Week 3: Defining the Research Problem; Justifying the Study; Reviewing Existing Literature

Successfully conducted research studies often provide the answers to challenges of social work practice, of obstacles in social work research, and of gaps of knowledge within the field. In order to conduct a successful research study, the research question must be clearly defined, well justified, and offer something new to the field’s knowledge base. Whether using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method applications to data, the research study can only be as good as the research question that guides it. This week, you focus on defining research questions, justifying studies, and reviewing existing literature.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze research questions
• Create research questions

Discussion: Formulating Research Questions

Research problems can come from a variety of places. A topic can come up during a discussion with a colleague that motivates you to want to learn more about it. You may have a question for which you cannot find an answer, so you decide to conduct a research study in hopes of finding an answer. You may identify a particular gap in knowledge and be inclined to investigate that gap and close it with the results of a research study.

For this Discussion, consider how crafting a good research question is the cornerstone for designing robust studies that yield useable data. Review the Sessions episode on the Talia Johnson case. Locate two peer reviewed articles authored by the researcher David Lisak on the topics of the undetected rapist and predatory nature.

Post two potential research questions related to the Sessions episode. Consider potential ethical or political issues related to the feasibility of investigating the questions. Evaluate each question in terms of how it might:

• Contribute to development of new knowledge for social work
• Lead to more effective practice interventions
• Lead to social change
• Be useful to other researchers

Finally, explain the criteria you used to decide which sources of information should be included. Please use the resources to support your answer.

Reference

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

• The Johnson Family

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