workshops and practical exercises in social project design, intended to prepare students for the relevant component of the State Examination required for registration in Section A of the Italian Register of Social Workers.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliographic references will be indicated during the scheduled meetings.

Teaching methods

The course will be delivered in a laboratory format to allow students to consolidate theoretical knowledge through practical exercises. Small-group work, with both individual and group feedback and correction of work, will also allow for the sharing of insights and suggestions useful for reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses identified.

Assessment methods

The final assessment consists of a paper to be emailed to the instructor at least 15 days prior to the scheduled exam date. Students may choose their topic from a list of options provided by the instructor, but the choice must be communicated to and discussed with the instructor. The paper must be between 10,000 and 15,000 characters in length (including spaces and the bibliography/webography). It must include a brief introduction (stating the work's objective, its intended structure, and its specific connection to the course content), a brief conclusion (highlighting two or three key points regarding the objective and suggesting areas for future study), and a list of bibliographic and webographic references (listed at the end and cited precisely within the text). Regarding the use of AI for the paper, the following activities are permitted: summarizing, rephrasing, brainstorming, linguistic clarification, and syntactic suggestions. However, using AI to generate original analyses, interpretations, or extensive sections of the work is not permitted. Proper and disclosed use of AI does not in itself warrant a higher grade; rather, it is evaluated based on the quality of the student's own contribution. In any case, students must declare whether they used AI to produce their paper, specifying which tools were used and for which tasks.

Teaching tools

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Mantovani