Conducting Social Work Research An Experiential Approach

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ISBN: 9780205268917 | 0205268919
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 5/28/1997

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KEY BENEFIT:Social workers at any level in the profession will find this reference extremely helpful as they foray into the ever-increasing important research stage of their careers. As the need and desire for social workers continue to increase, this book will help those learn the proper ways to conduct research in the field.Readers are given information on specific tasks in research in which they will be called upon to evaluate alternative ways to complete each task in the research process. this book focuses on the purposes of research and the entire research process.Social workers.

Preface

1 Introduction

(18)

The Nature of Social Work Research

(1)

Alternatives to Scientific Research

(2)

The Nature of Scientific Inquiry

(1)

Theory and Observation in Research

(2)

The Purposes of Social Work Research

(2)

The Research Process

(1)

A Sample of Questions to Test Basic Knowledge of Social Work Research

(6)

Answers to Questions

(2)

References

(2)

UNIT I Conducting Each Type of Social Work Research

(188)

2 Conducting Exploratory Research on Stress Using Qualitative Methods

(34)

Qualitative and Quantitative Research

(1)

Purposes of Social Work Research

(1)

When to Use Each Approach to Measurement

(1)

Two of the Major Types of Qualitative Research

(5)

Ethnography

(1)

Grounded Theory

(4)

Problem Formulation in Qualitative Research

(10)

Methodology in Qualitative Research

(8)

Modes of Gathering Information in Qualitative Research

(1)

The Interview in Qualitation Research

(3)

Sampling in Qualitative Research

(1)

Developing Instruments for Collecting Information

(3)

Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

(2)

Content Analysis

(1)

Coding in Qualitative Research

(1)

Analytic Comparison

(1)

An Example of Data Analysis

(6)

Conclusions

(1)

References

(1)

3 Conducting Descriptive Research on the Qualities of the Good Manager

(45)

Ethics in Social Work Research

(1)

Voluntary Participation

(1)

Right to Privacy

(1)

Protection from Harm

(1)

An Overview of Descriptive Research

(4)

A Study of the Qualities of the Good Manager

(5)

Problem Formulation for the Study of the Good Manager

(5)

Methodology in Descriptive Research

(9)

The Definition of Study Variables

(1)

Reliability and Validity

(2)

Levels of Measurement

(1)

Sampling in Descriptive Research

(1)

Probability Samples

(1)

Nonprobability Samples

(3)

Methodology for the Study of the Good Manager

(4)

The Definition and Measurement of Sex-Role Stereotype

(1)

Study Sample

(3)

Data Analysis in Descriptive Research

(1)

Descriptive Analysis of Nominal Variables

(1)

Descriptive Analysis of Ordinal Variables

(1)

Descriptive Analysis of Interval Data

(1)

Descriptive Analysis for the Study of Good Manager

(4)

What Are the Qualities of the Good Manager?

(2)

Are Certain Traits Favored Over Others?

(2)

Examining Data from Your Class

(11)

Coding of Data for Your Study

(2)

Analysis of SRS Scores for Your Class

(7)

Does Sex-Role Stereotype Interfere with Perceived Competence?

(1)

Examining the Characteristics of the Good Manager Using Qualitative Methods

(2)

References

(1)

4 Conducting Explanatory Research on the Qualities of the Good Manager

100

(24)

Problem Formulation in Explanatory Research

101

(1)

Methodology in Explanatory Research

102

(6)

Control in Explanatory Research

103

(2)

Study Design and Measurement of Variables

105

(3)

Data Analysis in Explanatory Research

108

(9)

The Empirical Relationship

109

(1)

Examining the Strength of the Relationship

109

(5)

Statistical Versus Practical Significance

114

(3)

Examining Data for the Present Study

117

(6)

Interpreting Exhibit 4.4

119

(4)

References

123

(1)

5 Conducting Evaluative Research Using a Group Design: Is Project PARENTING Effective?

124

(36)

Evaluating Social Work Practice: An Overview

125

(19)

Problem Formulation Phase of Evaluative Research

125

(6)

Study Methodology Phase of Evaluative Research

131

(10)

Data Analysis

141

(2)

Drawing Conclusions

143

(1)

An Examination of Project PARENTING

144

(15)

Phase 1: Problem Formulation

144

(4)

Phase 2: Research Methodology for Project PARENTING

148

(4)

Phase 3: Analyzing the Data for Project PARENTING

152

(5)

Phase 4: Drawing Conclusions About Project PARENTING

157

(2)

References

159

(1)

6 Conducting Evaluative Research Using the Single-Subject Design

160

(31)

Overview of Single-Subject Designs

160

(4)

Interpreting the Nomenclature

161

(2)

The AB Single-Subject Research Design

163

(1)

AB Single-Subject Design Addresses Maturation

163

(1)

AB Design Addresses Testing Threat

163

(1)

AB Design Does Not Address History

163

(1)

AB Design Procedure

164

(1)

Measuring Client Behavior During a Baseline Period

164

(5)

Baseline Recordings

164

(1)

Analyzing Baseline Recordings

164

(2)

Problematic Baseline Trends

166

(1)

Baseline Trends

167

(2)

Continued Recording During Treatment Period

169

(1)

Analyzing the Data

170

(8)

Practical Significance

170

(1)

Stastistical Significance

170

(2)

Analyzing Data When the Baseline Trend Is Level

172

(1)

Analyzing Data When the Trend Is Going Up or Down

173

(2)

Analyzing Data When Progress Is Measured in Only Two Categories

175

(3)

Other Single-Subject Research Designs

178

(12)

The B Single-Subject Design

179

(1)

Modified AB Design

179

(1)

The BC Design

180

(1)

The ABC Design

181

(1)

Two Experimental Designs--ABA and ABAB

181

(1)

The Issue of Autocorrelation

182

(2)

An Exercise Using Hypothetical Data from Clients of Project PARENTING

184

(6)

References

190

(1)

7 Conducting Program Evaluations Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

191

(16)

The Systems Model for Classifying Evaluation Efforts

192

(7)

Evaluating Need

192

(2)

Evaluating Service Process

194

(2)

Evaluating Efficiency

196

(1)

Evaluating Outcome

197

(1)

Client Satisfaction

198

(1)

An Example of Needs Assessment Using the Social Survey

199

(2)

Identifying Need and Setting Priorities Using a Qualitative Method: The Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

201

(5)

Preview: Six Steps of the NGT Process

202

(1)

Preliminary Considerations in the Use of NGT

203

(3)

References

206

(1)

UNIT II Practical Guidelines for Conducting Social Work Research

207

(50)

8 Developing the Introduction and Literature Review for a Research Study

209

(10)

General Guidelines

210

(7)

Principle 1: Select a topic with an accessible knowledge base.

210

(1)

Principle 2: Develop a first draft outline of the literature review before you begin writing.

210

(1)

Principle 3: Divide the literature review into sections with headings.

211

(1)

Principle 4: Use a reference format consistently throughout your paper.

212

(1)

Principle 5: Use direct quotes sparingly.

213

(1)

Principle 6: Establish the authority behind what you say.

214

(1)

Principle 7: Stay focused and be clear about what you say.

215

(1)

Principle 8: Demonstrate your contribution.

216

(1)

Principle 9: Avoid lengthy paragraphs.

216

(1)

The Introduction to Your Paper

217

(2)

Principle 1: The introduction should be brief; reserve full explanation of theories or research findings for the literature review.

217

(1)

Principle 2: Begin the introduction with a description of the problem and the reasons for its importance.

217

(1)

Principle 3: Clarify the purpose of the study after the description of the problem.

217

(2)

9 Writing Study Purposes, Questions, Hypotheses, and Titles

219

(8)

Writing the Study Purpose and Research Question

220

(2)

Principle 1: When you are not examining empirical relationships between variables, state a research purpose or question rather than a hypothesis.

220

(1)

Principle 2: When there is insufficient evidence to predict the direction of the relationship between variables, state a research question or purpose rather than a research hypothesis.

221

(1)

Principle 3: The statement of the research question or purpose should be specific to the task you are undertaking rather than something that is peripheral to it.

221

(1)

Principle 4: Your purpose should be to discover rather than to justify.

221

(1)

Writing the Research Hypothesis

222

(3)

Principle 1: The research hypothesis should name the study variables and identify the nature of the expected relationship between them.

222

(1)

Principle 2: The variables named in the hypothesis should be operationally defined.

223

(1)

Principle 3: You should be careful to specify the variables that you are directly measuring in your study rather than other concepts that might be inferred from them.

223

(1)

Principle 4: If two groups are being compared, both groups should be identified in the hypothesis.

223

(1)

Principle 5: Hypotheses should be free of terms that are not directly relevant to the variables being measured.

223

(1)

Principle 6: When the scope of the study is restricted to one population, you should specify the population in your hypothesis.

224

(1)

Principle 7: The statement of the hypothesis should match the means used to measure study variables.

225

(1)

Writing the Title of the Research Article

225

(1)

Principle 1: The title should be concise, yet meaningful.

225

(1)

Principle 2: The title should identify the types of variables in the study, as well as the study population.

226

(1)

Principle 3: The title should identify what was studied rather than the results.

226

(1)

References

226

(1)

10 Using Standardized Instruments for Measuring Study Variables

227

(7)

Principle 1: Select an instrument that clearly measures your study variables as you have defined them.

227

(1)

Principle 2: Select an instrument that is appropriate for your study sample.

228

(1)

Principle 3: Select an instrument that is sensitive to the kinds of changes that you can reasonably expect.

228

(1)

Principle 4: Select an instrument with adequate reliability and validity.

229

(1)

Principle 5: Carefully adhere to the instructions for administering the instrument.

230

(1)

Principle 6: Obtain the study subject's informed consent to respond to the scale.

230

(1)

Principle 7: Pilot test the instrument.

231

(1)

Principle 8: Be careful about the way the instrument is to be scored.

231

(1)

Key Sources of Instruments for Social Workers

232

(1)

References

233

(1)

11 Conducting a Mailed Survey

234

(12)

Principle 1: Do not encumber the survey questionnaire with items that are not consistent with the study questions or research hypothesis.

236

(2)

Principle 2: Use the study purpose, research questions, or hypothesis to clarify whether you are seeking information on opinions, behaviors, knowledge, or something else.

238

(1)

Principle 3: Use a probability sample if you are seeking to precisely describe a study population.

238

(2)

Principle 4: Use multistage sampling when the study population is too complex for simple random sampling.

240

(1)

Principle 5: Use disproportional sampling if you need to compare groups where one group is very small.

240

(1)

Principle 6: The cover letter should motivate participation without encouraging a biased response.

240

(1)

Principle 7: Use standardized instruments where feasible.

241

(1)

Principle 8: Keep the questionnaire as simple and brief as possible.

241

(1)

Principle 9: Use the closed-ended question if you are aware of the normal pattern of responses to the question.

242

(1)

Principle 10: Place demographic and controversial items toward the end of the questionnaire.

243

(1)

Principle 11: Use transitional sentences if your questionnaire is complex.

243

(1)

Principle 12: Avoid common errors in questionnaire item construction.

243

(1)

Principle 13: Pilot test your instrument before administering it to your sample.

244

(1)

Principle 14: Send follow-up correspondence to enhance your return rate.

244

(1)

References

245

(1)

12 Writing the Methods, Results, and Conclusions for the Research Report

246

(11)

Writing the Methods Section of the Research Report

246

(4)

Principle 1: State the research question or study hypothesis if this was not sufficiently clarified in the introduction or literature review.

246

(1)

Principle 2: Present the basic study design in sufficient detail to facilitate replication.

247

(1)

Principle 3: Identify the instruments employed to measure study variables and the definition of the variables they were designed to measure.

247

(1)

Principle 4: If you employ a published scale, identify whether reliability and validity have been addressed and refer to the source of the instrument.

248

(1)

Principle 5: If you employ an unpublished scale, describe the instrument in detail and report how reliability and validity have been addressed.

248

(1)

Principle 6: Define the study population and the sampling method used

249

(1)

Principle 7: Describe the characteristics of the study sample.

250

(1)

Writing the Results Section of the Research Article

250

(3)

Principle 1: Organize data presentation around the research question or study hypothesis.

251

(1)

Principle 2: Organize large amounts of data into tables and refer only to the data highlights in the narrative.

251

(1)

Principle 3: Present explanatory and evaluative results with statistical details in parenthesis.

252

(1)

Writing the Conclusions Section of the Article

253

(2)

Principle 1: At the beginning of the conclusions section, restate the study purpose, question, or hypothesis, and summarize the evidence presented in its behalf.

253

(1)

Principle 2: In the conclusions section, present only the highlights of the results rather than restating them in detail.

254

(1)

Principle 3: Discuss the limitations of the study.

254

(1)

Principle 4: Examine the implications of the study for social work and the directions for future research.

255

(1)

References

255

(2)

UNIT III Analyzing Data in Social Work Research

257

(126)

13 Reviewing Basic Research Concepts Necessary for Data Analysis

259

(20)

Objectives

259

(1)

Reviewing the Research Process

260

(6)

Developing the Research Question or Study Hypothesis

260

(1)

Conceptualizing Study Variables

261

(1)

Measuring Study Variables

261

(2)

Using Statistics

263

(1)

Interpreting Results

263

(3)

Five Questions You Must Answer in Order to Select a Statistical Measure

266

(8)

Question 1. What is the specific research question or study hypothesis?

266

(1)

Question 2. How many variables are in this specific analysis?

267

(1)

Question 3. Which variable is dependent and which is independent?

268

(3)

Question 4. At what level is each variable measured?

271

(3)

Question 5. Are the data drawn from independent samples?

274

(1)

References

274

(5)

14 Selecting a Statistical Measure for Your Study

279

(10)

Practice Examples for How to Use This Guide

280

(3)

Determining What Chart to Use in the Selection of a Statistic (Exhibit 14.1)

283

(1)

Selecting a Statistic for Examining the Nature of One Variable (Exhibit 14.2)

284

(1)

Selecting a Statistic for Examining the Relationship between Two Nomimal Variables (Exhibit 14.3)

285

(1)

Selecting a Statistic for Examining the Relationship between Two Variables Where At Least One is Measured at the Ordinal Level (Exhibit 14.4)

286

(1)

Selecting a Statistic for Measuring the Relationship between Two Variables Where At Least One is Measured at the Interval Level (Exhibit 14.5)

287

(1)

Selecting a Statistic for Examining the Relationship Between Three or More Variables (Exhibit 14.6)

288

(1)

15 Data Analysis Using SPSS for Windows

289

(18)

Objectives

289

(3)

Data Files

292

(3)

Background Information

295

(1)

Getting Started with SPSS

296

(1)

Beginning Steps in Creating a New Data File

297

(4)

Step 1: Access Data Editor

297

(1)

Step 2: Define and Label Variables

298

(3)

Entering Data

301

(1)

Saving Your Data on a File for Later Use

302

(1)

Printing Your Data File

302

(1)

Creating New Variables

302

(2)

Using a Sub-Sample of Cases

304

(1)

To Return to the Full Data File

305

(1)

Opening an Existing File

305

(1)

Quick Reference for Using SPSS for Windows

305

(2)

Creating a New Data File

305

(1)

Using an Existing Data File

305

(1)

Defining Variables When Labels Are Not Needed

306

(1)

Defining Variables and Giving Labels

306

(1)

Saving Your File on a Disk in Drive A

306

(1)

Printing Your Output

306

(1)

Clearing the Output Window

306

(1)

16 Selected Statistics with Illustrations Using SPSS for Windows

307

(41)

Objectives

308

(1)

Outline of Measures Presented in this Chapter

308

(1)

Analysis of Variance--ANOVA (One Way)

309

(2)

Example

310

(1)

Binomial Test

311

(1)

Example

312

(1)

Chi Square One-Sample Test

312

(2)

Example

313

(1)

Chi square Test for Two Independent Samples

314

(4)

Example

315

(1)

Warning

315

(1)

Examining the Strength of the Relationship

316

(1)

Degrees of Freedom

316

(2)

Contingency Coefficient

318

(1)

Descriptive Statistics

318

(4)

Obtaining Frequencies and Proportions

318

(1)

Obtaining the Mean, Median, Mode, and Standard Deviation

319

(2)

Obtaining Bar Charts and Pie Charts

321

(1)

Fischer Exact Probability Test

322

(2)

Example

322

(2)

Kruskal-Wallis One-Way Analysis of Variance

324

(2)

Example

325

(1)

McNear Test for the Significance of Changes

326

(2)

Example

327

(1)

Mann-Whitney U Test

328

(3)

Example for Analysis

329

(2)

Multiple Regression Analysis

331

(4)

The Problem of Multicollinearity

332

(1)

The Special Case of the Dichotomous Variable

332

(1)

Example

333

(2)

Pearson Correlation Coefficient

335

(2)

Example

335

(2)

Phi Coefficient

337

(1)

Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient

337

(2)

Example

338

(1)

t Test for Paired Data (Related Samples)

339

(3)

Example with Matched Pairs of Study Subjects

339

(1)

Example Using the One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design

340

(2)

t Test for Independent Samples (Two Groups)

342

(2)

Example

343

(1)

Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Signed Ranks Test

344

(4)

Example

345

(3)

17 Analyzing Data in Evaluative Research

348

(18)

Data Analysis for Single-Subject Research Designs

349

(3)

B Design

349

(1)

Modified AB Design

349

(1)

AB Design

350

(1)

BA Design

350

(1)

ABA Design

350

(1)

ABAB Design

350

(1)

BC Design

350

(1)

Using Exhibits 17.1 and 17.2

351

(1)

Notes for Data Analysis for Single-Subject Designs

352

(8)

Note A: Data that May Not be Amenable to Statistical Analysis

353

(1)

Note B: Data Analysis for the Proportion/Frequency Method

353

(1)

Note C: Data Analysis for the Modified AB Design

354

(2)

Note D: Using the Standard Deviation Approach

356

(2)

Note E: Using the Celeration Line Approach for Sloped Data

358

(1)

Note F: Data Analysis for the B Single-Subject Design

359

(1)

Data Analysis for Group Designs

360

(6)

Note G: Comparing Successes with Failures (Binomial Test)

360

(4)

Note H: Comparing a Mean Posttest Score with a Threshold Score (One-Sample t Test)

364

(1)

Note I: Using the t Test for Paired Data with the One-Gro364 Pretest-Posttest Design

364

(1)

Note J: Using the Mann-Whitney U Test with the One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design

364

(1)

Note K: Using the McNear Test with the One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design

365

(1)

Appendix A: Questions to Be Considered in the Phases of Evaluative Research

366

(2)

Problem Formulation

366

(1)

Study Methodology

366

(1)

Data Analysis

367

(1)

Conclusions

367

(1)

Appendix B: Determining Statistical Significance with the Binomial Test

368

(2)

Appendix C: Calculating the Standard Deviation

370

(2)

Step 1: Calculating the Mean Score

370

(1)

Step 2: Calculating the Sum of Squares (SS)

370

(1)

Step 3: Calculating the Standard Deviation (Std)

371

(1)

Appendix D: Using the One-Sample t Test for the One-Shot Case Study

372

(3)

Step 1: Calculating the Mean Score

372

(1)

Step 2: Calculating the Sum of Squares (SS)

372

(1)

Step 3: Calculating the Standard Deviation (Std)

373

(1)

Step 4: Calculating the Standard Error

374

(1)

Step 5: Calculating the Value of t

374

(1)

Step 6: Determining Statistical Significance

374

(1)

Appendix E: Determining Significant Improvement Using B Single-Subject Design

375

(4)

Step 1: Calculating the Mean for All Scores

376

(1)

Step 2a: Calculating the Value of SS(x)

376

(1)

Step 2b: Calculating the Value of 2SS(x)

377

(1)

Step 3: Calculating D2

377

(1)

Step 4: Calculating C

378

(1)

Step 5: Calculating Sc

378

(1)

Step 6: Calculating the Value of Z and Determining Statistical Significance

378

(1)

Appendix F: Using t Test for Paired Data with the One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design

379

(4)

Step 1: Calculating the Gain Score for Each Client and the Mean of All Gain Scores

379

(2)

Step 2: Calculating the Sum of Squares

381

(1)

Step 3: Calculating the Standard Deviation

381

(1)

Step 4: Calculating the Standard Error

382

(1)

Step 5: Calculating the value of t

382

(1)

Step 6: Determining Statistical Significance

382

(1)

Glossary

383

(12)

Index

395

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Conducting Social Work Research An Experiential Approach

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials