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CONTENTS About the Authors Preface Acknowledgments 1. Science, Society, and Social Work Research Everyday Errors in Reasoning Overgeneralization Selective or Inaccurate Observation Illogical Reasoning Resistance to Change The Social Scientific Approach Social Work and the Social World The Imperative for Social Work Research Social Work Research in Practice Description: Who Are the Homeless? Exploration: What Is It Like to Be Homeless? Explanation: Why Do People Become Homeless? Evaluation: What Services Help the Homeless? Quantitative and Qualitative Methods Strengths and Limitations of Social Work Research Validity: The Goal of Social Work Research Measurement Validity Generalizability Internal Validity Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 2. The Process and Problems of Social Work Research Social Work Research Questions Identifying Social Work Research Questions Refining Social Research Questions Evaluating Social Research Questions Feasibility Social Importance Scientific Relevance Foundation of Social Work Research Finding Information Searching the Literature Searching the Web Reviewing Research Social Research Strategies The Deductive/Inductive Cycle Deductive Research Domestic Violence and the Research Circle Inductive Research An Inductive Approach to Explaining Domestic Violence A Qualitative Exploration of the Response to Domestic Violence Descriptive Research Philosophies Guiding Social Work Research Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research Social Work Research and Ethical Guidelines Honesty and Openness The Uses of Science Research on People Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 3. Conceptualization and Measurement Concepts Conceptualization in Practice Defining Substance Abuse Defining Depression Defining Poverty Concepts, Constants, and Variables Operationalization Indicators Scales and Indexes Treatment as a Variable Gathering Data Combining Measurement Operations Levels of Measurement Nominal Level of Measurement Ordinal Level of Measurement Interval Level of Measurement Ratio Level of Measurement The Case of Dichotomies Comparison of Levels of Measurement Measurement Error Evaluating Measures Reliability TestRetest Reliability Interitem Reliability (Internal Consistency) AlternateForms Reliability Interobserver Reliability Intraobserver Reliability Measurement Validity Face Validity Content Validity Criterion Validity Construct Validity Screening and Cut-off Scores Ways to Improve Reliability and Validity of Existing Measures Choosing an Instrument for Research, Evaluation, and Practice Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 4. Sampling Sample Planning Define Sample Components and the Population Evaluate Generalizability Assess the Homogeneity of the Population Enhancing Sample Representativeness in Diverse Populations Sampling Methods Probability Sampling Probability Sampling Methods Simple Random Sampling Systematic Random Sampling Stratified Random Sampling Cluster Sampling Nonprobability Sampling Methods Availability Sampling Quota Sampling Purposive Sampling Snowball Sampling Lessons About Sample Quality Sampling Distributions Estimating Sampling Error Determining Sample Size Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 5. Causation and Research Design Nomothetic Causal Explanation Experimental Design and the Criteria for Causal Explanation Association Time Order Nonspuriousness Mechanism Context Nonexperimental Designs and the Criteria for Causal Explanation Cross-Sectional Designs Longitudinal Designs Repeated Cross-Sectional Designs Fixed-Sample Panel Designs Event-Based Designs Units of Analysis and Errors in Causal Reasoning Individual and Group Units of Analysis The Ecological Fallacy and Reductionism Idiographic Causal Explanation Explanation in Qualitative Research Single Subject Design Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 6. Group Experimental Designs Threats to Validity Internal (Causal) Validity Selection Bias Endogenous Change External Events Contamination Treatment Misidentification Generalizability Sample Generalizability External Validity Reactivity True Experiments Experimental and Comparison Groups Randomization Pretest and Posttest Measures Identification of the Causal Mechanism Types of True Experimental Designs ?Difficulties? in True Experiments in Agency-based Research The Limits of True Experimental Designs QuasiExperiments Nonequivalent Control Group Designs Time Series Designs Ex Post Facto Control Group Designs Common Group Designs for Program Evaluation and Research Types of Nonexperimental Designs Ethical Issues in Experimental Research Deception Selective Distribution of Benefits Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 7. Single Subject Design Introduction Foundations of Single Subject Design Repeated Measurement Baseline Phase Patterns Internal Validity Treatment Phase Graphing Measuring Targets of Intervention Analyzing Single Subject Designs Visual Analysis Level Trend Variability Interpreting Visual Analysis Problems of Interpretation Types of Single Subject Designs Basic Design: A-B Withdrawal Designs A-B-A Designs A-B-A-B Designs Multiple Baseline Designs Multiple Treatment Designs Designs for Monitoring Subjects Generalizability Ethical Issues in Single Subject Design Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 8. Survey Research Survey Research in Social Work Attractions of Survey Research Versatility Efficiency Generalizability The Omnibus Survey Errors in Survey Research Constructing Questions Writing Clear Questions Avoid Confusing Phrasing Minimize the Risk of Bias Memory Questions Culture Close-ended Questions and Response Categories Avoid Making Either Disagreement or Agreement Disagreeable Social Desirability Minimize Fence-Sitting and Floating Filter Questions Sensitive questions Single or Multiple Questions Designing Questionnaires Maintain Consistent Focus Build on Existing Instruments Refine and Test Questions Add Interpretive Questions Order the Questions Matrix Questions Make the Questionnaire Attractive Organizing Surveys Mailed, Self-Administered Surveys Group-Administered Surveys Telephone Surveys Reaching Sample Units Maximizing Response to Phone Surveys In-Person Interviews Balancing Rapport and Control Maximizing Response to Interviews Electronic Surveys Mixed-Mode Surveys A Comparison of Survey Designs Secondary Data Surveys Ethical Issues in Survey Research Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 9. Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening Fundamentals of Qualitative Methods Case Study: Making Gray Gold Participant Observation Choosing a Role Complete Observation Participation and Observation Covert Participation Entering the Field Developing and Maintaining Relationships Sampling People and Events Taking Notes Managing the Personal Dimensions Systematic Observation Intensive Interviewing Establishing and Maintaining a Partnership Asking Questions and Recording Answers Focus Groups Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 10. Evaluation Research 1. History of Evaluation Research Evaluation Basics Describing the Program: The Logic Model Questions for Evaluation Research Needs Assessment Process Evaluation Outcome Evaluation Efficiency Analysis Design Alternatives Black Box or Program Theory Researcher or Stakeholder Orientation Quantitative or Qualitative Methods Simple or Complex Outcomes Ethics in Evaluation Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 11. Quantitative Data Analysis Introducing Statistics Preparing Data for Analysis Identification Numbers Reviewing the Forms Coding Open-ended Questions Creating a Codebook Data Entry Data Cleaning Displaying Univariate Distributions Graphs Frequency Distributions Ungrouped Data Grouped Data Summarizing Univariate Distributions Measures of Central Tendency Mode Median Mean Median or Mean? Measures of Variation Range Interquartile Range Variance Standard Deviation Analyzing Data Ethically: How Not to Lie with Statistics Crosstabulating Variables Describing Association Evaluating Association Controlling for a Third Variable Intervening Variables Extraneous Variables Specification Analyzing Data Ethically: How Not to Lie About Relationships Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 12. Qualitative Data Analysis and Content Analysis Features of Qualitative Data Analysis Qualitative Data Analysis as an Art Research Questions for Qualitative Data Analysis The Case Study Techniques of Qualitative Data Analysis Documentation Conceptualization, Coding, and Categorizing Examining Relationships and Displaying Data Authenticating Conclusions Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis Traditional Ethnography Qualitative Comparative Analysis Narrative Analysis Grounded Theory Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Content Analysis Ethics in Qualitative Data Analysis Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal 13. Reporting Research Social Work Research Proposals Case Study: Treating Substance Abuse Comparing Research Designs Performing Meta-Analyses Case Study: Is Social Work Practice Effective Writing Research Reporting Research Journal Articles Applied Research Reports Ethics, Politics, and Research Reports Conclusion Key Terms Highlights Discussion Questions Practice Exercises Developing a Research Proposal Appendix A: Summaries of Frequently Cited Research Articles Appendix B: Questions to Ask About a Research Article Appendix C: How to Read a Research Article Appendix D: Finding Information Appendix E: Table of Random Numbers Appendix F: Annotated List of Web Sites Appendix G: NASW Code of Ethics References Index
Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication:
Social service -- Research.