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Problem Formulation

Problem Formulation. Selecting Topics and Research Questions. This Lecture. Overview of the research process Narrowing topics to questions Time Units of analysis. Practice Strategy: Engagement Problem prioritization Intervention Evaluation Termination. Research Strategy

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Problem Formulation

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  1. Problem Formulation Selecting Topics and Research Questions

  2. This Lecture • Overview of the research process • Narrowing topics to questions • Time • Units of analysis

  3. Practice Strategy: Engagement Problem prioritization Intervention Evaluation Termination Research Strategy Problem formulation Literature review Data collection Analysis Reporting Research and Practice

  4. What is Social Work Research? • “Applied,” “Practical,” “Real World” • Guide social work practice • Evaluate social programs • Assess needs

  5. Real World The Research Process • Must consider many things at once (p. 112) • Interlocking system for decisionmaking Research Technique Operationalization of Concepts Method of Analysis Population and Sampling

  6. The Research Question • Social Work oriented • Can be operationalized • Narrow, specific • Feasible • Money and time • Access to data • Energy

  7. A Matter of Time • Point in Time Research • Snapshot • Longitudinal Research • Two points in time can determine a trend • Sample a group cohort over time • Follow a panel of the same people over time

  8. Units of Analysis • Individuals • Groups • Communities • “Things” – artifacts

  9. Units of Analysis, cont. • Mixing Units of analysis • Ecological Fallacy • Drawing conclusions about individuals from group analysis • Individualistic Fallacy • Drawing conclusions about groups from individual analysis • Reductionism • Limiting the options to answering a question • “Feminist analysis is the only means of understanding violence against women.”

  10. Next Week • More on Operationalization • Constructing and using scales and other instruments to operationalize variables • Homework: Complete lit review for research prospectus • Start adding meat (theory, hypothesis, concepts) to research ideas

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