Becoming Critical Consumers of Evidence: The Real Goal of the BSW Research Course

This piece shares the journey of one bachelor of social work (BSW) educator unpacking the traditional approach to teaching research. Why have we built classes asking BSW students to design research studies? What do BSW graduates really need in order to engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice? Especially in the current landscape of political polarization, AI, and social media, how can BSW graduates learn to sift through the “evidence” around them to become better social workers and more culturally- and socially-aware young adults? A new central learning outcome for the research course is proposed here: to become good critical consumers of evidence - evidence in scholarly literature, evidence in popular and social media, and evidence heard around the dinner table. This learning outcome shapes a course where an anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) lens points to the nuances of intersectionality, the bias of researchers and institutions, and the lived experiences of clients and communities we serve.