Social Work Research 1

At this course students gain knowledge about principles of quantitative research, also skills to apply principles of quantitative research into design of a research project for innovative social work practice. Specifically, students learn about two ways of quantitative research: 1) questionnaire design and 2) secondary data analysis. During semester students build quantitative questionnaire, eventually also using principles of participatory action research. Properly built questionnaire can be further used for the master thesis of the student or in social work practice. By way of secondary data analysis students make analysis of social policies, by analysing data retrieved from national and international databases such as Official Portal of statistic of Lithuania, EUROSTAT and other. Teaching and learning is provided on the grounds of basis social work principles, as defined by international federation of social workers.

The acquisition of the competence to design quantitative questionnaire for social work practice and to carry-out secondary data analysis in relation to social work practice.

Teaching subjects on research at undergraduate level.

Standards of quantitative research. Concept of operationalisation. Dependent and independent variables. Concept and application of measurement scales. Nominal and rank scales. Sampling. Basic definition of statistical indicators. The use of internet portal apklausa.lt and/or surweymonkey.com Validity and reliability of questionnaire in the context of social work. Definition and examples of secundary data analysis Sounrces of secundary data analysis. Definition and application of a statistical linear trend. Definition of R square. Interpretation of data by years.

1. The use of proper materiel for construction of social work questionnaire / secondary data analysis (theory for operationalization / data from various databases). 2. The relevance of construction of social work questionnaire / secondary data analysis to the standards of quantitative research (nominal and rank scales, independent and dependent variables / linear trend, R square). 3. The outcome of the of proper materiel for construction of social work questionnaire / secondary data analysis are properly presented (language, layouts). 4. The social work questionnaire / secondary data analysis are properly motivated / interpreted (motivational part of the questionnaire / linear trend interpreted in line with social issues and social policy measures).