SW 315 Social Work Research 1 PDF

Begins with practical problems, and its objective is to produce knowledge that can be put to use in p...

Begins with practical problems, and its objective is to produce knowledge that can be put to use in planning or carrying out social SW 315 : SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH 1 work programs. (MacDonald, 1960). The application of research methods to solve problems that LESSON I: RESEARCH social workers confront in the practice of social work. WHAT IS RESEARCH? At a general level, research consists of three steps: A systematic search or investigation of a specific topic or problem that involves 1. Pose a question. the gathering of data and information 2. Collect data to answer the helps clarify or solve a problem, or question. answer a question. 3. Present an answer to the question. Systematic and methodological IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH: approach to creating knowledge In social work, it is instrumental in Research adds to our knowledge. the development of effective Research improves practice. practice outcomes. Research informs policy debates. Assimilation of knowledge and gathering of data in a logical PURPOSES OF RESEARCH: manner in order to become informed about something. To discover new facts about a phenomenon. SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH To expand or verify existing knowledge. A systematic collection of available To provide a basis for decision evidence (psychological, emotional, making. physical, social, economic, To improve existing intervention environmental, political, etc) that can To develop new or enhance models help us better understand the situation of practice. of an individual, group, institution, or community toward enhancing the social ATTRIBUTES OF RESEARCH functioning and quality of life. 1  1. Purposive – focuses on a specific PURE VS APPLIED RESEARCH problem, with the intent of solving it. Conducted Conducted with a 2. Systematic – follows a logical, without any specific goal in specific goal mind sequential and orderly procedure. 3. Scientific – guided by a body of AIM knowledge. 4. Empirical – based on facts or To advance To solve a specific knowledge and practical evidence/experiences. problem NATURE TYPE DESIGN Exploratory Descriptive PURE QUALITATIVE THEORIES AND PRINCIPALS APPLIED QUANTITATIVE Identifies new Based on the MIXED METHOD ideas, theories, theories, principals principals, and discord through QUALITATIVE RESEARCH new ways of pure research thinking Developing knowledge where little or FINDINGS none exists and uses words, observations, and descriptions, and Usually have a Always have a descriptions to develop this knowledge. future use, not a current use current use QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH Expanding knowledge that already exists QUANTITATIVE and using numerical data to report findings from the research. GENERAL Seek to confirm FRAMEWORK hypotheses about MIXED-METHOD DESIGN phenomena Allows researchers to design a study P< 0.05 - reject using both qualitative and quantitative P> 0.05 - accept/retatin methods by using numerical and textual Instruments use more rigid style of data. eliciting categorizing 2  responses to Use questions semi-structured Use structured methods. methods ANALYTICAL To describe OBJECTIVES variation To quantify To describe and variation explain To predict casual relationships relationships To describe To describe individual characteristics of a experiences ANALYTICAL population To describe group OBJECTIVES norms QUESTION Open-ended FORMAT QUESTION Close-ended FORMAT DATA FORMAT Textual (obtained from audiotape, DATA FORMAT Numerical (obtain by videotapes, and assigning numerical field notes) values to responses) FLEXIBILITY IN Study design is stable STUDY DESIGN from beginning to end FLEXIBILITY IN Some aspects of STUDY DESIGN the study are flexible (e.g, the addition, exclusion or wording of QUALITATIVE particular questions) GENERAL Seek to explore FRAMEWORK phenomena Instruments use a LESSON 2: SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH more flexible AND COMMON WAYS OF KNOWING iterative style of THE WORLD eliciting and categorizing responses to DIMENSIONS OF RESEARCH questions. 1. Purpose of the study 3  2. Idiographic and nomothetic result of more basic exploratory explanations and descriptive studies. 3. Use of research 4. Time dimension IDIOGRAPHIC EXPLANATIONS: PURPOSE OF THE STUDY : “Idio-” means unique, separate, peculiar, or distinct, as in the word EXPLORATION “idiosyncrasy”. “Exploratory research” When we have completed an First step in a sequence of studies idiographic explanation, we feel analyzing a social phenomenon that we fully understand the many that is largely unknown. causes of what happened in a Most often addresses the “what” particular instance. question. Scope of explanation is limited Researchers frequently use Intention is to fully explain one qualitative techniques to keenly case. observe and collect data for analysis. NOMOTHETIC EXPLANATIONS: DESCRIPTIVE Seeks to explain a class of situations or events rather than a Requires a more developed idea single one. about a social phenomenon. Seeks to explain “efficiently,” Researchers engage in clearly using only one or just a few describing or detailing a social explanatory factors. setting or relationship. It settles for partial rather than full Focuses on “how” and “who” explanation of a type of situation. questions. USE OF RESEARCH EXPLANATION BASIC RESEARCH Actively attempts to explain and answer the “why” question. Advances fundamental knowledge Explanation builds on already about the social world. existing knowledge collected Attempts to address the about a social phenomenon as a fundamental questions surrounding a discipline. 4  Basic research is often criticized as Areas assessed in impact studies wasteful and useless despite the include: fact that it is the source of most new scientific ideas and ways of 1. Community Service thinking about the world. 2. Social Conditions 3. Economic Impact APPLIED RESEARCH 4. Demographic Consequences 5. Environment Argue that funding should only be 6. Health Outcomes spent on scientific projects that 7. Psychological Well Being aim to solve a specific policy, social or environmental issue. EVALUATION RESEARCH TYPES OF APPLIED RESEARCH A widely used type of applied research that addresses the ACTION RESEARCH question, “Did it work?”. In other words, evaluation Applied research that treats researchers actively engage in knowledge as a form of power assessing the success or failure of a and attempts to abolish the line social program, organization, etc. between research and social There exist two types of evaluation action. research. Both of which are usually The goals of the researcher are used in conjunction with each often motivated based upon an other. unequal distribution of social, political, and financial power. TYPES OF EVALUATION RESEARCH Research focuses on power with a goal of empowerment; research FORMATIVE EVALUATION seeks to raise consciousness or increase awareness; and research - Consist of built-in monitoring or is tied directly to political action. continuous feedback on a program used for program management. SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT SUMMATIVE EVALUATION Its purpose is to measure the likely consequences of a planned - Looks only at the final outcome. change. TIME DIMENSION: 5 CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH very costly and many times may be impossible due to its potential In this type of study, researchers price tag. observe at one point in time. Cross-sectional studies are simpler COHORT ANALYSIS and less costly than longitudinal studies. A longitudinal study that studies a Collects data from a specific group category of people who share a of individuals at a single point in similar life experience within a time. specified time period. LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH CASE STUDY Longitudinal researchers examine A special type of longitudinal study features of people or other units at in which a researcher examines in more than one point in time. depth many features of a few cases Longitudinal studies can be very over a long duration of time. Often costly and complex. times the data collected includes Collects data from the same group very detailed and personal of subjects over an extended information about a person, period. organization, etc. TYPES OF LONGITUDINAL STUDIES LESSON 3 : COMMON WAYS OF KNOWING THE WORLD TIME SERIES WAYS OF KNOWING A longitudinal study in which the same type of information is We use our own experiences to collected on a group of people or gain knowledge. other units across multiple time We rely on the knowledge of periods. others. We rely on traditions. PANEL STUDY We use scientific methods to answer our questions. The researcher observes exactly the same people, group, or LESSON 4: CONCEPTS, PRINCIPLES AND organization across several time ETHICS OF RESEARCH IN SOCIAL WORK periods. This type of research is 6 PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD “Problem solving”. A process of overcoming difficulties that appear to interfere with the attainment of a goal. Systematic approach to the solution or alleviation of problems characterized by sequential I. PROBLEM DEFINITION execution of the following observation through action Most essential step of the process. problem-solving process. Defining the problem that is APPROACHES to be solved. Identify the real problem and 1) INDUCTIVE APPROACH the need for an immediate solution. - The process of developing generalization from specific II. PROBLEM ANALYSIS observations. Analyze how the problem affects the researcher and their current situation and other people involved in the situation. Helps understand the source of the problem and how it affects the environment. Often good to reconfirm if the initial problem definition is still valid. 2) DEDUCTIVE APPROACH III. GENERATING POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS - The process of developing specific predictions from Focus must be on identifying and general principles. generating all possible solutions for a problem. 7  Each potential idea must be considered. IV. ANALYZING THE SOLUTIONS Factors about each potential solutions are investigated. All positive and negative aspects of each solutions are analyzed. V. SELECTING THE BEST SOLUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION Best solution is selected based on the careful judgment. Final step of the problem-solving process is to practically solve the problem by implementing the selected solution. VI. EVALUATION AND REVISION Evaluation is made to judge the effectiveness of the solution in resolving the problem. Helps redefine the problem and revise the problem solving process. 8