Qualitative Social Work
Research
Using exploratory research methods
Last semester you talked about
three approaches to research
Exploratory
 Descriptive
 Explanatory (hypothesis-testing)
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This semester will focus on one type of methodology
EXPLORATORY OR
QUALITATIVE
METHODS
Qualitative methods are used when:
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There is limited previous research on a topic.
When there is literature about this problem, but we know little
about how a particular population group experiences a problem.
When you want to know about culture values and norms
When you want to develop some new ideas about how a problem
should be addressed based on hunches or practice experience.
When the social work researcher is interested in learning about
the experiences and perspectives of underserved populations.
When the social work researcher is interested in developing new
interventions for underserved populations.
When the researcher is interested in finding out about how people
perceive or experience a program, policy, or service.
When a researcher is interested in learning about how or why a
program or policy works.
Quantitative research is the term
used to describe::
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Descriptive and explanatory methods.
Hypothesis testing.
The use of statistical data to confirm findings.
Testing previous theories.
Producing “objective” data.
Examining the effects of interventions, experiments,
programs, or policies.
Describing what has occurred in specific situations or
people’s opinions using pre-developed research questions
and response categories.
Data collected from a systematic or randomly collected
sample that is used to assess what is happening in a larger
population (generalization).
Replication of research from a previous study.
In qualitative research:
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We do not test hypothesis or previous theories.
We may try to develop new theories based on
what happens in specific situations.
We do not try to generalize our findings.
We rely on data collected from interviews,
observations, and content analysis of newspapers,
books, videos, case records, and other already
developed documents.
We do not know or try to develop response
categories prior to conducting the study.
Qualitative research
is sometimes called,
“Naturalistic
Inquiry”
Meaning that the researcher just reports on what’s there – and does
not try to manipulate or intervene in any way. Sometimes
naturalistic inquiry is compared to newspaper reporting.
These two approaches are:
Both considered to be valid types of
empirical research.
 Are paradigms (sets of different
assumptions or worldviews about how
research is to be conducted).
 Can be used in combination with one
another.
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Differences between
qualitative and quantitative research
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Involves unstructured
interviews, observation, and
content analysis.
Subjective
Inductive
Little structure
Little manipulation of subjects
Takes a great deal of time to
conduct
Little social distance between
researcher and subject
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Involves experiments, surveys,
testing, and structured
content analysis, interviews,
and observation.
Objective
Deductive
High degree of structure
Some manipulation of
subjects
May take little time to
conduct
Much social distance between
researcher and subject
One way to think
about the difference
between Deductive
and Inductive
methods is to think
about “Detectives.”
Detectives apply general theories to revolve problems (a quantitative approach).
Qualitative researchers examine what happens in specific situations and try to
develop new theories based on that situation.
IN QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
We use the following methods to conduct
research:
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Answer research questions rather than test a
hypothesis.
Seldom look at the effectiveness of an
intervention.
Examine the perceptions, actions, and feelings of
participants.
Obtained detailed information from interviews,
content analysis, or observations.
WHEN WE SAY THAT
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
IS SUBJECTIVE
We mean that:
Participants in a research study have unique opinions,
perceptions, experiences, values, and beliefs. In our
research, we will try to accurately reflect their perceptions
values, opinions, experiences, and beliefs.
 In our data analysis, we will look for both commonalities
and differences in opinions, perceptions, values, and beliefs.
 The researcher’s opinions, perceptions, values, beliefs, and
experiences affect how the researcher analyzes and
communicates data collected from respondents.
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THE RESEARCHER’S
Own perceptions are
important!!!
The researcher is the “instrument” through which
observations and interviews are filtered.
 The researcher’s own experiences, education, and
perceptions shape what he or she observes or hears.
 In writing up results, the researcher incorporates
those perceptions into the data analysis.
 The researcher may differentiate what she or he
thinks from what she or he feels in reaction to a
situation.
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IN THIS CLASS:
We will accomplish several goals:
We will focus on skills used by qualitative researcher.
We will examine situations in which researcher uses
qualitative rather than quantitative methods.
 We will examine ethical issues associated with
qualitative research.
 We will examine how qualitative research is used to
empower people, work for social justice, and is used
to produce culturally competent research and social
work interventions.
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All materials are on Dr. Hardina’s
web page:
http://zimmer.csufresno.edu/~do
nnah
Textbook is:
Padgett, D. K. (1998). Qualitative methods in
social work research. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage Publications.
Articles are also posted in the library’s
electronic reserve system and you can
download other reading materials directly
from the Internet.
METHODS OF
INSTRUCTION
Include:
Lectures
 In-class exercises
 Film and Audio Clips
 Skill-building assignments
 Guest lecturers
 Final exam (essay)
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COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
include
Activity
Weight
Points
Assignment #1 – Article Deconstruction
10.0%
40
Assignment #2 - Observation
10.0%
40
Assignment #3 – Development of
Interview Guide
10.0%
40
Assignment #4 – Transcript of Interview
10.0%
40
Assignment #5 – Coding Guide/Report
on Research Findings
25.0%
100
Final Exam
25.0%
100
Attendance
10.0%
40
100.0%
400
Total