CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
Field Research Methods/
Introduction to Social Work Research
Anth 374 and Social Work 374
FALL 1994
Dr. Evelyn Newman Phillips : Office: Room 110E Diloreto Hall
Office Hours: Tues. & Thur. 3:00-5:00 p.m.
or by appt.
Telephone: (203) 832-2617
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This introductory course examines basic research knowledge and skills for beginning social workers and anthropologists. Theories of social research, hypothesis testing, research design, sampling, data collection techniques, and ethical issues germane to social workers and anthropologists are included. Quantitative and qualitative research will be introduced. Fundamental research skills will be developed through experiential learning, lectures, and class discussion. These experiences will enable students to conceptualize a problem, design a research project, and collect and analyze data about various cultural systems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to achieve the following objectives:
1. Understand the philosophical principles of rationalism and
empiricism in the study of human behavior.
2. Conceptualize, operationalize, and analyze complex human
behavior.
3. Become familiar with bibliographic search tools.
4. Evaluate research reports and determine their validity and
generalizability.
5. Discuss and understand professional ethics related to the
research process.
6. Write a report of research results.
Field Projects:
There is one major research project. However, this assignment has
been divided into
components to facilitate the integration of the text and field
experiences.
Fieldwork is very time consuming, therefore it is necessary to
plan your time carefully.
Examinations: There will be a mid-term and a final examination.
Materials Needed:
1. Buy two spiral notebooks for diary and field notes.
2. Required texts:
Bernard, H. Russell 1994 Research Methods in Anthropology:
Qualitative and Quantitiative Approaches. Thousands Oaks:
SAGE Publications (Anthropology students)
Royse, David 1991 Research Methods in Social Work.
Chicago: Nelson Hall. (Social Work students)
3. A tape recorder and cassettes will also be useful.
GRADING:
To be as objective and fair as possible, I have designed the
following system to assess students' performances. Reading class
materials, participating in discussions and implementing fields
assignments will ensure success.
Final Research Project == 100 points: You will be
judged on conceptualization of hypothesis, operational
definitions of variables, review of literature, research design,
methods used to collect data, analysis of data and your ability
to convey the results of the research in a written format. Due
Dec. 15.
Diary == 50 points: Diaries are personal journals about
your field experience. Hence, I will respect your views. You will
not be judged on your reactions. The diary is designed to help
the instructor and the student understand the effectiveness of
the teaching methods. You will be assessed on your ability to
consistently chart your responses to the experience of conducting
research. Since diaries are usually handwritten, please try to
write legibly.
Field Notes == 50 points Field notes consist of
information that you have gained while collecting data. Many
events may happen in the field that may not be expressed in an
interview and or checked on a questionnaire. However, these
experiences offer insights into a culture and may lead to
comprehension of the problems or questions that you are trying to
answer. You will be assessed on your persistent relationship with
your notebook. Weekly entries are expected.
Cross-Cultural Perceptions of Research in Social Work and
Anthropology
== 5 points, Due Sept 1,
Understanding the Language and Tools of Research assignment
==
10 points, Students will be evaluated on their demonstrated
knowledge of various research sources. Due Sept 8.
Team Conceptualization of Research Project and Timeline
==20 points
Each member of the team will be awarded the same score if all
actively participate. You will be assessed on your ability to
conceptualize a short-term research project that can be
implemented in a timely fashion. Due Sept. 13.
Literature Review == 20 points A literary understanding
of the prior research and the issues that frame your research
will be assessed..
Due. Sept. 22.
Research Design (team effort) == 40 points How well your proposed methodologies match the hypotheses, will be one of the criteria by which your paper will be judged. The other criterion will be how well the variables have been operationalized. Due Oct. 6.
Mid-term Examination October 18 == 50 points
Sampling Assignment == 10 points Demonstration of sampling will be rated. Due October 20
Questions and Questionnaires == 20 points How well the questions relate to the variables you are proposing to study will be determined. Due October 27.
Archival Research == 20 points A demonstrated knowledge of archival resources will be assessed. Due November 3.
Progress Report on Data Collection and Analysis ==20 points Due November 10.
Collaborative Research Reports == 50 points Team collectively presents research findings. Nov. 29, Dec. 6, and Dec 8. Although, members will individually submit their final research projects on Dec 15, oral reports should be a unified effort.. Members are expected to discuss their research and how their findings support or contradict each other's hypotheses. You are also expected to discuss the evolution of the project -- from fears and challenges to accomplishments.
Final Examination ==50 points
Active Class Participation == 50 points. Your informed knowledge of the assigned readings will be assessed.
More than 3 unexcused absences will lower your grade by 20 points for each day missed.
Total Possible Points == 545
90% of 545 == 490
80% of 545 == 436
70% of 545 == 381
60% of 545 == 327
55% of 545 == 299
All papers, except diaries and field notes must be typed. All work must be stapled. Do Not Use Plastic Folders.
Make 2 copies of your work. Keep 1 copy for your files.
Week 1 - August 30 & September 1, 1994
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
We will examine the epistemological foundations of research in
Western heritage.
Reading Assignment: Bernard, Chapter 1: "Cultural
Anthropology and Social Science" pp. 1-18. Royse, Chapter 1,
" Why Study Research?" Pp.1-14.
Class Discussion: Write a brief summary of the differences and
commonalities between anthropological and social work research. (Due
Sept 1, 5 points)
Week 2 - September 6 & September 8
CONCEPTUALIZING RESEARCH
We will assess the role of measurement in science and the
concepts that are used to explain the process.
Reading Assignment: Bernard, Chapter 2: "The Foundations of
Social Research." Pp. 19-50. Royse, Chapter 2: " Basic
Research Terms and Concepts." Pp. 15 36.
Writing Assignment: Each student should go to the library and
select an anthropology journal and a social work journal. Skim
back issues for a past year. What are the major foci of the
journals? What kinds of articles are included? What topics are
addressed? Describe the language in which the articles are
written. Which types of instruments are used? How are concepts
usually measured by each discipline? (Four pages) (Assignment
due Sept. 8) 10 points
Week 3 - September 13 & September 15
Steps of Scientific Inquiry
An overview of the research process will be outlined.
Reading Assignment: Bernard, Chapter 5, "Choosing Research
Problems, Sites and Methods." Pp. 102-117. Royse, Chapter 3,
" The Way Research Proceeds." Pp. 37-52.
Writing assignment: Your team will collectively determine the
research questions or problem that you will study during this
course. You should also develop a time-line. (See Major
Assignment Sheet ). However, each team member will discuss
his or her perspective of the problem. Due Sept 13. (20
points)
Week 4 September 20 and Sept 22
Literature Review
Bibliographic research tools will be investigated.
Reading Assignment: Bernard, Chapter 6, "The Literature
Search." Pp. 118- 136. (Anthropology and Social Work
students should read this chapter. A copy of this article will be
on reserve in the library. Literature Review
Due Sept 22. (20 points) See Major Assignment Sheet.
Week 5 September 27 & September 29
Studying Microsystems
Single system and naturalistic designs will be explored.
Reading Assignment:
Bernard, Chapter 3: "Anthropology and Research Design"
Pp. 51- 70.
Royse, Chapter 4: "Single System Designs" Pp. 53-78.
Week 6 October 4 and October 6
Life History: An Insider's Perspective
This week lessons will examine the implication of life histories
for interpreting human behavior.
Reading Assignment:
Watson, Lawrence C. and Maria-Barbara Watson-Franke 1985
"Chapter 1, "Life History Research in
Anthropology."Pp.1-29. and Chapter 2 "The Life History
As a Subjective Document." Pp. 30-57. in Interpreting
Life Histories: An Anthropological Inquiry. New Brunswick:
Rutgers University Press. (On Reserve in Library).Required
reading for all students.
Martin, Ruth 1987 "Oral History in Social Work Education:
Chronicling the Black Experience." Journal of Social Work
Education 3:5-10. (On Reserve, all students should read).
Supplemental Reading: Gluck, Sherna Berger and Daphne Patai eds.
1991 Women's Words: The Feminist Practice of Oral History.
New York: Routledge.
Romero, Patricia, ed., 1988 Life Histories of African Women.
Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey: The Ashfield Press.
Shostak, Majorie, Nisa: the Life and Words of a !Kung Woman.
New York: Vintage Books.
Week 7 October 11 & 13
Examining Macrosystems
Students will examine the use of quasi-experimental and
experimental designs, participant observation and their
implications for studying macrosystems.
Reading Assignment:
Royse, "Research Designs of Group Comparisons." Pp.
79-100.
Bernard Participant Observation." Pp. 136-164. Bernard
"Informants" Pp. 165- 179. (all students)
Supplemental Reading:
Crapanzano, Vincent 1980 Tuhami: Portrait of a Moroccan.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Campbell, Donald T. and Julian C. Stanley [1963] 1966 Experimental
and Quasi Experimental Designs for Research. Chicago: Rand
McNally and Company.
Jacobs, Jerry 1983 Fun City: An Ethnographic Study of a
Retirement Community. Waveland.
Powers, Marla 1986 Oglala Women: Myth, Ritual and Reality.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Estroff, J. 1981 Making It Crazy: An Ethnography of
Psychiatric Clients in An American Community. Berkeley:
University of California Press.
Week 8 October 18 Mid Term Examination.
Examination will assess your knowledge of the historical and
theoretical frameworks guiding research in the Western world,
hypotheses, bibliographic research tools, instruments,
reliability, life history, single system design and other
relevant information covered during the first 8 weeks. (Total
possible = 50 points).
Week 8 October 20
Sampling: Who Informs the Research
This class will uncover the role of sampling and address sampling
size and types. Also, we will discuss informants' role in
qualitative research. The ability to generalize research is
significantly determined by who informs the researcher.
Reading Assignment:
Bernard, Chapter 4 "Sampling" Pp. 71-101.
Royse, Chapter 6 "Sampling Theory." Pp. 113-125.
Sargent, Carolyn and Joan Rawling 1991 "Factors Influencing
Prenatal Care Among Low-income Jamaican Women." Human
Organization 50 (2):179-187.
Written Assignment: List the steps you would go through to
draw a
random sample of 50 from a population of 350 using the table of
random numbers. Draw a sample of 50 and record the numbers of
those who would be selected. (10 points)
Week 9 October 25 and October 27
Surveys and Questionnaires: Covering A Large Universe
We will examine how to design questionnaires and explore three
methods for collecting surveys.
Reading Assignment: Bernard, Chapter 12 "Questionnaires and
Survey Research." Pp. 256-288.
Royse, Chapter 6, "Survey Research "Pp. 101--112. &
Chapter 7 "Questionnaire Design" Pp. 129-148.
Written Assignment: Submit the set of questions that you are
using for your research. Discuss the hypothesis you are testing
and how the questions relate to it. Submit a copy of the
questions or questionnaire you will be using. Discuss why you
have used either open-ended or direct questions. Explain your
rationale for question format and questions.
(20 points) Due October 25.
Week 10 November 1 and November 3
Archival Research
We will investigate public documents such as street directories,
census data, maps, photographs and other historical data.
Reading assignments:
Reading assignment:
Bernard, "Unobtrusive Observation" Pp. 332-359.
Royse, "Unobtrusive Approaches to Data Collection: Secondary
Data and Content Analysis.' Pp. 149-172.
Written Assignment:
Examine archival data that may support your research. Write a
two-page paper discussing the data you have located. (20 points) Due
November 3.
Week 11 November 8 and 10
Using Numbers to Explain Research Findings
Elementary statistical concepts and tools will be introduced.
Students will become familiar with mode, median, f-ratio and
t-test.
Reading Assignment:
Bernard: Chapter 18, "Univariate Statistics: Describing
a Variable."Pp. 403-425.
Royse, Chapter 9, "Preparing and Analyzing Data." Pp.
173-192.
Submit a three-page progress report on data collection and
analysis. 20 points Due November 10.
Week 12 November 15 and 17
Qualitative Analysis: A Search for Patterns
We will examine how ideas, behaviors, concepts and world views
may be coded and documented into discrete systems.
Reading Assignment:
Bernard, Chapter 16 "Analysis of Qualitative Data." Pp.
360-392.
Royse, Chapter 11 "Qualitative Research." Pp. 217-232.
Week 13 November 22 (November 24, no class- Thanksgiving)
Put Those Findings in Writing
Components of research papers and journal articles will be
discussed. Also, we will examine how to critique research
manuscripts.
Reading Assignment:
Royse, Chapter 13, "Writing Research Reports and Journal
Articles." Pp. 253- 270.
Week 14 - November 29
Teams will report the results of their research.
Weeks 15 - December 1 (no class) Work on research projects.
Week 16 - December 6
The challenges, joys and successes of fieldwork will be shared.
Week - December 8
A review of the process of scientific inquiry.
Final examination will occur during final week.
MAJOR ASSIGNMENT SHEET:
You will be assigned to work in research teams to design and conduct a research project. (Size will depend on number of students enrolled).
1. Collectively, each team will determine the research question or problem they will study quantitatively and qualitatively. For example, your team may decide to study children who are farm workers. After deciding the topic, narrow the concept to a manageable investigation. Then decide which component of the problem each member will study. An example is as follows: One member may question whether children in Hartford who are farm workers drop out of school at a greater rate than children who do not do farm work. Another person may wonder what conditions lead children to work in the fields? Another team member may assess the life of the children who work in the fields? The team is expected to study many dimensions of one problem. Keep it manageable. You have approximately 10 weeks.. Each member of the team will determine which aspect of the problem he or she will study. (Each team member will submit a two page draft of their hypotheses and his or her perception of the problem that he or she plans to study. Problem will be submitted for review by the third week of class, Sept. 13.) Discuss in your diary and field notes how the team collectively determined the problem to study. Discuss the dynamics of the team and how a solution was achieved. (20 points)
2. Conduct a literature review of your research question. The literature review should help delineate the research problem, discover methodologies that have been used by other researchers, uncover areas which have not been researched and indicate theoretical models. Essentially, a literature review discusses what research has been conducted, what was discovered, what agreements have been reached and which issues are unresolved. (Submit a five-page draft of your literature review by Sept 22.) Bibliographic data must accompany review. (20 Points)
3. Determine the research design. Discuss methodology. Outline sampling techniques and discuss how variables will be operationalized and data will be collected and analyzed. If an intervention is to be made, discuss its implication for the type of design that you will use. Team will decide collectively the methodology for each aspect of the research. Design is due October 6. (40 points)
4. A written progress report on data collection and analysis is expected. Submit a summary of the data you have collected and discuss how you plan to analyze it. Due November 10. (20 points)
5. November 29, Dec. 6, & Dec. 8, teams will give final
result of research. Each member of the team will discuss his or
her research. However they are expected to present as a
collective. Final written report, diary and field notes are due
Dec. 15. (Oral team report 50 points)
Thoughts
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. ...... Frederick
Douglass
A man's (sic) bread and butter is only insured when he (sic)
works for it. ...
Marcus Harvey
We must reinforce argument with results..... Booker T. Washington
Cultural influences have set up the assumptions about the mind, the body, and the universe with which we begin; pose the questions we ask; influence the facts we seek, determine the interpretation we give these facts; and direct our reaction to these interpretations and conclusions. .... Gunnar Mydral
Measurement enables us to analyse like things according to the calculable form of identity and differences. Michel Foucault
The entire object of true education is to make people not merely
to do the right things, but enjoy them; not merely industrious,
but to love industry; not merely learned but to love knowledge;
nor mere pure, but to love purity; not merely just, but to hunger
and thirst after justice.... John Ruskin
A GENERAL MODEL FOR SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
State General Problem
Conduct Literature Search
State Specific Problem
Design Methodology
Gather Data
Analyze Data
Report Results
Refine Hypotheses
Please complete form and return to instructor.
Name ________________________________________
Address _________________________________________
Telephone _________________________________________
Major _________________________________________
Date of Birth ___________________
Research Interest:
Current Placement or Volunteer Placement
Goal For This Class:
Signature _______________________________