Why it matters
Social work research answers whether an intervention really works, strengthening accountability and underpinning evidence-based practice. It draws on both quantitative positivist and qualitative interpretive traditions.
The process
- Problem formulation: choose the question and review the literature.
- Hypotheses: state testable relationships and define concepts operationally.
- Design: choose experimental, quasi-experimental, survey or qualitative methods and sampling.
- Data collection: questionnaires, interviews, observation or records, checking reliability and validity.
- Analysis and reporting: statistical or qualitative analysis, interpretation and feedback into practice.
Main types and ethics
Needs assessments, programme evaluations (process and outcome) and single-subject designs such as AB and ABAB are common. Researchers must secure informed consent, confidentiality, voluntary participation and protection from harm, often with ethics board review.
References
- Rubin, A., & Babbie, E. R. (2016). Research Methods for Social Work (9th ed.). Cengage.
- Grinnell, R. M., & Unrau, Y. A. (2018). Social Work Research and Evaluation (11th ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Bloom, M., Fischer, J., & Orme, J. G. (2009). Evaluating Practice (6th ed.). Pearson.