Deck 2: Purposes and Processes of Social Work Research

Question 1

Which of the following statements describes a descriptive study?

A) This study examined the relationship between gender and the number of appointments that were missed by the client in the treatment process.
B) This study collected data on several variables regarding the clients of this agency such as gender, race, income level, and family structure.
C) This study examined whether the clients of the support group service improved on self-esteem through the examination of pretest and posttest scores on self-esteem.
D) This study examined data on the relationship between grades in school and depression to see if depression was a potential cause of poor school grades.

Answer 1

This study collected data on several variables regarding the clients of this agency such as gender, race, income level, and family structure.

Question 2

Which of the following statements describes an evaluative study?

A) This study examined the differences in improvement in reading readiness scores for two groups, one of which had received the prekindergarten readiness service and one of which had not received this service.
B) This study examined the relationship between age and improvement scores for a client group in order to examine whether age is a predictor of improvement for our clients.
C) This study asked each client to indicate if they needed a given service when offered a list of services offered by the agency.
D) This study collected data on the variables of stress and stressors in order to examine the relationship between these two variables.

Answer 2

This study examined the differences in improvement in reading readiness scores for two groups, one of which had received the prekindergarten readiness service and one of which had not received this service.

Question 3

When you classify a research study as explanatory, you are classifying it by ______.

A) chance
B) type of client
C) common sense
D) purpose

Answer 3

purpose

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of an evaluation of an intervention?

A) examining the pretest and posttest scores for feelings of social support in an 11-client rape victim support group
B) examining the need for mental health services at the Hopewell Community Medical Health Center
C) examining the extent that the crime rate has declined in the past 5 years of the local court's criminal justice services
D) reviewing the extent to which services have been used by clients who live in poverty

Question 5

In a program evaluation, efficiency can be determined by which type of information?

A) number of clients served
B) number of clients who improved during the service period
C) cost per unit of service
D) the qualifications of staff who provide the service

Question 6

Survey items that ______ can be characterized as a form of qualitative measurement.

A) have specified categories for response (e.g., male or female as response categories for a question on gender)
B) have open-ended questions (e.g., What are your most important unmet needs?)
C) ask for a specific number as the response (e.g., What is your current annual family income?)
D) ask if your political party affiliation is Democrat, Republican, or other

Question 7

Qualitative measurement is more likely to be found in which kind of study?

A) a study that calls for precise measurement of study variables
B) a study that is designed to test a well-known theory or hypothesis
C) a study undertaken where there is sufficient knowledge to compose questions with specific categories for response
D) a study regarding a little known theme

Question 8

In which phase of the research process are you likely to employ a literature review of the target behavior being treated?

A) the study conclusions
B) the study methods
C) the knowledge base
D) the analysis of data

Question 9

A research study's knowledge base helps determine ______.

A) the definition of the variables to be measured
B) the statistic to be employed in the testing of the study hypothesis
C) the study conclusions to be drawn
D) the selection of the tools to be used to measure study variables

Question 10

The statistical analysis of data takes place in which step in the research process?

A) the development of the research question and knowledge base
B) the drawing of study conclusions
C) the analysis of data
D) the development of the study methods

Question 11

In an evaluative study, selecting the tools for measuring client progress takes place during which step in the research process?

A) the development of the research question and knowledge base
B) the drawing of conclusions
C) the analysis of data
D) the development of the study methods

Question 12

In which step in the research process do you determine the nature of the population you will study and the sample you will draw?

A) the development of the research question and knowledge base
B) the drawing of conclusions
C) the analysis of data
D) the development of the study methods

Question 13

Statistical analysis of data deals with the issue of ______.

A) chance
B) generalization of study findings
C) causation
D) validity

Question 14

According to the text, what should be the primary focus of your study conclusions?

A) what you have come to know from your review of the literature and your professional experiences
B) your opinions about the nature of the study hypothesis
C) the basic results of the data you analyzed
D) the strengths of the study you have undertaken

Question 15

An explanatory research study would focus on the ______.

A) characteristics of people
B) relationships between variables
C) success of a service
D) examination of a theme where little is currently known

Question 16

A study of client outcome would examine data on the ______.

A) proportion of clients from the program's target population who were served by the program
B) cost per unit of service delivered
C) opinions of experts on the effectiveness of the service that was delivered
D) pretest and posttest scores of clients on a measure of the target behavior

Question 17

When you have qualitative data, you have ______.

A) numbers that represent variables, such as the annual income of people
B) people who have been placed into categories such as male and female
C) words to examine
D) data on the relationship between two variables

Question 18

In which step in the research process is the study hypothesis tested?

A) the development of the research purpose and knowledge base
B) the study conclusions
C) the study methods
D) the analysis of data

Question 19

The evaluation of an intervention usually focuses on ______.

A) client outcome
B) service need
C) service process
D) service standards

Question 20

You have read a report on a research study that reported on a study with the purpose of determining if cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in the treatment of depression. The data were found to support the study hypothesis and the author concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in the treatment of depression. Information on what step in the research process is missing from this description of this study?

A) the research purpose and knowledge base
B) the study methods
C) the collection and analysis of data
D) the drawing of conclusions

Question 21

An explanatory study examines the relationship between two or more variables.

Question 22

A theory is a proven fact.

Question 23

Qualitative research is one type of research when research is classified by type of measurement.

Question 24

Program evaluations focus only on client outcome.

Question 25

When you have qualitative data, you have words to analyze.

Question 26

The exploratory type of research is more likely than other types of research to employ qualitative methods of measurement.

Question 27

You select your study sample in the data analysis step in the research process.

Question 28

The intervention evaluation is more likely than the program evaluation to measure variables related to a variety of parts of the service system (e.g., need, process, and outcome.

Question 29

Statistical significance refers to whether the intervention was the cause of the measured client growth rather than something like normal growth over time.

Question 30

The study sample is the group of people from whom you will collect your data for your study.

Question 31

Develop two statements of purpose: one for a descriptive research study and one for an evaluative research study. Identify the main distinction between these two types of research.

Question 32

Develop two research questions: one for an evaluation of an intervention and another for a program evaluation. Identify the main distinction between the two.

Question 33

Identify a research question you would like to pursue that falls into the category of descriptive research. Identify three variables you would measure in this study. Briefly explain why you would like to pursue this study.

Question 34

Explain whether your agency could be better served by an explanatory study or an evaluative study. Identify the purpose of your chosen study.

Question 35

Suppose that you conduct a study that compares the pretest anxiety scores with the posttest anxiety scores of the clients in your support group. You find that posttest scores are better than pretest scores but the difference between these two sets of scores is not statistically significant. Explain why you should not conclude that your support service was found to be effective.