Research Methods for Social Workers

by Yegidis, Bonnie L.; Weinbach, Robert W.; Morrison-Rodgriguez, Barbara

• ISBN13: 9780205281602
• ISBN10: 0205281605
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-09-01
• 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 Knowledge-Building for Social Work Practice	1	(44)
1 How Do We Get Our Knowledge?	3	(22)
Historical Origins of Current Attitudes	3	(6)
Tension between Research and Practice	4	(1)
Efforts to Close the Gap	5	(3)
Research and Practice--No Need for a Gap	8	(1)
Types of Knowledge	9	(2)
Descriptive Knowledge	9	(1)
Predictive Knowledge	10	(1)
Prescriptive Knowledge	10	(1)
Where Do We Get Our "Knowledge"?	11	(4)
Two Examples	12	(3)
Characteristics of the Scientific Alternative	15	(1)
Quantitative and Qualitative Research	16	(2)
Quantitative Approaches to Knowledge-Building	17	(1)
Qualitative Approaches to Knowledge-Building	17	(1)
The Traditional Scientific Research Process	18	(2)
The Environment for Scientific Social Work Research	20	(2)
Summary	22	(1)
References	23	(2)
2 Ethical Issues in Social Work Research	25	(20)
Treatment of Research Participants	26	(9)
Evolution of Ethical Standards for Treatment of Participants	26	(9)
Today's Standards for Treatment of Participants	35	(6)
Voluntary Informed Consent	36	(2)
No Unnecessary Paina and Suffering	38	(1)
Anonymity/Confidentiality	39	(1)
Need to Conduct the Research	40	(1)
Other Ethical Obligations of Researchers	41	(2)
Summary	43	(1)
References	43	(2)
PART II Beginning the Research Process	45	(52)
3 Research Problems and Questions	47	(14)
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	(1)
4 Using Existing Knowledge	61	(18)
What Is the Review of Literature?	61	(2)
Purpose of the Review of Literature	63	(1)
Potential Sources of "Literature"	63	(10)
Standard Reference Materials	64	(1)
Computer-Accessible Data Bases	65	(1)
The Internet	65	(1)
Books and Articles in Professional Journals	66	(2)
Personal Interviews with Authorities	68	(1)
Research Reports and Monographs	69	(1)
Presentations at Conferences and Symposia	70	(1)
Content of Workshops	70	(1)
Public Documents and Records of Public Gatherings	71	(1)
Newspapers	71	(1)
Radio and Television Broadcasts	71	(1)
Magazines and Periodicals	72	(1)
Organizing the Literature Review	73	(1)
Writing the Report of a Review of Literature	74	(3)
Direction and Flow	75	(1)
Use of Quotations and Citations	75	(1)
The Role of the Researcher in a Report of the Literature Review	76	(1)
Summary	77	(1)
References	78	(1)
5 Focused Research Questions and Hypotheses	79	(18)
Focused Research Questions	79	(2)
Hypotheses	81	(14)
Related Definitions	82	(5)
Types of Relationships Expressed in Hypotheses	87	(3)
Forms of Hypotheses	90	(1)
When Are Hypotheses Appropriate?	90	(2)
Wording of Hypotheses	92	(2)
The "Perfectly Worded" Hypothesis	94	(1)
Use of Subhypotheses	94	(1)
Summary	95	(1)
References	96	(1)
PART III Research Design Issues	97	(150)
6 Introduction to a Research Design	99	(28)
What Is a Research Design?	99	(1)
The Purpose of Research Designs	100	(1)
Broad Research Typologies	100	(3)
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Designs	101	(2)
The Knowledge-Building Continuum	103	(13)
Exploratory Designs	104	(1)
Descriptive Designs	107	(3)
Explanatory Research	110	(6)
Internal Validity and External Validity	116	(6)
Internal Validity	116	(4)
External Validity	120	(1)
External Validity and Cultural Issues	121	(1)
What Is the "Best" Research Design?	122	(1)
Characteristics of Good Designs	123	(2)
Summary	125	(1)
References	125	(2)
7 Qualitative Research Methods	127	(22)
Interviewing in Qualitative Research	128	(3)
Group and Individual Interviews	128	(1)
Purpose of Interviews	129	(1)
Benefits to Participants	129	(1)
Attitudes toward Expression of Emotions	130	(1)
Structuring of Interviews	130	(1)
Discussion of Sensitive Topics	130	(1)
Requests for Advice or Assistance	131	(1)
Some Common Types of Qualitative Research	131	(16)
Unstructured Systematic Observation	131	(3)
Ethnographic Studies	134	(3)
Cross-Cultural Research	137	(1)
Case Studies	137	(3)
Grounded Theory	140	(1)
Oral Histories	141	(1)
Feminist Research	142	(5)
Summary	147	(1)
References	148	(1)
8 Quantitative Research Methods	149	(24)
Secondary Data Analysis	150	(8)
Sources of Secondary Data	150	(1)
Different Uses of Secondary Data Analysis	151	(1)
Tasks Required in Secondary Data Analysis	152	(1)
Advantages of Secondary Data Analysis	153	(1)
Disadvantages of Secondary Data Analysis	153	(1)
Some Specialized Methods of Secondary Data Analysis	154	(4)
Structured Observation Methods	158	(3)
Roles That Can Be Assumed	158	(1)
Steps in Conducting Structured Observation	159	(2)
In-Person Interviews in Quantitative Research	161	(4)
Advantages of Research Interviewing	162	(1)
Disadvantages of Research Interviewing	163	(1)
Acquiring Complete Data	164	(1)
Telephone Interviews	165	(2)
When Phone Interviews Are Effective	165	(1)
Problems Related to External Validity	166	(1)
Data Collection by Mail	167	(4)
Problems with Data Collection by Mail	168	(3)
Summary	171	(1)
References	172	(1)
9 Sampling	173	(20)
Sampling Terminology	173	(5)
Probability Sampling	178	(4)
Nonprobability Sampling	182	(3)
Selecting a Good Sample	185	(2)
Sampling Distributions and Sampling Error	187	(5)
Summary	192	(1)
References	192	(1)
10 Measurement Concepts and Issues	193	(16)
Preparation for Measurement	194	(2)
Conceptualization	194	(1)
Operationalization	195	(1)
Levels of Measurement	196	(2)
Criteria for Good Measurement	198	(9)
Reliability	199	(3)
Validity	202	(5)
Cultural Issues in Measurement of Variables	207	(1)
Summary	208	(1)
References	208	(1)
11 Use of Data Collection Instruments	209	(18)
Fixed-Alternative and Open-Ended Items	210	(1)
Indexes and Scales	211	(7)
Indexes	211	(1)
Scales	212	(5)
Construction of Scales	217	(1)
When Are Existing Instruments Appropriate for Use?	218	(1)
Use of Revised Instruments	219	(1)
Constructing New Instruments	220	(4)
Issues in Development of New Instruments	220	(4)
Use of Self-Administered Instruments	224	(2)
Advantages of Self-Administered Instruments	224	(1)
Supervised Administration of Self-Administered Instruments	225	(1)
Summary	226	(1)
References	226	(1)
12 Analyzing Data and Disseminating Findings	227	(20)
The Data in Perspective	227	(2)
Preparing for Statistical Analysis of Data	229	(1)
Statistical Analysis of Research Data: An Overview	230	(6)
The Uses of Statistical Analysis	231	(5)
Interpreting and Reporting the Results of Statistical Analysis	236	(2)
Disseminating Research Knowledge	238	(7)
Reports and Monographs	238	(2)
Internal Correspondence and In-Service Training	240	(1)
Major Conference Presentations	241	(2)
Other Professional Gathering	243	(1)
Publication in Professional Journals	244	(1)
Summary	245	(1)
References	246	(1)
PART IV Research to Evaluate Practice Effectivenes	247	(46)
13 Evaluating Program Effectiveness	249	(20)
What Is Program Evaluation?	250	(6)
Planning/Evaluation Models	251	(1)
Needs Assessment	252	(1)
Evaluating Program Implementation	253	(2)
Evaluating Program Outcomes	255	(1)
What Is the Appropriate Design for a Program Evaluation?	256	(2)
Other Types of Evaluation Research	258	(3)
Cost-Benefit Analysis	258	(1)
Program Impact Evaluations	259	(1)
Program Structure Evaluations	260	(1)
Who Should Conduct Evaluative Research?	261	(3)
Use of an In-House Evaluator	261	(1)
Use of an External Evaluator	262	(1)
Empowerment Evaluation	263	(1)
The Political Context of Program Evaluation	264	(1)
Reports of Program Evaluations	265	(2)
Summary	267	(1)
References	268	(1)
14 Evaluating Individual Practice Effectiveness	269	(24)
Characteristics of Single System Research	269	(5)
Conducting Single System Research	274	(1)
Design Alternatives	275	(14)
B	276	(1)
AB	276	(2)
ABA	278	(2)
ABAB	280	(2)
BAB	282	(1)
ABCD	283	(2)
Multiple Baseline	285	(4)
Strengths and Weaknesses of Single System Research	289	(3)
Summary	292	(1)
References	292	(1)
Postscript	293	(2)
Additional Readings in Research Methods	295	(6)
Index	301