1. Two Topics Research Concepts Ethical and Legal Obligations

2. Homework Discussion What did you learn? (data) Assessment of what you learned? (analysis)

3. The Structure of Research Goal of this section: to spur your thinking about some research you might conduct Dominant metaphor, positivist paradigm: Brick wall Free association Bridge? (p. 47)

4. Structure of Theory Theory (metaphor: grid) Patterns of relationships in nature Theory and ideology Conflict theories Interaction theories Ideographic vs. nomothetic (p. 60) In general, SW students should concentrate on the little picture

5. Elements of Hypotheses Hunch about relationship between variables (p. 46) Nature of relationships Association or causation? Free will vs. determinism Description or explanation? How vs. why Present circumstances or prediction? How things are vs. how things will be

6. Variables Independent variables: act upon, change agent, cause, difference controlled by researcher, outside, program, time Dependent variables: the thing you want to change, behavior, thoughts, affect, score on an inventory or test, outcome, effect

7. Operationalization Variables are concepts until operationalized Operationalization Turning concepts into measurable objects Examples

8. To Summarize (p. 50)

9. Conceptual tools Down or up? Deduction vs. induction The question of “Practice Models” Theory Hypothesis Independent variable (concept) Dependent variable (concept) Relationship Operationalization Defined element Relationship

10. Ethical, Legal and Ideological Issues in Social Work Research Working with populations of interest to social work

11. Social Work’s Special Burden Special interest in vulnerable and exploited populations History of exploitation by researchers Holcomb’s two rules of thumb: Functional Relevance: the research directly helps those involved Significant Involvement: The population is involved in both construction (methodology) and execution (data collection, analysis, and reporting) of research

12. The Belmont Report, 1979 Respect for persons Self-determination Protection Beneficence Kindness and charity “Do no harm” Justice Fair and equitable treatment Fair and equitable reporting

13. The Belmont Report in Practice Voluntary participation and informed consent Consent forms (p. 74) No harm to participants IRBs Anonymity and confidentiality Record-keeping and reporting

14. Ethical Dilemmas Deception The right to service Ideology Objectivity vs. advocacy Bias and insensitivity (p. 94) Normality vs. Deviance: what is your “standard”?

15. Your Own Research Beginning to Think about Conducting Research

16. What I Want Generally, an accumulation of thinking about the various topics in each class Specifically for this week, a one- paragraph description of a possible research topic, and the ethical considerations implied by the research, for quick submission next week.