Читать книгу Social Work Research Methods - Reginald O. York - Страница 97

1 Human service research can be categorized in several ways. Three of these ways that were examined in this chapter were purpose, scope, and basic approach to measurement.

2 Human service research can be classified with regard to purpose. One purpose is description, where precise measurement is critical. Another purpose is explanation, where two or more variables are measured and compared to test whether one explains the other. A third purpose is evaluation, where client outcome is measured. A final purpose is exploration, which makes good use of qualitative measurement because it is an examination of a phenomenon that is not well known.

3 A manner of characterizing evaluative research is its scope. This type of research can be classified as program evaluation or intervention evaluation. Program evaluation is broader in scope and may include several intervention evaluations; the latter is given greater emphasis in this book.

4 The general type of measurement is a third way to characterize human service research. When you measure variables in a quantitative manner, you will give each study subject either a category to fit into or a number that indicates the numerical value it represents on a concept to be measured. When you measure variables in a qualitative way, you ask the study subjects to give you words to analyze.

5 When you engage in program evaluations, you may ask questions such as the following: (a) Were appropriate clients offered service? (b) Were good standards of service implemented? (c) Did the clients achieve the objectives of the service?

6 The evaluation of the intervention tends to focus on client outcome for a single client or a group of clients.

7 The research process was presented as having four basic phases: (1) articulation of the research question and the knowledge base that guides it, (2) determination of the methods that will be used to select a study sample and measure the study variables, (3) collection and analysis of data, and (4) drawing the study conclusions.

8 The nature of scientific inquiry necessitates the systematic examination of human phenomena through a step-by-step process where each phase naturally leads to the next. You do not, for example, decide how you are going to measure the study variables before you articulate the study question and examine an appropriate knowledge base.

9 From the knowledge base, you can better understand the phenomena of your study through theories or conceptual frameworks. From this understanding, you will be in a better position to measure your study variables and to predict your study results.

10 From the report on your study methods, we can learn about the extent to which the results of the study can be generalized to a population of people who were not in the study. We can also learn about the confidence we can have that you have measured your study variables accurately.

11 If you are conducting an evaluative study, you will determine the research design. This design instructs you on the procedures for the collection of your data on client outcome. It helps you answer the following question: Did the treatment cause the measured client gain? Some designs do a better job of answering this question than others.

12 A critical issue in data analysis is statistical significance, which addresses the issue of chance. If your data can easily be explained by chance, you cannot rely on them to give you the truth.