Verified Test Bank The Process of Social Work Research Ch2

1. Social work research questions may emerge from your own experience.

a. True

b. False

2. A good social work research question should not have to be refined or revised.

a. True

b. False

3. A good research question should be socially important and scientifically relevant.

a. True

b. False

4. Because of the more rigorous review process, research published in social work journals must be consulted for a literature review.

a. True

b. False

5. It is bad research practice to check the bibliographies of the articles that you read for additional relevant sources.

a. True

b. False

6. Direct addressing in Web searches refers to the process of browsing subject directories.

a. True

b. False

7. Systematic reviews of research findings try to account for differences in design and participant characteristics.

a. True

b. False

8. When assessing individual research articles, the manner in which each component of the research design influences the others should not be considered.

a. True

b. False

9. Deductive research involves deriving specific expectations from general theoretical premises.

a. True

b. False

10. The independent variable is the effect or consequence of the dependent variable.

a. True

b. False

11. When the findings of a study accurately represent empirical reality, the results are said to be valid.

a. True

b. False

12. A negative direction of association occurs when as the independent variable decreases, so does the dependent variable.

a. True

b. False

13. Theory is defined as a pattern found in existing data.

a. True

b. False

14. Descriptive research does not involve connecting theory and data.

a. True

b. False

15. Cross-population generalizability exists when a conclusion based on a sample of a larger population holds true for that population.

a. True

b. False

16. Match the key term with its definition.

[a] 1. Theory

[d] 2. Hypothesis

[b] 3. Variable

[c] 4. Empirical Generalization

a. A logically interrelated set of propositions about empirical reality.

b. A characteristic or property that can take on different values or attributes.

c. A pattern empirically observed in data.

d. A tentative statement about empirical reality, involving a relationship between two or more variables.

17. Match the step in the literature review process with its description.

[a] 1. Preparing the Literature Search

[b] 2. Conducting the Literature Search

[c] 3. Checking the Literature Results

[d] 4. Searching the Web

a. Identifying authors and key words relevant to research.

b. Using catalogs and indexes to locate articles.

c. Reading abstracts of articles.

d. Direct addressing, browsing, searching.

18. A social work research question can emerge from which of the following?

a. A researcher’s own experience

b. Other research

c. Social theory

d. Request from a government agency

e. All of the above

19. The scientific relevance of a research question refers to its:

a. Ability to start and finish within a time limit

b. Ability to generate specific suggestions for social policy

c. Ability to resolve contradictions in or advance social theory

d. Ability to be completed within budget

e. Ability to make a difference in the social world

20. The results of Sherman and Berk’s (1984) study of the impact of arrest on repeat calls to the police department for domestic violence supported which of the following social theories:

a. Symbolic interactionism

b. Deterrence theory

c. Labeling theory

d. Conflict theory

e. Inductive logic

21. Deductive theory begins with which element?

a. Social theory

b. Hypothesis testing

c. Empirical generalization

d. Descriptive research

e. Anomalous findings

22. Which of the following is the best example of a variable?

a. Female

b. China

c. Student

d. Age

e. Divorced

23. A variable that is hypothesized to vary depending on the influence of another variable is called a(n):

a. Control variable

b. Dependent variable

c. Independent variable

d. Dichotomous variable

e. Extraneous variable

24. What is the dependent variable in the following statement: official crime rates are lower in wealthy neighborhoods than in poorer neighborhoods?

a. Official crime rates

b. Wealthy neighborhoods

c. Poorer neighborhoods

d. Average income in neighborhoods

e. Wealth

25. Which of the following is an example of a positive direction of association in a hypothesis?

a. As an individual's level of education increases, prejudice decreases.

b. The more sexual partners a person has, the more likely he/she is to be exposed to sexually transmitted diseases.

c. As computer literacy increases, amount of social interaction declines.

d. As household income decreases, percent of income devoted to housing increases.

e. As an individual’s age increases, his or her criminality decreases.

26. Which of the following is an example of a negative direction of association?

a. As number of hours of TV watched per week increases, number of hours spent reading per week decreases.

b. The more extracurricular activities in which a student participates, the more likely the student will describe his/her school experience as positive.

c. As an individual’s income decreases, so does likelihood that he/she will vote.

d. The higher an individual’s score on a depression index, the more likely that he or she will attempt suicide.

e. Students with GPAs below 2.0 will score lower on standardized tests (like the SAT) than will students with GPAs above 3.0.

27. After data have been collected, researchers sometimes find patterns that are unexpected, but nonetheless surprising and exciting. These types of patterns are known as:

a. Empirical

b. Generalizable

c. Descriptive

d. Inductive

e. Serendipitous

28. Kai Erikson went to Buffalo Creek, West Virginia in 1972 following a highly destructive flood. Based on his interviews with residents and after spending considerable time in Buffalo Creek, Erikson theorized that the damage to the social ties in the community caused by natural disasters were just as destructive as the physical damage to the affected community. Erikson's study is a good example of what kind of research?

a. Descriptive

b. Exploratory

c. Explanatory

d. Deductive

e. Inductive

29. Using experimental design methods to study a research question enhances:

a. Authenticity

b. Empiricism

c. Generalizability

d. External Validity

e. Causal Validity

30. Measurement validity is achieved when a measure:

a. Cannot be “psyched out” by the respondent

b. Corresponds to an accepted dictionary definition

c. Yields the same score when applied to the same phenomena

d. Relies on sophisticated instruments

e. Measures what the researcher intends to measure

31. In the presence of their parents, children are asked if they have ever lied to their teachers. Over 90 percent of the children responded that they had never lied to their teachers. The researchers thus conclude that children are usually honest with their teachers. This raises a question about:

a. Cross-population generalizability

b. Measurement validity

c. Sample generalizability

d. Internal validity

e. Causal validity

32. A social work researcher measures job stress and burnout in a sample of child welfare workers in one county agency. She finds that most of the workers have high levels of job stress but do not suffer from burnout. She presents her findings to a group of child welfare agency directors from across the national. Many directors whose county office was not the focus of the study assert that the findings would not hold in their agencies. This assertion is a challenge to the ______________ of the findings.

a. Cross-population generalizability

b. Measurement validity

c. Sample generalizability

d. Internal validity

e. Causal validity

33. A study of the effects of television violence on children was conducted at a local elementary school. Children were randomly selected from the fourth grade and shown a ten-minute cartoon with violent content. The children were then sent to the playground with other children. Children who were shown the cartoon displayed more aggression in their play than the children who did not see the cartoon. These findings supported the researchers’ hypothesis that viewing television violence causes aggressive behavior. The selection of subjects for this study makes it likely that the researcher’s conclusion about the hypothesis has:

a. Cross-population generalizability

b. Measurement validity

c. Sample generalizability

d. Internal validity

e. Causal validity

34. When the sample of participants is reflective of the characteristics of the population, it is said to be:

a. Authentic

b. Empirical

c. Generalizable

d. Reliable

e. Valid

35. When determining how accurate research is in capturing social reality, social scientists refer to dimensions of:

a. Causality

b. Reliability

c. Validity

d. Evaluation

e. Objectivity

36. The delivery of the program following a specific course of action is known as:

a. Treatment fidelity

b. Intervention testing

c. Accountability examination

d. Practice productivity

e. Specificity of measurement

37. Which of the following is TRUE about the how a student can generate a social work research question?

a. Suggestions from other researchers

b. Field or practicum experience

c. Social work research literature

d. Personal experiences

e. All of the above are true

38. The primary reason that articles published in social work journals are superior to information found on the Internet is:

a. Social science journals are more recent.

b. Articles in social science journals are subject to a review process.

c. Social science reports are not available on the Internet.

d. Searching in journals builds research skills.

e. Articles in social science journals contain more accurate bibliographies.

39. The primary focus of a search for social work literature should be:

a. Relevant books

b. Government documents

c. Social work journals

d. Newspapers

e. The Internet

40. In the process of creating a literature review, a researcher should check for relevance after locating journals articles through an index search by:

a. Consulting online databases.

b. Checking Internet-based sources for similar results.

c. Locating the articles in the Social Science Citation Index.

d. Reading the articles’ abstracts.

e. Reading the articles’ conclusions.

41. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about a theory?

a. Makes sense of many interrelated phenomena

b. Predicts behavior or attitudes likely to occur given certain conditions

c. Has no relationship with hypothesis testing

d. Connects implications of finding to other research

e. Helps identify what to look for in a study

42. Inductive explanations are thus more trustworthy if they are tested subsequently with:

a. Variables

b. Generalizations

c. Anomalous findings

d. More inductive research

e. Deductive research

43. Which of the following is NOT a philosophy guiding social work research?

a. Positivist

b. Constructivist

c. Postpositivist

d. Interpretivist

e. All of the above are philosophies guiding social work research

44. Outline the procedure for conducting a literature review of social work literature. Describe how articles are assessed for credibility. Describe how articles are coordinated to create an integrated literature review.

45. How does descriptive research differ from inductive and deductive research? In what circumstances is descriptive research commonly found?

46. Why is it important to consider diverse populations in conducting a critical review of the literature?

47. Describe in detail the process of searching for information on the Web and in the social work literature. How might you assess the credibility of sources from the Web and from the literature? List and explain at least four reasons why articles in social science journals are preferable in social work research to most Web pages.

48. Describe the research circle that connects social theory to data collection. What are the principle components of this research circle? Using an example of your own choosing, describe two research designs based on this circle: one using inductive logic and one using deductive logic. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each of these designs?

49. To say that research questions should be both scientifically relevant and socially important is to recommend a balance between science for its own sake and science strictly to resolve social work problems. In your opinion, which of these two criteria should be more important when formulating research questions, or are they both of equal importance? Justify your answer.

50. Discuss the research of Sherman and Berk (1984) on the affect of arrest on domestic abuse. What was their research hypothesis? What were their independent and dependent variables? Describe how their hypothesis was designed to test deterrence theory and labeling theory. For which theory did their hypothesis provide support? How did later studies improve on this initial research?

51. Based on Sherman and Berk’s (1984) study of the affect on arrest on domestic abuse, propose in separate paragraphs a deductive research project, an inductive research project, and a descriptive research project. Each proposal should build on the work of Sherman and Berk or the follow-up studies. Specify how each proposal would add to the research they conducted.

52. Using a social work research question of your choosing, define and discuss how each of the philosophies guiding social work research would influence your research. Which of these perspectives makes the most convincing argument for guiding your area of interest? Which of these perspectives makes the most convincing argument for guiding social work research generally? Explain your response.

53. Define sample generalizability and cross-population generalizability. Give one example of each. Discuss how these terms differ from one another.

54. Write a brief explanation of the concept of causal validity and generalizability. To illustrate your explanations, describe what they would refer to in a hypothetical study of drug abuse in American suburbs.

55. Explain how individual studies are part of the larger process of creating social scientific knowledge. Consider why research must evaluate previous research and why researchers should expect to have their studies critically evaluated.