Chapter 4 Issues in Problem Formulation

Question 1

What are the 5 ways to select an appropriate topic for scientific investigation?

Answer 1

personal interest

current social problems

Utility in testing a particular theory

Addressing prior research limitations

Determine program effectiveness

Question 2

What generates research questions in Human service practices?

Answer 2

behavior or characteristics of the recipients

the mechanisms of the service delivery

Question 3

problem selection is very much a _____ issue

Answer 3

political

Question 4

problem selection process is shaped by what 6 things? (IGNORE)

Answer 4

Powerful and articulate interest groups

Support by influentials at national level

Definition of condition as a social problem

Public awareness and concern

Severity, extent and costs

Publicity

Support by major funding agencies

Question 5

what was the Issue/example with AIDS?

Answer 5

When viewed as the problem of homosexuals and drug users, AIDS research was a low priority.

Support for AIDS research was given when it became a problem for things such as transfusions.

Question 6

how to shape research problem

Answer 6

Narrow the scope

Specify concepts

Operationalization

Literature review

Unit of analysis

Question 7

conceptual development

Answer 7

means identifying and properly defining the concepts on which the study will focus

Question 8

what are the 2 parts of conceptual development

Answer 8

clearly define the meaning of concepts

narrow the focus of the concept so it encompasses a topic that feasible to research in a single study

(are they measurable?)

Question 9

what are the 7 elements to a literature review?

Answer 9

theoretical and conceptual issues

research hypothesis, independent and dependent variables

measurement and operational definitions

most appropriate research technique

sampling strategy

statistical technique

notes findings and conclusions of the studies

Question 10

units of analysis

Answer 10

the specific objects or elements whose characteristics we wish to describe or explain and about which we will collect data

Question 11

5 common units of analysis

Answer 11

individuals (ex- unwed mothers)

groups (ex- families)

organizations (ex- schools)

programs (ex- may provide service for individuals or may exist as part of an organization)

social artifacts (ex- any material products that people produce, newspapers)

Question 12

with units of analysis, jumping from one level to another can result in _____ ______ being drawn

Answer 12

erroneous conclusions

Question 13

ecological fallacy

Answer 13

inferring something about individuals based on data collected at higher units of analysis, such as groups

Question 14

reductionist fallacy

Answer 14

inferring something about groups or other higher levels of analysis based on data collected from individuals

Question 15

reactivity

Answer 15

refers to the fact that people can react to being studied and may behave differently than when they don’t think they are being studied

Question 16

qualitative research

Answer 16

data in the forms of words, pictures, descriptions, or narratives

Question 17

quantitative research

Answer 17

uses numbers, counts, and measures of things

Question 18

How to choose between qualitative and quantitative research?

Answer 18

What is the state of knowledge on the topic?

What is the researcher’s position regarding the nature of social behavior?

Question 19

when to use qualitative research

Answer 19

when knowledge is sketchy

Goal is hypothesis formulation

Descriptive variables

Well developed field

Goal is hypothesis verification

Quantifiable variables

Question 20

when to use quantitative research

Answer 20

Non-positivist paradigm

Subjective meaning is essential.

Narrative accounts capture richness of experience

Positivist paradigm

Behavior can be reduced to numbers and statistics.

Precise statements and numerical relationships

Question 21

cross-sectional research

Answer 21

focuses on a cross section of a population at one point in time

Faster and simpler to design and implement
Less reactive
No attrition problem
Less expensive

Question 22

what is a weakness of cross-sectional research?

Answer 22

we have not actually observed the changes an individual goes through; rather we have observed three different groups of individuals at one point in time

Question 23

longitudinal research

Answer 23

involves gathering data over an extended period, such as months, years, or even, in a few cases, decades

Most accurate data on change over time
More reactive
Participant attrition
More expensive

Question 24

two types of longitudinal research are?

Answer 24

panel study - the same people are studied at different times

trend study - different people are observed at different times

Question 25

what are time considerations with feasibility?

Answer 25

Locate the population

Develop a measurement system

Collect the data

Conduct the analysis

Question 26

what are financial considerations with feasibility?

Answer 26

Project staff

Equipment and supplies

Incentives for cooperation

Dissemination of results

Question 27

what steps can be taken to anticipate problems?

Answer 27

learn as much as possible from the experience of others

obtain whatever permissions or consents may be needed early in the planning stage

conduct pilot study - most important one