Conceptualization in Research Inquiry

Research Methods for Social Welfare

Byungdeok Kang

Handong Global University

Review

Selecting a research problem

Refining the problem

Factors related to feasibility

Source of a problem

Literature Review

Units of Analysis

Reactivity

Purposes of research

Types of Research: Quantitative & Qualitative

Time Dimension: Cross-sectional & Longitudinal

Time constraint

Financial constraint

Ways to minimize these problems related to feasibility

Fallacious Reasoning

Ecological fallacy

Data collection: from groups

Conclusion: about individuals

Reductionism

Source of Knowledge

Science / Scientific Practice

Tradition

Authority

Experience

Common Sense

Journalism

Source of Knowledge

Characteristics of Science and Scientific Practice

Empirical

Systematic

Search of causes

Provisional

Objectivity

Logics of Science

Deductive reasoning

Inductive reasoning

Types of Explanation

Nomothetic explanation

Idiographic explanation

Paradigms in Science

Positive approach

Non-positive (interpretive) approach

Perspectives on Science

Inductive logic

Qualitative methods

Non-positive approach

Ideographic explanationDeductive

logic

Quantitative methods

Positive approach

Nomothetic explanation

Relationships among Perspectives

Definition

“Conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions” (Sackett, et al., 1997)

Best practice or scientific practice

Two “WHY” questions

Why do we need this?

Why not guaranteed to work with every client/situation?

Evidence-based Practice

Social Work Research Process

Problem / Idea Theory

Conceptualization

Operationalization

Research Method Sampling

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Application

What is a theory?

“A set of interrelated, abstract propositions or statements that offers a possible (or tentative) explanation of some phenomenon”

Three Key Elements

1. Propositions

2. Abstract systems

3. Explanation

Theories in Research & Practice

Proposition

A person becomes criminal because an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of the law over definitions unfavorable to the violation of the law

Ex. Differential Association Theory of Crime

Concepts?

Relationship?

Explanation?

Functions of Theory

hypotheses

observations

research

findings

intervention

plan

intervention

intervention

outcome

RESEARCH PRACTICE

Tow Main Procedures

Conceptualization

Operationalization

Refining the Research Problem

Operationalization

Topic /

Problem Area

Research

Problem / IdeasConcept

Concept

DefinitionMeasurable

ConceptIndicators

Data

Collection

Selecting a problem Conceptualization

Concept

A mental image that symbolizes and idea, an object, and event, a behavior, a person, and so on

Variable

A concept being investigated that is characterized by different attributes

Hypothesis

A testable statement (more than one possible outcome)

= variables + relationship term

Variables = dependent/independent variables

Relationship = none/linear/nonlinear

Concepts & Hypotheses

Variables Relationship

Independent Variable (IV)

Dependent Variable (DV)

Mediating Variable

Moderating Variable

Positive

Negative

Curvilinear

Textbook PP. 67 - 69

A

A

A

B

B

B

1. Consistency of conceptualization (see the next page)

2. Relevance to the problem

3. Completeness

4. Specificity

5. Potential for testing

Wording of Research Hypotheses

Research Topic - the broad subject area

Research Problem - the specific issue or problem

within a broad topic area

Research Purpose - a statement of the intent or

objective of the study

Research Question - an interrogative sentence

Research Hypothesis - a prediction or best guess to the

research question

Difficulties with written language production

Children with learning disabilities

To investigate the effect that treatment for a learning disability has on the spelling proficiency

of children with a learning disability

What effect does the treatment have on children with a learning disability?

Children with learning disabilities who participate in the treatment will be more likely to receive higher spelling proficiency sores than children

who do not participate.

Examples of Hypotheses

Hypotheses Make it better …

People who hold college degrees have a high level of self-awareness.

?

Women under age thirty are more assertive.

?

Good teacher will exhibit leadership within the classroom

?

Examples of Hypotheses

Hypotheses Better

People who hold college degrees have a high level of self-awareness.

People who hold college degrees will be more likely to receive a score of more than 80 on the scale of self-awareness than those who do not hold a college degree.

Women under age thirty are more assertive.

Women under age thirty are more assertive than women thirty and older.

Good teacher will exhibit leadership within the classroom

Teachers who post office hours are more likely to receive higher teaching evaluations than those who do not post office hours.

Nominal

Ordinal

Interval

Ratio

Levels of Measurement

Levels

Characteristics of Categories

Mutually Exclusive

Inherent Order

Equal Spacing

True

Zero

Nominal

Ordinal

Interval

Ratio

Conceptualization in Qualitative

Inquiry

Qualitatively oriented researchers do not restrict their observation to predetermined operational indicators.

Because …

Causality

Why particular forms of behavior occur

Causal Relationship

1. A statistical association

2. Time order

3. Not spurious relationship

Cause-and-Effect Relationship

Questions?