The epistemological trends of Social Work in the latin american context

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to share some of the results of the research State of the Art of the Theoretical and Methodological Foundations of the Professional Intervention of Social Work in Latin America. It analyzes the epistemological dimension of professional intervention in Social Work by reviewing scholarly production in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia from 1998-2008. The discussion seeks to advance in the configuration of the disciplinary status of Social Work, by consolidating intervention as the foundational and structuralizing axis of the profession, emphasizing its scientific and transformative character in the realm of the social sciences.RESUMEN: El presente artículo tiene como finalidad compartir algunos de los resultados de la investigación Estado del arte sobre la fundamentación teórica y metodológica de la intervención profesional en Trabajo Social en América Latina. Se aborda la problematización de la dimensión epistemológica en la intervención profesional en Trabajo Social a partir de la revisión de esta producción en cuatro países: Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Colombia, en el periodo comprendido ente 1998-2008. La discusión que se propone, pretende avanzar en la configuración del estatuto disciplinar en Trabajo Social, a partir de la consolidación de la intervención como eje fundante y estructurante de la profesión, reivindicando su carácter científico y transformador en el concierto de las ciencias sociales

Problems of realism and theorization in social research and Social Work

This article analyzes the problems of social research in Social Work. It discusses the naive position that leads to the supposition that professional intervention is immediate 'in the reality of problems'; and that which understands that theory possesses a true knowledge 'about reality', as if this would precede all knowledge. It defines research as social practice that has as its raison d'état the production of knowledge, while it inscribes itself in and feeds the political-cultural processes of production of social problems. For this reason, for Social Work, research is not equivalent to social diagnosis, but should be a continuous process that accompanies the development of any social project and professional practice. This requires a willingness to learn the profession (theoretical command, methodological-technical management and a questioning attitude), and to protect against the risks of the naturalization of the problems in which it is required to intervene, which can be caused by either a naive realism or theorization

Assessment and re-design of learning activities from young social work students’ perceptions and experiences: an empirical study on the subject “social work with groups” of the University of Alicante (Spain)

Background. This article aims to incorporate students’ visions in the design of learning activities based on an analysis of their perceptions and evaluations of their experience working in small groups carried out in the subject ”Social Work with Groups” of a Social Work Program (University of Alicante, Spain). Method. We followed a quantitative approach, using a survey to collect data. Participants were social work students (n = 69). Univariate and bivariate data analysis was carried out, and we used parametric and non-parametric tests, depending on the group sample size. Results. Students believe that the activity contributes to achievement of learning objectives and skill and content acquisition and consolidation. Global satisfaction with the evaluation system and the activity was adequate. We found some differences by group in terms of associations between perception and satisfaction and some sociodemographic and academic variables. Conclusion. The experience was evaluated positively by the students. The activity design puts students at the center of the teaching and learning process