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Essential Research Methods For Social Work

by: Rubin, Allen

Essential Research Methods For Social Work

by: Rubin, Allen

ISBN 13:
9780495006589
ISBN 10:
0495006580
Edition: 1st
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 02/08/2006
Publisher: Brooks Cole
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Summary

Master research methods with ESSENTIAL RESEARCH METHODS FOR SOCIAL WORK! Student-friendly and clear, this social work text provides you with the tools you need to understand essential research methods content. Illustrations and examples throughout show you how you can apply research to practice. Studying is made easy with a book-specific website that provides you with tutorial quizzes and links to additional related concepts. Outlines, introductions, boxes, chapter endings with main points, review questions and exercises, and internet exercises provide you with the information and practice you need to succeed in this course.

Preface

xvii

PART 1 An Introduction to Scientific Inquiry in Social Work

(70)

The Utility of Research in Social Work

(8)

Introduction

(1)

Research in Evidence-Based Practice

(1)

Additional Reasons Why Social Workers Should Learn About Research

(2)

Main Points

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

(1)

Internet Exercises

(1)

Additional Readings

(1)

How Do Social Workers Know Things?

(12)

Introduction

(1)

The Scientific Method

(2)

Other Ways of Knowing

(2)

Tradition

(1)

Authority

(1)

Common Sense

(1)

Popular Media

(1)

Recognizing Flaws in Unscientific Sources of Social Work Practice Knowledge

(4)

Inaccurate Observation

(1)

Overgeneralization

(1)

Selective Observation

(1)

Ex Post Facto Hypothesizing

(1)

Ego Involvement in Understanding

(1)

Other Forms of Illogical Reasoning

(1)

The Premature Closure of Inquiry

(1)

Objectivity and Subjectivity in Scientific Inquiry

(1)

Paradigms

(1)

Main Points

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

(1)

Internet Exercises

(1)

Additional Readings

(1)

Factors Influencing the Research Process

(14)

Introduction

(1)

Quantitative and Qualitative Methods of Inquiry

(1)

The Influence of Paradigms

(2)

The Influence of Theories

(2)

Inductive and Deductive Uses of Theory

(1)

Social Work Practice Models

(1)

Research Purposes

(2)

Exploration

(1)

Description

(1)

Explanation

(1)

Evaluation

(1)

Constructing Measurement Instruments

(1)

Multiple Purposes

(1)

Explaining and Predicting

(1)

The Time Dimension

(1)

Cross-Sectional Studies

(1)

Longitudinal Studies

(1)

Phases in the Research Process in Quantitative and Qualitative Studies

(2)

Main Points

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

(1)

Internet Exercises

(1)

Additional Readings

(1)

Ethical Issues in Social Work Research

(20)

Introduction

(1)

Ethical Guidelines in Social Work Research

(4)

Voluntary Participation and Informed Consent

(2)

No Harm to Participants

(1)

Anonymity and Confidentiality

(1)

Deceiving Participants

(1)

Analysis and Reporting

(1)

Weighing Benefits and Costs

(3)

An Illustration: Living with the Dying---Use of Participant Observation

(1)

Right to Receive Services versus Responsibility to Evaluate Service Effectiveness

(1)

NASW Code of Ethics

(1)

Two Ethical Controversies

(3)

Observing Human Obedience

(2)

Social Worker Submits Bogus Article to Test Journal Bias

(1)

Institutional Review Boards

(1)

Bias and Insensitivity Regarding Gender and Culture

(2)

Politics and Values

(3)

Main Points

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

(1)

Internet Exercises

(1)

Additional Readings

(1)

Culturally Competent Research

(15)

Introduction

(1)

Recruiting and Retaining the Participation of Minority and Oppressed Populations in Research Studies

(7)

Obtain Endorsement from Community Leaders

(1)

Use Culturally Sensitive Approaches Regarding Confidentiality

(1)

Employ Local Community Members as Research Staff

(1)

Provide Adequate Compensation

(1)

Alleviate Transportation and Child Care Barriers

(1)

Choose a Sensitive and Accessible Setting

(1)

Use and Train Culturally Competent Interviewers

(1)

Use Bilingual Staff

(1)

Understand Cultural Factors Influencing Participation

(1)

Use Anonymous Enrollment with Stigmatized Populations

(1)

Use Special Sampling Techniques

(1)

Learn Where to Look

(1)

Connect With and Nurture Referral Sources

(1)

Use Frequent and Individualized Contacts and Personal Touches

(1)

Use Anchor Points

(1)

Use Tracking Methods

(1)

Culturally Competent Problem Formulation

(1)

Culturally Competent Data Analysis and Reporting

(1)

Acculturation

(1)

Culturally Competent Measurement

(2)

Language Problems

(1)

Cultural Bias

(1)

Measurement Equivalence

(1)

Assessing Measurement Equivalence

(1)

Main Points

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

(1)

Internet Exercises

(1)

Additional Readings

(1)

PART 2 Problem Formulation and Measurement

(60)

Reviewing Literature and Developing Research Questions

(12)

Introduction

(1)

Literature Review

(7)

Using the Library

(1)

Electronically Accessing Library Materials

(1)

Professional Journals

(3)

Writing the Literature Review

(1)

Attributes of Good Research Questions

(2)

Feasibility

(1)

Involving Others in Formulating Research Questions

(1)

Main Points

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

(1)

Internet Exercises

(1)

Conceptualization in Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry

(14)

Introduction

(1)

Conceptualization in Quantitative Inquiry

(9)

Developing a Proper Hypothesis

(1)

Mediating and Moderating Variables

(2)

Types of Relationships Between Variables

(1)

Operational Definitions

(1)

The Influence of Operational Definitions

(1)

Categories of Operational Definitions in Social Work

(1)

Existing Scales

(3)

Conceptualization in Qualitative Inquiry

(2)

Main Points

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

(1)

Internet Exercises

(1)

Additional Readings

(1)

Measurement in Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry

(12)

Introduction

(1)

Sources of Measurement Error

(2)

Errors in Alternate Forms of Measurement

100

(1)

Reliability

101

(2)

Types of Reliability

101

(2)

Validity

103

(1)

Types of Validity

103

(1)

Relationship Between Reliability and Validity

104

(1)

Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research

105

(3)

Main Points

108

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

108

(1)

Internet Exercises

109

(1)

Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement Instruments

110

(21)

Introduction

111

(1)

Generic Guidelines for Asking Questions

111

(3)

Questions and Statements

111

(1)

Open-Ended and Closed-Ended Questions

111

(1)

Make Items Clear

112

(1)

Avoid Double-Barreled Questions

112

(1)

Respondents Must Be Competent to Answer

112

(1)

Respondents Must Be Willing to Answer

113

(1)

Questions Should Be Relevant

113

(1)

Short Items Are Best

113

(1)

Avoid Negative Items

113

(1)

Avoid Biased Items and Terms

113

(1)

Critically Appraising Quantitative Instruments

114

(6)

Questionnaires

114

(4)

Scales

118

(2)

Critically Appraising Qualitative Measures

120

(1)

Qualitative Interviewing

121

(3)

Informal Conversational Interviews

121

(1)

Interview Guide Approach

122

(2)

Standardized Open-Ended Interviews

124

(1)

Illustration of a Standardized Open-Ended Interview Schedule

124

(1)

A Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Asking People Questions

124

(4)

Main Points

128

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

129

(1)

Internet Exercises

129

(2)

PART 3 Sampling and Surveys

131

(42)

Surveys

132

(17)

Introduction

133

(1)

Self-Administered Questionnaires

133

(3)

Mail Distribution and Return

134

(1)

Cover Letters

134

(2)

Follow-up Mailings

136

(1)

Acceptable Response Rates

136

(1)

Interview Surveys

136

(3)

The Role of the Survey Interviewer

136

(1)

General Guidelines for Survey Interviewing

137

(2)

Coordination and Control

139

(1)

Telephone Surveys

139

(2)

Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing

140

(1)

New Technologies and Survey Research

141

(1)

Online Surveys

141

(1)

Comparison of the Different Survey Methods

141

(1)

Strengths and Weaknesses of Survey Research

142

(2)

Combining Survey Research Methods and Qualitative Research Methods

144

(1)

Use of Surveys in Needs Assessment

144

(3)

Main Points

147

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

148

(1)

Internet Exercises

148

(1)

Sampling: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches

149

(24)

Introduction

150

(1)

Quantitative Sampling Methods

150

(9)

President Alf Landon

150

(1)

President John Kerry

150

(1)

Probability Sampling

151

(8)

Types of Probability Sampling Designs

159

(5)

Simple Random Sampling

159

(1)

Systematic Sampling

159

(3)

Stratified Sampling

162

(2)

Multistage Cluster Sampling

164

(1)

Probability Sampling in Review

164

(1)

Nonprobability Sampling in Quantitative and Qualitative Research

164

(4)

Reliance on Available Subjects

164

(2)

Purposive or Judgmental Sampling

166

(1)

Quota Sampling

167

(1)

Snowball Sampling

167

(1)

Additional Qualitative Sampling Methods

168

(1)

Deviant Case Sampling

168

(1)

Intensity Sampling

169

(1)

Maximum Variation and Homogeneous Sampling

169

(1)

Theoretical Sampling

169

(1)

Main Points

169

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

170

(1)

Internet Exercises

171

(2)

PART 4 Designs for Evaluating Programs and Practice

173

(62)

Group Designs for Evaluating Programs and Practice

174

(23)

Introduction

175

(1)

Criteria for Inferring Causality

175

(1)

Internal Validity

175

(3)

Threats to Internal Validity

176

(2)

Pre-Experimental Designs

178

(2)

Pilot Studies

179

(1)

Experimental Designs

180

(3)

Randomization

182

(1)

Providing Services to Control Groups

183

(1)

Quasi-Experimental Designs

183

(4)

Nonequivalent Comparison Groups Design

184

(1)

Time-Series Designs

185

(2)

Additional Threats to the Validity of Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Findings

187

(4)

Measurement Bias

187

(1)

Research Reactivity

187

(2)

Diffusion or Imitation of Treatments

189

(1)

Compensatory Equalization, Compensatory Rivalry, or Resentful Demoralization

190

(1)

Attrition

191

(1)

External Validity

191

(1)

Cross-Sectional Studies

192

(1)

Case-Control Design

193

(1)

Main Points

194

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

195

(1)

Internet Exercises

195

(2)

Program Evaluation

197

(16)

Introduction

198

(1)

Purposes of Program Evaluation

198

(1)

Historical Overview

198

(1)

The Politics of Program Evaluation

199

(2)

In-House versus External Evaluators

200

(1)

Practical Pitfalls, in Carrying Out Experiments and Quasi-Experiments in Social Work Agencies

201

(3)

Fidelity of the Intervention

201

(1)

Contamination of the Control Condition

202

(1)

Resistance to the Case Assignment Protocol

202

(1)

Client Recruitment and Retention

203

(1)

Mechanisms for Avoiding or Alleviating Practical Pitfalls

203

(1)

Planning an Evaluation and Fostering Its Utilization

204

(3)

Types of Program Evaluation

207

(3)

Evaluating Outcome and Efficiency

207

(1)

Monitoring Program Implementation

208

(1)

Process Evaluation

208

(1)

Evaluation for Program Planning: Needs Assessment

209

(1)

Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Program Evaluation

210

(1)

Main Points

210

(2)

Practice-Related Exercises

212

(1)

Internet Exercises

212

(1)

Single-Case Evaluation Designs

213

(22)

Introduction

214

(2)

Single-Case Designs in Social Work

216

(1)

Use of Single-Case Designs as Part of Social Work Practice

217

(1)

Measurement Issues

217

(1)

What to Measure

218

(1)

Triangulation

218

(1)

Data Gathering

218

(6)

Who Should Measure?

219

(1)

Sources of Data

219

(1)

Reliability and Validity

219

(1)

Direct Behavioral Observation

220

(1)

Unobtrusive versus Obtrusive Observation

220

(1)

Data Quantification Procedures

221

(1)

The Baseline Phase

221

(3)

Alternative Single-Case Designs

224

(6)

AB: The Basic Single-Case Design

224

(1)

ABAB: Withdrawal/Reversal Design

224

(2)

Multiple-Baseline Designs

226

(3)

Multiple-Component Designs

229

(1)

Data Analysis

230

(1)

The Role of Qualitative Research Methods in Single-Case Evaluation

231

(1)

Main Points

231

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

232

(1)

Internet Exercises

232

(1)

Additional Readings

233

(2)

PART 5 Additional Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

235

(38)

Additional Methods in Qualitative Inquiry

236

(20)

Introduction

237

(1)

Ethnography

237

(2)

Two Ethnographic Studies of Homelessness

237

(2)

Case Studies

239

(1)

Life History

239

(1)

Feminist Methods

240

(1)

Focus Groups

240

(2)

Participatory Action Research

242

(2)

An Illustration of a Participatory Action Research Study Using Focus Groups and Feminist Methods: The Voices of Battered Women in Japan

243

(1)

Grounded Theory

244

(1)

Special Considerations in Qualitative Observation

245

(2)

The Various Roles of the Observer

246

(1)

Emic and Etic Perspectives

247

(1)

Conducting Qualitative Research

247

(3)

Recording Observations

248

(2)

Comparing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Qualitative and Quantitative Research

250

(1)

Depth of Understanding

250

(1)

Flexibility

250

(1)

Subjectivity

250

(1)

Generalizability

250

(1)

Standards for Evaluating Qualitative Studies

251

(2)

Main Points

253

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

254

(1)

Internet Exercises

254

(1)

Additional Readings

254

(2)

Analyzing Available Records: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

256

(17)

Introduction

257

(1)

Secondary Analysis

257

(1)

Analyzing Existing Statistics

258

(2)

Missing Data

258

(1)

Problems of Validity

259

(1)

Problems of Reliability

259

(1)

Sources of Existing Statistics

260

(1)

Content Analysis

260

(7)

Sampling in Content Analysis

263

(1)

Coding in Content Analysis

264

(1)

Manifest and Latent Content

264

(1)

Qualitative Content Analysis

265

(1)

An Illustration of a Qualitative Content Analysis in Social Work Research

265

(1)

Strengths and Weaknesses of Content Analysis

266

(1)

Historical Research

267

(3)

Sources of Historical Data

267

(2)

Analytic Techniques

269

(1)

Main Points

270

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

271

(1)

Internet Exercises

271

(1)

Additional Readings

272

(1)

PART 6 Data Analysis

273

(27)

Quantitative Data Analysis

274

(14)

Introduction

275

(1)

Coding

275

(1)

Descriptive Univariate Analysis

275

(3)

Frequency Distributions

275

(1)

Central Tendency

276

(1)

Dispersion

276

(1)

Levels of Measurement

277

(1)

Relationships Among Variables

278

(7)

Interpreting Bivariate Tables

278

(1)

Interpreting Multivariate Tables

279

(1)

Interpreting Measures of Association

280

(2)

Effect Size

282

(1)

Strong, Medium, and Weak Effect Sizes

283

(1)

Substantive Significance

284

(1)

Inferential Analysis

285

(1)

Refuting Chance

286

(1)

Main Points

286

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

287

(1)

Internet Exercises

287

(1)

Additional Readings

287

(1)

Qualitative Data Analysis

288

(12)

Introduction

289

(1)

Coding

289

(4)

Coding as a Physical Act

289

(1)

Creating Codes

290

(2)

Memoing

292

(1)

Discovering Patterns

293

(3)

Grounded Theory Method

294

(1)

Semiotics

294

(1)

Conversation Analysis

295

(1)

Concept Mapping

295

(1)

Computer Programs for Qualitative Data

296

(1)

Main Points

297

(1)

Practice-Related Exercises

297

(1)

Internet Exercises

298

(1)

Additional Readings

299

(1)

Appendix A. WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS

300

(7)

Before You Start Writing the Proposal

300

(1)

Research Proposal Components

300

(7)

Cover Materials

301

(1)

Problem and Objectives

301

(1)

Literature Review

301

(1)

Conceptual Framework

302

(1)

Measurement

302

(1)

Study Participants (Sampling)

303

(1)

Design and Data Collection Methods

303

(1)

Data Analysis

304

(1)

Schedule

304

(1)

Budget

304

(1)

Additional Components

304

(3)

Appendix B. WRITING SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH REPORTS

307

(7)

Some Basic Considerations

307

(2)

Audience

307

(1)

Form and Length of the Report

308

(1)

Aim of the Report

308

(1)

Avoiding Plagiarism

308

(1)

Organization of the Report

309

(3)

Title

309

(1)

Abstract

310

(1)

Introduction and Literature Review

310

(1)

Methods

310

(1)

Results

310

(1)

Discussion and Conclusions

311

(1)

References and Appendices

312

(1)

Additional Considerations When Writing Qualitative Reports

312

(1)

Additional Readings

313

(1)

Appendix C. RANDOM NUMBERS

314

(2)

Glossary

316

(12)

Bibliography

328

(5)

Index

333

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Essential Research Methods For Social Work

Essential Research Methods For Social Work

9780495006589

0495006580

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Essential Research Methods For Social Work

Essential Research Methods For Social Work

9780495006589

0495006580

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

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