Go to Courses and units

Social Work Thesis A unit (HGW609)

eStudent Enquire

Unit year 2026

View 2025 unit information

View previous years unit information

Quick Help

2027 Unit information is now available. View 2027 unit information

Introduction

Social Work Thesis A extends your understanding of the purpose and practices of research that you gain in HGW608 Social Work Research Practice. You will do this by conceptualising and beginning to implement a research topic that focuses on improving the wellbeing and life chances of social work clients, service users and other stakeholders. You will learn advanced skills in research design and methods, and you will be required to defend the focus and methods of your research in discussion with others. Upon successful completion of this unit, you will advance the implementation of your research project in Semester 2.

Summary

Unit name Social Work Thesis A
Unit code HGW609
Credit points 12.5
College/School Health
Social Work Program
Discipline Social Work
Coordinator Doctor Campbell Tickner
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Postgraduate

Learning Outcomes

  • Propose research that can address the tensions and dilemmas associated with the organisational, legal and policy contexts of social work practice.
  • Formulate practice innovations that are based on research evidence to improve the wellbeing and life chances of social work clients, service users and other stakeholders.
  • Plan collaborative and cooperative social work projects and research and justify how they can improve people’s lives.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
not applicable

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

2 x 3-hour research workshops, 4 x online 2-hour seminars and weekly 1-hour individual supervision. 

AssessmentLiterature review (50%)|Presentation of topic and chosen methods (50%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

You will need the following text:

  • Alston, M., & Bowles, W. (2018). Research for social workers: An introduction to methods (4th ed.). Allen and Unwin.

You can purchase this book from online booksellers such as Booktopia. The UTAS library will also have copies (access may be limited in times of high demand). This text is also required for the co-requisite unit HGW608 Social Work Research Practice.

You will also be required to read the following:

  • Gordon, J. (2018). The voice of the social worker: A narrative literature review. British Journal of Social Work, 48, 1333-1350.
  • Grant, M. J., & Booth, A. (2009). A typology of reviews: An analysis of 14 review types and associated methodologies. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 26, 91-108.
  • Munn, Z., Peters, M. D. J., Stern, C., Tufanaru, C., McArthur, A., & Aromataris, E. (2018). Systematic or scoping review? Guidance for authors when choosing between a systematic or scoping approach. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18, 143.

The above papers will help support your decision making around the type of literature review to conduct as part of your Honours Thesis and will form the basis of some of the content in this unit.
Recommended

There is no set reading list for this unit as you will be provided with resources tailored to your research topic by your unit coordinator and your thesis supervisor as required. You will need to access and reference other research texts, journal articles, and other resources beyond this to successfully complete the assessment tasks in this unit. Further information about accessing these resources will be provided on MyLO and your thesis supervisor will make suggestions. As a starting point, the following texts may be helpful and are available through the UTAS library (many as e-books). Please note that the following texts are recommended only, and you are not required to purchase these for this unit.

  • Aveyard, H. (2014). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. Open University Press.
  • D’Cruz, H. & Jones, M. (2014). Social work research in practice: Ethical and political contexts (2nd ed.). Sage.
  • Flynn, C., & McDermott, F. (2016). Doing research in social work and social care: The journey from student to practitioner researcher. Sage.
  • Grinnell, R., & Unrau, Y. (2014). Social work research and evaluation (10th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Joubert, L. B., & Webber, M. (Eds.). (2020). The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Practice Research. Routledge.
  • Steinberg, D. (2015). The social work student’s research handbook (2nd ed.). Routledge.
  • Strega, S., & Brown, L. (Eds.). (2015). Research as resistance: Revisiting critical, Indigenous and anti-oppressive approaches (2nd ed.). Canadian Scholar’s Press Inc.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.