Social Work Practice Research

Week 2: APA Style: The Language of Research
What exactly do we mean when we say “research”? The Walden Library databases provide access to thousands of primary research articles—that is, articles in which the authors conducted a scientific research study. You may also see these identified as empirical research. In general, the scientific research process follows a path from question to answer, with lots of smaller steps in between. Researchers develop a question based on a problem or knowledge gap, review existing research, plan a research study to answer the question, collect data, analyze and interpret the data, and then disseminate the new knowledge so that it may be integrated into evidence-based practice.
The dissemination step often involves writing a research article to share findings with other scholar-practitioners. Research articles have a specific style, language, tone, and structure. In the social sciences, these aspects are governed by the American Psychological Association, in a style guide they have created. APA Style has many areas of focus, the most important of which involves citing sources—giving credit to other authors’ ideas.
This week, you gain more familiarity with research articles by comparing them to other types of writing and examining important aspects such as peer review and APA Style. Then, starting your own research process, you search for articles on a social work topic of interest.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Define peer-reviewed research
Describe the role of APA Style in a peer-reviewed research article
Identify search terms
Explain how research articles relate to an identified research topic
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Peer-Reviewed Research
Kelly, J., Sadeghieh, T., & Adeli, K. (2014). Peer review in scientific publications: Benefits, critiques, & a survival guide. EJIFCC, 25(3), 227–243. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4975196/
Read “What Is Peer Review and What Is Its Purpose?” and “Impact of the Peer Review Process.”
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Verify peer review. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/verifypeerreview
Example Peer-Reviewed Research Article:
Holder, C. L., Perez-Gilbe, H. R., Fajardo, F. J., Garcia, S., & Cyrus, E. (2019). Disparities of HIV risk and PrEP use among transgender women of color in South Florida. Journal of the National Medical Association, 111(6), 625–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2019.08.001
Examples of Other Writing on a Similar Topic:
Editorial: Reyes, R. A. (2015). Transgender Latinos fight for equality. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/transgender-latinos-fight-equality-n420316.
Blog: UnidosUS. (2014, October 7). Report sheds light on struggles of Latino transgender community. https://blog.unidosus.org/2014/10/7/report-sheds-light-struggles-latino-transgender-community
Website: League of United Latin American Citizens. (n.d.). Latino transgender discrimination prevention. https://lulac.org/programs/latino_transgender_discrimination_prevention
Searching for and Reading Research Articles
Walden University Library. (n.d.). Subject research: Social work. https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/subject/socialwork
Wentworth, H. (2020, June 29). Reading a research article assigned as coursework. The Savvy Student. https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/06/29/reading-a-research-article-assigned-as-coursework/
Document: Search Worksheet (Word document)
Required Media
Walden University, LLC. (2021). APA tutorial [Interactive media]. https://class.waldenu.edu
After completing the tutorial, you may wish to consult the Writing Toolbox in the left navigation of your classroom and the APA manual for additional APA Style resources.
Optional Resources
Walden University Academic Skills Center. (n.d). Module 4: Reading research articles [Interactive media].
http://cdnfiles.laureate.net/2dett4d/Walden/CAEX/1234/M4/module4/index.html
Complete Section 2: Parts of a Research Article to better understand the typical layout of research articles and how to read them efficiently.
Discussion: Peer-Reviewed Research Articles
When you think of gaining knowledge on a topic in order to make an informed decision in social work, why might it be more appropriate to turn to a research article published in a reputable journal than something on the Internet? The answer relates to who evaluates the accuracy of the information and what level of accountability there is in ensuring that it is up-to-date, reliable, and valid.
As a social work graduate student, scholar, and emerging researcher, you are asked to base your writings on peer-reviewed research articles. In this Discussion, you explore what peer review means and how a research article differs from other types of writing.
To Prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on peer-reviewed research and on APA Style.
Skim the example peer-reviewed research article, making note of the content and language used, and how it compares to the editorial, blog, and website provided on a similar topic.
By Day 3
Post a description of peer review and its importance. Specifically, what makes an article peer-reviewed? What is the importance of peer review in the research process and in social work practice? Finally, how does the content and language of a peer-reviewed research article compare to other forms of writing?
By Day 6
Respond to two colleagues by respectfully agreeing or disagreeing with their description of peer-reviewed research or its comparison to other forms of writing. Also, address what role APA Style plays in a peer-reviewed research article.
Submission and Grading Information

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