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Week 2 ScWk 240—Scientific Method

Week 2 ScWk 240—Scientific Method. Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? From T.S. Eliot: The Rock (1934). Review Quiz!! Descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory?.

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Week 2 ScWk 240—Scientific Method

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  1. Week 2 ScWk 240—Scientific Method Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?Where is the knowledge we have lost in information? From T.S. Eliot: The Rock (1934) ScWk 240 9/10/12

  2. Review Quiz!!Descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory? • “What factors (ethnicity, gender, years of training) best predict higher scores on the “Cultural Competency Practice Scale”? • “The survey found that 75% of social workers do not fully understand HIV/AIDS symptoms.” • “Parents with disabled children described facing a ‘culture of dependence’ when dealing with helping professionals.” ScWk 240 9/10/12

  3. More!!Descriptive, explanatory, or exploratory? • “Women who are victims of violence have the experience of a sense of helplessness when facing major decisions.” • “Latinos are the fastest growing minority in California.” • “Would a behavioral reward system succeed in reducing behavioral outbursts in special needs classrooms?” ScWk 240 9/10/12

  4. Review Any or all of these Can be used for these purposes (partial list) Needs assessment Policy analysis Impact/outcome studies Program evaluation Quality improvement studies Epidemiological research • Descriptive • Explanatory • Exploratory ScWk 240 9/10/12

  5. Agenda • Evidence-based practice & scientific inquiry • Developing your research topic • Developing research questions • Bibliography Assignment—Instructions, and how to conduct a literature review • Small group exercise—developing your topic ScWk 240 9/10/12

  6. Evidence-based practice • Definitions of Evidence-Based Practice: • It’s a type of practice: • Approaches to prevention or treatment that are based in theory and have undergone scientific evaluation. • "Evidence-based" stands in contrast to approaches that are based on tradition, convention, belief, or anecdotal evidence. (Cochrane Collaborative). • “Best practice” – one that was tested and found to be effective • It’s a process: Using the best scientific evidence available in deciding how to intervene with individuals, families, groups, or communities (Rubin & Babbie) ScWk 240 9/10/12

  7. How does an intervention become a “Best Practice”? • The new intervention is developed—desired outcomes, procedures, and techniques, and are identified • These should be written down (“manualized”) so that others can be trained and the intervention disseminated. • Pilot studies are done to determine if the intervention is effective—does it work in achieving short term outcomes? This may result in adjustments to the original design • Then the efficacy of the intervention is tested using more rigorous evaluation methods (such randomization of participants to the new treatment vs. no treatment, and comparing their outcomes). • Then the “best practice” has to be implemented and tested in natural settings with different populations ScWk 240 9/10/12

  8. What are the research tasks in building a case for a “Best Practice”? • Identify outcomes—and, how will they be measured (Problem formulation and measurement)? • Intervention process—is it true to the original intent (Process study, a.k.a. “fidelity” study)? • Were the right clients targeted and engaged? • Was the intervention implemented as intended? • Were the right techniques and procedures used? • Effectiveness & efficacy—did intervention result in desired outcomes (Outcome/impact study)? ScWk 240 9/10/12

  9. Clearinghouses of EBP Information • Mental health and substance abuse: U.S. Dept. Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ • Child Welfare California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse http://www.cebc4cw.org/ • Healthcare Cochrane Collaborative http://www.cochrane.org/ ScWk 240 9/10/12

  10. Student reports: • What do the authors mean by “using research evidence”? Jonathan • Describe one of three applied models of evidence based research. Glorialee ScWk 240 9/10/12

  11. What does it mean for an organization to use evidence? • Research evidence is used in training & program development • People ask, frequently, “How do we know our interventions are working?” (They don’t just assume that they are working.) • There are regular and systematic efforts to improve the quality of services (and use data for that purpose) • Reports about agency performance are regularly shared & discussed with staff ScWk 240 9/10/12

  12. Library Resources http://library.sjsu.edu/online-tutorials/online-tutorials For example: • Finding Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Articles • Topic development-- http://library.sjsu.edu/video/art-topic-development ScWk 240 9/10/12

  13. Bibliography • Peer reviewed articles http://library.sjsu.edu/video/finding-scholarly-peer-reviewed-articles • For the Bibliography, aim for 15 out of the minimum 20 required • Websites ok, but the priority ones are: • Research organization sites • Policy sites • Online government reports • Journals relevant to social work: see Rubin & Babbie appendix, “Using the Library” • APA—everything double spaced ScWk 240 9/10/12

  14. Developing your topic • Step 1: identify of one these from your own interests • Target population (i.e. teen mothers), or • Intervention (i.e. teen support groups), or • Social problem (i.e. teen pregnancy) • Step 2: what would you like to learn about this? • Step 3: How would learning about this benefit the social work profession? ScWk 240 9/10/12

  15. Developing your research questions • Step 4: from Step 2, develop one research question for each approach: • Descriptive approach • Explanatory approach • Exploratory approach • Martha Stewart’s Helpful Tips: • Your research question literally ends with a “?” • Don’t worry about how (“Methods”) for now • Avoid combining two questions into one statement • Think of questions that research can answer…even if you already think you know the answer (i.e. you have an hypothesis) ScWk 240 9/10/12

  16. Terms to be responsible for: • Evidence based practice (two definitions) • Descriptive study • Explanatory study • Exploratory study • Evaluative study • Target population • Peer reviewed • Three models of using EBP • Research based practitioner • Embedded research model • Organizational excellence model ScWk 240 9/10/12

  17. Change in Readings next week: • Supplement chapters 5-7 still required. Drop Chapter 8 for now. • Rubin & Babbie Instead of Chapter 4 “The Ethics and Politics of Social Work Research” substitute Chapter 3 “Philosophy and Theory in Social Work Research” • Drop the two articles (Malone et al. & Begun et al.) for now ScWk 240 9/10/12

  18. Student reports next week: • Describe the relationship between theory and hypotheses. • What are “attributes” of a variable? Give two examples. • What’s the difference between an independent and dependent variable? • Everyone: Come prepared to talk about theory, hypothesis, IV, and DV for your potential topic ScWk 240 9/10/12

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