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research methods

1. Week 2: Getting started with your research project Graduate Research Methods in Social Work Matt DeCarlo

2. Critiquing a Literature Review Let's look at the prompt And the exemplars on D2L.  And critique them. How well do they do at answering the questions in the prompt? This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND .

3. Problem statement How many people are affected by this problem? Why is this an important social problem? How does this social problem impact other social issues or focal populations? Why is your population an important one to study? This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND .

4. Literature review Describe the important concepts and research findings for each variable in your research question Describe the important concepts and research findings for the relationship between the variables in your research question (for quantitative proposals)  What other variables or social forces influence the variables in your research question? Describe what is known about your target population Define key terms and explain theories that are important for understanding your topic Identify consistent findings across studies Identify gaps and controversies in the literature Provide your research question and hypothesis

5. Research proposal Literature review Quantitative/qualitative proposal Sampling Measures Design Data analysis Ethics Implications/conclusions This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND .

6. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY . You are here

7. Finding a researchable topic How do you determine what to study? How about what NOT to study? Most of my research (for the past 3 years) has been on how to teach this class Is this good or bad? A good dissertation is a done dissertation.  A great dissertation is a published dissertation.  A perfect dissertation is neither.

8. Activity 2: Working question Share a "working question" on Padlet for your research project You can use the prompts in section 2.1, but you don't have to List any other topics you might be interested in studying This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY .

9. Researching this classroom Grant required, I want to anyway (duh) But how should I think through a project like this? What do I want to accomplish? (aim) Working question? Is that question more exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory? Who is my target population? Why is this research project important? Scientific literature, target population, social world This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY .

10. Activity 3: Importance and aim In padlet Write down why YOUR study is important Social world, target population, and literature And what you hope to accomplish (the aim) This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND .

11. Researching this classroom  Sensitive topic? Access and consent Gatekeepers and stakeholders Target population Primary vs. Secondary data Examples of classroom data https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbB_2aRHB8o Time, money knowledge This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND .

12. Common types of student projects Conducting chart reviews at an agency Analyzing existing data from an agency, government body, or other public source Analyzing popular media or cultural artifacts Surveying or interviewing practitioners, administrators, or other non-vulnerable groups Conducting a program evaluation at an agency

13. Activity 4: Gatekeepers, data, resources In padlet... make it clear which question you're answering in the title Potential harms to vulnerable populations? Who needs to say "yes" to your project? What secondary data would be easy to access? What primary data would be easy to collect? This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA .

14. Classroom exercise agreement IRB or not IRB, that is the question... Questions on the form? Sign and return This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND .

15. Key questions in feasibility Do you have access to the data you need? Will you be able to get consent from stakeholders, gatekeepers, and others? Does your project pose risk to individuals through direct harm, dual relationships, or breaches in confidentiality? Are you competent enough to complete the study? Do you have the resources and time needed to carry out the project?

16. Critical considerations Whose knowledge is privileged? In my study? In yours? Scope and impact This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA .

17. 1. Formulate a working question about a topic area in social work  How do SW students experience customized OER? Impact of open pedagogy? 2. Identify the target population and how your study would benefit individuals in that group. SW students Make research less painful, cost reduction 3. Which type of research–exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory–best describes your working question? Why? Exploratory. It is a qualitative project 4. Identify any gatekeepers and stakeholders. Do you think it is likely you will get access to the people or records you need? Gatekeepers: Dr. Hodge, RU IRB, 621 students Stakeholders: VIVA, RUSSW, authors, students 5. Identify one of the common types of student projects (e.g., surveys of practitioners) and how that might help you answer your working question. Focus groups of SW students. Will talk about learning experience. And impact of learning approaches used in class. 6. Describe why your project is feasible to conduct during a single semester with little budget. Easy access to population in class. Little potential harm. Challenging to analyze data in spring semester. 

18. i-notlinear by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries © CC BY (Attribution) i-notlinear by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries © CC BY (Attribution)

19. Where should I be? Playing with a working question Thinking through a feasible project Comfortable starting somewhere and revising as needed Today: Done with Worksheet 1 (or close to it) For next week: Read chapters 3 & 4 Bring a laptop or tablet. A phone works too We'll work on literature searching and review