Thursday Methods Workshops and Capacity Building Sessions

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 12/1/2023

Research Methods Workshops (click on title for more info)

The registration fee is $150 (by 12/1/2023), $180 (by 1/9/2024), and $225 (by 1/14/2024). Register early, as space is limited!

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-12pm, EST

Special Sessions on Research Priorities and Capacity Building (click on title for more info)

The registration fee is $50 (by 12/1/2023), $60 (by 1/9/2024), and $75 (by 1/14/2024)

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-10am, EST

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 10:15am-12:15pm, EST

Research Methods Workshops

The Thursday plenary session and invited symposia are developed by the Vice President/Conference Chair.  The Thursday morning workshop sessions are developed by the Vice President-elect.  The SSWR Board of Directors and the Conference Committee provide input into developing all invited sessions. The registration fee is $150 (by 12/1/2023), $180 (by 1/9/2024), and $225 (by 1/14/2024). Register early, as space is limited!

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-12pm, EST

RMW-1: Assessing the impact of collective action and mobilization initiatives

Speakers/Presenters:

  • Cheryl Hyde, PhD Temple University
  • Kristen Brock-Petroshius, PhD, SUNY Stonybrook

Within social work, most research on community organizing and collective action has focused on the examination of processes. It has been very difficult to assess the impact of organizing efforts on both participants and outcomes, especially with more grassroots models (Gutierrez et al., 2018).

In this workshop, we will review a variety of research methods that are particularly useful for assessing the impact of collective action efforts––case studies, oral histories and archival methods, media content analysis, interviews and focus groups, participatory action research, surveys, and field experiments. Particular focus will be given to the use of field experiments, which are novel in social work and can be an excellent approach for assessing the impact of community interventions, especially where changing opinions, attitudes, norms, or behaviors at a broader community-level is the aim of the initiative. Emphasis also will be on how to involve mobilization participants in these research efforts.

This workshop is appropriate for anyone with basic knowledge of social work community practice and research methods. While the workshop will focus on community organizing, it is appropriate for anyone interested in exploring research methods to examine the impact of other types of collective mobilization interventions. Participants will be encouraged to share their research projects and discuss the applicability of various impact assessment strategies for their work.

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-12pm, EST

RMW-2: Participatory Action Research Facilitation Methods: The Neighborhood Story Project

Speaker/Presenter:

  • Amie Thurber, PhD, Portland State University

In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to the Neighborhood Story Project and gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to implement this program in their own communities.

  • What is the Neighborhood Story Project? This is a 12-week model of engaging residents as researchers in their own communities. Every project is centered around a particular place—such as a school, a neighborhood, or a county—with a contested past and/or present. Though each project follows the same basic curriculum, local Neighborhood Story Project teams select their own research question(s), collect data relevant to their project, and plan unique ways to disseminate their work and engage their broader community. Research has found that participants experience gains in place attachments, social relationships, and self and collective efficacy (Thurber, 2019, 2023). The Neighborhood Story Project is now a core program of Humanities Tennessee, and has been replicated in 13 communities.
  • What will workshop attendees gain? This interactive workshop will introduce the theoretical foundations of this approach to Participatory Action Research (PAR); explore the roles of the facilitator in this project; and demonstrate activities that assist residents in generating their research questions, engaging in systematic inquiry, and taking action with what they have learned. Participants will receive copies of a detailed facilitation guide and leave with a preliminary plan to launch a Neighborhood Story Project in their community.

Participants are encouraged to attend with a particular place in mind where you are interested in leading a Neighborhood Story Project in the future.

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-12pm, EST

RMW-3: Using Spatial Analysis Research Methods for Democratizing Knowledge

Speaker/Presenter:

  • Rick Smith, PhD, Wayne State University

Goals

Participants will share how to work with the community to tell a story about places and apply readily available mapping and spatial analysis tools in their own research in ways that democratize and decolonize knowledge, including engaging participants and partners in data analysis. This four-hour workshop will have four sections:

Navigating Spatial Data Sources: Discover sources of spatial data available, from census data to open data portals. We will evaluate data quality and applicability and have conversations on the types of community partnerships and lived expertise you would need in your own work.

Collecting Spatial Data with the Community: We will invite participants to spend an hour in the field to gather spatial data through a combination of a mobile device (e.g., geotag photos, look up coordinates) and traditional paper surveys.

Exploring ArcGIS Online for Data Insights: Once we data, practice mapping analysis tools in ArcGIS online. Through hands-on exercises, attendees will visualize the data, find optimal locations, and look for “hot spots” (e.g., spatial autocorrelation).

Integrating Spatial Insights into Narratives:  In the final segment, we will focus on story telling using qualitative tools such as ESRI story maps to interrogate and convey findings effectively. Participants will think critically about co-creating narratives with the community.

Appropriate Level of Attendee Knowledge

This workshop is designed for individuals at various levels of familiarity with mapping.

Other Details

Please bring a laptop with working internet browser. Please sent up an organizational account on ArcGIS.com Online with your .edu or .gov email.

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-12pm, EST

RMW-4: Supercharge Your Research Productivity with ChatGPT: A Hands-on Workshop

Speaker/Presenter:

  • Roupeng An, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis

The dawn of the AI era has revolutionized how we communicate, reason, and conduct research. The prowess of models like ChatGPT has presented opportunities for unprecedented human-machine collaboration. However, this potential also brings forth the dilemma of adaptation: how can we harness this newfound power in our research pursuits, ensuring we not only keep pace but thrive?

This session promises an enlightening journey for research enthusiasts, beckoning attendees to the forefront of this transformation. The workshop is designed for both AI novices and seasoned users, setting clear and actionable roadmaps for integrating ChatGPT into various stages of research. By leveraging numerous practical, real-world research examples, attendees will gain insights on:

  • The art of conversing with AI to identify and frame compelling research questions.
  • Leveraging ChatGPT for literature reviews.
  • Tailoring research designs and methodologies using AI-driven insights.
  • Refining tools, managing data, and navigating the complexities of ethical considerations.
  • Streamlining data interpretation and analysis, both quantitative and qualitative.
  • Mastering the craft of writing and refining research publications.
  • Amplifying their findings’ reach via modern media channels.

Join us, and empower your research journey by melding human ingenuity with the prowess of ChatGPT. This session promises not just knowledge but a paradigm shift in research methodology for the AI era. Knowledge of basic research methodology is beneficial but not mandatory.

Special Sessions on Research Priorities and Capacity Building

These training-oriented sessions target cutting-edge topics vital to contemporary social work research. Enroll early for these important opportunities to engage with national experts, funding institutions, and research colleagues. The registration fee is $50 (by 12/1/2023), $60 (by 1/9/2024), and $75 (by 1/14/2024). Register early, as space is limited!

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-10am, EST

SSRPCB-1: Funding Opportunities for Community-Engaged and Anti-Racist Research

Speakers/Presenters:

  • Matthew Mizel, Arnold Adventures
  • Arielle Mir, Arnold Adventures
  • Charles Lea, PhD, RWJ Foundation
  • Andrea Robles, AmeriCorps
  • Melissa Gouge, AmeriCorps
  • Kim Dumont, PhD, WTG Foundation

This session provides an opportunity for social work scholars to meet with private and public agencies that fund community-engaged and anti-racist research.  You will be able to sign up for a 15-minute appointment with one of the agencies listed below. During the appointment you can meet with the agency representative(s) to discuss prior and current funding opportunities that you are interested in and ask questions or clarifications about funding criteria and expectations.

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-10am, EST

SSRPCB-2: Mentoring up – Workshop for Doctoral Students         

Speaker/Presenter:

  • Stephanie Robert, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison

For doctoral students, faculty mentors affect both the quality of learning and quality of life during that learning. This 2-hour workshop will focus on some of the strategies doctoral students can use to get their mentoring needs met during their doctoral program and beyond. We will focus on topics of aligning expectations, improving research self-efficacy, and planning for multiple mentorship to meet your varied needs. This workshop is relevant for both early doctoral students and more advanced doctoral students who need to plan for mentorship during their next career transition, and who are working toward being strong mentors themselves. This workshop is limited to 30 participants.

The 2-hour workshop is facilitated by Professor Stephanie Robert, PhD, MSW, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Robert is Professor and Director of the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work and is also affiliated with numerous UW interdisciplinary research institutes and centers, and with mentored research training programs. Dr. Robert has over twenty years of experience training doctoral and postdoctoral scholars across various social sciences and interdisciplinary sciences. She has won national and campus awards for her mentoring, including the inaugural Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) Mentoring Award in 2017. The Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS) named their annual mentor award after her. She is a Master Trainer with the National Research Mentoring Network.

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 8am-10am, EST

SSRPCB-3: Advancing and Rewarding Community Engaged and Anti-Oppressive Scholarship in the Promotion and Tenure Process

Speaker/Presenter:

  • Sara Goodkind, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

 This workshop will focus on specific ways to support community-engaged and anti-oppressive scholars and to amend promotion and tenure processes and criteria to recognize and account for both community-engaged and anti-oppressive scholarship. It is aimed at people in leadership roles, those serving on promotion and tenure committees, as well as those who do community-engaged and/or anti-oppressive scholarship, including junior faculty and doctoral students. It draws on the facilitator’s experience chairing a university-wide committee that developed guidelines for all schools and departments to incorporate community-engaged scholarship into tenure and promotion policies, as well as their experience in helping to rewrite school-specific policies. Topics will include 1) principles of community-engaged scholarship; 2) challenges facing community-engaged and anti-oppressive scholars in the promotion and tenure process; 3) ways to support such scholars; 4) ways to thoroughly document the process and outcomes of these types of scholarship; and 5) multiple ways to assess and measure societal and scholarly impact. Examples will be provided. The workshop will be interactive and generative, so please come ready to discuss and collaborate!

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 10:15am-12:15pm, EST

SSRPCB-4: Research Priorities and Capacity Building for Diverse Faculty Scholars in Social Work 

Speaker/Presenter:

  • Karen Bullock, PhD, Boston College

Research priorities and capacity building that focus on the development of social work scholars at all stages of their careers are essential to the advancement of the social work profession. Moreover, designing and implementing mentoring programs that meet the specific needs of researchers from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds align with the Social Work Code of Ethics to center social justice and challenge systemic racism.

This interactive workshop, for scholars at all career stages, focuses on information dissemination related to different types of mentoring styles, structures and outcomes. In addition, mentoring opportunities, research career development, scholar networks, and leadership opportunities will be discussed. Case presentations of challenging situations, positive outcomes and reinforcements as well as examples for celebrating achievements, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supporting scholars’ success will be reviewed.

The workshop will include a panel discussion with research scholars at various faculty ranks and administrative responsibilities for mentor and research faculty development.

Learning Outcomes/ Objectives

Participants will be able to (1) describe various types of mentoring approach, structures and outcomes, (2) understand the importance of increasing awareness of diversity and equity in social work research and scholarship, and (3) identify action steps that are essential to supporting racial, ethnic and culturally diverse social work research scholars.

Thursday, January 11, 2024, 10:15am-12:15pm, EST

SSRPCB-5: Translating and Disseminating knowledge to policymakers

Speaker/Presenter:

  • Cameron Pennybacker, PhD, Diversity Assets

Description pending

 

Scroll to Top