Research Methods For Social Workers

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

• ISBN13: 9780205408184
• ISBN10: 0205408184
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• 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	xi
PART I Research and Social Work Practice	1	(52)
Toward Evidence-Based-Practice	3	(28)
Historical Antecedents	4	(4)
Research and Practice---More Similar Than Different	8	(1)
Alternative Knowledge Sources	9	(2)
Logic	10	(1)
Tradition	11	(1)
Authority	11	(1)
Other Problems with Alternative Knowledge Sources	11	(3)
Welfare Recipients	12	(1)
People Who Are Homeless	12	(2)
The Scientific Alternative	14	(1)
Types of Knowledge	15	(2)
Descriptive Knowledge	15	(1)
Predictive Knowledge	16	(1)
Prescriptive Knowledge	16	(1)
Basic and Applied Research	17	(1)
Basic Research	17	(1)
Applied Research	17	(1)
Quantitative and Qualitative Research	18	(6)
Quantitative Research	18	(3)
Qualitative Research	21	(3)
The Environment for Social Work Research	24	(2)
Summary	26	(1)
For Discussion	27	(1)
Endnotes	28	(3)
Ethical Issues in Research	31	(22)
Treatment of Research Participants	32	(10)
The Nazi and Japanese Medical Experiments	33	(3)
The Tuskegee Public Health Studies	36	(2)
The Milgram Studies of Obedience in Authority	38	(2)
The Laud Humphreys Study of Homosexual Behavior	40	(2)
Today's Standards for Treatment of Participants	42	(6)
Voluntary Informed Consent	42	(3)
No Unnecessary Pain and Suffering	45	(1)
Anonymity/Confidentality	46	(1)
Need to Conduct the Research	47	(1)
Other Ethical Obligations of Researchers	48	(2)
Summary	50	(1)
For Discussion	50	(1)
Endnotes	51	(2)
PART II The Planning Stages	53	(54)
Research Problems and Questions	55	(16)
Why We Begin with Research Problems	56	(1)
Identifying Potential Research Problems	56	(7)
Setting Problem Priorities	57	(4)
Identifying the Real Problem	61	(2)
Selecting Research Questions	63	(5)
Summary	68	(1)
For Discussion	68	(1)
Endnotes	69	(2)
Finding and Using Existing Knowledge	71	(18)
What Is a Review of Literature?	71	(2)
Purpose of a Review of Literature	73	(1)
Potential Sources	74	(7)
Professional Journal Articles	74	(2)
Reliable Websites	76	(1)
Books	76	(1)
Personal Interviews with Authorities	77	(1)
Research Reports and Monographs	78	(1)
Research Presentations at Conferences	78	(1)
Newspaper Articles	79	(1)
Standard Reference Materials	80	(1)
Other, Even More ``Questionable'' Sources	81	(2)
Content of Workshops	81	(1)
Radio and Television Broadcasts	81	(1)
Magazines and Periodicals	82	(1)
Organizing the Product	83	(1)
Writing the Report	84	(3)
Direction and Flow	85	(1)
Use of Quotations and Citations	85	(1)
Role of the Researcher	86	(1)
Summary	87	(1)
For Discussion	88	(1)
Endnotes	88	(1)
Focused Research Questions and Research Hypotheses	89	(18)
Focused Questions	89	(2)
Research Hypotheses	91	(13)
Related Definitions	92	(5)
Types of Relationships between Variables	97	(2)
Types of Research Hypotheses	99	(1)
When Are Research Hypotheses Appropriate?	100	(1)
Wording of Research Hypotheses	101	(2)
The ``Perfectly Worded'' Research Hypothesis	103	(1)
Use of Subhypotheses	104	(1)
Summary	104	(1)
For Discussion	105	(1)
Endnotes	106	(1)
PART III Research Designs	107	(170)
Definitions and General Characteristics	109	(30)
What Is a Research Design?	109	(1)
Design Nomenclature	110	(1)
Cross-Sectional, Pretest-Posttest, or Longitudinal	111	(2)
Exploratory, Descriptive, or Explanatory	113	(13)
Exploratory Designs	115	(2)
Descriptive Designs	117	(3)
Explanatory Designs	120	(6)
What Is a ``Good'' Research Design?	126	(9)
Assessing Design Quality	127	(1)
Other Assessment Criteria	128	(7)
Summary	135	(1)
For Discussion	136	(1)
Endnotes	137	(2)
Common Methods for Acquiring Research Data	139	(26)
Secondary Data Analysis	140	(5)
Sources	140	(1)
Different Uses	141	(1)
Tasks Required	141	(1)
Advantages	142	(1)
Limitations	143	(1)
Oral Histories as Secondary Data	143	(2)
Original Data Sources	145	(16)
In-Person Interviews	146	(5)
Group Interviews	151	(1)
Systematic Observation	152	(6)
Telephone	158	(2)
Electronic Communication	160	(1)
Mailed Questionnaires	161	(1)
Summary	161	(1)
For Discussion	162	(1)
Endnotes	163	(2)
Other Ways to Describe Research	165	(26)
The Survey	165	(5)
Common Problems	166	(4)
The Case Study	170	(2)
Suitable Topics	171	(1)
Strengths and Limitations	172	(1)
Grounded Theory	172	(1)
Content Analysis	173	(2)
Historical Research	175	(2)
Ethnographic Research	177	(3)
Cross-Cultural Research	180	(1)
Feminist Research	181	(4)
Goals and Assumptions	181	(1)
A Response to Traditional Research Methods	181	(1)
Design Characteristics	182	(1)
Examples	183	(2)
Meta-Analysis	185	(2)
Summary	187	(1)
For Discussion	188	(1)
Endnotes	188	(3)
Sampling Issues and Options	191	(20)
Terminology	192	(7)
Case	192	(1)
Universe and Population	192	(1)
Sampling Frame	193	(1)
Sample	193	(1)
Representativeness	194	(1)
Size	194	(2)
Sampling Error	196	(1)
Sampling Bias	197	(1)
Statistic and Parameter	198	(1)
Random Sample	198	(1)
Probability Sampling	199	(4)
Simple Random Sampling	199	(1)
Systematic Random Sampling	200	(1)
Stratified Sampling	201	(1)
Cluster Sampling	202	(1)
Nonprobability Sampling	203	(3)
Convenience Sampling	204	(1)
Purposive Sampling	204	(1)
Snowball Sampling	205	(1)
Quota Sampling	206	(1)
Selecting a Good Sample	206	(2)
Available Resources	206	(1)
Overall Design and Purpose of the Study	207	(1)
Statistical Analyses to Be Used	208	(1)
Level of Representativeness Required	208	(1)
Summary	208	(1)
For Discussion	209	(1)
Endnotes	209	(2)
Measurement Concepts and Issues	211	(20)
What Is Measurement?	212	(1)
Preparation for Measurement	212	(2)
Conceptualization	212	(1)
Operationalization	213	(1)
Levels of Measurement	214	(3)
Nominal Level	214	(1)
Ordinal Level	215	(1)
Interval Level	216	(1)
Ratio Level	216	(1)
Criteria for Good Measurement	217	(9)
Reliability	217	(6)
Validity	223	(3)
Cultural Issues in Measurement	226	(2)
Summary	228	(1)
For Discussion	228	(1)
Endnotes	229	(2)
Data Collection Instruments	231	(22)
Fixed-Alternative and Open-Ended Items	232	(1)
Composite Indexes and Scales	233	(10)
Composite Indexes	234	(1)
Scales	234	(9)
Using Existing Instruments	243	(1)
Revising Existing Instruments	244	(1)
Constructing New Instruments	245	(3)
Issues in Development	245	(3)
Use of Self-Administered Instruments	248	(3)
Advantages	249	(1)
Supervised Administration	249	(2)
Summary	251	(1)
For Discussion	251	(1)
Endnotes	252	(1)
Analyzing Data and Disseminating Findings	253	(24)
The Data in Perspective	253	(2)
Preparing for Data Analysis	255	(1)
Data Analysis: An Overview	256	(8)
Qualitative Analysis	256	(1)
Quantitative Analysis	257	(1)
Uses of Statistical Analysis	258	(6)
Interpreting and Reporting the Results	264	(1)
Disseminating the Results	265	(9)
Reports and Monographs	266	(2)
Internal Correspondence and In-Service Training	268	(1)
Major Conferences	269	(2)
Other Professional Gatherings	271	(1)
Publication in Professional Journals	272	(2)
Summary	274	(1)
For Discussion	275	(1)
Endnotes	276	(1)
PART IV Evaluation Research	277	(58)
Evaluating Programs	279	(26)
Use of Logic Models	280	(2)
Program Evaluation as Applied Research	282	(1)
Historical Background	282	(2)
Types of Program Evaluations	284	(6)
Needs Assessments	285	(2)
Formative Evaluations	287	(1)
Outcome Evaluations	288	(2)
Determining the Appropriate Design	290	(3)
Who Conducts Program Evaluations?	293	(4)
Participating in Program Evaluations: Concerns and Issues	297	(1)
Other Ethical Issues	298	(1)
Reports of Program Evaluations	299	(2)
Summary	301	(1)
For Discussion	302	(1)
Endnotes	303	(2)
Evaluating Individual Practice Effectiveness	305	(30)
Before Single-System Research	305	(4)
Supervisor Feedback	305	(1)
Consumer Feedback	306	(1)
Goal Attainment Scaling	307	(2)
Single-System Research	309	(23)
Steps Involved	314	(1)
Some Popular Designs	315	(14)
Strengths and Weaknesses	329	(2)
Ethical Issues	331	(1)
Summary	332	(1)
For Discussion	333	(1)
Endnotes	334	(1)
Postscript	335	(2)
Index	337