Research Forum Mission Statement

Since 2009, the NASW-Ohio Chapter has hosted the Research Forum as a core component of its Annual Meeting, providing an opportunity for students, practitioners, faculty, and researchers to present scholarly work that advances the profession of social work. Through poster sessions and oral presentations, the Forum supports the development and dissemination of research that informs practice, influences policy, and strengthens the bridge between education and the field.

Aligned with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), the Research Forum reinforces the integration of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) into both explicit and implicit curricula, with a strong emphasis on research-informed practice and practice-informed research.

Research Forum Objectives

1. Support Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice. Showcase work that demonstrates how research strengthens practice and how practical experience informs scholarly inquiry.
2. Bridge Academia and Field Practice. Create a space where ideas from classrooms, agencies, and communities intersect, promoting collaboration among students, professionals, and educators.
   
3. Advance CSWE 2022 EPAS Competencies. Assist schools of social work in meeting accreditation standards by highlighting competencies related to:
   • Anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI)
   • Policy practice
   • Evidence-informed and research-informed practice
4. Foster Professional Growth Across Career Stages. Encourage emerging and experienced professionals alike to engage in scholarly dissemination and constructive peer feedback.
5. Promote Ethical, Critical, and Culturally Responsive Scholarship. Elevate projects that align with the NASW Code of Ethics and address systemic issues, social justice, and community impact.
6. Highlight Diversity in Thought and Experience. Center diverse perspectives, methodologies, populations, and areas of inquiry that reflect the richness of the social work profession.

Research Forum Details & Submission Instructions 

• The Research Forum will be held across two conference breakout sessions on Thursday, November 13th, 2025. The sessions will be from 1:30pm - 3:00pm and 3:15pm - 4:45pm. If your research abstract is accepted, you will be notified regarding which session your research will be presented.
• Research can be submitted for presentation via a poster presentation or oral presentation. Please read the requirements for each option further down on this page. 
• The Research Forum will accept five types of research projects. Please read the descriptions further down on this page. 
• BSW Students, MSW Students, Doctoral Candidates, Academics, and Professionals are all welcome to apply to submit their research. Recognition for best undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral candidates research will occur during the Friday morning conference welcome; winners are not required to attend. Academics and Professionals will be given a certificate of participation but are not included in competition.
  • Student versus Academic/Professional Submissions: If the primary author/researcher is an Academic or Professional, the presentation must be included in the Academic or Professional category, which is not judged for awards, regardless of if the person presenting the research is a student or Doctoral Candidate. Only research that has been primarily conducted and authored by a student (BSW or MSW) or a Doctoral candidate can be judged in those categories, and thus be eligible for an award.
    
• BSW and MSW students who are accepted to present, will be able to attend conference on Thursday at a discounted rate of $75 for the one-day. NASW Ohio staff will provide instructions along with your acceptance email. Doctoral Candidates, Academics, and Professionals who are accepted to present, must register here at the regular rate.
• Please make sure to read this full page prior to submitting your abstract.
• If you are a student, we highly recommend you have a faculty mentor review your abstract prior to submission. While this will not guarantee acceptance it will increase your abstracts quality.
  
• Submit a research abstract (1250 characters maximum) by October 17th using the form linked at the bottom of this page. While October 17th is the deadline, we recommend submitting as early as possible as we will review abstracts on a rolling basis. Students (BSW & MSW) and Doctoral candidates that submit their abstract in enough time before the deadline, may have an opportunity to re-submit their abstract if not initially accepted after incorporating feedback received from their first submission if space remains. 

Scholarly Project Descriptions

Original Empirical Research

Involves a qualitative and/or quantitative research study using a methodological design to describe and/or explore a research topic. Research questions are answered and/or hypotheses are tested. Results are presented along with limitations of the study; includes application of findings related to policy and/or social work practice.

Secondary Analyses

Involve empirical research (see above) and using established data sets.

Systematic Review of Literature

Is used to review professional literature on a given topic. Scholarly descriptions and critiques of research are purposeful with varying emphasis on theoretical framework, research design (sample, instrumentation and data analysis), strengths, limitations and generalizability of findings. Reliability and validity issues are addressed with recommendations for how to improve upon existing work to further theory development and to contribute to a body of knowledge that informs policy, programming, and services. PLEASE NOTE: Only reviews of literature that are the result of systematic methodology and clearly documented in the abstract will be considered. 

Case Study Research Projects

Single subject design is used with qualitative and/or quantitative measures to describe, explore, assess or address research questions. Micro-, Mezzo- or Macro- level samples can include (individual, couple/family, community project or organization, respectively). Pre- and post- measures are used to target specific problems or issues. Other case studies might involve exploratory or descriptive methods in lieu of pre-post testing.

Program Evaluation

A design that uses research methods to answer specific research questions that encompass the structure and process of a program to fulfill its mission/goals. Emphasis can be on planning, evaluation, feedback for improving program functions, and program development.

Requirements for Poster Presentations

• You will have 15 minutes total to present your poster and answer questions form the judges. 
• Posters must be printed.
• Dimensions should be 48 inches wide by 36 inches tall.
• Use landscape format (board, easel, and clips are provided at poster session).
  
• Include references on the poster itself (preferred) or provide handouts.

Requirements for Oral Presentations

• Oral presentation are to be 15 a maximum of minutes long and will be followed by 5 minutes of questions from the judges 
• Utilize PowerPoint, Google Slides, or other platform to create slide deck to display research
  
• Slides should be brief using font/color/format with good contrast, easily seen when screen shared during presentation
• Insert slide numbers
• Include author(s) and full citation information on the first slide
• Include citations of others’ work including author(s)/year throughout slide presentation (even if in small font)Include full reference information (using APA guidelines) at the end of slide presentation (can be smaller font)
• Include author(s)’ email on the last slide for attendees

FAQs and Tips for Submission

Q1: What does it mean to have a peer-reviewed abstract accepted or declined for the NASW-OH Annual Meeting?

When your abstract is peer-reviewed, experienced social work professionals evaluate it—such as researchers, faculty, and practitioners—who assess its quality, clarity, and relevance to the field.

• If accepted, your abstract meets professional and academic standards and will be included in the conference program, typically as a poster or oral presentation.
• If declined, we either simply did not have capacity to fit your research presentation into the forum OR your abstract did not meet necessary criteria for clarity, rigor, or alignment with social work scholarship. This is often a learning opportunity, especially for students and early-career professionals. Students (BSW & MSW) that submit their abstract in enough time before the deadline, may have an opportunity to re-submit their abstract after incorporating feedback received from their first submission if space remains. 
  

Peer review ensures that the content presented at the NASW-OH Annual Conference upholds the integrity and advancement of social work practice and research.

Q2: What is the most common reason an abstract is not accepted by the NASW-OH  academic reviewers?

Answer: The most common reasons include technical writing and content-related issues, especially among first-time or student presenters. Specific issues include:

Common Technical Issues:

•  Abstract not reviewed by a faculty mentor (for student submissions).
• Missing statement of importance – abstract does not explain why the topic matters to social work.
• Lack of supporting citation to justify the relevance or urgency of the topic.
• Citations are missing when referencing concepts or work that are not your own.

Content and Structure Errors:

• Unclear or missing research question(s) or hypotheses.
• Confusion between research questions and hypotheses (e.g., labeling a question as a hypothesis).
• Lack of description of study participants, making it hard to evaluate sample context.
• Mislabeling a literature review as original research.
• Inadequate or inconsistent methodology not aligned with the study design.
• Failure to mention results or limitations (if the study is complete).
• Not linking results to social work practice, which reduces the abstract’s applied value.

Balance Issues:

• Too little information – does not allow reviewers to understand the scope or findings.
• Too much information – can make the abstract unfocused or overwhelming.

Tips for Strong Abstracts:

• Work closely with a faculty mentor or colleague before submitting.
• Use clear, professional language with a logical flow.
• Include at least one citation to support your rationale.
• Clearly identify the research question(s), method, results (if applicable), limitations, and implications for social work.
• Stay within the word limit but provide enough detail for reviewers to assess quality.

 Application is Closed