ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH PROJECTS AT CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO FROM 1997 THROUGH 2007
Cynthia Forbes
B.A., California State University, Stanislaus, 1992
Yoot Saechao
B.A., California State University, Sacramento, 2005
PROJECT
Submitted in partial satisfaction of
the requirements for the degrees of
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
at
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
FALL
2010
ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH PROJECTS AT CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO FROM 1997 THROUGH 2007
A Project
by
Cynthia Forbes
Yoot Saechao
Approved by:
__________________________________, Committee Chair
Teiahsha Bankhead, Ph.D., LCSW
____________________________
Date
ii
Students:
Cynthia Forbes
Yoot Saechao
I certify that these students have met the requirements for format contained in the
University format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the Library and
credit is to be awarded for the project.
___________________________, Division Chair
Robin Carter , DPA
Division of Social Work
iii
___________________
Date
Abstract
of
ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH PROJECTS AT CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO FROM 1997 THROUGH 2007
by
Cynthia Forbes
Yoot Saechao
Statement of Collaboration
This research project was completed in collaboration between Cyndee Forbes and
Yoot Saechao. Each was equitably involved in the data collection, analysis, and writing.
Statement of the Problem
There is an absence of information regarding the distinguishable changes in social
work theses and research projects completed at California State University, Sacramento,
from 1997 to 2007. This research analyzes the social work theses and research projects
shelved at California State University, Sacramento, comparing the characteristics of those
completed in the early years of 1997 to 2001 to those completed in the later years of 2003
to 2007.
Sources of Data
Data was collected at California State University, Sacramento, from one hundred
and four social work theses and research projects shelved in the library and completed
from 1997 through 2007.
iv
Conclusions Reached
The researchers found that the passage of time from 1997 to 2007 had no significant
impact on the final project of the theses and research projects. Using chi-square analysis
this research showed there is not a statistically significant relationship between most
assessed variable and the year of completion of the thesis or research project.
The single variable that showed a statistically significant relationship to the year of
completion was the variable of “references cited” that were retrieved from the internet.
The chi-square value of p=0.000 shows there is a less than 5 percent probability that this
relationship is due to chance.
____________________________________, Committee Chair
Teiahsha Bankhead, Ph.D., LCSW
______________________________
Date
v
DEDICATION
This project is dedicated to the memory of my father, Roland “Buster” Flora.
Unfortunately my father did not live to see the completion of this project. However, he
was a driving force behind my motivation to earn the MSW degree. At a young age my
father taught me the valuable lesson that “an education is something that no one can ever
take from you.”
I did it, Dad. I finally got my degree.
-
Cyndee
Roland “Buster” Flora
(April 23, 1936 – February 23, 2009)
vi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to my family who supported me in my decision to earn the MSW
degree. To my husband, John, and children, Elizabeth and Amanda, who accepted the
compromises and sacrifices necessary to help me reach this goal. Special thanks to my
mother, Hazel, for fifteen years of pleading with me to return to school followed by three
years of telling me to “just get it done.” To my sister, Brenda, who provided an example
for me to follow, and to Uncle Michael, for his constant and unrelenting encouragement,
suggestions, examples, and sideline tutoring. I also want to express my sincere
appreciation for the guidance received from Dr. Bankhead in helping to put the pieces
together to make this project successful.
-
Cyndee Forbes
I am thankful for all the people who have supported me through the completion of
this project. I am grateful to my parents Chan Choi and Ying Mahn and my nieces for
their encouragement and patience. I am especially indebted to my thesis partner for her
perseverance, determination, and countless late hours making this happen. In addition,
thank you Dr. Bankhead for your continued guidance and support.
-
Yoot Saechao
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Dedication ................................................................................................................... vi
Acknowledgments...................................................................................................... vii
List of Tables .............................................................................................................. xi
Chapter
1.
THE PROBLEM .....................................................................................................1
Introduction ........................................................................................................1
Background of the Problem ...............................................................................2
Statement of Collaboration ............................................................................... 2
Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................3
Purpose of the Study ..........................................................................................4
Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................5
Definition of Terms............................................................................................6
Assumptions.......................................................................................................6
Limitations .........................................................................................................7
2.
LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 8
Introduction ........................................................................................................8
History of the Master of Social Work Degree ...................................................9
Culminating Experience as Part of the Degree ................................................15
Education Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) ..................................15
Council of Social Work Education and the California State Universities .......16
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California State University ..............................................................................23
Value of a Culminating Experience .................................................................25
Alternatives to the Thesis or Research Project ................................................33
Demographics of CSU, Sacramento Student Population .................................38
3.
METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................. 41
Introduction ......................................................................................................41
Study Design ....................................................................................................41
Study Subjects ..................................................................................................43
Sampling Method .............................................................................................43
Variables ..........................................................................................................44
Instrumentation ................................................................................................44
Procedures ........................................................................................................44
Data Analysis ...................................................................................................45
Protection of Human Subjects .........................................................................46
Summary ..........................................................................................................46
4.
RESULTS .............................................................................................................48
Introduction ......................................................................................................48
Demographics ..................................................................................................48
Content .............................................................................................................51
Analysis of Total Pages of the Thesis or Research Project .............................54
Analysis of Number of Pages in Chapter 1 Introduction .................................56
Analysis of Number of Pages in Chapter 2 Literature Review ........................57
ix
Analysis of Number of Pages in Chapter 3 Methodology ...............................59
Analysis of Number of Pages in Chapter 4 Results .........................................60
Analysis of Number of Pages in Chapter 5 Conclusions and
Recommendations ............................................................................................62
Analysis of Number of Appendices .................................................................63
Analysis of Number of Pages of Appendices ..................................................65
Analysis of Number of References Cited in the Thesis or
Research Project..............................................................................................66
Analysis of Number of Cited References Retrieved from the Internet ............68
Analysis of Number of Pages of References in the Thesis or Research
Project ..............................................................................................................70
Analysis of Number of Variables Used for the Thesis or Research Project ....72
Analysis of Number of Respondents in the Thesis or Research Project ..........73
Summary ..........................................................................................................75
5.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...............................................77
Introduction ......................................................................................................77
Discussion of Findings .....................................................................................77
Implications for Future Research .....................................................................79
Implications for Future Social Work Practice .................................................80
Implications for Future Social Work Division Policy .....................................80
Conclusions ......................................................................................................81
Recommendations ............................................................................................81
Appendix A. Data Collection Tool ........................................................................... 83
References ................................................................................................................... 87
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LIST OF TABLES
Page
1.
Table 1 Frequency of Year of Completion ........................................................ 48
2.
Table 2 Frequency of Thesis or Research Project ............................................. 49
3.
Table 3 Frequency of Author’s Gender ............................................................. 49
4.
Table 4 Frequency of Individual or Group Author ........................................... 50
5.
Table 5 Frequency of Advisor ........................................................................... 50
6.
Table 6 Frequency of Acknowledgments or Dedications .................................. 51
7.
Table 7 Frequency of Figures, Tables, Graphs Used ......................................... 52
8.
Table 8 Frequency of Oversized Materials Used ............................................... 52
9.
Table 9 Frequency of Photographs Included ...................................................... 52
10. Table 10 Frequency of Early or Later Years of Completion .............................. 54
11. Table 11 Descriptive Statistics of Total Pages of the Theses or Research
Project ................................................................................................................. 54
12. Table 12 Frequency of Total Pages of the Thesis or Research Project ............. 55
13. Table 13 Comparative Frequency of Total Pages of the Thesis or
Research Project by Early or Later Years .......................................................... 55
14. Table 14 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Pages in Chapter 1
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 56
15. Table 15 Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 1 Introduction ................. 56
16. Table 16 Comparative Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 1
Introduction by Early or Later Years ................................................................. 57
17. Table 17 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Pages in Chapter 2
Literature Review ............................................................................................... 57
18. Table 18 Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 2 Literature Review ........ 58
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19. Table 19 Comparative Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 2
Literature Review by Early or Later Years ........................................................ 58
20. Table 20 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Pages in Chapter 3
Methodology ...................................................................................................... 59
21. Table 21 Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 3 Methodology................ 59
22. Table 22 Comparative Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 3
Methodology by Early or Later Years ................................................................ 59
23. Table 23 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Pages in Chapter 4 Results ........ 60
24. Table 24 Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 4 Results ......................... 60
25. Table 25 Comparative Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 4 Results
by Early or Later Years ...................................................................................... 61
26. Table 26 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Pages in Chapter 5 Conclusions
and Recommendations ....................................................................................... 62
27. Table 27 Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 5 Conclusions and
Recommendations .............................................................................................. 62
28. Table 28 Comparative Frequency of Number of Pages in Chapter 5
Conclusions and Recommendations by Early or Later Years ............................ 62
29. Table 29 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Appendices Included in the
Thesis or Research Project ................................................................................ 63
30. Table 30 Frequency of Number of Appendices Included in the Thesis
Or Research Project ............................................................................................ 64
31. Table 31 Comparative Frequency of Number of Appendices Included
in the Thesis or Research Project by Early or Later Years ................................ 64
32. Table 32 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Pages Used for Appendices
in the Thesis or Research Project ....................................................................... 65
33. Table 33 Frequency of Number of Pages of Appendices in the Thesis
or Research Project ............................................................................................. 65
34. Table 34 Comparative Frequency of Number of Pages of Appendices
in the Thesis or Research Project by Early or Later Years ................................ 66
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35. Table 35 Descriptive Statistics of Number of References Cited in the
Thesis or Research Project ................................................................................. 66
36. Table 36 Frequency of Number of Reverences Cited in the Thesis or
Research Project ................................................................................................. 67
37. Table 37 Comparative Frequency of Number of References Cited in the
Thesis or Research Project by Early or Later Years .......................................... 67
38. Table 38 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Cited References Retrieved
from the Internet ................................................................................................. 68
39. Table 39 Frequency of Number of Cited References Retrieved from
the Internet .......................................................................................................... 69
40. Table 40 Comparative Frequency of Number of Cited References Retrieved
from the Internet by Early or Later Years .......................................................... 69
41. Table 41 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Pages of References in the
Thesis or Research Project ................................................................................. 70
42. Table 42 Frequency of Number of Pages of References in the Thesis or
Research Project ................................................................................................. 70
43. Table 43 Comparative Frequency of Number of Pages of References in
the Thesis or Research Project by Early or Later Years ..................................... 71
44. Table 44 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Variables, Survey
Questions, Etc. .................................................................................................... 72
45. Table 45 Frequency of Number of Variables, Survey Questions, Etc. .............. 72
46. Table 46 Comparative Frequency of Number of Variable, Survey
Questions, Etc., by Early or Later Years ............................................................ 73
47. Table 47 Descriptive Statistics of Number of Respondents ............................... 73
48. Table 48 Frequency of Number of Respondents ................................................ 74
49. Table 49 Comparative Frequency of Number of Respondents by Early
or Later Years ..................................................................................................... 74
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