As part of its Programme for Comparative Welfare Research, Bodø University College, Department of Social Sciences, offers a PhD-cource¹ in Welfare Studies.

Challenges in doing Comparative Micro Studies:
Empowerment and practice approaches in the research process within welfare research

1^st - 3^rdNovember 2004                                                                                                             

Place: Rica Dipolomat Hotel, Bodø (755 47 000)

Time schedule: 9 - 18 each day. 20 hours of lectures and 4 hours of paper presentations.

Social scientists in general, and especially researchers within the welfare professions such as teaching, health and social work, are increasingly aware of their relation to their informants. The authorities and academic institutions within different countries seem to take a stricter role than before in implementing ethical guidelines for researchers. The relational nature of the research process when researching on practice, is intertwined with ethical dilemmas of studying vulnerable and marginalized groups in society. Doing micro studies in a "face to face" setting create some very specific dilemmas throughout the research process.

One dilemma is related to the concept of empowerment, which has become an increasingly popular and value saturated word. To exemplify a contrary position, a researcher that makes the informants more powerless, would be regarded as unethical. In this course we will deepen the insight in the different dilemmas encountered both in the data sampling, analysis and results producing phase, when research is conducted within a practice approach framework. Action research is one such approach which will be dealt with.

After an introduction on the global trends that are affecting the practice area; Social work between Communitarism and New Liberalism, the course will try to grasp the dilemmas and challenges in doing comparative micro studies on practice by discussing these dilemmas in a contextual and situational framework. The various contributors will therefore illuminate methodological and theoretical questions by drawing on empirical material from social work in different countries.

The course is intended for PhD students within the social sciences, but others may also apply. To obtain 5 credits PhD students must attend the course and hand in a 10 - 15 pages paper for evaluation. The papers will be commented on and given final accreditation by two among the lectures and course leaders. Depending on the focus of the paper, the course in Comparative Micro Studies can qualify as either a methodology course or a subject spesific course for the PhD degree. Students are advised to confer with their supervisor if in doubt.

Lectures:

• "Relational nature of research processes and empowerment" and "Participatory research  between challenges and strengths”  by Professor Pamela Brown, Humboldt State Univesity, California, USA
  
  
• "Participatory Action Research in Welfare Professions" and "Discourses and practice approaches" by Dr. Karen Healy, Sydney University, Australia
  
  
• "The creation of the Norwegian child in care organisation, studied within an empowerment and critical theory perspective" by Dr. Reidun Follesø, Bodoe University College
  
  
• "Challenges in comparative social work research - experiences from the Legpro-project" by Professor Elaine Carey Belanger, Laval University, Canada
  
  
• "Social work between Communitarism and New Liberalism" by Dr. Rolv Lyngstad, Bodoe University College
  
  
• "Challenges in theorising about practice" by Professor Elena Iarskaia-Smirnova, Saratov State University, Russia
  
  
• "Grappling with ethical dilemmas in small scale research studies -I" by Professor Steven Sharlow, Salford University, Englang
  

Course leaders

- Professor Dr. Johans Sandvin, e-mail: johans.sandvin@hibo.no

- Associate Professor Dr. Siv Oltedal, e-mail:siv.oltedal@hibo.no

Application deadline for this course: 15^th of September 2004

Send application on e-mail: berit.a.bakken@hibo.no

When sending the application please inform if you are PhD student or not and if you are planning to hand in a paper.