1/ Task assignment

Prepare and ideally publish a theoretical or empirical (small scale) study that:

a) will be an innovative overview of professional conceptions of social work (in a certain area of ​​practice), OR

b) will critically reflect the thinking principles of the selected professional conceptions of social work (in a particular area of ​​practice); OR

c) will empirically examine the presence or application of the conceptions of professional social work (in a particular field of practice); OR

d) a combination of the above.

2/ Expected steps

0 / Determination of a specific area of ​​social work (usually according to the dissertation)

1 / Clarification of the research goal (must be determined precisely - ideally in relation to the dissertation)

2 / The state of art

3 / Design of methodical solution (typically small qualitative study)

4/ Data collection

5 / Interpretation and answering a research question

6/ Submission of the article

C/ Expected output

The expected output is in the form of a professional essay that will answer the above questions. The work is evaluated in terms of the quality of argumentation, which can be theoretical or empirical. Publication of the results is also relevant.

D/ Scope of work and form of text

The text’s length is assumed to be 4-6 thousand words (depends on the selected professional journal). The text and its form correspond to an established professional journal expectation in the Scopus / WoS database.

E/ Form of examination

Two alternative ways of passing the exam are possible:

(1) publication of an essay in a professional (Scopus, WoS indexed) journal,

(2) by defending the text.

F/ The Course Organisation:

1. Individual consultations according to the needs of the student (At least 3 consultations are expected, 5 are manageable). 

2. Joint meeting: presentations of course participants (The group can organise an appointment during the exam period.

G/ Preliminary timetable

0 / Determination of a specific area of ​​social work (usually according to the dissertation)                                        15.3.  /  15.10. 

1 / Clarification of the research goal (must be determined precisely - ideally in relation to the dissertation)         30.3.  /  31.10.

2 / The state of art                                                                                                                                                                    15.4.  /  15.11.

3 / Design of methodical solution (typically small qualitative study)                                                                               30.4.  /  30.11.

4/ Data collection                                                                                                                                                                      31.5.  /  31.12.

5 / Interpretation and answering a research question                                                                                                      15.6.  /  15.1.  

6/ Submission of the article                                                                                                                                                    30.6.  /  31.1. 

Final submission of essay /after peer review/: fall semester 16.2. / spring semester 16.7/ 

What to read:

Bourke, T., Ryan, M. E., & Lidstone, J. (2013). Reflexive professionalism: reclaiming the voice of authority in shaping the discourses of education policy. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 41(4), 398–413.

Healy, K. (2014). Social Work Theories in Context: Creating Frameworks for Practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.

Links, M. J., Wilkinson, T., & Campbell, C. (2019). Discourses of professionalism: Metaphors, theory and practice. Medical Teacher, 41(1), 91–98.

Navrátilová, J. a P. Navrátil. The concept of professional identity in selected approaches to the education of social workers. In Sajid, S.M., Baikady, R., Sheng-Li, C., Sakaguchi, H. The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Work Education. 1st. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. s. 133-150. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-39966-5_9.

Navrátil, P. (2019). Epistemic discourses of ‘explanation’ and ‘understanding’ in assessment models. In The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Theory (pp. 41–54). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315211053-5

Optional literature:

MARTYN, Helen. Developing reflective practice : making sense of social work in a world of change. Bristol, UK : Policy Press, 2000. 224 s. ISBN 1861342381

CAROLYN, Taylor and  WHITE, Susan (2000) Practising reflexivity in health and welfare: Making knowledge. Open University Press, Buckingham.

JOHNS, Christopher. Becoming a reflective practitioner. 3rd ed. Chichester, West Sussex : Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. 344 s. ISBN 9781405185677.

KNOTT, Christine; SCRAGG, Terry. Reflective practice in social work. Exeter : Learning Matters, 2007. 159 s. ISBN 9781844450824.

REDMOND, Bairbre. Reflection in action : developing reflective practice in health and social services. Aldershot, Hants, England : Ashgate, 2004. 163 s. ISBN 075463356X

SCHÖN, Donald A. The reflective practitioner : how professionals think in action. Repr. Aldershot : Ashgate, 2003. 374 s. ISBN 1857423194.

TAYLOR, Beverley J. Reflective practice : a guide for nurses and midwives. 2nd ed. Maidenhead, England : Open University Press, 2006. 226 s. ISBN 0335217435.

THOMPSON, Sue; THOMPSON, Neil. The critically reflective practitioner. Basingstoke [England] : Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. 183 s. ISBN 9780230573185.