LIBRARY
SWK 327: Social Work Research Methods: Home
Two articles to help you evaluate the research
- Evaluating Quantitative ResearchThe terminology used in quantitative research can make reading a research article more opaque than some other types of articles. This article is aimed at nurses, but can help you have a clearer understanding of the process.
- Evaluating Qualitative Research for Social Work PractitionersThe purpose of this article is to provide students and practitioners some orientation regarding
qualitative research methods and to highlight some strategies to evaluate the trustworthiness and quality of qualitative
research.
Research Methods
Assignments
Article Critique: 2 articles for 50 points each for a total of 100 points. Review and critique of empirically-based articles. Select two articles that are empirically based and which informs practitioners on evidence-based practice utilizing the universities online library resources. You are required to demonstrate an understanding of critical analysis and show your ability to engage the reader/audience during a critique presentation. The critique will consist of an overview of the research article addressing the methodology, sampling procedures, results, limitations, and how it is applicable to the social work profession. The review should address ethical implications and concerns with population (sample) if any exist.
Individual Research Project/Qualitative Paper: 100 points. PB: 11, 12, 13, 19, 30
The main requirement for this course is to complete the qualitative project which has been approved by the course instructor. This project measures a student’s ability to communicate effectively in written format demonstrating the student understands and ability to construct critical thinking discussions utilizing research guided inquiry. The student will be responsible for every aspect of the project, from design to reporting. This project is worth a total of 100 points towards your final grade.
a. Introduction and Literature Review: Introduction should include your statement of the
problem, purpose of the study; significance and delimitations of the study; assumptions; and research question. Your literature review should include a minimum of 7-10 empirical sources. It should be formatted using APA 7th (ed) style. Your literature review should be organized around the themes or topics that the sources cover. It should not be a list of summaries of each source. It should include a properly formatted reference list. The literature review will consist of 4-5 pages.
- Methodology: you will turn in a methodology for your paper, including a description of your research strategy, conceptualization, research question, population and sample, setting, confidentiality, field experience, and analysis. The methodology will have a minimum of 3 pages.
- Results: the student will demonstrate their understanding of written data analysis and employ as needed tables and graphs to communicate their findings. This section will have a minimum of 4-5 pages.
- Discussion and conclusion: the student will write a through explanation of the major findings and limitations of the study. The discussion section should allow the reader to link the findings to either previous studies or to consider future research. This section will have a minimum of 2-3 pages.
Your final paper should be at least 15 pages long, and no more than 25-pages long (including a title page, an abstract, and a reference list). This final paper is worth 100 points. The paper will not be graded unless all consent forms and transcriptions have been submitted. See Suggested Outline for Research Paper at end of the syllabus
