Research Methods for Social Welfare

Introduction

Byungdeok Kang

Handong Global University

Human Services and Social Work

Why Study Social Research?

Connections between Practice and Research

Steps in practice

Steps in research

Types of Research

Basic research

Applied research

Week 1

Human Services & Social work

Human Services

Definition: Activities and/or Programs for people to have a better life

Social Work

Mission of social work

- Enhancing social functioning

- Linking clients systems with needed resources

- Improving the operation of the social service delivery network

- Promoting social justice

Why Do We Study Social Research?

Q: Why use up so much social work education on research methods when my helping skills are not fully developed?

Q: The odds that I am going to do research are slim. Do I still need to study research?

Q: Even if I accept the notion that social work research is valuable, I still believe that the researchers should do their thing, and I’ll do mine. Any problems?

Q: Why can’t we just let the researchers produce the needed studies and then tell us (practitioners) the results? What’s wrong?

Q: I am pretty sure that there are other ways to have professional knowledge in social work? Then, why study only research?

Common Foundations of Social Work(DuBois & Miley, 2005)

Social Work Practice

Values & Principles Knowledge Skills

Why study social research?

Source of Knowledge (Alphabetical Order)

Authority

Common Sense

Experience (Firsthand experiences)

Mass Media

Science

Revelation

Tradition

Authority

-The status of the knowledge discoverer / deliverer: an expert, a supervisor, etc.

- All humans are vulnerable to making a mistake.

Common Sense

- “Rainbow causes rainfall? No sense

- It is not teachable.

Mass Media

- Newspaper, TV show, Magazines, etc.

- Journalist’s work = fact + editorials/opinions

Science

- Use of scientific methods

Revelation

- Understanding by a supernatural being

Tradition

- Family culture, community culture, etc.: accepting what everybody knows

- What everybody knows can be wrong (“earth is flat.”)

Possible Flaws in Unscientific Sources of

Knowledge

Inaccurate Observation (부정확한 관찰)

Overgeneralization (과도한 일반화)

Selective Observation (선별적 관찰)

Ex Post Facto Hypothesizing (사후소급가설 설정)

Ego Involvement in Understanding (자아가 개입된 이해)

Scientific Method?

“An approach to inquiry that attempts to safeguard against errors commonly made in casual human inquiry” (p. 6)

Provisional

EmpiricalPursuit of Objectivity

Replication

Why study social Research?

Social Research

What is social research?

systematic examination (or reexamination) of empirical

data, collected by someone firsthand, concerning the social

or psychological forces operating in a situation

(Monette, Sullivan, & Dejong, 2007, p. 3)

Social Work Practice = Practice + Value + Research

그러나 지식은 사람을 교만하게 할 뿐덕을 세우는 것은 사랑입니다.

(고전 8:1)

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1)

Objectivity and Subjectivity in Scientific Inquiry

A paradigm is a fundamental model or frame that organizes our view of something: a philosophical underpinning.

Paradigms organize our observation, shape our understandings, and influence how we explain and do things.”

Key Areas of Debate over Paradigm related to Research

- The nature of reality

- Pursuit of objectivity

Objectivity and Subjectivity in Scientific Inquiry

Positivist paradigm

independent reality: reality…? out there!

Social constructivist paradigm

value-laden reality: reality…? multiple forms!

Objectivity and Subjectivity in Scientific Inquiry

Scientific Method …

Provisional

Empirical

Pursuit of objectivity

Replication

Is it Possible?

What does it mean?

Scientific Methods = Scientific Agreement

reaching standards/criteria

Effort of Objectification (객관화를위한노력)

Reality …

Objective? Subjective?

Efforts of Objectification

Positivist scientific findings …

Social constructionist scientific findings …

evidence

to show that

something

exists or is true

communication

Mutual Understanding / Social Consensus

Steps in Social Work Micro Practice?

?

? ?

? ?

?

Social work Practice: EBP

Evidence-based Practice (EBP)

A process in which practitioners make practice decisions in light of the best research evidence available (p. 23).

Steps in Evidence-based Practice (EBP)

1. Formulate a question to answer practice needs

2. Search for the evidence

3. Appraise the relevant studies you find

4. Determine which evidence-based intervention is most appropriate for your clients

5. Apply the evidence-based intervention

6. Evaluation and feedback

Connections Practice and Research

Phases of Helping/Practice Process

1. Phase I – Exploration, Engagement, Assessment, and Planning

Problem Assessment

Formulation of an Intervention Strategy

2. Phase II - Implementation and Goal Attainment

Implementation

3. Phase III – Termination

Evaluation

Closure

Documentation and Dissemination

Steps in Conducting Research

Problem Formulation

Research Design Development

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Conclusions

Public Dissemination

Connections Practice and Research

Similarities between Practice and Research

Practice Key Research

Problem assessment Importance / Feasibility Problem formulation

Strategy Formulation Planning what to do Research design

Implementation Do actionData collection /

analysis

Evaluation Check Reconfirmation

Closure Review Conclusions

Documentation Distribution Dissemination

Connections Practice and Research

Integrative Model of EBP

Client Attributes

Best Research Evidence

Practitioner’s Expertise

EBP

Types of Research

Basic Research

Applied Research

Needs assessment

Assessment of client functioning

Program evaluation

Practice effectiveness evaluation

Action research

Social Impact Assessment (SIA) research

Questions?