MSW Master of Social Work Research and Program Evaluation Questions and Answers

Question 1

A school social worker wants to evaluate a new anti-bullying intervention for a single student. The social worker collects baseline data on the student's aggressive behaviors for two weeks (Phase A), implements the intervention for four weeks (Phase B), and then briefly withdraws the intervention to see if aggressive behaviors return (Phase A). Which research design is the social worker using?

Accepted Answer

An ABA single-subject design

Answer

The ABA single-subject design is characterized by three phases: a baseline period (A), an intervention period (B), and a return to baseline or withdrawal period (A). [2, 5] This design is commonly used in clinical social work to demonstrate the effect of an intervention on a specific target behavior for an individual client. [8, 10]

Question 2

A researcher develops a new instrument to measure burnout in social workers. The instrument is administered to the same group of social workers twice, two weeks apart, and the results are highly consistent. However, a review by experts reveals the questions primarily measure general work stress, not the specific dimensions of burnout (e.g., emotional exhaustion, depersonalization). This instrument has:

Accepted Answer

Low validity and high reliability

Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, which is high in this case because the results were consistent over time. [21, 23] Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure—whether it truly measures the concept it's intended to measure. [23, 26] Since the instrument measures work stress instead of burnout, its validity is low. [26]

Question 3

A community agency is developing a new program to support older adults who are caregivers for their spouses. Before designing the intervention, the agency director wants to understand the scope of caregiving needs, identify existing community resources, and pinpoint service gaps. Which type of program evaluation should be conducted FIRST?

Accepted Answer

A needs assessment

Answer

A needs assessment is the appropriate first step in program development. Its purpose is to systematically gather information to determine the nature and scope of a social problem, which then informs the design of the program. [16, 18] Outcome, process, and cost-benefit evaluations are typically conducted after a program has been implemented. [17]

Question 4

In a study examining the hypothesis that a new job-training program (the intervention) increases the employment rate (the outcome) among formerly incarcerated individuals, the employment rate is the:

Accepted Answer

Dependent variable

Answer

The dependent variable is the outcome that researchers measure to see if it changes in response to the intervention. [3, 7] Its value 'depends' on the changes in the independent variable. [1, 7] The independent variable is the job-training program, which is the cause or intervention being studied. [3]

Question 5

A social worker is conducting a study on the experiences of transgender youth who are experiencing homelessness, a population that is often difficult to access. The social worker initially recruits a few participants from a local LGBTQ+ center and then asks those participants to refer other eligible individuals they know. This sampling method is BEST described as:

Accepted Answer

Snowball sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling, also known as chain-referral sampling, is a non-probability technique where existing study participants recruit future subjects from among their acquaintances. [12, 24] It is particularly useful for accessing hidden or hard-to-reach populations. [19, 22]

MSW - Master of Social Work Practice Test

MSW - Master of Social Work Practice Test

MSW Master of Social Work Research and Program Evaluation Questions and Answers