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Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals

Course Number: SK651

Subject: Social Work

Introduction 

This guide will help you with the Case Study & Mental Health Issue Literature Review assignment.

Questions? Email the Social Work Librarian, Meredith (mefischer@wlu.ca). 

 

Step 1: Clarify What You're Looking For

Review your case study and narrative description to clarify what you want to ask of the literature. To do that, it can help to draft a bulleted list. 

Case studies can be complex, and making a list of questions will help you tease apart some of the topics you want to investigate through the literature. Below are some examples that might help you get started, but note that some of them may not apply to you. 

  • I want to find out about the most effective interventions for [this population] and [this mental health problem]. 
  • I'm wondering what evidence there might be about [this particular therapy] for [this population] experiencing [this mental health problem].
  • What does the research say about working with [this population] in [this setting]?
  • How might [this issue] affect [this population]? 
  • How might [this social dimension of practice] inform an approach to [this form of therapy]?
  • What are some strategies for practicing [this type of intervention] through [this social lens]?

Remember: you don't need to find a source that covers all the complexities at once. Focus on different angles and then bring discussions across the literature together to consider the case at hand. 

 

Step 2: Identify Types of Literature 

The type of literature you look for will depend on what you're asking. 

For example, you should go to the peer-reviewed literature to read original research about interventions. This is an important source of evidence to inform your practice. 

Handbooks, guides, and theoretical texts can also inform your practice. Here are some examples for reference:

 

Step 3: Search for Literature

Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles

 

Finding Books

Page Owner: Meredith Fischer

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