Building Research Capacity in Social Work: Integrating Systematic Review and Meta-Analytic Methods in Doctoral Programs

Systematic review (SR) and meta-analytic (MA) methods are increasingly used by a variety of disciplines to inform practice and policy, and are also essential to the scientific enterprise of a discipline. Orderly knowledge building is essential for advancing the knowledge of a profession and “trustworthy accounts that accumulate past research are a necessary condition to orderly knowledge building” (Cooper, 2010, p. 1). Thus, the capacity to conduct SRs and MAs in social work is essential, not only for informing practice and policy decisions under the current paradigm of evidence-informed practice, but for building the knowledge base of the profession, identifying important gaps, and improving our credibility as a profession and discipline. Unfortunately, SR and MA methods are not usually taught in schools of social work, thus likely contributing to the lack of SR and MA studies being conducted by social workers (Lundhall & Yaffe, 2007; Maynard, Vaughn, Sarteschi, & Burgland, 2012). As doctoral programs are tasked with the training of future stewards of the discipline, the training of doctoral students in SR and MA methods seems an essential component of preparing doctoral graduates to become stewards of the discipline. Further, SR and MA training has the potential to provide additional benefits for social work doctoral students, the profession, and the research enterprise. The purpose of this round table is to explore the value of teaching SR and MA methods in doctoral programs, models of integrating SR and MA methods in doctoral curricula, and the implications of conducting SR/MAs as doctoral dissertations. The speakers for this roundtable bring extensive experience in conducting SR/MAs, teaching SR/MA methods, advising doctoral students conducting SR/MA dissertations and directing doctoral programs. The speakers will focus on the following topics and will encourage discussion and the sharing of ideas and resources among participants. 1) The purpose of doctoral education in social work and how systematic review methods fit with the goals of social work doctoral education, the benefits of exposing doctoral students to SR/MA methodology, and how SR/MAs can be part of a research agenda for Ph.D. students and graduates. 2) Different models, challenges and benefits of integrating SR/MA methods in doctoral curricula. Sharing of experiences, ideas and resources for integrating SR/MA methods in the doctoral curriculum will be encouraged among participants. 3) The benefits and challenges of conducting SR/MAs for dissertation research, practical issues and strategies for doctoral program directors, dissertation chairs and committees in providing support and supervision of SR/MA dissertations, and standards for ensuring the rigor and quality of SR/MA dissertations.