Ch 2 1 Types of Research

Summary

This lecture introduces the types of social work research, emphasizing the distinction between basic and applied research, with a focus on applied research due to its practical implications. It differentiates between quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, illustrating their contrasting philosophies with the analogy of self-perception. Quantitative research, with its objective reality and numerical data, is compared to qualitative research's acknowledgment of multiple subjective realities. The lecture also touches on the evolution of research methodologies in social work, the importance of sample size in quantitative research for generalization, and the depth of information in qualitative research. It concludes with a discussion on different research types based on the research question's nature, from exploratory to evaluation research, using the example of social work students' research classes.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Social work research can be categorized into basic and applied research, with applied research being more relevant to social work practice.
• 📊 Research methodologies are divided into quantitative and qualitative, with the former focusing on numerical data and the latter on non-numerical data like interviews and observations.
• 🌐 The distinction between quantitative and qualitative research lies in their philosophical underpinnings, not just the type of data collected.
• 🪞 An analogy is used to illustrate the difference: using a ruler for measurements represents quantitative research, while asking friends for descriptions represents qualitative research.
• 🌟 Quantitative research assumes one objective reality and aims for objectivity, whereas qualitative research acknowledges multiple subjective realities.
• 📈 Quantitative research is dominant due to its historical association with the scientific method and is often used in fields like psychology.
• 📚 Qualitative research, though less rigid, is gaining acceptance, especially in social work where emotions and personalities are difficult to quantify.
• 🔍 In research, the sample size is crucial in quantitative studies for generalization, while in qualitative studies, depth of information is prioritized over sample size.
• 📝 Research can also be categorized by the nature of the research question into exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and evaluation research.
• 🎓 The example of studying why social work students must take research classes illustrates how different types of research can be applied to the same topic.
• 📈 Exploratory research is used when little is known about a topic, descriptive research provides facts, explanatory research investigates relationships, and evaluation research assesses program effectiveness.

Q & A

What are the two main purposes of research in social work?

The two main purposes of research in social work are basic research and applied research. Basic research aims to expand knowledge and theory, while applied research focuses on informing practice.

How does the type of data collected differentiate quantitative research from qualitative research?

Quantitative research collects numerical data, while qualitative research collects non-numeric data such as interviews, narratives, and observations.

What is the philosophical difference between quantitative and qualitative research?

Quantitative research is based on the belief in one objective reality and uses numbers as the most objective means to understand it. Qualitative research, on the other hand, acknowledges multiple subjective realities and values the depth and context of individual experiences.

Why is quantitative research considered the dominant methodology in social work?

Quantitative research is considered dominant because it aligns with the scientific method, which is historically associated with numbers and objectivity. It is seen as more rigorous and has been the traditional approach in many fields, including psychology.

What is an example of a quantitative research methodology mentioned in the script?

An example of a quantitative research methodology is using a ruler to measure physical features such as the size of one's eyes or the width of one's mouth.

How does the script illustrate the concept of subjective realities in qualitative research?

The script uses the example of asking friends to describe one's appearance, where different friends might describe the same person differently based on their relationship and perspective, thus illustrating the concept of subjective realities.

What is the significance of sample size in quantitative versus qualitative research?

In quantitative research, a larger sample size is sought to generalize findings to a broader population. In contrast, qualitative research focuses less on sample size and more on the depth and richness of information obtained from each participant.

What are the different types of research based on the nature of the research question?

The different types of research based on the nature of the research question are exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, and evaluation research.

Why might exploratory research be chosen for a new or unknown topic area?

Exploratory research is chosen for new or unknown topics to gain insights and ideas, as there is often little or no prior knowledge about the phenomenon being studied.

How does the script suggest evaluating the effectiveness of a social work research class?

The script suggests conducting evaluation research to determine if the current social work research class is effective and to explore ways to increase students' interest or performance in the class.

What is the role of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in the context of the script?

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is mentioned as the accreditation institution for social work programs in the United States, which could be a starting point for exploratory research on why social work students are required to take research classes.