Practitioner research made easier: A report on the GRIP project

Authors

  • Liz Beddoe School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at the University of Auckland.
  • Deborah Yates A clinical social worker, former GRIP Programme Manager.
  • Christa Fouché School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at the University of Auckland.
  • Phil Harington School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at the University of Auckland.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol22iss2id197

Keywords:

GRIP, Growing Research in Practice, social service research,

Abstract

An article in this journal in 2007 outlined an innovative programme in progress in Auckland at that time. Growing Research in Practice (GRIP) involved groups of social service practitioners who carried out small and manageable research projects on topics that piqued their interest within the workplace. The main aim of the GRIP programme was to nurture a culture of practitioner enquiry in social service agencies in Auckland, in an attempt at facilitating meaningful change and service improvement in the longer term. This article reports on the findings from the second phase of the evaluation of the programme where seven participants were interviewed about their reflections on GRIP and the outcomes of the programme. The article offers recommendations for social service practitioners in this regard. 

References

Beddoe, L., Fouché, C., Harington, P., Light, G., Lunt, N., & Yates, D. (2007). Growing research in practice: The story so far. Social Work Review, 19(1), 39-50.

Berger, R. (2010). EBP: Practitioners in search of evidence. Journal of Social Work, 10(2), 175-191.

Brown, J., & Isaacs, D. (2005). The World Café: Shaping our futures through conversations that matter. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.

Epstein, I. (2002). Using available clinical information in practice-based research: Mining for silver while dreaming of gold. Social Work in Health Care, 33(3-4), 15-32.

Epstein, I. (2009). Promoting harmony where there is commonly conflict: Evidence-informed practice as an integrative strategy. Social Work in Health Care, 48(3), 216-231.

Fouché, C. & Light, G. (in press). An invitation to dialogue: The World Café in social work research. Qualitative Social Work.

Fouché, C., & Lunt, N. (2009). Using groups to advance social work practice-based research. Social Work with Groups, 32(1), 47–63.

Fouché, C., & Lunt, N. (2010). Nested mentoring relationships: Reflections on a practice project for mentoring research capacity amongst social work practitioners. Journal of Social Work. Published online August 2, 2010, doi: 10.1177/1468017310378780

Fouché, C., Lunt, N., & Yates, D. (2007). Growing research in practice: A collection of resources. Auckland: Massey University. Accessed 7 August 2010 at: http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/grip-publications

Green, L. C. (2006). Pariah profession, debased discipline? An analysis of social work’s low academic status and the possibilities for change. Social Work Education, 25(3), 245-264.

Groundwater-Smith, S. (2007). In praise of practice: What we can learn from practice based research constructed as ethical enquiry. Paper presented at the Growing Research in Practice Symposium. Auckland.

Haultain, L., Thompson, A., Loli, M., Herd, J., & Comber, S. (2009). Whanau meetings in the hospital: Uncovering the unique role of social workers. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 21(4), 4-14.

Humphries, B. (2008). Social work research for social justice. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Joubert, L. (2006). Academic-practice partnerships in practice research: A cultural shift for health social workers. Social Work in Health Care, 43(2/3), 151-162.

Kember, D., Ha, T.-S., Lam, B.-H., Lee, A., NG, S., Yan, L. et al. (1997). The diverse role of the critical friend in supporting educational action research projects. Educational Action Research, 5(3), 463-481.

Kincheloe, J. L., & McLaren, P. L. (1994). Rethinking critical theory research. In N. K. Denzin & Y.S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp.138-157). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Lunt, N., & Fouché, C. (2009). Action research for developing social workers’ research capacity. Educational Action Research, 17(2), 225-237.

Lunt, N, Fouché, C & Yates, D. (2008). Growing research in practice: An innovative partnership model. Wellington: NZ Families Commission. Accessed 7 August 2010 at http://www.nzfamilies.org.nz/sites/default/files/downloads/IP-GRIP.pdf

McCoyd, J. L. M., Johnson, Y. M., Munch, S., & LaSala, M. (2009). Quantocentric culture: Ramifications for social work education. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 28(8), 811-827.

McCrystal, P., & Wilson, G. (2009). Research training and professional social work education: Developing research-minded practice. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 28(8), 856-872.

MacDonald, G. (2008). Social work in the UK: A testing ground for trialists. Journal of Children’s Services, 3(1), 27-39.

Mitchell, F., Shaw, I. F., & Lunt, N. (2008). Practitioner research in social services: A literature review, Report prepared for The Institute for Research and Innovation in the Social Services. York: University of York.

Mullen, E. J., Bellamy, J. L., Bledsoe, S. E., & Francois, J. J. (2007). Teaching evidence-based practice. Research on Social Work Practice, 17(5), 574-582.

Murphy, A., & McDonald, J. (2004). Power, status and marginalisation: Rural social workers and evidence-based practice in multidisciplinary teams. Australian Social Work, 57(2), 127-136.

Newman, T., Moseley, A., Tierney, S., & Ellis, A. (2005). Evidence-based social work: A guide for the perplexed. Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.

Orme, J. (2000). Social work: ‘the appliance of social science’ – a cautionary tale. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 19(4), 323-334.

Orme, J., & Powell, J. (2008). Building research capacity in social work: Process and issues. British Journal of Social Work, 38(5), 988-1008.

Rosen, A., Proctor, E. E., Morrow-Howell, N., & Staudt, M. (1995). Rationales for practice decisions: Variations in knowledge use by decision task and social work service. Research on Social Work Practice, 5(4), 501-523.

Sheldon, B. (2001). The validity of evidence-based practice in social work – a reply to Stephen Webb. British Journal of Social Work, 31(5), 801-809.

Stahl, R., & Shdaimah, C. (2008). Collaboration between community advocates and academic researchers: Scientific advocacy or political research? British Journal of Social Work, 38(8), 1610-1629.

Trinder, L. (2000). Evidence-based practice in social work and probation, in L. Trinder & S. Reynolds (Eds.) Evidence- based practice: A critical appraisal (pp.138-162). Oxford: Blackwell.

Trinder, L. & Reynolds, S. (Eds.). (2000). Evidence-based practice: A critical appraisal. Oxford: Blackwell.

Wade, K., & Neuman, K. (2007). Practice-based research: Changing the professional culture and language of social work. Social Work in Health Care, 44(4), 49-62.

Webb, S. A. (2001). Some considerations on the validity of evidence-based practice in social work. British Journal of Social Work, 31(1), 57-79.

Yates, D. (Ed.). (2007). Growing research in practice - a collection of papers. Auckland: Massey University. Available on 7 August 2010 at: http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/grip-publications

Yunong, H., & Fengzhi, M. (2009). A reflection on reasons, preconditions, and effects of implementing evidence-based practice in social work. Social Work, 54(2), 177.

Zhang, W., Wong, S. Y., Li, Y., Yeh, H.-S., & Zhao, Y. (2009). The Wellness Recovery Action Plan: Effectiveness with Chinese consumers. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 21(4), 94-102.

Downloads

Published

2010-01-01

How to Cite

Beddoe, L., Yates, D., Fouché C., & Harington, P. (2010). Practitioner research made easier: A report on the GRIP project. Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, 22(2), 22–36. https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol22iss2id197

Issue

Section

Articles