1. Class One Jeff Driskell, MSW, PhD
Research In Social Work Practice Salem State University School of Social Work
Class One
Jeff Driskell, MSW, PhD

2. Agenda Welcome/Check-in Review syllabus One-Minute paper Lecture
Introductions
Lecture

3. A typical course session (1:35-4:20pm)
Check- in/announcements/
questions
Lecture/Activity/
Discussion/weekly comments/speakers
10- minute break around 3:00pm

4. Syllabus Review

5. Syllabus Content Attendance/participation
Use of technology in class- cell phones/laptops
Text books and other readings
Readings (Group 1 and Group 2)
Weekly comments
Assignment overview 

6. Major projects for the semester…
Agency Assessment
Literature Review
Evaluation Proposal

7. Key to success on your assignments
Read the directions carefully
Follow the directions carefully
Give yourself enough time to do the work
Take time to re-read your work
If possible, have someone else read your work to see if it is grammatical, understandable and coherent
Take time to proof-read
AND ONCE AGAIN…give yourself enough time to do the work….
Have CONFIDENCE in yourself

8. One Minute Paper

9. Questions…

10. Introduction to Research in Social Work Practice

11. Many of you may feel a bit like this…

12. The beginning of my research course in the MSW program
My MSW Experience…
ME:
The beginning of my research course in the MSW program

13. Hopefully by the end….You will feel like this..

14. What assumptions do you have about what you will do in this course?

15. What you won’t see in this class:

16. What you won’t do in this class:
Reinvigorate any childhood-specific math fears
No memorization of math formulas
No scary math calculations 

17. You will learn… About the research process
How to translate “research language”
How to utilize, understand and evaluate research
Increase knowledge and skills in problem formulation
How to effectively evaluate practice
How to improve your critical thinking skills and thus understand evidence-based practice and best practices

18. What you will do in this class…
Read, interpret and evaluate research
Match statistical tests to questions

19. What you will need:

20. …and you will need this too…

21. Social Science Research

22. Professional Ethics
Social workers, as professionals, should strive to provide clients with the most effective services
Review: What does the Code of Ethics say about our involvement with research?

23. Social Work and Research
Question:
How do you define research?

24. Definition of Social Science Research (Engel et al. 2009)
“The use of scientific methods to investigate and/ or evaluate individuals, groups, communities, organizations, and social processes; thus knowledge is produced by these investigations/observations”

25. Ways of Knowing Question #1- Question #2-
If you were to be stung by a bee how would you go about treating it?
Question #2-
If you were having trouble falling asleep at night, what might you do to help you fall asleep?

26. Scientific Method
A method for acquiring knowledge. Includes the following systematic steps:
Identify a problem area
Formulate research questions and hypotheses (if quantitative)
Develop/identify methods (materials/procedures)
Results
Formulate conclusions (implications)

27. Principles of the Scientific Method
Good research is…
Based on a sample of observations that are often large and diverse (representation)
Specified well enough so that it may be accurately replicated by others (methods)
Honest about potential biases and actively minimizes their effect (study limitations, threats to validity)
Identifies applicability (implications)
Sharing of findings (dissemination)

28. The bottom line: Research is about…
Asking questions
Deciding how to get answers
Thinking about what those answers mean
Sharing all of the above with the relevant parties – in a way “real people” can understand

29. TED Talk: Use of Research
hy_are_we_happy.html

30. Research in our lives now…
How is research used in your field placement, job or life?
What problem areas does this research focus on?
How do you know it is valid research?

31. Research as a Tool to Build Knowledge

32. The Research Process Choose Topic/Prob. Research Questions Present
Findings
Interpret
Data
Design
Study
Analyze
Data
Collect
Data

33. Social Work and Research
Question:
“Will I actually ever conduct research”?

34. Many different words/uses for research
Policy analysis
Implementation study
Program evaluation
Performance measurement
Process and outcomes
Case studies
Social work
Intervention studies
Treatment and control/comparison groups
Secondary data analysis
Observational studies
Narrative analysis
Phenomenology
Opinion polling
Survey research
Primary data analysis
Ethnography
Participatory action research (PAR)
Meta-analysis
Content analysis
Process evaluation

35. Research Approaches/Design
Quantitative- (deductive)
Numeric approach
Develops and tests theory
Establishes relationships and/or causation
Hypothesis driven
Qualitative- (inductive)
Interpretive approach
Hypothesis generating
Development of theory
Researcher as the data collection tool
Describes meaning or discovery

36. Both types have similar components
Begin with a problem area
Identification of a data source and sample
Identification of study design analysis plan
Implementing the data collection process
Data entry and analysis
Synthesis of results

37. Quantitative approach
Have you taken a research course in the last 5 years?
Yes No
Not sure
On a scale of 1 to 7, rate your level of comfort in taking an introductory research course.
Not comfortable Very comfortable

38. Qualitative approach
Describe how you are feeling about having to take this introductory research course.
What do you most want to gain from this class?
What have you heard from others about this class (not about me….just the class )?

39. Social Work Journals Journal of Evidence-based Social Work
Research on Social Work Practice
Social Work Research
Journal of Qualitative Research
Journal of Substance Abuse
Journal of Aging and Health
Journal of Children’s Health

40. What Social Issues/Problems are of Interest to You?
First- what is a systematic review?
What problem is being addressed?
What is the conclusion of the study?
What are the implications for practice? Policy? Research?

41. Moving Forward
As we move forward: The lens in which you will use for this course: Evidence Based Practice Framework

42. Weekly Comments (to be typed up and submitted in class)
In your own words, briefly describe your understanding of EBP?
Based on the Pignotti article: Choose one of the following interventions/programs: DARE, Scared Straight Programs, Rebirthing, or Facilitated Communication for Autism.
Provide brief description
Identify if the program/intervention is supported or not supported empirically.