The course will introduce students to social work research methods.  Students will explore how to formulate problem statements, develop hypotheses, utilize measures and scales, design research studies and interpret results.  The course will focus on identifying evidence-based practices to meet the needs of specific target populations.  Guidance will be offered on identifying relevant research and evaluating its scientific rigor.  The course will also highlight ethical issues in conducting social work research.  Pre-requisite MAT 175.