Research Methods for Social Work: Being Producers and Consumers of Research

Abstract

1. Why Social Workers Need Research? Research as a Source of Knowledge What is Research? The Distinctiveness of Scientific Research Development of theory Importance of diversity in theories Systematic and rigorous methods Empirical evidence Commitment to neutrality Obligation to an ethical code Consumer and Producer Roles Consumer Role Producer Role Using Critical Thinking Skills as Consumers and Producers Why Do Social Work Researchers Conduct Studies? The Research Topics of Interest to Social Workers The Book's Perspective about the People Who are Studied Summary Discussion Questions 2. The Philosophies and Purposes of Research Inductive and Deductive Philosophies Inductive Research Deductive Research Assessment of Your Philosophical Tendencies Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methodologies Quantitative Methods Qualitative Methods Mixed Methods Some Specialized Areas in Social Work Research Participatory Action Research Feminist Research Afrocentric Research Critical Thinking and Social Work Research Summary Discussion Questions 3. Research Ethics and Social Work's Mandates Ethical Problems in Research Physical harm Psychological harm Invasion of privacy Deception of participants Misrepresentation of findings Balancing risks and gains Ethical Safeguards of Research Confidentiality Informed Consent Monitoring the effects of a study and offering any needed assistance Involving research participants in decision-making Selecting researchers without a conflict of interest Mandates of Social Work Adhering to the values and ethics of social work Promoting a Commitment to Diversity Promoting Social and Economic Justice and Special Attention to At-Risk Populations Attending to Social Work Mandates throughout the Book Summary Discussion Questions 4. Understanding the Research Topic What Issues Affect Problem Selection? Political Perspective Socio-Cultural Views Professional Discipline Specializations within social work Personal Life Experiences Employer Expectations, Funding Sources, and Other External Influences Research Topics and Social Work The Producer Role and the Research Topic The Consumer Role and the Research Topic The Literature Review Tips on Completing Literature Searches Purposes in completing a literature review Strategies for Gathering Information Writing up a Literature Review Summary Discussion Questions 5. Defining and Measuring Concepts Concepts, Variables, Values, and Constants Constructing and Measuring Variables Understanding Measurement How Knowledge is Generated Quantitative and Qualitative Measurements Numbers Words from Forced-Response Questions Word from Open-Ended Questions Levels of Measurement Validity and Reliability How Is Validity Measured? How Is Reliability Measured? Standardized Scales Diversity Issues Likert Scales Thurstone and Guttman Scales Goal Attainment Scales for Evaluating Social Work Practice Summary Discussion Questions 6. Focusing a Research Study Descriptive Studies Exploratory Studie Explanatory Studies Descriptive and Exploratory Studies Ask General Research Questions Explanatory Studies Test Hypotheses Constructing Hypotheses Types of Variables Three Conditions of Causal Relationships Practical Uses of Hypotheses Hypothesizing to Evaluate Social Work Practice Generating Hypotheses Focusing a Research Study and the Consumer Role Summary Discussion Questions 7. Designing the Study Review of Prior Steps Considering Secondary Research and Existing Data What is the Intention of the Study? Descriptive research Designs Exploratory Research Designs Explanatory Research Designs Three Key Questions Illustration 1 Illustration 2 Designing a Study and the Consumer Role Summary Discussion Questions 8. Considering Sampling Techniques Important Sampling Concepts Selecting a Sample Probability and Non-Probability Sampling Types of Probability Sampling Types of Non-Probability Sampling Diversity, Social Justice Issues, and Samples Using Combinations of Sampling Approaches Sample Size Summary Discussion Questions 9. Constructing Surveys Using Interviews in Research Types of Interviews Varying Ways to Conduct Interviews Using Questionnaires in Research Types of Questionnaires Varying Ways to Administer Questionnaires Similarities Between Data Collection in Research and Social Work Importance of High Response Rates Validity and Reliability Issues Diversity and Social Justice Comparing Interviews and Questionnaires Interviews Questionnaires How to Construct a Survey Constructing Qualitative Surveys Summary Discussion Questions 10. Constructing Observational Studies Conducting Structured Observations Conducting Unstructured Observations Participant Observation Non-Participatory Unstructured Observation The Ethical Problems of Observing Covertly Incorporating Diversity and Social Justice Advantages of Observational Research Validity and Reliability Issues How to Construct an Observational Data Collection Instrument Observing Social Artifacts and Other Non-Human Entities Examples of Observations in Social Work Settings Summary Discussion Questions 11. Exploring Causal Relationships: Quasi-Experimental, Experimental and Single System Designs The Relevance of Causal Relationships in Social Work Practice Claiming that the Intervention Makes a Difference Documenting the Impact of Social Work Interventions Group Designs for Exploring Causal Relationships Research Designs for Exploring Causal Relationships One-Group Posttest-Only Design Pretest/Posttest Design Pretest/Posttest Design with a Comparison Group Time Series Design Pretest/Posttest Design with a Control Group Validity and Group Designs Using Single System Designs for Practice Evaluations Different Types of Single System Designs Implementing a Single System Design Options for Analyzing Progress for Single System Designs Summary Discussion Questions 12. Collecting the Data Differences between Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection Training for Data Collection Preparation for Collecting Data Preparation for Quantitative Methods Preparation for Qualitative Methods Preparation for Leading Focus Groups Considering the Influence of the Personal Characteristics of the Researcher Collecting the Data and the Consumer Role Summary Discussion Questions 13. Quantitative Data Analysis Coding the Data Coding Questions that Directly Elicit a Numerical Response Coding Forced-response Questions Coding Forced-response Questions with Multiple Options A Code Book Ethics and Data Analysis Descriptive Statistics for Data Analysis Frequency Distributions Measures of Central Tendencies Measures of Variability or Dispersion Bi-Variate Statistics for Data Analysis Significance, Statistical Significance, and Statistical Tests Measuring the Association Between Two Variables Chi-Square Test Correlation Test Comparing Two or More Groups t-test ANOVA Test Multivariate Statistics for Data Analysis Mixed Methods Working with a Data Set Analyzing Quantitative Data and the Consumer Role Summary Discussion Questions 14. Qualitative Data Analysis Qualitative Versus Quantitative Data Analysis Varied Types of Qualitative Data How is Qualitative Data Analyzed? Strategy 1: Case Studies Strategy 2: Summarizing Responses for Open-Ended Questions How to Summarize Responses for Open-Ended Questions Strategy 3: Theme Analysis How to Conduct a Theme Analysis Data Collection Approaches and the Three Strategies Other Types of Qualitative Data Analysis Content Analysis Ethnographic Analysis Observational Analysis of Social Situations Validating Data Mixed Methods Analyzing Qualitative Data and the Consumer Role Summary Discussion Questions 15. Preparing a Report Task A. Highlighting Background Material on the Study Task B: Focusing the Findings Organization of Findings Accuracy and Clarity Use of Graphics Task C. Developing Recommendations Task D: Writing or Presenting the Report Considering Potential Readers of the Report Contents of a Traditional Research Report Reporting on Qualitative Studies Reporting on the Research and the Consumer Role Summary Discussion Questions 16. Program and Practice Evaluation Accountability to Stakeholders A Political Process Defining Evaluation Purposes of Evaluations Steps in Conducting an Evaluation Planning, Implementation, and Outcome Stages Logic Model Evaluations during the Planning Stage A Needs Assessment Other Evaluation Strategies When Planning Evaluations during the Implementation Stage Is the Intervention Implemented as Intended? Is the Quality of the Intervention High? How Accessible is the Intervention to All Client Groups? How Satisfied are the Clients with the Intervention? Evaluations during the Outcome Stage Group Designs Cost/Benefit Analysis Studies Outcomes in Practice Evaluations Summary Discussion Questions

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