ScWk 240 Week 4: Theory and Research

1. ScWk 240Week 4: Theory and Research 9/17/12 ScWk 240 9/17/12

2. Agenda • Introduction to purposes of a research literature review • Bibliographic searching for research & APA style • The role of theory in research • Deductive and inductive logic • Introduction to variables • More work on topic development ScWk 240 9/17/12

3. Review of last week • Which one is not the purpose of a “process study”? • Fidelity study of the intervention • The outcome of the intervention • Whether the intervention was implemented correctly • How well the staff were trained in the new intervention ScWk 240 9/17/12

4. Review of last week • Which type of study – efficacy or effectiveness, is conducted with more rigorous research methods? • True or false: an intervention is determined to be a “best practice” when the professional community comes to consensus about it being one. • True or false: there is no relationship between research methods and an agency’s attempts to improve the quality of its services. • True or false: one reason why a desired outcome isn’t achieved could be that the target population was not accurately recruited ScWk 240 9/17/12

5. Purposes of Literature Reviewin Research • To focus the research topic and questions • To gather statistics about the target population and/or extent of the problem you’re addressing • To find relevant theory for your topic • To find out what methods have been done to answer the research questions • To look for gaps in the research • Target populations not yet studied or excluded • Interventions not yet studied • Methods not yet conducted • What were implications of the study, and what were the recommendations for further study? ScWk 240 9/17/12

6. Library Resources http://library.sjsu.edu/online-tutorials/online-tutorials For example: • Finding Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Articles • Topic development-- http://library.sjsu.edu/video/art-topic-development ScWk 240 9/17/12

7. Bibliography • Peer reviewed articles http://library.sjsu.edu/video/finding-scholarly-peer-reviewed-articles • For the Bibliography, aim for 15 out of the minimum 20 required • Websites ok, but the priority ones are: • Research organization sites • Policy sites • Online government reports • Journals relevant to social work: see Rubin & Babbie appendix, “Using the Library” • APA—everything double spaced ScWk 240 9/17/12

8. APA “pre-test”What’s wrong with these citations? Morgan, D. L. (1988). Focus Groups as Qualitative Research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Press. Polansky, Norman. (February, 1986). There is nothing so practical as a good theory. Child Welfare, v. 65, Issue 1, pp. 3-15. Nutley, S., Walter, I., & Davies , H. T. O. (2009). Promoting evidence-based practice: models and mechanisms from a cross-sector review. Research on Social Work Practice, 19(5) 552-559. ScWk 240 9/17/12

9. Student report #1 Describe the relationship between theory and hypotheses. ScWk 240 9/17/12

10. The Role of Theory in Research • Definition of theory: Definition of theory in the social sciences: “a systematic set of interrelated statements intended to explain some aspect of social life or enrich our sense of how people conduct and find meaning in their daily lives.” (Rubin & Babbie) • What are the purposes of theory in developing and conducting research? • Makes explicit any underlying assumptions • Justifies how or why we think something is true (such as an hypothesis) or why one thing can cause another thing to occur or predict its occurrence • Such, as: What do you think causes people to behave the way they do? Genetic predisposition? Environmental factors? Psychological temperament? • Discussion: why would you expect that social activity would allow older adults to maintain cognitive functioning? ScWk 240 9/17/12

11. The types of theories relevant to social work research • Theories of human behavior (developmental theories, stress & coping, etc.) • Theories about groups, organizations and communities • Political, sociological and economic theories • Theories about environment and culture (ecological theory, acculturation theory, feminist/gender role theories, etc.) • Program theory (explains how a practice, program or intervention should work based on the objectives of the program and other theories) ScWk 240 9/17/12

12. The role of theory in the types of SW research ScWk 240 9/17/12

13. Deductive reasoning • Deductive reasoning--we develop hypotheses based on a theory • If X happens, then Y is true (or false), or • X and Y are (or are not) related, or • The more X occurs, the more (or less) Y occurs • “Hypothesis”: a testable statement about empirical reality Example: Parent Mentor program and Stress Coping Theory ScWk 240 9/17/12

14. Student report #2 What’s the difference between an independent and dependent variable? ScWk 240 9/17/12

15. Independent and Dependent Variables • What is a variable? Observable characteristics that vary among individuals • Independent variable— variables used to explain, predict or cause another variable. (Hint—“independent” implies that these variables are unaffected by the predicted variable.) • Dependent variable— the variable that is assumed to be affected, caused or predicted by others. (Hint: “dependent” on others.) • The opposite of variable is constant. What’s the difference? • For young women between 16-25, does involvement in criminal justice have anything to do with extent of prior abuse? • Name the IV, the DV and the constant • Can you identify a theory that might explain this statement? ScWk 240 9/17/12

16. Name the IVs (Xs) and DVs (Ys) • Name the IV and DV: • Is educational attainment related to income level? • What role does self esteem play in a young adult’s job interview abilities? • Do those receiving medication for depression with case management have better outcomes (less depression) than those receiving only case management? (Hint—”outcomes” are always dependent variables) ScWk 240 9/17/12

17. Student report #3 What are “attributes” of a variable? Give two examples. ScWk 240 9/17/12

18. Attributes “Attributes” – characteristics of persons or things (the choices of a variable’s characteristics) What are the likely attributes of these variables? • Gender • Ethnicity • Income • GPA • Employment status ScWk 240 9/17/12

19. Something like this “might” be on a test… “For uninsured adults with substance abuse problems in San Jose, males are more likely than females to be referred to follow up care.” • What is the independent variable? __________ What are its attributes? • What is the dependent variable? _________ What are its attributes? • What is the constant? • What would the research question for this study? • Note: Hypotheses and research questions can be stated in terms of variables; OR in terms of their attributes ScWk 240 9/17/12

20. Concepts & definitions you should know: • Purposes of lit review in research • Deductive reasoning • Inductive reasoning • Theory • Role of theory in types of SW research • Hypothesis • Independent and dependent variable • Variable • Attributes • Constant ScWk 240 9/17/12

21. Topics for Student Reports, Week 3 • Why is it important to protect research subjects? What areas need protecting? Valerie • What is the difference between “confidentiality” and “anonymity”? Arlene • What is “culturally competent measurement” in research? Relate this to one or more (of the 5) areas of the Transcultural Perspective. Elisse ScWk 240 9/17/12