J A C Q U E L I N E C O R C O R A N , P H . D .V I R G I N I A C O M M O N W E A L T H U N I V E R S I T Y

S C H O O L O F S O C I A L W O R K7 0 6 R E S E A R C H F O R C L I N I C A L S O C I A L W O R K P R A C T I C E I

F R O M : C H A P T E R 2 , C O R C O R A N , J . , & S E C R E T , M . ( 2 0 1 3 ) . T H E S O C I A L W O R K R E S E A R C H S K I L L S W O R K B O O K : A G E N C Y - B A S E D C O M M U N I T Y R E S E A R C H . N E W Y O R K : O X F O R D .

H T T P : / / W W W . J A C Q U E L I N E C O R C O R A N . C O M /

OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH PROCESS

STEPS OF RESEARCH PROCESS

• See diagram p. 10• Problem, Question, Theory• how (research design), what (measures) , and who (sampling) • The structure of steps to answering the research question• Data analysis (next semester)• Results and Applications (next semester)• * Iterative process

STEP ONE: “PROBLEM, QUESTION, THEORY”

• Informed by lit review•Theory tells you “why” the variables are connected.•Example of research question: Does a mentoring group led by paraprofessionals lead to African-American girls improving their school attendance?

HOW TO SELECT A TOPIC OR PROBLEM TO ADDRESS?

• Balance• Your interests (field placement, papers)• Ethics (needs of clients)• Social importance:

• Will the answers to your research question make a difference in the social world (your agency)? • Does the question concern an important social problem?

• Scientific relevance. • Does your question fill a gap in the literature? • Is it a question that has not been adequately answered?

• Feasibility given resources. • Do you have the time?

• Proposal is written in fall semester and project is implemented in spring. • Data collection needs to be complete by April.

• Can it be done with no budget? • Do you have access to an agency or work setting? • What kind of data is being collected by the agency?

See chapter 8, key outcomes for agency settings to see typical types of data• What kind of access to data do I have?

• What kind of access would my research partner have?

AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

• Start discussing research needs of agency and requirements of class at first meeting with supervisor• Find out key people to contact re: research

needs/access and schedule a meeting

• PROJECT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHEET 2.3 Questions to Ask Field Agency• When plan is developed, summarize it in writing

and get written approval for project

WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OR GOAL OF STUDY?

•examining a topic in which little is known (exploratory)•describing a phenomena (descriptive)•explaining “why or how” one social condition is impacted by another condition or factor (explanatory)

EXPLORATORY

• Qualitative• Quantitative (survey)• Ensure through lit review that the topic is little

known

DESCRIPTIVE

• Surveys

EXPLANATORY

• Chief example: Intervention research

HYPOTHESES

• Predictions about how you think the research question will be answered

STEP TWO, HOW (RESEARCH DESIGN), WHAT (MEASURES) , AND WHO (SAMPLING)

•The structure of steps to answering the research question•The what:•Reviewed in upcoming topics