Research and Research Training in Social Work: Climate, Connections, and Competencies

This article focuses on factors proposed as necessary to move social work toward the development of more and better research. These factors include, first, research-supportive climates in schools of social work: Schools of social work need to ensure that the conduct of research is valued, time for its conduct is protected, and individual and organizational resources undergird it. Second, social work researchers require stronger connections to researchers in other disciplines, to practice settings, and to potential funders of research. Third, new levels of competence are required if social work researchers are to address increasingly complex social and interpersonal problems. Social work investigators must be well trained to use existing methods and to develop new methodologies. Implications are discussed for social work education.