The theme for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) 2016 Annual Conference is “Grand Challenges for Social Work: Setting a Research Agenda for the Future.” This year’s 20th conference anniversary provides us with an opportunity to celebrate social work’s research contributions with an eye to the role of social work’s future in an ever-changing society. The Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative, spearheaded by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW), will be introduced at the SSWR 2016 Annual Conference. The program will provide opportunities to explore emerging societal grand challenges and address how, working in conjunction with social work education, practice, and policy advocacy, social work research can uniquely contribute to the solution of some of the nation’s most pressing social problems. The invited plenaries and invited symposia as well as other selected sessions will highlight the Grand Challenges.
The Conference Planning Committee of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) invites submissions for presentations within all content areas of social work, social welfare services, and social policy. Submissions for presentations may include individual paper and poster presentations, organized paper symposia, round-table discussions, and workshops.
As illustrated in the cluster areas, submissions are encouraged across all areas of social work. These may span various forms of research. Preliminary cluster areas are: Adolescents and Youth Development, Aging Services and Gerontology, Child Welfare, Crime and Criminal Justice, Gender, Health and Disability, International Social Work and Global Issues, Mental Health, Military Service Members, Veterans and their Families, Organizations and Management, Poverty and Social Policy, Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration, Research Design and Measurement, Research on Social Work Education, School Social Work, Sexual Orientation, Social Work Practice, Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviors, Violence Against Women and Children, and Work, Family, and Family Policy.
The conference will focus on original research that has implications for practice or policy. Research abstracts are encouraged in all substantive areas, using scientifically sound qualitative and/or quantitative methodology. The research may take place in any country and at the micro, macro, or policy level. You are invited to submit abstracts for presentations of one of three types of original research: (1) Oral paper presentation; (2) Symposium (organized by the applicant) of three or more papers on the same topic to be presented in the same session; (3) Poster presentation. Only paper and poster abstracts reporting completed findings will be reviewed. We urge that studies with “findings pending” be submitted for future review after the study is complete.
Abstracts should not be based on research previously published elsewhere. If applying for a paper or poster presentation, please submit an abstract of 500 words or less. References are not required, and if included count towards the 500 word limit. If applying for a symposium, please submit an abstract (500 words or less) for each symposium paper, along with an overall abstract (500 words or less) for the symposium session that describes the symposium theme and its importance. Preference will be given to symposia that demonstrate cohesiveness across presentations. Symposia will be accepted or rejected in total, i.e., abstracts will not be accepted independently.
Abstracts should be submitted in a structured format and include the following: Background and Purpose: description of the problem, study objectives, research question(s) and/or hypothesis (es). Methods: study design, including a description of participants and sampling methods, data collection procedures, measures, and appropriate analytic/ statistical approach. Results: specific results in summary form. Conclusions and Implications: description of the main outcome(s) of the study and implications for practice, policy, or further research. Note: Image(s) and table(s) are not permitted in any abstract.
The conference committee also invites abstract submissions for workshops and roundtable sessions. Workshop and roundtable session abstracts should include a topic that: (1) adds to the current knowledge base in social work practice, policy, theory, and research methodology, and (2) offers clear meaningful implications for social work research, policy and practice. The topic for workshop session abstracts should also offer training opportunities for methodology (study design, sampling, data collection, measurement, and analysis). If applying for a workshop or roundtable session, please submit an abstract of 500 words or less that describes the content and how it will be addressed. For workshops, describe the pedagogical techniques and for roundtables describe the topics that will be addressed elaborating on viewpoints and perspectives which may be discussed.
SSWR seeks to optimize as many people participating in the conference as possible. SSWR, therefore, limits the number of roles that participants can play in the 2016 conference. There is a limit of two (2) presenting-author abstract submissions per person. This limit applies to these presentation formats: oral papers, both individual papers and papers within an organized symposium, posters, and workshops. It does not apply to co-authorship. Participants may, however, perform additional roles such as chairing an organized symposium, leading a special interest group, serving as moderator for a session of grouped oral papers, and a panelist in a round table session. You DO NOT need to be a SSWR member to submit an abstract. However, if your abstract is accepted for presentation the presenter/speaker MUST be a current 2016 member and register for the conference. This requirement is applicable to oral paper and poster presenters, symposium organizers, symposium paper presenters and symposium discussants, and workshop and roundtable speakers. Co-authors are not expected to comply with this policy. Co-authors attending the conference, however, are required to register for the conference.
Peer reviews will be used to select submissions based upon technical merit and importance of findings. Please note that all abstracts are to be submitted online using the SSWR online abstract management system, which will be accessible March 2015.
Please see the following links for examples of model Workshop and Roundtable abstracts. These examples are included to provide guidance to authors; however, there may be instances in which another format is preferable.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Thursday, April 30, 2015, 11:59pm PDT
We look forward to seeing you in Washington!
Note: You DO NOT need to be a SSWR member to submit an abstract. However, if your abstract is accepted for presentation the presenters, speakers, organizers, and discussants are required to register for the conference and must be current 2016 SSWR members. This requirement is applicable to oral and poster presenters, symposium organizers, symposium paper presenters and symposium discussants, and workshop and roundtable speakers. Please note that co-authors are not expected to comply with this policy. However, co-authors attending the conference are required to register for the conference.
Making Corrections
The functions that are available to you at any phase in the submittal process are shown as links on the Control Panel. These links let you easily return and make corrections at any step along the way. If, for example, you realize after entering a presenter that you made a mistake in the title, just click on the Title link and edit the title. To make sure the changes are saved, click the Submit button at the bottom of the corrected page. DO NOT use your Internet browser BACK button. You may lose the previously entered information. Use the links in the Control Panel.
Retrieve & Modify or Withdraw an Existing Submission
To retrieve and view or modify an existing submission:
Login above (top left corner of this page)
Enter the Application ID number and password in the login boxes, click View.
Use the Control Panel to view or modify the desired part of the submission. Then, click the Submit button to send your changes.
To withdraw an existing submission:
Select Withdraw from the Control Panel.
Under the Comments section, type in your reason for withdrawing your submission.
Click "Withdrawal". The link "Withdraw" will change to "Re-Submit" in the Control Panel and can be used to re-submit your session.
If you run into any problems, please email your questions or comments using the hyperlink to "Report a Technical Problem" that appears in the Control Panel. Technical support may also be obtained by calling (401) 334-0220 between 8:30 a.m and 6:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday.
