SW650 Midterm Exam Study Guide Questions
And Answers. Updated 2027
What are methods used in interprevist research? - ANSWER -o Methods that
capture the social world people have constructed and the meanings the actors
attribute to their experiences
o Qualitative research (interviews, first-person accounts)
o Inductive approach (from specific to abstract)
Critical Social Science Paradigm - ANSWER -a cluster of paradigms and
frameworks (ie. feminist theory, marxism, critical race theory) that focus on
oppression and are committed to using varied qualitative and quantitative methods
to promote social justice; seeks to change fundamentally unfair and oppressive
social conditions for affected groups in society
- Challenges existing ways of conducting research w/ emphasis on community
participation and leadership
Quantitative Research - ANSWER -observations translated into numbers
Qualitative Research - ANSWER -data includes words, observations, themes
elicited, interactions, artifacts
Mixed Methods Research - ANSWER -purpose of this type of research is to build
upon the synergy and strength that exits between quantitative and qualitative
methods in order to more fully understand a given phenomenon
Basic Science Research - ANSWER -aimed at advancing the existing base of
scientific knowledge, understanding nature, and/or predict phenomena
- has no clear or proximal application to affect change in human problems or
introduce intervention
Applied Science Research - ANSWER -designed to advance solutions to practical
problems, develop and evaluate interventions or technology; has clear and
proximal application to address human problems
What are the three guiding principles for the protection of human subjects
included in the Belmont report? - ANSWER -- Respect- Be honest and fair with
your subjects. Tell them everything they NEED and want to know about your
, research in order to make an informed decision about whether to participate. Be
aware of and minimize power differentials that might be pressuring them to
participate. Informed consent
- Beneficence- The principle of ensuring (a) no harm, and (b) maximal benefit.
Research should never physically or psychologically injure the people being
studied, even if they volunteer for the study.
- Justice- Scrutiny of selection of research subjects; representation and distribution
of scarce resources; and the research should not systematically involve persons
from groups unlikely to be among the beneficiaries.
Anonymity - ANSWER -concealing the identity of participants in ALL records;
researchers are unable to link up a specific questionnaire with a specific respondent
Confidentiality - ANSWER -concerned with who has the right of access to data;
researchers are able to identify specific respondents, but promise to keep the
information secret
What are characteristics of a 'good; research question? - ANSWER -- Narrow and
specific
- Must be posed in a way that can be ANSWERed by observable evidence
- Should have significant potential relevance for guiding social welfare policy or
social work practice ("so what?" test)
- More than one possible ANSWER to the question
What is the role of a literature review? - ANSWER -Find out what research has
been done in this area/on this question already
- Gaps in knowledge
- Previous research designs, theoretical approaches, limitations
- Previous methods/populations/breadth of inquiry
Tells the story of the background/context/magnitude of problem
Exploratory Research - ANSWER -Whenever a research is breaking new group;
typically descriptive or correlative methods
Descriptive Research - ANSWER -What is X?
To describe a phenomenon (and factors associated with it) - frequencies, range,
meanings, processes, etc.
Correlative Research - ANSWER -Is Y related to X?
Is there a relationship (directional or non directional)? Period.
And Answers. Updated 2027
What are methods used in interprevist research? - ANSWER -o Methods that
capture the social world people have constructed and the meanings the actors
attribute to their experiences
o Qualitative research (interviews, first-person accounts)
o Inductive approach (from specific to abstract)
Critical Social Science Paradigm - ANSWER -a cluster of paradigms and
frameworks (ie. feminist theory, marxism, critical race theory) that focus on
oppression and are committed to using varied qualitative and quantitative methods
to promote social justice; seeks to change fundamentally unfair and oppressive
social conditions for affected groups in society
- Challenges existing ways of conducting research w/ emphasis on community
participation and leadership
Quantitative Research - ANSWER -observations translated into numbers
Qualitative Research - ANSWER -data includes words, observations, themes
elicited, interactions, artifacts
Mixed Methods Research - ANSWER -purpose of this type of research is to build
upon the synergy and strength that exits between quantitative and qualitative
methods in order to more fully understand a given phenomenon
Basic Science Research - ANSWER -aimed at advancing the existing base of
scientific knowledge, understanding nature, and/or predict phenomena
- has no clear or proximal application to affect change in human problems or
introduce intervention
Applied Science Research - ANSWER -designed to advance solutions to practical
problems, develop and evaluate interventions or technology; has clear and
proximal application to address human problems
What are the three guiding principles for the protection of human subjects
included in the Belmont report? - ANSWER -- Respect- Be honest and fair with
your subjects. Tell them everything they NEED and want to know about your
, research in order to make an informed decision about whether to participate. Be
aware of and minimize power differentials that might be pressuring them to
participate. Informed consent
- Beneficence- The principle of ensuring (a) no harm, and (b) maximal benefit.
Research should never physically or psychologically injure the people being
studied, even if they volunteer for the study.
- Justice- Scrutiny of selection of research subjects; representation and distribution
of scarce resources; and the research should not systematically involve persons
from groups unlikely to be among the beneficiaries.
Anonymity - ANSWER -concealing the identity of participants in ALL records;
researchers are unable to link up a specific questionnaire with a specific respondent
Confidentiality - ANSWER -concerned with who has the right of access to data;
researchers are able to identify specific respondents, but promise to keep the
information secret
What are characteristics of a 'good; research question? - ANSWER -- Narrow and
specific
- Must be posed in a way that can be ANSWERed by observable evidence
- Should have significant potential relevance for guiding social welfare policy or
social work practice ("so what?" test)
- More than one possible ANSWER to the question
What is the role of a literature review? - ANSWER -Find out what research has
been done in this area/on this question already
- Gaps in knowledge
- Previous research designs, theoretical approaches, limitations
- Previous methods/populations/breadth of inquiry
Tells the story of the background/context/magnitude of problem
Exploratory Research - ANSWER -Whenever a research is breaking new group;
typically descriptive or correlative methods
Descriptive Research - ANSWER -What is X?
To describe a phenomenon (and factors associated with it) - frequencies, range,
meanings, processes, etc.
Correlative Research - ANSWER -Is Y related to X?
Is there a relationship (directional or non directional)? Period.
