Читать книгу Social Work Research Methods - Reginald O. York - Страница 67

In this chapter, you have reviewed the nature of science and social work research, which is founded on it. You have examined alternatives to science, with special emphasis on pseudoscience. You should now be more wary of false claims. You have been encouraged to use science to help with practice decisions. Connections between critical thinking and science have also been examined in this chapter.

You have reviewed how the social scientist is unique. After this chapter, you are more likely to recognize that social work research is designed to further existing knowledge. You will recognize that it relies on a systematic process of inquiry, including the collection and analysis of data. You will be aware of the fact that science provides a fair playing field for opposite claims of reality. Armed with these learnings, you will see that science should be used as a guide for social work practice.

Among the specific learnings from this chapter are the following:

1 Science is a method of inquiry that has the purpose of discovery, not justification. You do not engage in scientific research to prove a point. Instead, you do it to find out the truth.

2 Science is systematic, objective, and comprehensive.

3 Science relies on objective measurement, leading to data from which conclusions are drawn.

4 Science is designed to reduce human error in decision making, as evidenced by a reduction in decision regret.

5 Science is founded on common principles with critical thinking, which emphasizes each of the critical aspects of scientific inquiry, including the purpose of reducing decision error.

6 Science as a basis for knowledge is different from experience, authority, or tradition, each of which may be useful for the social worker but are based on methods that are different from the methods of scientific study.

7 Science is distinctively different from pseudoscience as a way of discovery because pseudoscience, unlike science, tends to rely on unsubstantiated claims, anecdotal evidence, authority, and cherry-picking of facts to support a preconceived conclusion.

8 Science, as a method of inquiry, can be viewed in light of some commonsense phrases such as the following:Don’t put the cart before the horse!Two heads are better than one!Some things happen just by chance!Don’t reinvent the wheel!