Research Methods in Social Work

Overview of Social Work Research

• Focuses on practical problems and aims to produce usable knowledge for planning social work programs.
• Applies research methods to address challenges faced by social workers in practice.

Definition of Research

• Involves a systematic investigation of a specific topic or problem.
• Consists of three fundamental steps:
  • Pose a question.
  • Collect data to answer the question.
  • Present the answer.

Importance of Research in Social Work

• Contributes to increasing knowledge and enhancing effective practices.
• Plays a crucial role in informing policy debates and shaping practices within the field.

Purposes of Research

• Aims to uncover new facts and deepen understanding of phenomena.
• Verifies existing knowledge and creates a basis for decision-making.
• Seeks to improve interventions and develop enhanced practice models.

Attributes of Research

• Purposive: Targets specific problems with the intention of finding solutions.
• Systematic: Adheres to logical and orderly procedures.
• Scientific: Driven by established bodies of knowledge.
• Empirical: Based on factual evidence and real-life experiences.

Types of Research

Pure vs. Applied Research

• Pure Research:
  • Conducted without a specific goal; aims to advance knowledge.
• Applied Research:
  • Conducted with the intention of solving specific, practical problems.

Research Design

• Different designs are utilized, including:
  • Exploratory: Seeks to identify new ideas and theories.
  • Descriptive: Provides an overview of phenomena.

Methodological Approaches

• Qualitative Research:
  • Focuses on understanding experiences and perceptions, relying on words and descriptions.
• Quantitative Research:
  • Uses numerical data to analyze patterns and relationships.
• Mixed Method:
  • Combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Findings and Contributions

• Qualitative findings often yield richer, context-based insights, while quantitative findings provide statistical evidence for trends.
• Both methods are essential in advancing knowledge and understanding complex social issues.

Overview of Social Work Research

• Focuses on practical problems and aims to produce usable knowledge for planning social work programs.
• Applies research methods to address challenges faced by social workers in practice.

Definition of Research

• Involves a systematic investigation of a specific topic or problem.
• Consists of three fundamental steps:
  • Pose a question.
  • Collect data to answer the question.
  • Present the answer.

Importance of Research in Social Work

• Contributes to increasing knowledge and enhancing effective practices.
• Plays a crucial role in informing policy debates and shaping practices within the field.

Purposes of Research

• Aims to uncover new facts and deepen understanding of phenomena.
• Verifies existing knowledge and creates a basis for decision-making.
• Seeks to improve interventions and develop enhanced practice models.

Attributes of Research

• Purposive: Targets specific problems with the intention of finding solutions.
• Systematic: Adheres to logical and orderly procedures.
• Scientific: Driven by established bodies of knowledge.
• Empirical: Based on factual evidence and real-life experiences.

Types of Research

Pure vs. Applied Research

• Pure Research:
  • Conducted without a specific goal; aims to advance knowledge.
• Applied Research:
  • Conducted with the intention of solving specific, practical problems.

Research Design

• Different designs are utilized, including:
  • Exploratory: Seeks to identify new ideas and theories.
  • Descriptive: Provides an overview of phenomena.

Methodological Approaches

• Qualitative Research:
  • Focuses on understanding experiences and perceptions, relying on words and descriptions.
• Quantitative Research:
  • Uses numerical data to analyze patterns and relationships.
• Mixed Method:
  • Combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Findings and Contributions

• Qualitative findings often yield richer, context-based insights, while quantitative findings provide statistical evidence for trends.
• Both methods are essential in advancing knowledge and understanding complex social issues.