Research Methods in Social Work

by Royse, David

• ISBN13: 9780534506087
• ISBN10: 0534506089
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-16
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

Don't get lost in Research Methods--succeed in the class with RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL WORK. This how-to book includes simplified, step-by-step instructions using real-world data and scenarios. Plus, it comes with updated tools that show you how to create a research project and write a thesis proposal. Every chapter comes with self-assessment sections so you can see for yourself how you're doing and prepare effectively for the test.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(15)
Where Does Research Start?	1	(3)
How Research Relates to Practice	4	(1)
Social Work Students and Research	5	(1)
Why Research Is Required	6	(4)
Junk Science	9	(1)
Desired Outcome	10	(1)
Self-Review	11	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	11	(1)
Resources and References	12	(1)
Who Are the Students in This Research Class?	13	(1)
Where Does Research Start?	14	(1)
The Way Research Proceeds	15	(31)
The Research Process	16	(21)
Step 1: Posing a Question or Stating a Hypothesis	16	(4)
Step 2: Reviewing the Literature	20	(4)
Selected Social Work Journals	24	(1)
Step 3: Developing a Research Design	24	(2)
Example of an Exploratory Study	26	(1)
Step 4: Operationalizing	27	(5)
Step 5: Collecting Data	32	(3)
Step 6: Analyzing and Interpreting the Data	35	(2)
Step 7: Writing the Report	37	(1)
Social Work Research and Practice	37	(1)
Self-Review	38	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	39	(1)
Resources and References	40	(1)
Developing Hypotheses and Research Questions	41	(1)
Conducting a Literature Review	42	(2)
Impressions from Conducting Literature Searches	44	(1)
Reading a Professional Journal Article	45	(1)
Ethical Thinking and Research	46	(23)
Historical Context	47	(3)
Institutional Review Boards	50	(1)
General Guidelines for Ethical Research	51	(6)
Guideline 1: Research Subjects Must Be Volunteers	52	(1)
Guideline 2: Potential Research Subjects Should Be Given Sufficient Information about the Study to Determine Any Possible Risks or Discomforts as Well as Benefits	52	(2)
Practice Note: Anonymity and Confidentiality	54	(1)
Guideline 3: No Harm Shall Result as a Consequence of Participation in the Research	55	(1)
Practice Note: Research and Persons with Alzheimer's Disease	56	(1)
Guideline 4: Sensitive Information Shall Be Protected	56	(1)
Potential Ethical Problems in Research	57	(3)
Deception	57	(1)
Denial of Treatment	58	(1)
Compensation	59	(1)
Existing Data---Research Records without Clients' Consent	59	(1)
Final Thoughts	60	(4)
Practice Note: Conducting Research with Children	61	(2)
Practice Note: Unethical Use of Evaluation	63	(1)
Internet Resources	63	(1)
Self-Review	64	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	64	(1)
Resources and References	65	(1)
The Ethical Implications of Research	66	(1)
Developing a Draft Informed-Consent Form	67	(1)
Preparing an IRB Exemption Request	68	(1)
Single System Designs	69	(28)
The Origin of Single System Designs	70	(1)
Single System Designs and Practice	71	(1)
A Closer Look at the Single System Design	71	(2)
Starting a Single System Study	73	(6)
Types of Designs	79	(8)
The Case Study or B Design	79	(1)
Practice Note: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome	80	(1)
The AB Design	81	(1)
The ABA and ABAB Designs	82	(1)
The ABC and ABCD Designs	83	(1)
Multiple Baseline Designs	84	(3)
Statistical Analysis	87	(2)
Practice Note: Gender and Ethnicity	89	(1)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Single System Designs	89	(1)
Practice Note: Impediments to Using Single System Designs	90	(1)
The Choice and Use of Single System Designs	90	(1)
Self-Review	91	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	92	(1)
Resources and References	93	(1)
Preparing for a Single System Design	94	(1)
Identifying All the Components for a Single System Design	95	(1)
Creating a Single System Design	96	(1)
Research Designs for Group Comparisons	97	(27)
Choosing the Right Design	98	(1)
Experimental Research	98	(5)
The Classic Experimental Research Design	99	(2)
The Posttest-Only Control Group Design	101	(1)
The Solomon Four-Group Design	101	(1)
Practice Note: Cancer Prevention	102	(1)
Internal and External Validity	103	(1)
Major Threats to Internal Validity	103	(4)
Major Threats to External Validity	107	(2)
Pre-Experimental Designs	109	(2)
Quasi-Experimental Designs	111	(3)
Practice Note: Group Work With Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse	112	(2)
Advanced Designs	114	(2)
Factorial Designs	114	(1)
Crossover Designs	115	(1)
Design and Validity Considerations	116	(2)
Self-Review	118	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	119	(1)
Resources and References	119	(1)
Creating a Group Research Design	120	(1)
Analyzing My Research Design	121	(2)
A Case Scenario for Assessing Threats to Internal Validity	123	(1)
Understanding and Using Research Instruments	124	(28)
Reliability	125	(3)
Other Terms for Instruments	126	(2)
Reliability of Procedures	128	(1)
Validity	128	(5)
Examples from Social Work Literature	132	(1)
Locating Research Instruments	133	(1)
When You Can't Find the Instrument You Want	134	(3)
Practice Note: Ethnicity and Measurement Issues	137	(1)
Evaluating Instruments for Use in Practice	137	(1)
A Sampling of Instruments	138	(7)
Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS)	138	(2)
RAGE---A Rating Scale for Aggressive Behavior in the Elderly	140	(2)
CES-D Scale	142	(1)
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale	143	(2)
Final Notes	145	(1)
Self-Review	145	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	146	(1)
References and Resources	147	(2)
Creating a Scale	149	(1)
The Psychometric Properties of a Scale	150	(1)
Finding a Measurement Instrument	151	(1)
Developing Data Collection Instruments: Scales and Questionnaires	152	(25)
The Importance of Appearance	154	(1)
Developing a Data Collection Instrument	154	(5)
Closed-Ended Questions	157	(1)
Open-Ended Questions	157	(2)
Practice Note: Open-Ended Questions	159	(1)
Pitfalls in Writing Good Questions	159	(8)
Double-Barreled Questions	159	(1)
Leading Questions	160	(1)
Unavailable Information	160	(1)
Practice Note: Human Memory	161	(1)
Use of Jargon and Technical Terms	162	(1)
Insensitive Language	163	(1)
Inflammatory or ``Loaded'' Terms	163	(1)
Mutually Exclusive Response Choices	164	(1)
Vague and Ambiguous Terms	164	(2)
All-Inclusive Terms	166	(1)
Negatively Constructed Items	166	(1)
Sequence of Questions	166	(1)
Thinking About Guidelines	167	(1)
Self-Anchored Scales	168	(1)
The Role of Questionnaires in Generalizing Results	168	(3)
Self-Review	171	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	172	(1)
Resources and References	172	(1)
Developing a Questionnaire	173	(1)
Critiquing a Questionnaire	174	(1)
Critiquing a Questionnaire	175	(2)
Survey Research	177	(33)
The Mail Questionnaire	179	(4)
Getting a Good Response Rate	181	(2)
E-mail Surveys	183	(1)
The Telephone Survey	184	(2)
Getting the Most from Telephone Surveys	186	(1)
Personal Interviews	186	(3)
Practice Note: Interviewing Children	187	(1)
Practice Note: Safety Concerns	188	(1)
Getting the Most from Personal Interviews	188	(1)
Comparison of the Approaches	189	(1)
Sampling Theory	189	(1)
Practice Note: The Reliability of Drug Use Reporting Obtained From Telephone Interviewers	190	(1)
The Accuracy of Probability Samples	190	(4)
Determining Sample Size	194	(2)
Nonprobability Sampling Designs	196	(3)
Internet Survey Database	197	(1)
Snowball Sampling	197	(1)
Quota Samples	198	(1)
Additional Survey Designs	198	(1)
More Notes about Surveys	199	(2)
Practice Note: Creating an Asian American Sampling Frame	201	(1)
Interpreting Surveys: Points to Remember	201	(2)
Self-Review	203	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	204	(1)
Resources and References	205	(2)
Locating and Critically Reading a Survey Study	207	(1)
Creating a Survey	208	(2)
Unobtrusive Approaches to Data Collection: Secondary Data and Content Analysis	210	(25)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Unobtrusive Approaches	213	(2)
State-Maintained Data Sets and Secondary Analysis	215	(1)
Applications of Secondary Data Analysis	216	(3)
Internet Resources	217	(2)
Secondary Analysis of Survey Data	219	(2)
Public Opinion of the Death Penalty Over Time	220	(1)
Internet Survey Depositories and Databases	221	(1)
Content Analysis	221	(1)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Content Analysis	222	(1)
Steps in Conducting Content Analysis	223	(1)
Step 1: Framing a Research Question	223	(1)
Step 2: Deciding on Source Materials	223	(1)
Step 3: Deciding on Units of Analysis	223	(1)
Step 4: Deciding on Sampling Design	224	(1)
Step 5: Conducting Reliability Checks	224	(1)
A Practical Application of Content Analysis	224	(2)
Final Thoughts on Unobtrusive Approaches	226	(1)
Self-Review	226	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	227	(1)
Resources and References	227	(2)
Conducting a Content Analysis	229	(3)
Conducting a Secondary Data Analysis	232	(3)
Qualitative Research	235	(21)
Characteristics of Qualitative Research	237	(2)
Methods Used in Qualitative Research	239	(2)
Book with Ethnographic Perspectives	240	(1)
Steps in Doing Qualitative Research	241	(2)
Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Studies	243	(1)
The Problem with Qualitative Research	244	(1)
Program Evaluation with Qualitative Approaches	245	(1)
Focus Groups	246	(3)
Steps in Planning and Conducting a Focus Group	247	(1)
Selected Studies Involving Focus Groups	248	(1)
Points to Keep in Mind About Focus Groups	249	(1)
The Great Debate	249	(1)
Final Thoughts on the Quantitative-Qualitative Controversy	250	(1)
Self-Review	251	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	252	(1)
Resources and References	252	(2)
Designing a Qualitative Research Project	254	(1)
Obtaining an Oral History	255	(1)
Program Evaluation	256	(19)
Thinking About Conducting a Program Evaluation	257	(1)
Considerations Before Beginning a Program Evaluation	257	(1)
Types of Program Evaluation	258	(10)
Patterns of Use	258	(3)
Formative Evaluation	261	(1)
Consumer Satisfaction	262	(1)
Questions and Data Sources Useful in Process Evaluation	263	(2)
Outcome Evaluation	265	(2)
Cost Effectiveness and Cost Analysis	267	(1)
Steps in Conducting a Cost-Effectiveness Study	268	(1)
Other Models	269	(1)
Practical Considerations for Making the Evaluation Process Smooth	269	(1)
Self-Review	270	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	270	(2)
Resources and References	272	(1)
Designing a Program Evaluation	273	(1)
Reading a Program Evaluation	274	(1)
Data Analysis	275	(31)
Steps in Data Analysis	276	(14)
Step 1: Cleaning and Editing the Data	276	(1)
Step 2: Data Entry	276	(3)
Step 3: Univariate Analysis	279	(7)
Step 4: Hypothesis Testing	286	(4)
The t-Test	290	(3)
Correlation	293	(3)
Tips for Interpreting Correlations	296	(1)
The Elaboration Model	296	(2)
Multivariate Analysis of Data	298	(1)
A Final Note	298	(1)
Self-Review	299	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	300	(1)
Resources and References	301	(1)
Analyzing Data	302	(1)
Analyzing Data	303	(3)
Professional Writing: Proposals, Research Reports, and Journal Articles	306	(39)
Writing Grant Proposals	307	(3)
Writing Research Reports	310	(1)
Components of a Research Report	310	(10)
Introduction	311	(1)
Review of the Literature	312	(1)
The Methods Section	313	(3)
The Results	316	(2)
The Discussion	318	(1)
References, Appendices, and Abstracts	319	(1)
Publication as a Practice Goal	320	(1)
Writing for Professional Journals	320	(3)
Reading and Critiquing Research Manuscripts	323	(1)
Self-Review	324	(1)
Questions for Class Discussion	324	(1)
Resources and References	325	(1)
Assessing Grant Proposals	326	(2)
Assessing Grant Reports	328	(3)
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Spearman-Brown Prophesy Formula	331	(2)
Appendix B: Attitudes About Research Courses (Instrument)	333	(2)
Appendix C: Drug Attitude Questionnaire (Instrument)	335	(2)
Appendix D: How to Use a Table of Random Numbers	337	(8)
Answers to Self-Review Questions	345	(6)
Index	351