Understanding The Social World

Aims

(i) To provide an overview of how best to account for the way that people experience the social world and the social relations which make up the social realm;
(ii) To provide a foundational knowledge and understanding of the key concepts of social theory and their importance to social work;
(iii) To explore the ways in which social theory can be used to explain and seek to alleviate the issues and problems that social workers are asked to address.
(iv) To provide you with an understanding of critical reflection, both as a tool to negotiate the tensions between the objective and the subjective which is imperative for Social Work, and also as a potential research methodology for practice.
ASSESSED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the module you will be expected to be able to demonstrate:
I. an ability to analyse the core concepts and theoretical perspectives primarily within sociology, but also aspects of philosophy and psychology to see how their applicability to Social Work; (TCSW Curriculum Guide: Social Work intervention methods).
II. an ability to synthesise the conceptual and practical teaching concerning knowledge/identity/power to your everyday experience; (TCSW Curriculum Guide- Assessment and Risk- inter-personal assessment).
III. a beginning ability to evaluate your own experiences as both practice and research data. (TCSW ‘Research and research-mindedness’
To some extent research-mindedness is integral to the entire learning process in the sense that it should underpin most, if not all, academic activities in some way. However, it will help to make this explicit at certain points and to draw out and underline the value of rigour and critical thinking, for instance by linking these attributes to observational exercises.
TCSW- Curriculum Guide- Assessment and risk- “questioning, observing, interpreting and creating understandings together”).

Reading
You are expected to undertake reading in preparation for the sessions and to follow up your learning with further reading/ research. This academic skill will prepare you for undertaking a degree programme and support your professional development .A sound knowledge base is essential for effective professional practice.

The following is a general reading guide and is by no means definitive. There will be additional reading / resources suggested for each of the sessions.
Best, S (2003). A beginner’s guide to Social theory.
Sage publications Ltd.

Cree, V.E (2013). Social Work and Society.
within The Blackwell Companion to Social Work (2013), Davies, M (ed). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Coleman, N. and Harris, J. (2008) ‘Calling Social Work’, British Journal of Social Work
38(3): 580–99.

Ferguson, H. (2001) ‘Social Work, Individualization and Life Politics’, British Journal of Social Work 31: 41–55.

Garrett, P.M (2009). Marx and ‘Modernization’ Reading Capital as Social Critique and Inspiration for Social Work Resistance to Neoliberalization. Journal of Social Work.

Gorman, J. (1993). Postmodernism and the Conduct of Inquiry in Social Work. Affilia, October 1993 8: 247-264

Jones, P. (2003). Introducing Social Theory. Polity Press.
Morgan, David (1998) ‘Sociological Imaginations and imagining sociologies: bodies, auto/biographies and other mysteries’ Sociology 32(4): 647-63

Rothman, Barbara, K. (2007) ‘Writing Ourselves in Sociology’ Methodological Innovations
Online 2(1): unpaginated

Tew, J (2006). Understanding power and powerlessness: towards a framework for emancipatory practice within social work. Journal of Social Work. 6:1
Assessment

The assessment is an essay and you may select from ONE of two titles– see details below.
To achieve a pass, you must achieve a minimum of 40%.
(B) A critical reflection which explores an aspect of your identity, for example Whiteness, heterosexuality, or managing a disability. You must indicate how your reflection has furthered your understanding in relation to power and how society is organized and how these insights will enhance your practice.

(2,500 words).
You may present this assignment as an essay.
You also have the option to present your critical reflection as an Auto/Biographical piece of work which can be multi-modal (image-based, poetry, animation, etc).
A textual supporting commentary is required for this (1,500 words maximum).
Your assignment must include a reference list (in addition to the stated word limit) and relate explicitly to the overarching module theme of Understanding the Social World.
Marking Criteria

• Clarity
• Critical thinking
• Work demonstrates ability to explore personal experience and observation, and
• recognise the themes, tensions and productive moments pertinent to Social Work.
• Synthesis of observation, personal experience, professional knowledge and module related knowledge.
Generic Marking Criteria:
• Work is complete, within word limits and meets Stage 1 academic standards. [Any incomplete work will not be marked].
• Work maintains confidentiality while being clear about the limits of this. Any breach of service user or carer name or address will result in an automatic mark of zero.

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