Deck 1: Science, Society, and Social Work Research

Question 1

Quantitative methods collect data that are either numbers or that can be ordered in terms of magnitude.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Explanation is often the motive for using qualitative methods.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Evidence-based practice is a decision-making process that prioritizes prior research and clinical expertise over other factors when choosing an intervention.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Positivism is an orienting philosophy best described as one where:

A) Our social reality is seen as improving, moving towards a more equitable distribution of resources
B) Research is driven by the interest to better understand our objective world
C) Research focuses on understanding stakeholder's perceptions of reality
D) Our reality is elusive and cannot be understand through direct observation
E) Reality can be sometimes influenced by our perceptions

Question 5

Match the concept with its description.
-Overgeneralization

A) Reluctance to change ideas even in light of new information
B) Noting observations that coincide with pre-existing preferences or beliefs
C) Prematurely jumping to conclusions or arguing on the basis of invalid assumptions
D) Unjustifiably concluding that what is true for some cases is true for all cases

Question 6

Match the concept with its description.
-Selective observation

A) Reluctance to change ideas even in light of new information
B) Noting observations that coincide with pre-existing preferences or beliefs
C) Prematurely jumping to conclusions or arguing on the basis of invalid assumptions
D) Unjustifiably concluding that what is true for some cases is true for all cases

Question 7

Match the concept with its description.
-Illogical reasoning

A) Reluctance to change ideas even in light of new information
B) Noting observations that coincide with pre-existing preferences or beliefs
C) Prematurely jumping to conclusions or arguing on the basis of invalid assumptions
D) Unjustifiably concluding that what is true for some cases is true for all cases

Question 8

Match the concept with its description.
-Resistance to change

A) Reluctance to change ideas even in light of new information
B) Noting observations that coincide with pre-existing preferences or beliefs
C) Prematurely jumping to conclusions or arguing on the basis of invalid assumptions
D) Unjustifiably concluding that what is true for some cases is true for all cases

Question 9

Match the concept with an example statement or question.
-Description

A) Increased substance abuse tends to increase the risk of becoming homeless
B) How do homeless women adapt to their situation?
C) How many people are homeless in Atlanta, Georgia?
D) Graduates of the Klickenmore Group Home Project maintained their own apartments for an average of 2.7 years, compared to non-graduates who maintained their own apartments for 0.4 years

Question 10

Match the concept with an example statement or question.
-Evaluation

A) Increased substance abuse tends to increase the risk of becoming homeless
B) How do homeless women adapt to their situation?
C) How many people are homeless in Atlanta, Georgia?
D) Graduates of the Klickenmore Group Home Project maintained their own apartments for an average of 2.7 years, compared to non-graduates who maintained their own apartments for 0.4 years

Question 11

Match the concept with an example statement or question.
-Explanation

A) Increased substance abuse tends to increase the risk of becoming homeless
B) How do homeless women adapt to their situation?
C) How many people are homeless in Atlanta, Georgia?
D) Graduates of the Klickenmore Group Home Project maintained their own apartments for an average of 2.7 years, compared to non-graduates who maintained their own apartments for 0.4 years

Question 12

Which of the following should social workers provide clients, so that they are provided with the information necessary to make decisions about services?

A) Effectiveness of the intervention
B) Client's role in the intervention
C) Expectations of the client
D) Length of the intervention
E) All of the above are important

Question 13

The results of a recent survey found that only 23% of social workers use the internet to provide services, compared to 48% of professional counselors. This study is an example of which kind of social research?

A) Descriptive
B) Exploratory
C) Explanatory
D) Evaluation
E) Idiographic

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of descriptive research about the homeless?

A) A study aimed at determining the effects of tax breaks on rent costs.
B) A study focused on the meanings homeless people assign to their conditions.
C) A study based on the questions who are the homeless and how do they live.
D) A study based on the hypothesis that the homeless are more likely to have drug problems.
E) A study focused on the effects of social networks and homelessness.

Question 15

Which of the following does NOT apply to the quantitative methods?

A) Surveys and experiments are common methods of quantitative data collection.
B) Quantitative data collection records variation in social life in terms of categories that vary in amount.
C) Data can be in the form of numbers.
D) Data can be in the form of attributes ordered in terms of magnitude.
E) Data is not collected in categories predetermined by the researcher.

Question 16

Barriers to Implementation of EBP include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Negative perceptions of the role of research in practice scenarios
B) Too broad or open-ended agency guidelines
C) Too few monetary resources
D) Insufficient research expertise
E) Too many pre-existing demands on the agency

Question 17

The goal of qualitative research is to:

A) Better understand the motivations behind complex phenomena
B) To compliment quantitative research
C) To identify demographic analyze, such as age, race, and class
D) To collect factual information direct from the source
E) To explore personal preferences.

Question 18

Constructivism implies that:

A) Research is futile because we can never completely understand our reality as each individual constructs their own versions
B) There exists no objective facts; everything is just a product of an individual's perception or imagination
C) Understanding stakeholders is our best chance at understanding their reality and improving it.
D) Individuals construct their own realities and can therefore change them by themselves.
E) Quantitative research is the only way to reduce all of the individual perceptions to their objective elements.

Question 19

Students attending a state college have chosen to live in a neighboring community because it is cheaper than continuing to live on campus. This campus is fondly known as a "student slum" because of its living conditions and broader low cost of living. One day, a student was shocked to see an older person walking around the neighborhood and concluded that they must be visiting a student. This error in reasoning can be attributed to:

A) Selective Observation
B) Illogical Reasoning
C) Inaccurate Observation
D) Overgeneralization
E) Resistance to Change

Question 20

Which one of these is not an example of evaluation research?

A) Effectiveness of group homes vs. individual supportive housing
B) Intervention styles: treatment or housing first
C) Community-based participatory research
D) Pre- and post- intervention surveys
E) Utilization-focused research

Question 21

The executive director of a community center requests an assessment of how youth in the neighborhood spend their leisure time, including what after school activities they attend and what type of sports activities they prefer. She has asked for which type of research to be conducted?

A) Descriptive
B) Explanatory
C) Evaluation
D) Qualitative
E) Authentic

Question 22

The social worker at the local mental health center noticed that clients whose workers were female were more compliant with their medications than those whose workers were male. He concluded that female workers are more nurturing and therefore, their clients are more likely to comply with treatment. This error in reasoning is:

A) Selective observation
B) Overgeneralization
C) Inaccurate observation
D) Illogical reasoning
E) Resistance to change

Question 23

Which of the following pairs are strongly linked?

A) Evaluation research and evidence-based practice
B) Exploratory research and a quantitative research orientation
C) Explanatory research and a qualitative research orientation
D) Qualitative research orientation and positivism
E) Quantitative research orientation and constructivism

Question 24

Ego and expertise are elements that are linked by having ample experience in a given field. Yet, as was outlined in the chapter, we are taught to perceive "ego-based commitments" as a bad thing, as they lead us to make errors in reasoning. At the same time, clinical expertise is invaluable and an important piece of evidence-based practice. How should one manage this distinction between ego and expertise?
Use your knowledge of research, reasoning, and social work to address this question.

Question 25

Briefly compare and contrast qualitative and quantitative research methods. Explain why both can be useful in social science.

Question 26

Consider a local agency that works with individuals experiencing homelessness. They are very interested in implementing an evidence-based practice decision-making system. Give an example of how five of the many barriers to implementation listed in the book could manifest themselves for this organization. Also discuss how this organization could overcome these barriers.

Question 27

Consider the research conducted on homelessness, as described in Chapter 1. What is the potential impact of these research findings on social policies?
How do these findings potentially shape program development?
Based on these findings, describe an effective intervention to ameliorate this social problem.

Question 28

Which of the errors in scientific reasoning are the most difficult for social science to overcome?
Review each of the five and evaluate the relative difficulties they create. Answer in terms of a specific research area, such as homelessness, mental health, or adaptations to communities or work organizations.

Question 29

Why are quantitative methods used predominantly in explanatory, descriptive, or evaluative research?
What does quantitative information help us understand as researchers?
Furthermore, why are qualitative methods used in exploratory research?
What is the value of qualitative information for a researcher?

Question 30

What is the value in considering diversity in cultural norms when conducting research?
Specifically, when discussing social work research, is research that focuses on dominant groups the most valuable?
What strategies can be used to ensure a diverse group of research participants at all points in the research process, from identifying participants to drawing conclusions?