A Profile of UK Doctoral Candidates in Social Work and Social Care

Datos Bibliográficos

ID10894530
AutoresJonathan Scourfield (0000-0001-6218-8158, Cardiff University, autor de correspondencia), Alyson Rees (0000-0003-2363-4965, Cardiff University), Steven Shardlow (0000-0002-0288-2305, School of Social Science and Public Policy, Keele University Chancellors Building, Staffordshire, UK), Meng Le Zhang (0000-0002-7609-7457, Sheffield Methods Institute, Floor 2, ICOSS, 219 Portobello, Sheffield, UK)
Año2018
Volumen48
Número8
Páginas2313-2331
Fecha de publicación2018-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X
EditorialOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/bjsw/bcy008
OpenAlexW2779271998
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas7
Referencias citadas18

One important indication of the strength of a discipline is the state of its doctoral research. An important milestone for the official recognition of social work in the UK has been its inclusion in Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) doctoral funding schemes. The current study assesses the longer-term impact of these schemes, via a 2013 survey, following up a previous one in 2008. A web-based survey of social work doctoral candidates in the UK (n = 216) was conducted, to profile student demographics, research topics, methods, challenges of and supports for doctoral work. Most doctoral candidates (70 per cent) were using a primarily qualitative research strategy and only 4 per cent were using a primarily quantitative approach. Social work doctoral candidates were slightly less satisfied with their research degree programme than the general population of doctoral students. Key areas of similarity with the 2008 survey included the demographical profile (gender, age, ethnicity) and the percentage who were qualified social workers; key differences included increased percentages of candidates who were registered full time, funded by the ESRC and doing a Ph.D., as opposed to a professional doctorate. The findings highlight a need for capacity building in quantitative research methods and improved support for this academic community.

Demographic profile · Demographics · Ethnic group · Geography · Medical education · Milestone · Political science · Population · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social research · Social science · Sociology · Work (physics) · Engineering · Interprofessional Education and Collaboration · Medicine · Mental Health and Patient Involvement · Social Work Education and Practice