Social Work Research and Policy Flashcards

The 'two-stream' model of agenda setting in public policy (Kingdon) proposes that policy change occurs when:

Answer: A policy window opens allowing the problem, policy, and political streams to converge

Kingdon's Multiple Streams Model holds that durable policy change requires the simultaneous alignment of the problem, policy, and political streams through an open policy window.

Which statistical technique is MOST appropriate for analyzing the unique contribution of several predictor variables (e.g., age, income, education) to a single continuous outcome like depression scores?

Answer: Multiple linear regression

Multiple linear regression models the relationship between multiple independent variables and one continuous dependent variable while controlling for covariates.

Which provision of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is MOST relevant to school social workers?

Answer: It prohibits schools from sharing student education records without parental consent

FERPA protects the privacy of student education records and generally prohibits their disclosure without the consent of the eligible student or parent.

A social worker reviewing a study notes that participants who dropped out of the experimental group were sicker at baseline than those who completed the study. This is an example of which threat to internal validity?

Answer: Differential attrition

Differential attrition (also called selective dropout) occurs when participants who leave the study differ systematically from those who remain, biasing outcome comparisons.

The concept of 'wicked problems' in social policy refers to issues that are:

Answer: Complex, interdependent, and resistant to definitive solutions because solving one aspect creates new problems

Wicked problems (Rittel & Webber) are characterized by complexity, interdependence with other issues, and the absence of a clear, final solution — every intervention has unintended consequences.

Which method is considered the gold standard for establishing causal inference in social work intervention research?

Answer: Randomized controlled trial with intention-to-treat analysis

Randomized controlled trials with intention-to-treat analysis are the gold standard for causal inference because randomization controls for known and unknown confounders.

Block grants differ from categorical grants-in-aid in that block grants:

Answer: Give states broad discretion in how to spend funds within a general program area

Block grants provide states with lump-sum funding for broad purposes (e.g., community development) with minimal federal restrictions, unlike categorical grants tied to specific activities.