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Tables of Contents for Research Methods for Generalist Social Work
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
1 Science and Social Work
1
14
Introduction
2
1
Common Types of Understanding
3
3
Conceptions of Science
6
2
The Positivist Approach to Science
8
1
The Interpretive Approach to Science
9
2
The Choice of a Scientific Approach in Social Work
11
1
Summary
12
1
Study/Exercise Questions
12
1
Further Reading
13
1
References
13
2
2 Research and Generalist Social Work Practice
15
14
Generalist Practice
16
1
The Purpose of Research in Generalist Social Work Practice
17
3
Building Scientific Knowledge
17
1
Ethical Issues
18
1
Fiscal Accountability
18
1
Empowering Clients
19
1
Research Roles in Generalist Practice
20
1
The Consumer
20
1
The Producer
21
1
Research and Generalist Practice Processes
21
4
Preliminary Statement of the Problem
22
1
Preliminary Assumptions
22
1
Selection and Collection of Information
23
1
Analysis of Available Information
23
1
Development of a Plan
24
1
Implementation of a Plan
24
1
Evaluation of the Plan
24
1
Values in Research and Practice
25
2
Research and Human Diversity
27
1
Summary
27
1
Study/Exercise Questions
27
1
Further Reading
27
1
References
28
1
3 Deciding on the Question
29
20
Sources of Questions
30
1
Research Strategies
31
4
Descriptive Research
32
1
Explanatory Research
33
2
Types of Questions
35
5
Practice Evaluation Studies
36
1
Program Evaluations
37
2
Needs Assessments
39
1
The Agency and Deciding on the Question
40
1
Ethical Issues in Deciding on the Question
41
2
Applicability of the Question to Social Work Practice
42
1
Availability of Funding
43
1
Human Diversity Issues in Deciding on the Question
43
2
Characteristics of the Researchers
43
1
Bias in the Agencies
44
1
Summary
45
1
Study/Exercise Questions
45
1
Further Reading
46
1
References
46
3
4 Developing the Question
49
22
The Literature Review
50
6
Use of the Literature Review
51
2
Accessing Information
53
2
Writing the Literature Review
55
1
Units of Analysis
56
1
Naming the Variables and Values
56
2
The Relationship of Variables
58
1
Defining and Operationalizing the Variables
59
4
Operationalizations
61
1
Defining and Operationalizing Goals and Activities
62
1
Levels of Measurement
63
2
The Agency and Developing the Question
65
1
Ethical Issues in Developing the Question
65
1
Giving Credit to Contributors
65
1
Including Relevant Variables
65
1
Avoiding Reductionism
66
1
Human Diversity Issues in Developing the Question
66
1
Summary
67
1
Study/Exercise Questions
67
1
Further Reading
68
1
References
68
3
5 Designing Needs Assessments
71
14
Reasons for Conducting Needs Assessments
72
3
Determining Whether Services Exist in the Community
73
1
Determining Whether There Are Enough Clients
73
1
Determining Who Uses Existing Services
74
1
Determining What Barriers Prevent Clients from Accessing Services
74
1
Documenting the Existence of an Ongoing Social Problem
75
1
Types of Designs for Needs Assessments
75
6
Whose Need Is Being Assessed?
77
1
Who Will Have Input into the Design?
77
1
When Will the Needs Assessment Be Carried Out?
78
1
What Type of Understanding of the Need Is Required?
79
1
What Level of Description Is Useful?
80
1
The Agency and Designing Needs Assessments
81
1
Ethical Issues in Designing Needs Assessments
81
1
Human Diversity Issues in Designing Needs Assessments
82
1
Summary
82
1
Study/Exercise Questions
83
1
Further Reading
83
1
References
83
2
6 Designing Program Evaluations
85
26
Formative Program Evaluations
87
1
Summative Program Evaluations
88
2
Types of Summative Program Evaluation Designs
90
13
Preexperimental Designs
91
1
One-Group Posttest-Only Design
91
2
One-Group Pretest/Posttest Design
93
2
Static-Group Comparison Design
95
3
Quasi-Experimental Design
98
1
Time Series Design
98
1
Pretest/Posttest Comparison-Group Design
99
1
Experimental Designs
100
1
Pretest/Posttest Control-Group Design
100
1
Posttest-Only Control-Group Design
101
1
The Solomon Four-Group Design
102
1
The Agency and Program Evaluation Design
103
1
Ethical Issues in Program Evaluation Design
104
2
Assignment to the Comparison or Control Group
104
1
Informed Consent
105
1
Human Diversity Issues in Program Evaluation Design
106
1
Summary
107
1
Study/Exercise Questions
107
1
Further Reading
108
1
References
108
3
7 Designing the Evaluation of Practice
111
22
Descriptive Designs for Practice Evaluation
113
3
Monitoring Interventions
113
2
Monitoring Client Progress
115
1
Explanatory Designs for Practice Evaluation
116
8
AB Design
118
1
ABC Design
119
1
ABAB Design
120
2
Multiple Baseline Designs
122
2
The Agency and Practice Evaluation
124
3
Strengths
124
2
Limitations
126
1
Ethical Issues in Practice Evaluation
127
1
Reversal Design Issues
127
1
Interference with Practice
128
1
Human Diversity Issues in Practice Evaluation
128
1
Summary
128
1
Study/Exercise Questions
129
1
Further Reading
129
1
References
130
3
8 Selecting the Participants in the Research
133
24
Key Concepts in Sampling
135
1
Types of Sampling Methods
136
11
Probability Sampling
136
6
Nonprobability or Purposive Sampling
142
4
Studying Complete Populations
146
1
Sample Size
147
2
The Agency and Sampling
149
1
Ethical Issues in Sampling
150
3
Reporting the Sample Method
150
1
Informed Consent
151
2
Human Diversity Issues in Sampling
153
1
Summary
154
1
Study/Exercise Questions
154
1
Further Reading
155
1
References
155
2
9 Collecting the Data
157
40
Qualitative and Quantitative Data
158
1
Ways of Collecting Data
158
22
Interviews
160
3
Questionnaires
163
5
Observation
168
2
Logs and Journals
170
2
Scales
172
6
Secondary Data
178
2
Who Collects the Data
180
1
Combining Data Collection Methods
181
1
Determining Reliability and Validity
182
7
Reliability
183
1
Sources of Error
183
1
Testing Reliability
184
2
Validity
186
3
The Agency and Data Collection
189
1
Ethical Issues in Collecting Data
189
2
Harm to the Subjects
189
1
Anonymity and Confidentiality
190
1
Justification of the Research
190
1
Human Diversity Issues in Collecting the Data
191
2
Selection of Data Collection Methods for Diverse Populations
191
1
Relevance to Diverse Populations of the Content of the Data Collection Method
191
1
Application of the Data Collection Method to Diverse Populations
192
1
Summary
193
1
Study/Exercise Questions
193
1
Further Reading
194
1
References
194
3
10 Organizing the Data
197
12
Organizing Quantitative Data
198
4
Coding the Data
199
2
Basic Programming Using a Statistical Software Package
201
1
Organizing Qualitative Data
202
3
Note Keeping
203
1
Organizing Files
204
1
Coding the Notes
205
1
Identifying Gaps in the Data
205
1
The Agency and Organizing the Data
205
1
Ethical Issues in Organizing the Data
206
1
Human Diversity Issues in Organizing the Data
206
1
Summary
207
1
Study/Exercise Questions
207
1
Further Reading
207
1
References
207
2
11 Analysis of Qualitative Data
209
16
Approaches to Analyzing Qualitative Data
210
10
Descriptive Accounts
211
2
Constructive Categories
213
3
Logical Analysis
216
1
Proposing Hypotheses
217
1
Validation
218
2
The Agency and Qualitative Analysis
220
1
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Analysis
221
1
Human Diversity Issues in Qualitative Analysis
221
1
Summary
222
1
Study/Exercise Questions
223
1
Further Reading
223
1
References
223
2
12 Analysis of Quantitative Data: Descriptive Statistics
225
22
Frequency Distributions
226
5
Measures of Central Tendency
231
3
Mode
231
1
Median
231
1
Mean
231
2
Visual Distribution of Data
233
1
Measures of Variability or Dispersion
234
2
Range
234
1
Standard Deviation
235
1
Measures of Association
236
4
Cross-Tabulation
236
2
Correlation
238
2
Descriptive Statistics and Practice Evaluation
240
4
The Agency and Descriptive Statistics
244
1
Ethical Issues in Descriptive Statistics
244
1
Human Diversity Issues in Descriptive Statistics
244
1
Summary
245
1
Study/Exercise Questions
245
1
Further Reading
245
1
References
246
1
13 Analysis of Quantitative Data: Inferential Statistics
247
18
Sources of Error and the Role of Inferential Statistics
248
1
Types of Hypotheses
249
1
Significance Levels
250
1
Statistical Power
251
1
Steps in the Computation of the Statistical Tests
251
1
Types of Statistical Tests
252
5
The T-Test
253
1
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
254
1
Correlational Analysis
254
1
Regression Analysis
255
1
Chi-Square Analysis
256
1
Inferential Statistics and Practice Evaluations
257
3
Celeration Line Approach
258
1
Standard Deviation Approach
258
1
Relative Frequency Approach
259
1
The Agency and Inferential Statistics
260
1
Ethical Issues in Inferential Statistics
260
1
Selection of the Test
260
1
Statistical Significance
261
1
Human Diversity Issues in Inferential Statistics
261
1
Summary
261
1
Study/Exercise Questions
262
1
Further Reading
262
1
References
262
3
14 Research Writing
265
24
General Principles of Research Writing
266
3
Knowing Your Audience
266
1
Referencing Sources of Information
267
1
Structure of the Proposal or Report
268
1
The Process of Writing
268
1
The Research Proposal
269
2
The Research Report
271
10
Results Section
271
6
Discussion Section
277
2
Limitations Section
279
1
Recommendations Section
280
1
Implications for Practice
281
1
Disseminating the Report
281
2
Oral Presentation
282
1
Distributing Written Reports Internally
282
1
Publishing the Report
282
1
The Agency and Research Writing
283
1
Ethical Issues in Research Writing
284
1
Referencing Appropriately
284
1
Confidentiality of Results
284
1
Human Diversity Issues in Research Writing
285
1
Bias Against Certain Groups
285
1
Exclusive Language
285
1
Disseminating the Results
285
1
Summary
286
1
Study/Exercise Questions
286
1
Further Reading
287
1
References
287
2
15 Using Research Findings in Practice and Evaluating Research
289
28
Using Research Findings in Practice
290
14
Case Examples
290
14
Limiting Conditions
304
1
Evaluating Research
304
2
The Agency in the Use and Evaluation of Research Findings
306
1
Ethical Issues in the Use and Evaluation of Research Findings
307
1
Human Diversity Issues in the Use and Evaluation of Research Findings
307
1
Summary
308
1
Study/Exercise Questions
308
1
Further Reading
308
1
References
308
9
Appendixes
317
18
A Library Resources
317
10
B Software Resources
327
2
C Statistical Formulas
329
2
D Probability Tables
331
2
E NASW Code of Ethics
333
2
Glossary
335
12
Index
347