Research Training in Social Work

From undergraduate to graduate course work, a continuum of training in research is supposed to undergird social work education. But does it? In this article, the authors review past practices and current trends in research education plus examples of research requirements from other disciplines. They define research scholarship, and explore conflicts regarding the import of research in social work and findings from recent studies of social work curricula. They discuss strategies for revitalizing research education and strengthening the continuum of research training in social work. These include eliminating redundancy in research curricula by diversifying master’s-level training and accelerating expectations for doctoral education.