Question 1

Discuss the exploratory, descriptive and explanatory purposes for doing research. Describe a study that illustrates each purpose.​

Accepted Answer

Exploratory research is conducted to explore a new area or topic where little information is available. It aims to gain a better understanding of the topic and identify potential research questions. Descriptive research, on the other hand, is used to describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon. It provides a detailed picture of the subject under study. Explanatory research seeks to explain the relationships between different variables and understand the reasons behind certain phenomena.

An example of exploratory research could be a study on the effects of social media on mental health among teenagers. Researchers may conduct interviews and surveys to explore the different ways in which social media usage impacts the mental well-being of adolescents.

For descriptive research, a study on the demographics of smartphone users in a specific region could be conducted. This study would aim to describe the age, gender, income level, and usage patterns of smartphone users in the area.

An example of explanatory research could be a study on the relationship between exercise and stress levels. Researchers may conduct a longitudinal study to understand how different levels of physical activity impact stress levels over time.

In each of these examples, the research serves a specific purpose - to explore a new topic, to describe a particular phenomenon, or to explain the relationships between variables. These purposes help guide the research process and determine the methods and analyses used.

Question 2

The more broadly worded the research question is, the better the research question.​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

Give an example of how the longitudinal study of a problem in social welfare would differ depending on whether it was a trend study, a cohort study, or a panel study.​

Accepted Answer

A trend study of a problem in social welfare would focus on examining changes in the problem over time across a population. For example, a trend study of poverty rates in the United States over the past 50 years would analyze how poverty levels have fluctuated and evolved across different demographic groups and geographic regions.

On the other hand, a cohort study would follow a specific group of individuals over time to see how the problem in social welfare affects them. For instance, a cohort study on the impact of educational interventions on at-risk youth would track a specific group of students from childhood through adulthood to assess the long-term effects of the interventions on their well-being and social outcomes.

Lastly, a panel study would involve repeatedly surveying the same group of individuals over time to understand how their experiences and attitudes change in relation to the social welfare problem. An example of a panel study in social welfare could be tracking the same group of individuals who have experienced homelessness to understand their pathways out of homelessness and the factors that contribute to their success or challenges in accessing social services.

In summary, the choice of study design (trend, cohort, or panel) would significantly impact the focus and methodology of a longitudinal study of a problem in social welfare, leading to different insights and implications for policy and practice.

Question 4

Which of the following is an attribute of a good research question?​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​There should be many possible acceptable answers to it. 
B)  ​It need NOT be stated in specific terms. 
C)  ​It need NOT be answerable by observable evidence. 
D)  ​Its answer should be relevant to others concerned about social work or social welfare. 
A)  ​There should be many possible acceptable answers to it. 
B)  ​It need NOT be stated in specific terms. 
C)  ​It need NOT be answerable by observable evidence. 
D)  ​Its answer should be relevant to others concerned about social work or social welfare.

Question 5

To generate hypotheses or tentative new insights about a new phenomenon, a researcher would undertake:​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​a trend study. 
B)  ​an explanatory study. 
C)  ​an exploratory study. 
D)  ​a longitudinal study. 
E)  ​a descriptive study. 
A)  ​a trend study. 
B)  ​an explanatory study. 
C)  ​an exploratory study. 
D)  ​a longitudinal study. 
E)  ​a descriptive study.

Question 6

Research designs can be descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory, but never more than one.​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In order to formulate the question and purpose for your research requires considering the time dimension.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Feasibility should NOT be a consideration when formulating an idealistic, far-reaching study.​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following statements is TRUE about social work research as compared to social scientific research in disciplines like sociology and psychology?​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​It is more likely to deal with practical problems and decisions confronting social welfare agencies. 
B)  ​It is less likely to be applied. 
C)  ​It is more likely to emphasize theory. 
D)  ​Theory plays no role in social work research 
A)  ​It is more likely to deal with practical problems and decisions confronting social welfare agencies. 
B)  ​It is less likely to be applied. 
C)  ​It is more likely to emphasize theory. 
D)  ​Theory plays no role in social work research

Question 10

Which of the following statements is/are TRUE about selecting a research question?​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​The selection should be based exclusively on the researcher's personal curiosity. 
B)  ​The question should pass the "so what" test. 
C)  ​Reading the research literature on the topic should be put off until after the research question is finalized. 
D)  ​The question must test a theory. 
A)  ​The selection should be based exclusively on the researcher's personal curiosity. 
B)  ​The question should pass the "so what" test. 
C)  ​Reading the research literature on the topic should be put off until after the research question is finalized. 
D)  ​The question must test a theory.

Question 11

Explain why it is usually important to review the literature early in the problem formulation phase of research. study.​

Accepted Answer

Reviewing the literature early in the pr

Question 12

Identify and give an example of each of the four units of analysis. Illustrate the ecological fallacy and reductionism using your examples.​

Accepted Answer

The four units of analysis are individua

Question 13

Which of the following is/are true regarding the feasibility of social work research studies?​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​Fiscal costs are rarely underestimated. 
B)  ​Agency staff members may resist research studies. 
C)  ​Unexpected obstacles rarely take up much time. 
D)  ​Ethical issues rarely require that the research be reformulated. 
A)  ​Fiscal costs are rarely underestimated. 
B)  ​Agency staff members may resist research studies. 
C)  ​Unexpected obstacles rarely take up much time. 
D)  ​Ethical issues rarely require that the research be reformulated.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true about the literature review?​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​It should be put off until the research question has been sharpened. 
B)  ​It is a prime source for selecting a research question to begin with. 
C)  ​It should be done exclusively in the library, not online. 
D)  ​It should be limited to social work journal articles. 
A)  ​It should be put off until the research question has been sharpened. 
B)  ​It is a prime source for selecting a research question to begin with. 
C)  ​It should be done exclusively in the library, not online. 
D)  ​It should be limited to social work journal articles.

Question 15

Dr. Jordan chronicles people's attitudes toward an upcoming poverty program. Jordan is doing explanatory research.​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

A follow-up study of how the same clients discharged from a mental hospital in 1990 were functioning in 1991, 1992, 1993, and so on through 2000 would be​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​a cohort study 
B)  ​a trend study 
C)  ​a panel study 
D)  ​a cross-sectional study 
A)  ​a cohort study 
B)  ​a trend study 
C)  ​a panel study 
D)  ​a cross-sectional study

Question 17

Reductionism refers to an overly strict limitation on the kinds of concepts and variables to be considered as caused.​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

When a researcher is deciding what information will be gathered (and from whom), that researcher is dealing with which of the following stages of the research design process?

Accepted Answer

A)  ​purposes of research. 
B)  ​units of analysis. 
C)  ​topics for research. 
D)  ​time dimension. 
E)  ​motivations for research. 
A)  ​purposes of research. 
B)  ​units of analysis. 
C)  ​topics for research. 
D)  ​time dimension. 
E)  ​motivations for research.

Question 19

​Cohort studies examine how specific subpopulations change over time, but the specific set of people observed will be different at different chronological points.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Descriptive studies do NOT

Accepted Answer

A)  ​study relationships between variables. 
B)  ​tell why something occurred. 
C)  ​use operational definitions. 
D)  ​use concepts. 
E)  ​Descriptive studies DO all of these. 
A)  ​study relationships between variables. 
B)  ​tell why something occurred. 
C)  ​use operational definitions. 
D)  ​use concepts. 
E)  ​Descriptive studies DO all of these.

Exam 7: Problem Formulation

Discuss the exploratory, descriptive and explanatory purposes for doing research. Describe a study that illustrates each purpose.​

The more broadly worded the research question is, the better the research question.​

Give an example of how the longitudinal study of a problem in social welfare would differ depending on whether it was a trend study, a cohort study, or a panel study.​

Which of the following is an attribute of a good research question?​

To generate hypotheses or tentative new insights about a new phenomenon, a researcher would undertake:​

Research designs can be descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory, but never more than one.​

In order to formulate the question and purpose for your research requires considering the time dimension.

Feasibility should NOT be a consideration when formulating an idealistic, far-reaching study.​

Which of the following statements is TRUE about social work research as compared to social scientific research in disciplines like sociology and psychology?​

Which of the following statements is/are TRUE about selecting a research question?​

Explain why it is usually important to review the literature early in the problem formulation phase of research. study.​

Identify and give an example of each of the four units of analysis. Illustrate the ecological fallacy and reductionism using your examples.​

Which of the following is/are true regarding the feasibility of social work research studies?​

Which of the following statements is true about the literature review?​

Dr. Jordan chronicles people's attitudes toward an upcoming poverty program. Jordan is doing explanatory research.​

A follow-up study of how the same clients discharged from a mental hospital in 1990 were functioning in 1991, 1992, 1993, and so on through 2000 would be​

Reductionism refers to an overly strict limitation on the kinds of concepts and variables to be considered as caused.​

When a researcher is deciding what information will be gathered (and from whom), that researcher is dealing with which of the following stages of the research design process?

​Cohort studies examine how specific subpopulations change over time, but the specific set of people observed will be different at different chronological points.

Descriptive studies do NOT

Why Study Research

Evidence-Based Practice

Factors Influencing the Research Process

Comparing Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods of Inquiry

The Ethics and Politics of Social Work Research

Culturally Competent Research

Conceptualization in Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry

Measurement

Constructing Measurement Instruments

Causal Inference and Experimental Designs

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Single-Case Evaluation Designs

Program Evaluation

Sampling

Survey Research

Analyzing Existing Data: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Qualitative Research: General Principles

Qualitative Research: Specific Methods

Qualitative Data Analysis

Descriptive Data Analysis

Inferential Data Analysis

Writing Research Proposals and Reports

Filters

Discuss the exploratory, descriptive and explanatory purposes for doing research. Describe a study that illustrates each purpose.

The more broadly worded the research question is, the better the research question.

Give an example of how the longitudinal study of a problem in social welfare would differ depending on whether it was a trend study, a cohort study, or a panel study.

Which of the following is an attribute of a good research question?

To generate hypotheses or tentative new insights about a new phenomenon, a researcher would undertake:

Research designs can be descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory, but never more than one.

Feasibility should NOT be a consideration when formulating an idealistic, far-reaching study.

Which of the following statements is TRUE about social work research as compared to social scientific research in disciplines like sociology and psychology?

Which of the following statements is/are TRUE about selecting a research question?

Explain why it is usually important to review the literature early in the problem formulation phase of research. study.

Identify and give an example of each of the four units of analysis. Illustrate the ecological fallacy and reductionism using your examples.

Which of the following is/are true regarding the feasibility of social work research studies?

Which of the following statements is true about the literature review?

Dr. Jordan chronicles people's attitudes toward an upcoming poverty program. Jordan is doing explanatory research.

A follow-up study of how the same clients discharged from a mental hospital in 1990 were functioning in 1991, 1992, 1993, and so on through 2000 would be

Reductionism refers to an overly strict limitation on the kinds of concepts and variables to be considered as caused.

Cohort studies examine how specific subpopulations change over time, but the specific set of people observed will be different at different chronological points.