Applying a Human Rights Approach to Social Work Research and Evaluation A Rights Research Manifesto

This brief introduces a human rights approach to social work research and evaluation, compares it to traditional research approaches, and explains how to apply it in real world social work research. The author draws from a human rights framework that incorporates dignity and respect for all persons, the universality and interrelatedness of rights (political, civil, social, economic, and cultural), nondiscrimination, participation, accountability, and transparency. To advance a human rights approach, it introduces a rights-based model that accentuates the use of mixed methods and participatory research and evaluation. This brief aims to increase competencies in how to apply a rights based approach to research decision-making process from the formulation of research questions, research and practice design, and participatory action strategies that advance human rights. It is a call to action for social workers to forge a rights-based research agenda that fosters empowerment.

Introduction.- Understanding and Applying a Human Rights Framework.- Research and Evaluation that Makes a Difference.- Informed Decision-Making, Multiple Perspectives, Approaches, and Methods.- Social Contexts, Meaningful Participation, Relational Communication.- Holistic Analysis, Discerning Meaning from Narrative and Numeric Data.- Thoughtful Sharing (Dissemination) and Action.

Dr. Tina Maschi is an associate professor at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service in New York City. Dr. Maschi has published extensively on trauma among criminal justice populations and older adults in prison in social work and interdisciplinary journals. Dr. Maschi is the lead editor of the book, Forensic Social Work: Psychosocial and Legal Aspects in Diverse Practice Settings and the lead author of the soon to be released book, Social Worker as Researcher: Integrating Social Work Research with Advocacy that infuses human rights content throughout the course. Recent publications include: Trauma and Stress among Older Adults in the Criminal Justice System and Trauma, Stressful Life Event and Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms: Do Subjective Impressions Matter? She is the founder and director of the Be the Evidence Project which has the purpose of advancing human rights and social justice through public awareness projects, such as marginalized populations, such as aging people in prison, formerly incarcerated LGBT elders with multiple intersectional identifies which include serious mental and physical disabilities (e.g. HIV, schizophrenia), trauma and immigration histories, poverty, racial/ethnic minorities, war veterans.