Social Work Research

Kuliah ke 2

Why Studi Research?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Becoming an informed research consumer Finding Out about Your Practice Participating in the policy process Undertaking postgraduate education Developing social work knowledge and theory 6. Practising in an ethically responsible manner

What is Social Research?

Social Research is the systematic observation and/ or collection of information to find or impose a pattern, to make a decision or take some action.

What is Social work research?

McDermott(1996): 1. Would be research that arises from a particular theorisation of acting subject within his/her social,political and econimic context. 2. Would be research that privileges the research process as an intervention leading to the possibility of constructive change. 3. Would be research that enables the participation of the reseached-the poor, the vulnerable, the oppressed and those who interact with them.

Types Of Research
Five of the major research approaches: 1. Quantitative Research 2. Qualitative Research 3. Emancipatory Approach 4. Feminist Research 5. Postmodern Research

Quantitative Research
Examples of Quantitative Research: The census Large Opinion polls Some form of evaluation,e.g. Outcome evaluations, cost benefit analyses, Research with aims to establish whether there is a relationship between two or more variables, e.g. Is there a relationship between income and religion?

Qualitative Research
Examples of qualitative research: A researcher spends several months hanging around with a gang of street kids to investigate their lifestyle and the issues that are important to them (participant observation). In-dept interviews are conducted with rural women and wokers from relevant agencies to explore attitudes to domestic violence in the country. Observation of council meetings and interviews with local councillors are conducted to examine how they perceive grass roots democracy Meetings with groups of elderly residents in an inner-city suburb are held to understand their concerns and priorities and to find out what they would like from the local neigbourhood centre.

Key Players in the research process

The researcher or researchers The people who are researched Sponsors who pay for the research People who will benefit from the research People who are targeted to be convinced by the research (e.g. Policy makers)

Aspects to include in a research contract

Who owns the data? Who owns the research instrument? Who owns the findings? Who owns the report? Who is responsible for the recomendations? Intelectual property rights.

The ethics of Research

Beauchamp (1982): Autonomy/ self-determination (includes informed consent and confidentiality) Non-maleficence (not doing harm) Beneficence (doing good) Justice (are the purpose just?) Positive contribution to knowledge

Reference
Margaret Alston & Wendy Bowles, Research for social workers (an introduction to methods 2nd edition),Australia: National Library, 2003. Norman K.Denzin & Yvonna S.Lincoln , Hanbook of Qualitative Research California : Sage Publication , 2000.