Social work research: Debating the boundaries

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Abstract
In this article those characteristics of research which make the research distinctively ‘social work research’ are discussed. In distinguishing social work research from sociological, psychological or anthropological research the question is also raised concerning what might be social work's particular contribution to research in the human sciences. In so doing, I discuss those aspects of the social work endeavour which constitute its particular orientation, namely, a focus on the individual in relation to the social, a commitment to social change, and a concern with the poor and the oppressed. I argue that these three foci express particular values and must remain at the centre of social work research epistemology and methodology. In the second half of the article six factors which might act as guidelines to the framing of social work research practices are discussed.

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