Problem Formulation Selecting Topics and Research Questions

This Lecture Overview of the research process Narrowing topics to questions Time Units of analysis

Research and Practice Practice Strategy: Engagement Problem prioritization Intervention Evaluation Termination Research Strategy Problem formulation Literature review Data collection Analysis Reporting

What is Social Work Research? “Applied,” “Practical,” “Real World” Guide social work practice Evaluate social programs Assess needs

The Research Process Must consider many things at once (p. 112) Interlocking system for decisionmaking Operationalization of Concepts Research Technique Population and Sampling Real World Method of Analysis

The Research Question Social Work oriented Can be operationalized Narrow, specific Feasible Money and time Access to data Energy

A Matter of Time Point in Time Research Snapshot Longitudinal Research Two points in time can determine a trend Sample a group cohort over time Follow a panel of the same people over time

Units of Analysis Individuals Groups Communities “Things” – artifacts

Units of Analysis, cont. Mixing Units of analysis Ecological Fallacy Drawing conclusions about individuals from group analysis Individualistic Fallacy Drawing conclusions about groups from individual analysis Reductionism Limiting the options to answering a question  “Feminist analysis is the only means of understanding violence against women.”

Next Week More on Operationalization Constructing and using scales and other instruments to operationalize variables Homework: Complete lit review for research prospectus Start adding meat (theory, hypothesis, concepts) to research ideas