MSW Master of Social Work Research and Program Evaluation Questions and Answers Flashcards
6 cards from real MSW practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 MSW Master of Social Work Research and Program Evaluation Questions and Answers flashcards as text
A social work agency wants to know if clients who complete their substance abuse program have lower relapse rates after two years. Which type of program evaluation is this?
Answer: Outcome evaluation
Outcome evaluation measures whether a program achieved its intended long-term results, such as reduced relapse rates.
In social work research, what is the primary purpose of obtaining informed consent from study participants?
Answer: To ensure participants understand the study's purpose, risks, and their right to withdraw at any time
Informed consent ensures that participants voluntarily agree to participate with full knowledge of what the study involves and their rights.
A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of -0.82 between caseload size and worker job satisfaction in a social work agency study. What does this indicate?
Answer: A strong negative relationship where higher caseloads are associated with lower job satisfaction
A correlation of -0.82 indicates a strong inverse relationship, meaning as caseload size increases, job satisfaction tends to decrease.
Which of the following is the best example of a measurable program objective for a community mental health intervention?
Answer: Seventy percent of participants will report reduced depressive symptoms on the PHQ-9 within six months
A measurable objective includes a specific target percentage, a defined outcome measure, and a clear timeframe.
What is the primary difference between a program's outputs and its outcomes in evaluation terminology?
Answer: Outputs are the direct products of program activities while outcomes are the changes that result from those outputs
Outputs are the immediate, tangible products of program activities, while outcomes represent the actual changes in participant knowledge, behavior, or conditions.
A social work researcher is studying the effectiveness of a trauma-informed care model but cannot randomly assign participants to treatment and control groups due to ethical concerns. Which quasi-experimental design would be most appropriate?
Answer: Nonequivalent comparison group design using a matched comparison site
A nonequivalent comparison group design compares outcomes between a treatment group and a similar but non-randomly assigned comparison group, which is ideal when randomization is not ethical.