1. Research and APA Outside of the Box
The Art of Understanding What You need
CALLIE WIYGUL, SOCIAL WORK LIBRARIAN
USC LIBRARIES

2. What is research?
“Research is a systematic methodological approach to collecting and analyzing information to create new knowledge” (Saini, 2015).
Research informs practice:
Evidence Based Practice
Interventions
Both a noun and a verb
Saini, M. (2010). Research. Oxford Bibliographies Online. DOI: /OBO/

3. Social Work Policy Institute
“Assess the needs and resources of people in their environments
Evaluate the effectiveness of social work services in meeting peoples needs
Demonstrate relative costs and benefits of social work services
Advance professional education in light of changing contexts for practice
Understand the impact of legislation and social policy on the clients and communities we serve”
Social Work Policy Institute. (2010). Research. Retrieved from

4. Policies “Social policy is how a society responds to social problems.
Any government enactment that affects the well-being of people, including laws, regulations, executive orders, and court decisions, is a social policy” (Herrick, 2014).
Policies are mandated at the following levels:
Federal
State
Local
Herrick, J.M. (2014). Social Policy Overview. Encyclopedia of Social Work /acrefore/

5. Studies Systematic Reviews Meta Analyses Qualitative Studies
Usually focus on a specific clinical question and conduct extensive literature searches to identify studies with sound methodology.
Studies are reviewed, assessed, and the results summarized according to the predetermined criteria of the review question
Meta Analyses
Combine the results from many studies (can be trans-disciplinary)
Results inform policy and practice
Qualitative Studies
“Qualitative studies seek to convey the complex worlds of respondents in a holistic, on- the-ground manner” (Padgett, 2013).
Padgett, D.K. (2013). Qualitative Research. Encyclopedia of Social Work.

6. Demographics Components of population change
Projections for future population growth
Transformations in population composition pertaining to:
Age
Race
Ethnicity
Trends that shape family household structure (for example, marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and non-marital child bearing)
Trends pertaining to the distribution of income, wealth, and poverty
Class-based disparities
Marriage and non-marital child bearing
Contributions of immigration to population growth and diversity
Information is found in popular sources of information
U.S. Census Bureau
Kids Count Data Center
Not located in academic journals

7. APA Citations Citations help you avoid plagiarism.
Help the reader locate your sources
APA – American Psychological Association
The rules can be confusing – always follow your professor’s instructions
Many APA citation sources are available online.
Check the Social Work Library Guide
When in doubt, cite it out.

8. Four Basic Elements Author of content Date content was published
Title of content
Publication information. This can be the website you got it from or the journal or book's publication information.

9. Check the Social Work Library Guide
Includes examples of how to cite:
Books
Articles
Encyclopedia entries
Census data
Policies s
Podcasts
Social Media

10. Commonly Asked Citation Questions
How do I cite asynchronous content (lecture slides on Blackboard, etc.)?
 In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
(Author Surname, Year)
  In-Text Citation (Quotation):
 References:
Wiygul, C.B. (2015). How to Cite in APA Format[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from University of Southern California Blackboard Course SOWK 503:

11. Commonly Asked Citation Questions
How do I cite the Mental Measurements Yearbook
ONLINE Mental Measurements Yearbook
Entire Test Description
Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scales. (2001). In The fourteenth mental measurements yearbook. Available from
Individual Test Review
Kaufman, N. L., & Kaufman, A. S. (2001). [Review of the test Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scales]. In The fourteenth mental measurements yearbook.Available from