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Research priorities for Gerontological social work: researcher and practitioner perspectives
- Authors:
- MORROW-HOWELL Nancy, BURNETTE Denise, CHEN Li-Mei
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Research, 29(4), December 2005, pp.231-242.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article describes a Delphi study to identify research priorities of gerontological social work practitioners and to compare these priorities with those of social work academic researchers. A national expert panel of 52 gerontological social work practitioners from the United States completed questionnaires to delimit a set of high-priority research topics. Findings were compared with a similar Delphi study conducted with academic social work researchers. The researcher panel and the practitioner panel endorsed a need for intervention research. Practitioners also identified several unique priorities, including income security and long-term care policies, decision making, and planning for later life. The authors suggest four substantive areas (housing and transitions in living arrangements, family caregiving, health and mental health, and workforce) and four cross cutting themes (intervention research, social policy, service delivery, and capacity building) as a potential organizing framework for a research agenda for gerontological social work.
Gerontological social work research: current status and future directions
- Authors:
- MORROW-HOWELL Nancy, BURNETTE Denise
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 36(3/4), 2001, pp.63-79.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article assesses the current state of gerontological social work research in the USA and suggests future directions for the field. Argues that social workers are not adequately represented among researchers supported by public and private funds.
Applying gerontological social work perspectives to the coronavirus pandemic
- Authors:
- SWINFORD Emma, GALUCIA Natalie, MORROW-HOWELL Nancy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 63(6-7), 2020, pp.513-523.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Social workers are familiar with the challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic; and we apply three gerontological social work perspectives that might increase our chances of minimizing negative outcomes and improving health and quality of life for everyone. First, the reality that the older population is very heterogeneous challenges ageism and age-stereotyping that has surfaced with COVID-19. Second, concepts of cumulative disadvantage and intersectionality offer clear explanations of the disparities that are being illuminated and lead us to advocate for fundamental changes to reduce disparities in later life and for people across the life course. Third, a strength-based perspective highlights the assets of the older population and the opportunities for positive developments coming out of the crisis. We can capitalize on momentum to increase advance care planning, to reduce social isolation, and expand the use of on-line technology for service provision. We can bolster our arguments to support older workers, volunteers, and caregivers. The fact that these social work perspectives are so applicable to the coronavirus situation reminds us of their fundamental relevance. Gerontological social work has much to offer in our roles as researchers, educators, practitioners, and advocates during this crisis, and our foundational principles serve us well. (Edited publisher abstract)
Setting priorities for gerontological social work research: a national Delphi study
- Authors:
- BURNETTE Denise, MORROW-HOWELL Nancy, CHEN Li-Mei
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 43(6), December 2003, pp.828-838.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
An increasingly important task for all disciplines involved in aging research is to identify and prioritize areas for investigation. This article reports the results of a national Delphi study on setting research priorities for gerontological social work. Delphi methodology, a structured process for eliciting and correlating informed opinions from a panel of experts on a specific topic, was used. A national expert panel of 46 gerontological social workers completed three successive Web-based questionnaires with controlled feedback to delimit a set of high-priority research topics. There were 49 independent research topics identified, 16 of which attained high or highest priority and high or moderate consensus ratings. The top-priority topic was developing and testing psychosocial interventions across specific populations and conditions. Three additional topics on intervention research achieved similar ratings, as did all four topics on services research. The research priorities identified by expert panelists in this study represent critical knowledge needs for the social work profession in aging, and they overlap and complement the current research agendas of the National Research Council and the National Institute on Aging. They are thus expected to help guide the development and prioritization of social work and interdisciplinary research to improve practice and policies affecting older adults and their families.