Ellen Richmond And Jane Addams: Research In Social Work

Ellen Richmond and Jane Addams: Research in Social Work

The importance of social work research lies in the way of intervening in the different problems that has arisen and continues to transform society, seeking solutions for the benefit of individuals, groups or communities, will start from the origin of social work as charity andassistance and then transform into a professional environment by analyzing important pioneer positions such as Mary Richmond and Jane Addams.

The purpose pursued by this work is knowledge and learning about the importance of research to motivate future professionals in the Social Work career to make clear, precise and complete diagnoses that helps have a planning and organization for effective intervention,Taking into account that society is constantly changing, so without research it is not possible to know the reality of the situation that many individuals live.

Appearance of social work research

The origin of social work is located in England thanks to the COS (Society of Organization of Charity) and the SHM (movement of social settlements), their development and consolidation as a discipline and profession was forged in the United States together with two women,Mary Ellen Richmond and Laura Jane Addams, their charity will become a scientific activity, where the construction of social work as a discipline and profession in two movements and two pioneers is based: the SHM with Laura Jane Addams and the cos with Mary Ellen Richmond.

We analyze that the most important background of social work were observed in the different ways of beneficence, help and social assistance to people with less resources (poor and beggars), then in response to the great economic impact that occurred and to the enormous social transformations,A new way of development to social aid arises;professional.

The concern to systematize the aid promoted these first investigations, and that is that “without social research it is not possible to carry out social work” (Steel, 1988, p. 35) As Richmond points out in his famous work.

With the different changes that appear in this new social environment, it was sought that the professional act in the development of the personality and mentality of individuals incorporating new technologies into the field of social intervention to find an explanation to the phenomena of poverty. (Richmond, 1917)

That is, the profession seeks to respond to social problems with permanent and essential investigation with scientific basis of the experimental method, which allows the knowledge and action of the causes of the problems, plan and propose solutions to intervene in the capacityof individuals and face their situations, later recovering the user personal and social well -being.

Richmond, m. (1917) argues that the situations that individuals can face are: deterioration of self – esteem, distrust of the environment, discouragement, tensions, fears to respond to the satisfaction of their vital needs (economic, emotional, social, cognitive, affective, of affective nature, etc.), through a diagnosis obtained by the investigation can be known and then.

Importance of social work research

Richmond states: “Research is an element of diagnosis and the laborious and scrupulous search for the truth that deserves to be called social research, and constitutes an important part of many studies on social conditions that do not strictly meet the requirements of an investigation of an investigation, but that can be considered, without fear of being wrong, social inquiries." 

From the perspective of (Farías, Veiga, & Elverdin, 2016) the research is fundamental within social work, because it allows us to search for answers to questions to know and diagnose a reality, an adequate methodology will offer us a knowledge to design, implementand evaluate public policies "know to intervene in the social issue". In addition to understanding, explain a phenomenon from a conceptual and methodological framework;prioritizes a practical purpose, with the intention of intervening, acting on a specific situation in order to solve it or find solutions.

As future professionals perform the research function. Without research we must not perform any action, or intervention in the solution of social or any kind problems, this process will allow the obtaining of basic data for the knowledge of causes and effects;so the social worker is required the scientific dedication that allows the correct analysis of one or several situations to act efficiently.

It is also important within this topic, the training of students aimed at this profession, from the first levels they must address knowledge and learning about the importance of subjects that focus on the teaching of research, achieving reflection on epistemological issuesand methodological social sciences that will constitute tools to design and implement intervention tasks.

In the same way, teachers have the challenge of planning and developing teaching methods that complement knowledge and learning in students, guiding them to make ask asking that they overcome the immediate, carrying out critical readings of research work develop critical thinking inStudents from basic levels will put it in an active place in knowledge construction.

Then, investigating and teaching research requires different skills: on the one hand the reflections and reviews on research practices (research design, field work, information analysis) and on the other hand, ways to transmit the theoretical bases,Methodological and practical for research work. (Puentes, 2014)

conclusion

The contributions of Mary Richmond and Jane Addams have been very important in social work as a profession, they showed the beginning of a methodological path in which they imply a rigorous theoretical framework oriented to solutions to different social problems, constant and updated research is relevantthat involves the changes that arise in the course of an intervention. Research must be systematized.

Teachers are fundamental pillars in the academic training of students, their planning and guidance will develop in students skills and knowledge, the professional future and the proper way as acting in social problems, it will be the reflection of a base formed from the first levels ofStudy of this profession, so it is expected that as much as a student and teachers to emphasize the way of teaching and way of learning about the importance of research.

Bibliography

1. Steel, c. (1988). Research in Social Work. Dialnet, 35.
2. Barahona, m. J. (2016). Social work: a discipline and profession in the light of history. Madrid: Grafo Industrias Graphics, 17.
3. Cray, s. (2017). Join TV. Obtained from the Univers Universidad Internacional de la Rioja: https: // tv.link.Net/Videos/24227/0/La-Importance-de-La-Investigacion-in-Work-Social
4. Farías, m. L., Veiga, s., & Elverdin, F. (2016). Teaching research in Social Work. Tensions and challenges. Academic memory.
5. Bridges, r. (2014). Teach to investigate: a new didactics of research in social and human sciences. Mexico: Iisue .
6. Richmond, m. (1917). Social diagnosis, pp. 76-77