SO461

BASIC SOCIAL SCIENCE SKILLS

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Elements of this outline which may change with subsequent offerings of
the unit include Content, Required Texts, Recommended Readings and
details of the Assessment Tasks.
Students who are currently enrolled in this unit should obtain the outline
for the relevant semester from the unit lecturer.

Unit Name

Basic Social Science Skills

Unit Code

SO461

Award

Graduate Certificate in Social Science

Graduate Diploma in Social Science

Credit Points

10

Core/Elective

Core

Pre/co-requisites

Nil

Modes

Internal
Intensive

Delivery/Contact hrs Internal

39 hours
39 hours
52 hours
130 hours

PL
E

Lectures and Tutorials

Reading, study and preparation for lectures
Assignment preparation
TOTAL
Intensive

35 hours
43 hours
52 hours
130 hours

Intensive contact hours

Reading, study and preparation for intensive
Assignment preparation
TOTAL
Johan Roux

Unit Rationale

Those working in all fields of the applied social sciences need to develop basic
interpersonal skills in the context of a growing self-awareness. Foundational
communication microskills and the basic listening sequence are similar for all
areas of social science practice, although the specific purposes for which they are
used may differ according to context.

SA

Teaching Staff

The major focus of this unit, therefore, is to enable students to master the basic
interpersonal skills and listening sequence, through specific practice. The unit is
designed as a practical one, with opportunity for development of skills, feedback
from the lecturer and peers and personal reflection on practice. At postgraduate
level it is also important that students do not only learn basic interpersonal skills,
but also begin to critically reflect on these skills in terms of their effectiveness, their
philosophical basis, appropriate expression according to context and how they
might best be integrated into a developing practice framework.

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this unit students will have provided evidence that they have:
1. Applied and evaluated basic verbal and non-verbal interpersonal skills and the basic listening sequence
including communication with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
2. Identified and reflected on the personal qualities which make an effective social science practitioner;
3. Understood how social science practitioners operate within a wider framework of people-helping
professions including the mental health sector;
4. Understood and applied principles of reflective practice to developing use of interpersonal skills and the
basic listening sequence;
5. Employed and evaluated basic social science skills appropriate to specific contexts of social science
application;
6. Assessed client needs and determined and evaluated appropriate client strategies including appropriate
professional referrals;
7. Critically analysed from a Christian perspective the philosophical frameworks on which interpersonal
skills are founded and their effectiveness and limitations according to relevant research;
8. Written at an appropriate tertiary standard with special attention to correct grammar, punctuation,
spelling, vocabulary, usage, sentence structure, logical relations, style, referencing and presentation.

Content:
No.

Topic
Overview of the Basic Listening Sequence; The person of the effective practitioner; Locating
community development work within a wider framework of people-helping including the mental
health sector

Attending and the development of rapport

Opening and questions, including client assessment

Observing and non-verbal communication

Paraphrasing and summarising

Reflecting feeling

Frameworks in which skills may be utilised: Person-centred

Frameworks in which skills may be utilised: Strengths-based and Solution Orientated

Frameworks in which skills may be utilised: Cognitive and Behavioural

10

Critiquing philosophical bases of frameworks and analysis of outcomes and effectiveness of

skills according to relevant research

11

Application of skills in specific practice contexts: determining appropriate client strategies,

referral and evaluation of client strategies

12

Application of skills in specific practice contexts: working with people from culturally and
linguistically diverse backgrounds;

13

Application of skills in specific practice contexts

SA

PL
E

Set Text Requirements:

Ivey, A. E., Ivey, M. B., & Zalaquett, C.P. (2010). Intentional interviewing and counselling: Facilitating
th
development in a multicultural society. (7 ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks Cole.
OHara, A. & Weber, Z. (2006). Skills for Human Service practice: Working with individuals, groups and
communities. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Recommended Readings:
Bertolino, B. (2009). Strengths-based engagement and practice: Creating effective helping relationships.
Essex, England: Allyn and Bacon.
Cormier, L.S., Nurius, P., & Miller, G. R. (2009). Interviewing strategies for helpers. Pacific Grove, CA:
Brooks Cole.
Guterman, J.T. (2006). Mastering the art of solution-focused counseling. Alexandria, VA: American
Counseling Association.
Harms, L. (2007). Working with people: Communication skills for reflective practice. Melbourne: Oxford
University Press.
rd

Johns, C. (2009). Becoming a reflective practitioner. (3 ed.). West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell.
th

Johnson, D. W. (2008). Reaching out: Interpersonal effectiveness and self actualization. (10 ed.).
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Kottler, J. A. & Brew, L. (2003). One life at a time: Helping skills and interventions. New York: Brunner
Routledge.

Maidment, J. & Egan, R. (Eds.). (2009). Practice skills in social work and welfare: More than just common
nd
sense. (2 ed.). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
th

Okun, B. F. (2007). Effective helping: Interviewing and counselling techniques (7 ed.). Pacific Grove CA:
Brooks Cole.
The Holy Bible: New King James Version. (1982). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Wosket, V. & Egan, G. (2006). Egans skilled helper model: Developments and applications in counselling.
New York: Routledge.
Journals
International Journal of Clinical Skills
Journal of Social Work Practice
Assessment:

PL
E

80% attendance at scheduled classes and regular participation in the forum discussions on the units
TM
Moodle site (as applicable) are required in order to achieve a pass in this unit.
Assessment Item

Topic/s

Recorded Interview and

Annotated Transcript

Identify and reflect on the use of

basic interpersonal skills during a
recorded interview on a topic of the
interviewees choice.

1900 words

Recorded Interview,
Annotated Transcript
and Evaluative Report
Interview: 30 minutes
Transcript and Report:
2200 words

1, 4, 8

Investigate and critique the

philosophical and theoretical bases
of one practice framework relevant
to your intended practice context
and the research evidence
pertaining to the effectiveness of
this approach. Identify areas of
potential application to personal
practice and include a brief
Christian worldview reflection.

2, 7, 8

Identify and reflect on use of key

interpersonal skills, the application
of the generic five stage model and
use of interventions from a specific
practice framework during a
recorded interview focusing on a
specific issue relevant to applied
social science practice. Evaluate
the interview from theoretical,
Christian worldview and personal
perspectives.

1-8

SA

Analytical Essay

Interview: 15 minutes
Transcript: 1400 words

Learning Outcomes
assessed

Week Due

Weighting

Internal:
Week 7

25%

Intensive:
Two weeks
after first
session
Internal:
Week 11

35%

Intensive:
Two weeks
after
second
session

Week 14

40%