Elspeth Slayter, Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Social Work, Salem State University 1

Check-in & administrative matters Review of key concepts from last week Discussion of readings on the process of evidence-based practice Problem formation Group support on Assignment #1 2

…questions about syllabus, assignments, break time, other announcements? 3

Agency assessment and identification of research question Annotated bibliography Full literature review and evaluation proposal 4

Semester follows the process of developing a research proposal Why research? What is the process of evidence-based practice? Problem statement Research questions (hypotheses) Annotated bibliography-literature review Research design Thinking about data analysis Ethical challenges/study limitations Potential study implications 5

What did you take away from class last week? 6

Critical consumption of research Choose practice approaches Choose evaluation approaches Improve your critical thinking skills Explain research findings to your staff/team Understand what the process of Evidence-based practice REALLY means Ability to evaluate practice Determine process/outcome effectiveness Interact with consultants Work in a team Present information to your staff Function effectively in a data-driven and cash- strapped world 7

Qualitative: How, why Quantitative: Where, what, who 8

Two basic approaches to research? Research and evaluation? Process of evidence-based practice? 9

Research QualitativeQuantitative Program evaluation Process/formativeOutcome/summative 10

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Everything is open to question Publication does not guarantee quality Look for optimized objectivity Don’t rely exclusively on tradition, authority, common sense and the popular media Ex-post-facto hypothesizing - it’s not that simple (page 18) Bandwagon appeal – look for pseudoscience (page 22) 12

What is going on in this study? What are the built-in assumptions? Do the conclusions follow from the data? What are the alternative explanations for the results? What other information would be helpful in testing all of the explanations? What would I do differently? 13

Readings from textbook Reading on “NUTS” Other readings

Did you happen to notice “EBP” talk in your work or field settings last week after class? 15

Discussion of Pignotti & Thyer article: What is this study about? What is the problem area? What is a NUT? 16

What is the central research question? What was the purpose of this research (per textbook classifications)? Does this article address the PROCESS of evidence- based practice that we discussed last week? What else do we need to know about this topic that isn’t answered by this study? 17

We will be coming back to this article! Don’t expect to “get” everything today Trust the process! 18

All are types of Research Looking up references, compiling existing information Practice evaluation (a.k.a. program evaluation) Social research that informs social work practice in some way 19

Do you want a review of how to search the library databases? Information for Practice NIMH Publications NYAM Grey Literature report Child welfare information gateway Kaiser Family Foundation 20

Problem area Research question Area of interest Existing knowledge or theory 21

Over-arching research question (umbrella) Specific research questions (points on the umbrella) 22

Problem area Specific aims, hypotheses Research question Area of interest Existing knowledge/ theory Methods 23

Research Area of interest Review existing knowledge/theory Hone problem area Develop over-arching research question Develop specific aims, hypotheses if appropriate Choose methods to conduct study Process of evidence- based practice: Area of interest in social work practice Review existing knowledge/theory Consider client, provider, research Choose intervention approach (may or may not be in literature) Choose methods to conduct evaluation 24

Purposes of social work research(not mutually exclusive): Exploration Description Explanation Evaluation Constructing measurement instruments 25

9/23/14 Class 3: Implementing an evidence-supported intervention: Program evaluation 1) Challenges to implementation of an evidence-supported intervention 2) Program evaluation: Process/outcome or formative/summative Come to class ready to discuss: Your field placement or former job (see me ahead of time if you are not currently involved in a social work setting) in light of this week’s readings 26