Abstract:

This paper analyses the diversity that exists in the object of social work. We refer to the object as the element of reality on which work is carried out, in order to understand it and bring about change. Specifically, the discipline of social work focuses in particular on human social problems and their social operability. On the one hand, the methodology used consisted of a questionnaire addressed to students and professionals in the discipline and, on the other hand, the study of a selection of posters produced as part of placements within the Social Work degree programme at the University of La Rioja. Specifically, the purpose of the questionnaire was to determine, from a comparative perspective, the respondents' perception of different professions such as law, medicine and social work, among others. It consists of 6 open-ended questions that explore this issue. As for the placements, it should be noted that they are Service-Learning (SL), and a sample from the following years was selected: 2014/2015 to 2020/2021, i.e. a total of seven academic years. Most of them took place in Logroño and there was an average of 90 students per year, as they were carried out simultaneously in the third and fourth year of the Degree. The possibility of carrying out SL placements is based on a commitment to undertake actions that have an impact on and offer a service to the community. Moreover, the flexibility and enthusiasm of the tutors at the placement centres makes it possible to conduct the placements in this way. The main results of this study show the diversity and complexity of the object itself, reflecting the richness and variety of the discipline and demonstrating the multiple possibilities for intervention. However, this very heterogeneity requires further research in order to raise awareness of the multiple possibilities of action offered by the object in the profession of social work.

Keywords:

Project-Based Learning, service-learning, social work, innovation, professional object.