SCWK2006 Lecture Notes - Participant Observation, Data Analysis, Research Question
10 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
SCWK2006- Research Skills for Social Work
Lecture 3
Research Question
• Different from a research topic
• How does one choose a research question?
o Is it relevant?
o Is it researchable?
o Is it ethical?
Research Paradigms
Positivist
• Objectivity
o Essential, achievable through control
• Truth
o Exists, and is absolute
• Point of research
o Objective knowledge
• Methods
o Statistics, surveys, RCTs
Interpretivist
• Objectivity
o Not possible or desirable
• Truth
o Relative, subjective
• Point of research
o Situated or contextual knowledge
• Methods
o Interviews, focus groups, participant observation
Alternative/Emancipatory
• Objectivity
o All research is about power
• Truth
o Lies in fairness and equity
• Point of research
o Empowerment
• Methods
o All ethods ae eeded to addess societys issues
Research Methods
Quantitative
• Goals
o Seeks explanation or causation
• Research question
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