Planning and Conducting Agency-Based Research : A Workbook for Social Work Students in Field Placements

by Westerfelt, Alex J.; Dietz, Tracy J.

• ISBN13: 9780801334153
• ISBN10: 0801334152
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This unique workbook provides students and instructors with step-by-step procedures for completing an agency-based research study.The workbook, in 8 1/2 x 11 format, can be used in a field work course while students are actually at a welfare agency conducting their research. It is also designed for research courses to help students learn to conduct a study at a social welfare agency. Or it can be used during their practicum or senior seminars to help them design and write their senior year project or thesis. The workbook is user-friendly, written in clear language with concrete instructions, and includes spaces for student responses. By using the workbook, students will be able to proceed step-by-step to design and conduct a research study.In this edition, the authors have included a new section on outcomes evaluation (Section IX), many new examples, and a fully annotated sample literature review.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
Agency-Based Research	2	(1)
New in this Edition	2	(1)
Layout of the Workbook	3	(1)
Acknowledgments	4	(1)
How to Use This Workbook	5	(1)
Special Note to Students	6	(1)
Special Note to Course Instructors	7	(1)
Special Note to Field Instructors	7	(1)
A Final Note	8	(1)
Section I: Orientation to Agency Research	9	(12)
If the Agency Has a Research Program	10	(4)
If the Agency Does Not Have a Research Program	14	(3)
Staff Views and Usage of Research	17	(3)
Agency Resources for Your Research	20	(1)
Section II: Protection of Research Participants (Preliminary)	21	(4)
The University IRB	23	(1)
The Agency IRB	23	(1)
Prepare a Time Line for Your Human Subjects' Review Application	24	(1)
Section III: The Research Question	25	(12)
What Would You Like to Know?	26	(2)
What Would the Agency Like to Know?	28	(1)
What Would the Clients Like to Know?	29	(1)
What Is Your Research Question?	30	(1)
List of Student Research Questions & Design Type	31	(1)
Browse the Literature Related to Your Topic	32	(2)
Refine Your Research Question	34	(1)
Write Your Research Question	35	(2)
Section IV: The Literature Review	37	(28)
Conduct a Literature Search	40	(3)
Critique the Literature	43	(13)
Write the INTRODUCTION Section	56	(1)
Write the LITERATURE REVIEW Section	57	(1)
Annotated Example of a Literature Review	58	(7)
Section V: Choosing Your Methodology & Developing a Time Line	65	(4)
Determine the Purpose of Your Study	65	(2)
Develop Your Proposed Time Line	67	(1)
Submit Proposed Study to Your Course Instructor	67	(1)
Study Time Line Template	68	(1)
Section VI: Survey Research	69	(20)
Translate Concepts and Variables into Measures	69	(5)
Construct Your Research Questionnaire	74	(3)
Plan How to Administer Your Questionnaire	77	(9)
Pilot Your Research Instrument and Plan for Data Collection	86	(1)
Write the METHODS Section	87	(1)
Data Collection	87	(2)
Section VII: Qualitative Research	89	(12)
Develop the Interview Agenda (Your Research Instrument)	90	(4)
Plan How to Conduct Interviews	94	(4)
Pilot Your Interview Agenda and Plan for Data Collection	98	(2)
Write the METHODS Section	100	(1)
Data Collection	100	(1)
Section VIII: Single-Subject Design Research	101	(14)
Translate Concepts and Variables into Measures	102	(8)
Identify the Specific Single-Subject Design	110	(4)
Write the METHODS Section	114	(1)
Data Collection	114	(1)
Section IX: Oucomes Evaluation	115	(20)
Developing a Logic Model	117	(2)
Choosing a Design	119	(1)
Choosing a Sample and Assigning Groups	120	(4)
Issues of Internal Validity	124	(1)
Threats to Internal Validity	125	(2)
Developing Outcome Measures	127	(5)
Example of a Logic Model	132	(3)
Section X: Sample Design	135	(14)
For Probability Samples	136	(7)
For Nonprobability Samples	143	(4)
Write the SAMPLE Section	147	(2)
Section XI: Protection of Research Participants	149	(8)
Construct a Consent Form	150	(1)
Outline Procedures for Obtaining Informed Consent	151	(1)
Confidentiality Safeguards	152	(1)
Request Agency Approval	153	(1)
Request IRB Approval	154	(1)
Sample Consent Forms	155	(2)
Section XII: Data Analysis	157	(16)
Presentation of Descriptive Information	157	(4)
Data Analysis for Survey Studies	161	(1)
Data Analysis for Qualitative Studies	162	(3)
Data Analysis for Single-Subject Studies	165	(4)
Data Analysis for Outcomes Evaluations Using Group Designs	169	(4)
Section XIII: Writing the Final Paper	173	(8)
Rewrite Earlier Sections of Your Paper	173	(1)
For the SAMPLE Section	174	(1)
Write the FINDINGS Section	174	(1)
Write the DISCUSSION Section	175	(4)
Compile the REFERENCES	179	(1)
Compile the APPENDICES	179	(1)
Write the ABSTRACT	179	(1)
Final Checklist	179	(1)
Research Paper Outline	180	(1)
Bibliography	181