Research Methods for Social Workers

by Yegidis, Bonnie L.; Weinbach, Robert W.

• ISBN13: 9780205332335
• ISBN10: 0205332331
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

The Fifth Edition of Research Methods for Social Workers includes new information on needs assessment, how quantitative and qualitative methods can be used together, more coverage of ethical issues throughout the text and an updated literature review section. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
PART I Knowledge Building for Social Work Practice	1	(44)
How Do We Get Our Knowledge?	3	(22)
Historical Origins of Current Attitudes	3	(5)
Tension between Research and Practice	4	(1)
Efforts to Close the Gap	5	(2)
Research and Practice---No Need for a Gap	7	(1)
Types of Knowledge	8	(2)
Descriptive Knowledge	9	(1)
Predictive Knowledge	9	(1)
Prescriptive Knowledge	10	(1)
Where Do We Get Our ``Knowledge''?	10	(4)
Two Examples	12	(2)
Characteristics of the Scientific Alternative	14	(2)
Quantitative and Qualitative Research	16	(2)
Quantitative Approaches to Knowledge Building	16	(1)
Qualitative Approaches to Knowledge Building	17	(1)
The Traditional Scientific Research Process	18	(2)
The Environment for Scientific Social Work Research	20	(3)
Summary	23	(1)
References	23	(2)
Ethical Issues in Social Work Research	25	(20)
Treatment of Research Participants	26	(10)
Evolution of Ethical Standards for Treatment of Participants	26	(10)
Today's Standards for Treatment of Participants	36	(6)
Voluntary Informed Consent	36	(3)
No Unnecessary Pain and Suffering	39	(1)
Anonymity/Confidentiality	40	(1)
Need to Conduct the Research	41	(1)
Other Ethical Obligations of Researchers	42	(1)
Summary	43	(1)
References	43	(2)
PART II Beginning the Research Process	45	(54)
Research Problems and Questions	47	(16)
Why We Begin with Research Problems	48	(1)
Setting Problem Priorities	49	(5)
Identifying the Real Problem	54	(2)
Selecting Research Questions	56	(4)
Summary	60	(1)
References	60	(3)
Using Existing Knowledge	63	(18)
What Is the Review of Literature?	63	(2)
Purpose of the Review of Literature	65	(1)
Potential Sources of ``Literature''	66	(10)
Standard Reference Materials	66	(1)
Computer-Accessible Databases	67	(1)
The Internet	67	(1)
Books and Articles in Professional Journals	68	(3)
Personal Interviews with Authorities	71	(1)
Research Reports and Monographs	72	(1)
Presentations at Conferences and Symposia	72	(1)
Content of Workshops	73	(1)
Public Documents and Records of Public Gatherings	73	(1)
Newspapers	73	(1)
Radio and Television Broadcasts	74	(1)
Magazines and Periodicals	74	(2)
Organizing the Literature Review	76	(1)
Writing the Report of a Review of Literature	77	(3)
Direction and Flow	77	(1)
Use of Quotations and Citations	78	(1)
The Role of the Researcher in a Report of the Literature Review	79	(1)
Summary	80	(1)
References	80	(1)
Focused Research Questions and Hypotheses	81	(18)
Focused Research Questions	81	(2)
Hypotheses	83	(14)
Related Definitions	85	(4)
Types of Relationships Expressed in Hypotheses	89	(3)
Forms of Research Hypotheses	92	(1)
When Are Hypotheses Appropriate?	93	(1)
Wording of Hypotheses	94	(2)
The ``Perfectly Worded'' Hypothesis	96	(1)
Use of Subhypotheses	96	(1)
Summary	97	(1)
References	98	(1)
PART III Research Design Issues	99	(156)
Introduction to Research Design	101	(28)
What Is a Research Design?	101	(1)
The Purpose of Research Designs	102	(1)
Broad Research Typologies	102	(3)
Cross-Sectional Designs	103	(1)
Longitudinal Designs	103	(2)
The Knowledge-Building Continuum	105	(12)
Exploratory Designs	106	(3)
Descriptive Designs	109	(3)
Explanatory Research	112	(5)
Internal Validity and External Validity	117	(7)
Internal Validity	118	(4)
External Validity	122	(1)
External Validity and Cultural Issues	123	(1)
What Is the ``Best'' Research Design?	124	(1)
Characteristics of Good Designs	125	(2)
Summary	127	(1)
References	128	(1)
Qualitative Research Methods	129	(24)
Interviewing in Qualitative Research	129	(3)
Focus Groups and One-on-One Interviews	130	(1)
Purpose of Interviews	130	(1)
Relationship with Participants	131	(1)
Structure	131	(1)
Dealing with Sensitive Topics	132	(1)
Research That Relies on Qualitative Methods	132	(11)
Unstructured Systematic Observation	133	(2)
Ethnographic Research	135	(3)
Cross-Cultural Research	138	(1)
Case Studies	139	(2)
Grounded Theory	141	(1)
Oral Histories	142	(1)
Criteria for Evaluating Qualitative Designs	143	(1)
Feminist Research	144	(5)
Goals and Assumptions	144	(1)
Feminist Research as a Response to Traditional Research Methods	145	(1)
Design Features	146	(1)
Examples of Feminist Research	146	(3)
Using Qualitative Methods to Evaluate Practice Effectiveness	149	(1)
Summary	149	(1)
References	150	(3)
Quantitative Research Methods	153	(26)
Research That Uses Secondary Data Analysis	154	(8)
Sources of Secondary Data	154	(1)
Different Uses of Secondary Data Analysis	155	(1)
Tasks Required in Secondary Data Analysis	156	(1)
Advantages of Secondary Data Analysis	156	(1)
Disadvantages of Secondary Data Analysis	157	(1)
Some Specialized Methods of Secondary Data Analysis	157	(5)
Research That Collects and Analyzes Original Data	162	(14)
Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research	162	(1)
Structured Observation	162	(3)
In-Person Interviews	165	(4)
Telephone Interviews and E-Mail Surveys	169	(2)
Mailed Surveys	171	(5)
Using Quantitative Methods to Evaluate Practice Effectiveness	176	(1)
Summary	176	(1)
References	177	(2)
Case Sampling	179	(18)
Sampling Terminology	179	(7)
Probability Sampling	186	(4)
Simple Random Sampling	186	(1)
Systematic Random Sampling	187	(1)
Stratified Sampling	187	(2)
Cluster Sampling	189	(1)
Nonprobability Sampling	190	(3)
Convenience Sampling	190	(1)
Purposive Sampling	191	(1)
Snowball Sampling	192	(1)
Quota Sampling	192	(1)
Selecting a Good Sample	193	(2)
Available Resources	193	(1)
Overall Design and Purpose of the Study	193	(1)
Type of Statistical Analysis to Be Used	194	(1)
Level of Representativeness Required	195	(1)
Summary	195	(1)
References	195	(2)
Measurement Concepts and Issues	197	(16)
Preparation for Measurement	198	(2)
Conceptualization	198	(1)
Operationalization	199	(1)
Levels of Measurement	200	(2)
Criteria for Good Measurement	202	(9)
Reliability	203	(3)
Validity	206	(5)
Cultural Issues in Measurement of Variables	211	(1)
Summary	212	(1)
References	212	(1)
Use of Data Collection Instruments	213	(20)
Fixed-Alternative and Open-Ended Items	214	(1)
Indexes and Scales	215	(7)
Indexes	215	(1)
Scales	216	(5)
Construction of Scales	221	(1)
When Are Existing Instruments Appropriate for Use?	222	(1)
Use of Revised Instruments	223	(1)
Constructing New Instruments	224	(4)
Issues in Development of New Instruments	225	(3)
Use of Self-Administered Instruments	228	(2)
Advantages of Self-Administered Instruments	228	(1)
Supervised Administeration of Self-Administered Instruments	229	(1)
Summary	230	(1)
References	231	(2)
Analyzing Data and Disseminating Findings	233	(22)
The Data in Perspective	233	(2)
Preparing for Statistical Analysis of Data	235	(1)
Statistical Analysis of Research Data: An Overview	236	(7)
The Uses of Statistical Analysis	237	(6)
Interpreting and Reporting the Results of Statistical Analysis	243	(1)
Disseminating Research Knowledge	244	(8)
Reports and Monographs	244	(3)
Internal Correspondence and In-Service Training	247	(1)
Major Conference Presentations	247	(2)
Other Professional Gatherings	249	(1)
Publication in Professional Journals	250	(2)
Summary	252	(1)
References	252	(3)
PART IV Evaluation Research	255	(56)
Evaluating Programs	257	(24)
What Is Program Evaluation?	258	(8)
Planning/Evaluation Models	259	(1)
Needs Assessment	260	(2)
Evaluating Program Implementation	262	(2)
Evaluating Program Outcomes	264	(2)
What Is the Appropriate Design for a Program Evaluation?	266	(2)
Other Types of Evaluation Research	268	(3)
Cost-Benefit Analysis	268	(1)
Program Impact Evaluations	269	(1)
Program Structure Evaluations	270	(1)
Who Should Conduct Evaluative Research?	271	(3)
Use of an In-House Evaluator	271	(1)
Use of an External Evaluator	272	(1)
Empowerment Evaluation	273	(1)
The Political Context of Program Evaluation	274	(2)
Ethical Issues	276	(1)
Reports of Program Evaluations	277	(2)
Summary	279	(1)
References	280	(1)
Evaluating Individual Practice Effectiveness	281	(30)
Alternatives to Single-System Research	281	(4)
Supervisor Feedback	281	(1)
Consumer Feedback	282	(1)
Goal Attainment Scaling	283	(2)
Single-System Research	285	(5)
Conducting Single-System Research	290	(1)
Design Alternatives	290	(15)
B	291	(1)
AB	292	(2)
ABA	294	(3)
ABAB	297	(1)
BAB	298	(1)
ABCD	299	(3)
Multiple Baseline	302	(3)
Strengths and Weaknesses of Single-System Research	305	(2)
Ethical Issues	307	(1)
Summary	308	(1)
References	309	(2)
Postscript	311	(2)
Additional Readings in Research Methods	313	(6)
Index	319