Susanna Hoikkala, MSc (social work)

Elina Pekkarinen, MSc (social work)

Maria Tapola-Haapala, Msc (social work)

University of Helsinki

Department of Social Policy Studies 31.3.2006

Contact: susanna.hoikkala@helsinki.fi

Abstract for the 23^rd Nordic Sociological Conference

18-20 August 2006, Turku Finland

Workshop: Sociological theory

Critical Realism and Social Work Research

A positivist oriented evidence-based thinking has received increasingly focal position in social work research in international context. On the other hand, for example in Finland, social constructionism has had a strong influence: this line of thinking assumes that reality is produced in interaction and is interpretative in nature. It is ethically questionable, whether it is justified to consider severe and almost touchable problems met in social work research, only as constructions. Contradictory approaches to reality cause difficulties and conflicts in social work research.

In this presentation we ask, whether critical realism could offer new viewpoints for social work research? According to our view, critical realism challenges us to accurately justify those theoretical choices which have been made. The target phenomena in social work research are concerned with complicated and intangible matters and mechanisms. Critical realism does not deny this complexity, as empirical realism does, but aspires to offer tools for its conceptualization. Ontological realism is a ground for critical realism and it offers firmer basis for exploring social problems. In addition, it offers tools for reviewing the requirements of evidence and factuality which are pertinent parts of social work practices. Epistemological relativism, which also characterizes critical realism, enables analyzing the different constructions of phenomena and the power elements that relates to them. The emancipatory dimension of critical realism advocates its position in social work research as the welfare society is weathering and inequality is increasing.