Social Work Research and Evaluation Flashcards

In social work research, which design BEST establishes a causal relationship between an intervention and an outcome?

Answer: Randomized controlled trial (RCT)

Randomized controlled trials use random assignment to experimental and control groups, best controlling for confounding variables and establishing causality.

A social worker uses a standardized depression scale before and after treatment to evaluate client progress. This is an example of which evaluation design?

Answer: Single-subject design

Single-subject design (also called single-system design) tracks a single client's outcomes across baseline and intervention phases.

In research methodology, internal validity refers to:

Answer: The degree to which study results are attributable to the intervention rather than confounding factors

Internal validity is the extent to which the study design allows conclusions that the independent variable caused the observed changes in the dependent variable.

Which qualitative research method involves the researcher immersing themselves in a community to observe and participate in daily life?

Answer: Ethnography

Ethnography involves prolonged immersion in a cultural setting to understand beliefs, behaviors, and social processes from an insider perspective.

The primary ethical principle governing research with human subjects, requiring that participants be fully informed about study risks and voluntarily agree to participate, is:

Answer: Informed consent

Informed consent ensures participants understand the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and their right to withdraw before agreeing to participate.

A social worker wants to understand the lived experience of clients recovering from opioid use disorder. The MOST appropriate research approach is:

Answer: Phenomenological qualitative inquiry

Phenomenology explores the subjective lived experiences of individuals, making it ideal for understanding the meaning of recovery from the client's perspective.