Research Methods for Social Work

675 Pages·2010·9.65 MB·English

by  Allen Rubin

Research Methods
for Social Work
Seventh Edition
Allen Rubin
University of Texas at Austin
Earl R. Babbie
Chapman University
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Seventh Edition
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Dedication
To our wives
CHRISTINA RUBIN
SUZANNE BABBIE
Contents in Brief
PART 1 Chapter 16 Analyzing Existing Data:
An Introduction to Scientifi c Inquiry Quantitative and
in Social Work 1 Qualitative Methods 407
Chapter 1 Why Study Research? 2
PART 6
Chapter 2 Evidence-Based Practice 25
Qualitative Research Methods 435
Chapter 3 Philosophy and Theory in Social
Chapter 17 Qualitative Research:
Work Research 45
General Principles 436
Chapter 18 Qualitative Research:
PART 2
Specifi c Methods 456
The Ethical, Political, and Cultural Context
of Social Work Research 73 Chapter 19 Qualitative Data Analysis 477
Chapter 4 The Ethics and Politics of
PART 7
Social Work Research 74
Analysis of Quantitative Data 499
Chapter 5 Culturally Competent Research 106
Chapter 20 Quantitative Data Analysis 500
PART 3 Chapter 21 Inferential Data Analysis: Part 1 527
Problem Formulation and Measurement 131 Chapter 22 Inferential Data Analysis: Part 2 549
Chapter 6 Problem Formulation 132
PART 8
Chapter 7 Conceptualization and
Writing Research Proposals and Reports 573
Operationalization 164
Chapter 8 Measurement 187 Chapter 23 Writing Research Proposals
and Reports 574
Chapter 9 Constructing Measurement
Instruments 214
Appendix A Using the Library 599
PART 4 Appendix B Statistics for Estimating
Designs for Evaluating Programs and Practice 243 Sampling Error 607
Chapter 10 Causal Inference and Experimental Glossary 617
Designs 244 Bibliography 631
Chapter 11 Quasi-Experimental Designs 271 Index 643
Chapter 12 Single-Case Evaluation Designs 291
Chapter 13 Program Evaluation 318
PART 5
Data-Collection Methods
with Large Sources of Data 349
Chapter 14 Sampling 350
Chapter 15 Survey Research 381
iv
Contents in Detail
Preface XV Other Ways of Knowing 13
Tradition 13
Authority 14
PART 1 Common Sense 14
An Introduction to Scientifi c Popular Media 14
Inquiry in Social Work 1 Recognizing Flaws in Unscientifi c Sources of Social
Work Practice Knowledge 16
Chapter 1
Inaccurate Observation 16
WHY STUDY RESEARCH? 2
Overgeneralization 17
Introduction 3
Selective Observation 17
Agreement Reality 3
Ex Post Facto Hypothesizing 18
Experiential Reality 3
Ego Involvement in Understanding 19
Science 4
Other Forms of Illogical Reasoning 19
The Utility of Scientifi c Inquiry in Social Work 4
The Premature Closure of Inquiry 20
Will You Ever Do Research? 5
Pseudoscience 21
Reviews of Social Work Effectiveness 5
Main Points 21
Early Reviews 5
Review Questions and Exercises 23
Studies of Specifi c Interventions 6
Internet Exercises 23
The Need to Critique Research Quality 7
Additional Readings 24
Publication Does Not Guarantee Quality 7
Separating the Wheat from the Chaff 7
Chapter 2
Answering Critics of Social Work 8
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE 25
Compassion and Professional Ethics 8
Introduction 26
A Mental Health Example 9
Historical Background 26
Utility of Research in Applied Social
Work Settings 10 The Nature of Evidence-Based Practice 27
Steps in Evidence-Based Practice 28
Research Methods You May Someday Use in
Your Practice 10 Step 1. Formulate a Question to Answer
NASW Code of Ethics 11 Practice Needs 28
The Scientifi c Method 11 Step 2. Search for the Evidence 30
Keep an Open Mind 12 Step 3. Critically Appraise the Relevant
Studies You Find 34
Observation 12
Step 4. Determine Which Evidence-Based
Objectivity 12
Intervention Is Most Appropriate for Your
Replication 13 Particular Client(s) 36
v
vi CONTENTS IN DETAIL
Step 5. Apply the Evidence-Based Intervention 37 Main Points 70
Step 6. Evaluation and Feedback 38 Review Questions and Exercises 71
Distinguishing the EBP Process from Internet Exercises 72
Evidence-Based Practices 38
Additional Readings 72
Controversies and Misconceptions
about EBP 40
Main Points 42
PART 2
Review Questions and Exercises 43
The Ethical, Political, and Cultural
Internet Exercises 43
Context of Social Work Research 73
Additional Readings 44
Chapter 4
THE ETHICS AND POLITICS OF
SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH 74
Chapter 3
Introduction 75
PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY IN
Institutional Review Boards 75
SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH 45
Introduction 46 Voluntary Participation and Informed Consent 76
Ideology 46 No Harm to the Participants 78
Paradigms 47 Anonymity and Confi dentiality 82
Deceiving Participants 83
Postmodernism 47
Analysis and Reporting 84
Contemporary Positivism 49
Weighing Benefi ts and Costs 85
Interpretivism 50
Right to Receive Services versus Responsibility to
Critical Social Science 51
Evaluate Service Effectiveness 86
Paradigmatic Flexibility in Research 52
NASW Code of Ethics 88
Theory 53
IRB Procedures and Forms 89
Theory and Values 53
Training Requirement 89
Utility of Theory in Social Work Practice
Expedited Reviews 89
and Research 54
Overzealous Reviewers 92
Social Work Practice Models 55
Four Ethical Controversies 92
Atheoretical Research Studies 56
Observing Human Obedience 93
Prediction and Explanation 56
Trouble in the Tearoom 94
The Components of Theory 57
“Welfare Study Withholds Benefi ts from
The Relationship between Attributes
800 Texans” 94
and Variables 57
Two Logical Systems 60 Social Worker Submits Bogus Article to
Test Journal Bias 96
Comparing Deduction and Induction 60
Bias and Insensitivity Regarding Gender
Probabilistic Knowledge 63
and Culture 98
Two Causal Models of Explanation 64
The Politics of Social Work Research 99
Use of Nomothetic and Idiographic Research in
Objectivity and Ideology 100
Social Work Practice 64
Social Research and Race 101
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
Main Points 103
of Inquiry 66
Review Questions and Exercises 104
Mixed Methods 67
Internet Exercises 104
Objectivity and Subjectivity in Scientifi c
Inquiry 68 Additional Readings 105
CONTENTS IN DETAIL vii
Chapter 5 Main Points 128
CULTURALLY COMPETENT Review Questions and Exercises 129
RESEARCH 106
Internet Exercises 129
Introduction 107
Additional Readings 129
Research Participants 107
Measurement 107
PART 3
Data Analysis and Interpretation 107
Problem Formulation and
Acculturation 108
Measurement 131
Impact of Cultural Insensitivity on
Research Climate 108
Chapter 6
Developing Cultural Competence 109 PROBLEM FORMULATION 132
Recruiting and Retaining the Participation of Minority Introduction 133
and Oppressed Populations in Research Studies 111
Purposes of Social Work Research 133
Obtain Endorsement from Community
Exploration 133
Leaders 111
Description 134
Use Culturally Sensitive Approaches Regarding
Explanation 135
Confi dentiality 112
Evaluation 135
Employ Local Community Members as
Research Staff 112 Constructing Measurement Instruments 135
Provide Adequate Compensation 112 Multiple Purposes 136
Alleviate Transportation and Child-Care Selecting Topics and Research Questions 136
Barriers 113 Narrowing Research Topics into Research
Choose a Sensitive and Accessible Setting 113 Questions 138
Use and Train Culturally Competent Attributes of Good Research Questions 139
Interviewers 113
Feasibility 140
Use Bilingual Staff 114
Involving Others in Problem Formulation 142
Understand Cultural Factors Infl uencing Literature Review 143
Participation 114
Why and When to Review the Literature 143
Use Anonymous Enrollment with Stigmatized
How to Review the Literature 144
Populations 114
Searching the Web 144
Utilize Special Sampling Techniques 115
Be Thorough 145
Learn Where to Look 115
The Time Dimension 147
Connect with and Nurture Referral Sources 116
Cross-Sectional Studies 148
Use Frequent and Individualized Contacts and
Personal Touches 116 Longitudinal Studies 149
Use Anchor Points 117 Units of Analysis 151
Use Tracking Methods 117 Individuals 152
Culturally Competent Measurement 118 Groups 153
Culturally Competent Interviewing 118 Social Artifacts 154
Language Problems 120 Units of Analysis in Review 154
Cultural Bias 121 The Ecological Fallacy 155
Measurement Equivalence 122 Reductionism 157
Assessing Measurement Equivalence 124 Overview of the Research Process 158
Problematic Issues in Making Research More Diagramming the Research Process 159
Culturally Competent 127 The Research Proposal 162
viii CONTENTS IN DETAIL
Main Points 162 Chapter 8
Review Questions and Exercises 162 MEASUREMENT 187
Internet Exercises 163 Introduction 188
Additional Readings 163 Common Sources of Measurement Error 188
Systematic Error 188
Random Error 191
Chapter 7 Errors in Alternate Forms of Measurement 191
CONCEPTUALIZATION AND Avoiding Measurement Error 193
OPERATIONALIZATION 164
Reliability 194
Introduction 165
Types of Reliability 196
Conceptual Explication 165
Interobserver and Interrater Reliability 196
Developing a Proper Hypothesis 166
Test–Retest Reliability 196
Differences between Hypotheses and
Internal Consistency Reliability 197
Research Questions 166
Validity 198
Types of Relationships between
Variables 166 Face Validity 198
Extraneous Variables 168 Content Validity 200
Mediating Variables 169 Criterion-Related Validity 200
Operational Defi nitions 170 Construct Validity 201
Operationally Defi ning Anything Factorial Validity 202
That Exists 170 An Illustration of Reliable and Valid
Conceptualization 172 Measurement in Social Work:
The Clinical Measurement Package 203
Indicators and Dimensions 172
Relationship between Reliability and Validity 208
Conceptions and Reality 174
Reliability and Validity in Qualitative
Creating Conceptual Order 174
Research 209
The Infl uence of Operational
Defi nitions 175 Who Decides What’s Valid? 209
Gender and Cultural Bias in Operational Qualitative Approaches to Reliability
Defi nitions 176 and Validity 209
Operationalization Choices 176 Main Points 212
Range of Variation 176 Review Questions and Exercises 213
Variations between the Extremes 177 Internet Exercises 213
A Note on Dimensions 178 Additional Readings 213
Examples of Operationalization in
Social Work 178
Existing Scales 179 Chapter 9
Operationalization Goes On and On 183 CONSTRUCTING MEASUREMENT
A Qualitative Perspective on Operational INSTRUMENTS 214
Defi nitions 183 Introduction 215
Main Points 185 Guidelines for Asking Questions 215
Review Questions and Exercises 186 Questions and Statements 215
Internet Exercises 186 Open-Ended and Closed-Ended Questions 216
Additional Readings 186 Make Items Clear 216
CONTENTS IN DETAIL ix
Avoid Double-Barreled Questions 216 Pre-experimental Pilot Studies 250
Respondents Must Be Competent to Answer 218 One-Shot Case Study 251
Respondents Must Be Willing to Answer 218 One-Group Pretest–Posttest Design 251
Questions Should Be Relevant 218 Posttest-Only Design with Nonequivalent
Groups (Static-Group Comparison
Short Items Are Best 219
Design) 252
Avoid Words Like No or Not 219
Experimental Designs 253
Avoid Biased Items and Terms 219
Randomization 258
Questions Should Be Culturally Sensitive 220
Matching 260
Questionnaire Construction 221
Providing Services to Control Groups 260
General Questionnaire Format 221
Additional Threats to the Validity of
Formats for Respondents 222
Experimental Findings 261
Contingency Questions 222
Measurement Bias 261
Matrix Questions 223
Research Reactivity 262
Ordering Questions in a Questionnaire 224
Diffusion or Imitation of Treatments 263
Questionnaire Instructions 225
Compensatory Equalization, Compensatory Rivalry,
Pretesting the Questionnaire 226 or Resentful Demoralization 265
A Composite Illustration 226 Attrition (Experimental Mortality) 265
Constructing Composite Measures 229 External Validity 267
Levels of Measurement 229 Main Points 268
Item Selection 230 Review Questions and Exercises 269
Handling Missing Data 230 Internet Exercises 270
Some Prominent Scaling Procedures 231 Additional Readings 270
Likert Scaling 231
Semantic Differential 232 Chapter 11
Constructing Qualitative Measures 232 QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS 271
Main Points 239 Introduction 272
Review Questions and Exercises 240 Nonequivalent Comparison Groups
Design 272
Internet Exercises 240
Ways to Strengthen the Internal Validity
Additional Readings 240
of the Nonequivalent Comparison
Groups Design 273
Multiple Pretests 273
Switching Replication 274
PART 4
Simple Time-Series Designs 275
Designs for Evaluating Programs
Multiple Time-Series Designs 278
and Practice 243
Cross-Sectional Studies 281
Chapter 10 Case-Control Studies 282
CAUSAL INFERENCE AND Practical Pitfalls in Carrying Out Experiments
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS 244 and Quasi-Experiments in Social Work
Introduction 245 Agencies 284
Criteria for Inferring Causality 245 Fidelity of the Intervention 284
Internal Validity 247 Contamination of the Control Condition 285