How Academic Social Workers Negotiate Their Direct Practice Skills and Qualitative Research Techniques.

This article examines the interrelationship between direct practice skills and qualitative research techniques among academic social workers, aiming to inform enhanced social work training. Through semistructured interviews with twenty academic social workers engaged in qualitative research, the study identified three themes: transferable techniques, bidirectional benefits, and pedagogical possibilities. Findings highlight how clinical skills from direct practice inform qualitative data collection, the ethical importance of maintaining boundaries, and the potential therapeutic and empowerment benefits for research participants. Respondents also discussed challenges and opportunities in integrating practice and research skills within social work education, emphasizing alignment with the field's values, ethics, and social justice commitments.