SW 260
Research Methods
Bradley Hall 223
Fall, 2006
Instructor:
Bradley Hall 107
Ph: 677-2392
E-mail: evens@bradley.edu
Office
Hours: MW
1:00-3:00 and TTH 3:00-4:30 or by appointment for this course,
my electronic office hours will be Monday 2:00 – 3:00
Class
Schedule:
TT 1:30-2:45 (Bradley 160)
Blackboard: Most of the course will be
on Blackboard. I will post lecture notes and assignments there, and I will be
setting up a bulletin board and chat room for class projects. In the first
class I will explain how to access Blackboard. If you use an email other than
your Bradley email you must arrange to have email forwarded from your Bradley
account. You must have a Bradley account to use Blackboard. Also, all grades
are posted to Blackboard so you can check your grades.
Accommodation: Any student with a
disability or special need who requires accommodation should inform the
instructor at the beginning of this course.
Non-Discrimination
Statement:
Students will be expected to display respect for fellow students and clients
unique characteristics including race, color, gender, age, socioeconomic
status, religion, creed, ethnic or national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, and political orientation. All assignments will use
non-discriminatory language. See the “classroom rules”
attached to this syllabus.
Intercollegiate Competition: Any student representing
Generalist
Practice Principles
I. Course Description:
Research
Methods will prepare students for the systematic and analytical evaluation of
practice and the generation of professional knowledge. Students will learn
about the theory of knowledge generation and validation, the ethics of
research, and the methods and process of conducting social work research.
Students will examine several methods of scientific inquiry including
quantitative, qualitative, and applied methods of practice and program
evaluation.
II. Course Objectives:
Students will
be expected to demonstrate learning in the following areas:
Knowledge
Skills
1. Students will develop the skill to evaluate
appropriateness of various research designs as applied to various research
questions or issues of study.
2. Students will develop the skill for sampling
techniques to enhance a studies validity and usefulness.
3. Students will develop the skills for data collection
methods including evaluating or developing instruments.
4. Students will develop the skill to analyze and
interpret data for the generation of knowledge to inform practice.
5. Students will develop skill in using computer data
analysis methods including SPSS
Values
1.
Students will understand
the values and ethics associated with ethical and competent research.
2.
Students will
learn procedures necessary for research to protect vulnerable people and
populations from duress or harm.
III.
Resources
Required Texts: Williams, Margaret, Unrau, Yvonne A., & Grinnell, Richard M. , Jr. (2005). Research methods for
social workers. Eddie Bauers:
SPSS
Student Ware
Posted
Black Board readings
IV. Learning Evaluation
A.
A.
Exams
200 points
There will be
two exams each worth 100 points. One midterm and a final.
Both exams will be on Blackboard.
The Midterm will be posted Oct. 19 and must
be completed by Oct. 24 at 5:00 PM
The final will be due Tuesday Dec. 11 at
11:00 AM.
B.
Research Project 100 points
The class will
work on a project as a group to develop and implement a research project to
assess the state of poor and working poor families in Peoria. We will be
designing and conducting a study of this population. Each student will write a research
paper based upon the data collected by the class. The following schedule of
assignments will guide you through the process. Each student will complete the
assignments and then assemble them into the final paper.
|
ASSIGNMENT |
POINTS |
DATE DUE |
|
Research
question |
5 |
Sep.
4 |
|
Protection
of human subjects |
5 |
Sep.14 |
|
Research
design |
5 |
Oct.
5 |
|
Sampling |
5 |
Oct.
26 |
|
Literature
review |
30 |
Nov.
9 |
|
Instrument |
5 |
Nov.
16 |
|
Data
collection/entry |
10 |
Nov.
23 |
|
Final
paper |
35 |
Dec.
5 |
|
TOTAL POINTS |
100 |
|
C. Various in Class assignments 50 points
There will be
several in class assignments that will be graded. These will be unannounced and
there will be no provisions to make them up. Students will, therefore, want to
be diligent about their attendance. Some of these will
involve using SPSS at home.
There will be a total
of 350 points for the class. Grades will be distributed as follows:
315-350
= A
280-314
= B
245-279
= C
210-244
= D
V.
Class Schedule
Unit
Introduction to class and overview
This class will review the syllabus, the
expectations for class, and the expectations for assignments. Lecture notes
dealing with inquiry and how we know, “what is and what ain’t so,” will be posted to Blackboard.
Unit
II.
THE EMPIRICAL NATURE OF SOCIAL WORK: WHY DO WE DO RESEARCH
8/29 & 8/31
The
Integration of Research and Social Work Generalist Practice
This
section will examine the different kinds of knowledge and understanding used in
social work practice and the purposes of doing social work research (pure or
applied). Types of research strategies such as exploratory, descriptive,
explanatory, and needs assessment are briefly introduced.
We will begin planning the class research project.
Unit III. THE ETHICS OF RESEACH 9/5
& 9/7
The
Ethics, Values, and Respect for Diversity Associated with Social Work Research
This
section will examine the ethical principles and values imperative for social work research that
emphasizes respect and dignity for all research participants, especially
vulnerable populations. The NASW Code of Ethics will be discussed in relation
to research. Students will have some experiential activities to evaluate
examples of studies from the professional literature for ethical violations.
Students will participate in developing consent procedures for research project
for class. Students will also examine the value of respecting diversity issues
when conducting research.
Unit IV. DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT
Research Approaches and Processes
9/12
& 9/14
The section will discuss the conceptual formulation
of a research project with a focus on reviewing and critiquing literature in a
particular area.
Discussion
will build on the ways of knowing in lecture 1 to look at research questions
and how they shape methodology. Students will have experiential activities to
participate in evaluation of examples of research designs in studies in the
professional literature.
Problem Formulation, Conceptualization, and Operationalization 9/19 & 9/21
This section covers defining the research questions,
hypotheses generation, developing the question and methodology through a
review of the professional literature, defining variables nominally and
operationally, and examining the various levels of measurement of variables.
Research Designs
9/26 & 9/28
This
section will explore in depth purposes and methods for the research designs of
exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory research. Students will participate
in experiential exercises to decide on the choice of appropriate designs for
various research topics and questions.
Applied
Research Designs 10/3 & 10/5
This
section will take a more in-depth look at applied agency research such as
practice evaluation, program evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis. This unit
is particularly important as practice now stresses outcome measurement.
No class 10/10 Fall recess
Unit
V. IMPLEMENTATION OF RESEARCH PROCESS
Data Collection Methods
Who to Study: Sampling Methods 10/12
This
section will discuss both probability and purposive sampling techniques and the
strengths and weaknesses of both. This section will introduce concepts such as
the normal curve, the Central Limit Theorem, the Law of Large Numbers, and the measurement
of the standard error.
Oct. 19 MIDTERM EXAM DUE
on BlackBoard
Data
Collection Methods and Instrumentation 10/17 & 10/19
This section
will examine and discuss various data collection methods such as interviewing,
questionnaire construction, observation, the use of logs and journals, the use
of standardized scales and instruments, and the use of secondary data. This
section will discuss reliability and validity issues. Students will engage in
experiential learning by constructing a questionnaire to use for the research
project and will engage in the use of standardized instruments.
Unit VI. Data Analysis
Organizing the Data 10/24
& 10/26
This section looks at the
organization techniques necessary for quantitative data prior to analysis such
as entering data into the computer program (SPSS), converting data to numerical
codes, and developing a codebook. This section will also discuss organizing
techniques necessary for qualitative analysis such as transcribing field notes,
organizing files. Students will engage in experiential learning by using SPSS
and developing a codebook for the research project.
March 30 EXAM III
Qualitative
Data Analysis 10/31 & 11/2
This
section will discuss qualitative analysis techniques such as open and axial
coding, constructing categories, interpreting data and building theory, and
assessing the trustworthiness of the data.
Quantitative
Data Analysis - Descriptive Statistics 11/7 & 11/9
This
section will examine descriptive statistical analysis of data including
frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion,
measures of association, and the use of graphics to depict data. Students will
engage in experiential learning using SPSS to manipulate data and well as hand
computation.
D.
Quantitative Data Analysis - Inferential Statistics 11/15 & 11/17
This
section will examine the use of inferential statistics for data analysis
including chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's r, and regression analysis.
Concepts of one and two tailed hypothesis, significance levels, statistical power
and error will be discussed.
Unit VII. INTERPRETING RESULTS
Writing the
Research Report 11/21 & 11/28
11/23 Happy
Thanksgiving!!
This
section will examine how to interpret results and convey them in writing. This
section discusses the various sections that are included in research reports as
well as ethical considerations of reporting.
The remainder
of the class will address individual research project write ups and data analysis
The final will be due Monday Dec. 11 at 11:00
AM PM. It will be posted on Black Board.
Research Project
You will be expected to
design and implement a research project during this course. Don’t dial
registration and drop yet! We will do this as a class as a group project. Again
don’t drop yet, unlike other class group projects, this project will not
require you to get together outside of class with a small group nor does your
grade depend on others in the class. So…. If you
haven’t bailed out yet continue reading.
The
project will involve the class developing and conducting a survey of poor and
working poor people in
The process of conducting a research
project will then be broken down into parts. As you notice in the syllabus, the
entire project is worth 100 points, but each part has points allocated. Each
assignment will be discussed in class prior to the due date. Due to the
inevitable law of human nature that @#*@#* happens, all dates in the syllabi
including due dates remain flexible. If due dates change,
they are never moved up, only delayed. Each part of the research project
will lead up to the final paper, which will follow the following format.
I.
Introduction
General statement of what the research topic is and what was
found.
II. Review
of the literature
This section should be a review of relevant scholarly literature on the topic.
(3-5 pages)
III. Research
question or hypothesis
If hypothesis is used, state whether it is one tailed
or two tailed, and what is the null hypothesis.
IV.
Research Design
Was this project descriptive, exploratory, or explanatory using a quantitative
or qualitative data methodology.
V.
Sampling Methodology
What sampling technique was chosen and why. Are there
any limitations to the sampling method chosen? If so what? What was the
sampling frame. What was the sampling process?
VI. Data
Collection Methodology
What was the instrument chosen and why? What are some
of the threats due to bias. What was the process for
data collection?
VII.
Data Analysis
What methods are used to analyze the data, descriptive or inferential and why?
VIII. Results
So what did the data say?
IX. Discussion
and implications
The "so what" of research