Full Description
From the outset, the ultimate goal of Research Methods for Social Workers has been to serve as a research text that students would be able to understand and read in full. This third edition features important additions and changes to the original text (while maintaining its accessible style). The order of chapters is re-arranged to improve the flow of introducing and developing concepts of the research process, and the authors have included some much-neededinformation to meet the changing and evolving standards of social work education. At its core, this book is designed to bring complex ideas down to a level that can be grasped by someone with little to no knowledge of research methods - it is an invaluable resource for social work students and anyone whowishes to have a comprehensive introduction to research methods.
Contents
PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the Authors1: What Is Research?Importance of Social Work ResearchDefining ResearchWays of KnowingQualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed-Methods ResearchDeveloping Your Research QuestionsWhat Is a Hypothesis?Research DesignsStrengths and Limitations of ResearchCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam2: Ethical ConsiderationsHistorical OverviewRespect for IndividualsBeneficenceJusticeOther Ethical ConsiderationsCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam3: Qualitative Research DesignsHow Is Qualitative Research Used?Descriptive InquirySpeculative InquiryQualitative Research MethodsData CollectionAn Example of a Qualitative StudyCase ScenariosCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam4: Literature ReviewWhat Is a Literature Review?Step 1: Conducting Your Search for Research ArticlesStep 2: Choosing Your ArticlesStep 3: Reviewing Your ArticlesStep 4: Organizing Your Search ResultsStep 5: Developing a Problem Statement or HypothesisStep 6: Compiling Your Reference PageCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam5: Quantitative Research DesignsGetting StartedDeveloping a Testable HypothesisWhat Is Descriptive Research?Correlation Versus CausationData CollectionCross-Sectional and Longitudinal DesignsGroup Research DesignsCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam6: Variables and MeasuresVariables in Research DesignViewing and Using VariablesTypes of VariablesWhat Is a Measure?Defining and Operationalizing MeasuresLevels of MeasurementReliability and Validity in MeasurementCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam7: SamplingWhat Is Sampling?Random Selection and Random AssignmentSample Size: How Many Is Enough?External and Internal ValidityProbability SamplingProbability Sampling TechniquesSampling ErrorNonprobability SamplingLimitations of Nonprobability SamplingCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam8: Survey ResearchDefining Survey ResearchAppropriate Survey TopicsDeveloping a SurveyAdministering Surveys and Expected Rates of ReturnAdvantages and Disadvantages of Survey ResearchCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam9: Evaluative Research DesignProgram EvaluationProcess EvaluationOutcome EvaluationStrengths and Weaknesses of Program EvaluationPractical Considerations and Common ProblemsCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exams10: Single-Subject DesignsWhat Is a Single-Subject Design?Elements of Single-Subject Design ResearchTypes of Single-Subject DesignsStrengths and Limitations of Single-Subject DesignsCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam11: Introduction to Descriptive StatisticsWhat Is Data Analysis?The First Step of Data AnalysisDescriptive AnalysisStrengths and Limitations of Descriptive StatisticsCase ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam12: Introduction to Inferential StatisticsWhat Are Inferential Statistics?Four Types of CorrelationDetermining the Strength of the CorrelationProbability Values and Confidence IntervalsParametric StatisticsNonparametric StatisticsStrengths and Limitations of Inferential StatisticsWhich Statistical Program Is Right for Me?Case ScenarioCritical Thinking QuestionsKey PointsPractice Exam13: Practicing Your Research SkillsExample of a Research ProposalExample of a Research ReportAnswers to Practice ExamsGlossaryReferencesIndex
