The Research Question and the Literature Review
Study Notes
Social Work Practice Research I – Week 5 Discussion
Topic: The Research Question and the Literature Review
1. Introduction
Research Question: The central query guiding a study, focusing on what the researcher seeks to understand or explain.
Literature Review: A systematic examination of existing scholarship to identify what is known, what gaps exist, and how the current study contributes.
Connection: The research question shapes the literature review, while the literature review refines and justifies the research question.
Social Work Relevance: Ensures practice and policy are informed by evidence, theory, and diverse perspectives.
2. Characteristics of a Good Research Question
Clarity: Clearly stated and easily understood.
Focus: Narrow enough to be manageable but broad enough to be significant.
Relevance: Addresses issues important to social work practice, policy, or theory.
Feasibility: Can be answered with available resources, time, and methods.
Ethical Considerations: Respects participants and aligns with professional values.
Innovation: Offers new insights or perspectives.
3. Types of Research Questions
Descriptive: Explore characteristics of a population or phenomenon (e.g., “What are the demographics of homeless youth in Nairobi?”).
Exploratory: Investigate new or under‑researched areas.
Explanatory: Examine relationships between variables (e.g., “How does social support affect recovery from trauma?”).
Evaluative: Assess effectiveness of interventions or programs.
Comparative: Contrast groups, contexts, or interventions.
Predictive: Forecast outcomes based on variables.
4. Developing a Research Question
Identify Topic: Choose an area of interest relevant to social work.
Preliminary Reading: Explore existing literature to understand context.
Refine Focus: Narrow broad topics into specific questions.
Align with Purpose: Ensure question matches study goals (practice, policy, theory).
Check Feasibility: Consider resources, time, and ethical constraints.
Seek Feedback: Consult supervisors, peers, or practitioners.
5. Role of the Literature Review
Contextualization: Situates the study within existing knowledge.
Synthesis: Combines findings from multiple sources into coherent themes.
Gap Identification: Highlights areas needing further research.
Theoretical Framework: Connects study to relevant theories.
Methodological Insights: Reveals strengths and weaknesses of prior studies.
Justification: Demonstrates why the research question is important.
6. Steps in Conducting a Literature Review
Define Scope: Clarify topic and boundaries.
Search Sources: Use databases, journals, books, and grey literature.
Select Relevant Studies: Apply inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Read and Annotate: Highlight key findings, methods, and limitations.
Organize Themes: Group findings into categories.
Analyze Critically: Evaluate quality, relevance, and bias.
Synthesize: Integrate findings into a coherent narrative.
Write Review: Present themes, gaps, and implications.
7. Relationship Between Research Question and Literature Review
Mutual Influence: Literature review informs and refines the research question; the question guides the scope of the review.
Iterative Process: Researchers often revise questions after reviewing literature.
Alignment: Ensures consistency between question, review, and methodology.
Outcome: Produces a well‑justified, evidence‑based research question.
8. Case Example
Topic: Social work interventions for survivors of domestic violence.
Research Question: “How effective are trauma‑informed interventions in improving mental health outcomes for survivors of domestic violence?”
Literature Review Themes:
Prevalence and impact of domestic violence.
Trauma‑informed care principles.
Effectiveness of interventions.
Gaps in culturally specific approaches.
Outcome: Literature review justifies the research question and highlights need for culturally competent interventions.
9. Benefits of Strong Research Questions and Literature Reviews
Clarity of Purpose: Guides study design and methodology.
Efficiency: Focuses resources on relevant issues.
Credibility: Enhances trustworthiness of findings.
Contribution: Advances knowledge and practice.
Advocacy: Supports policy reform and social justice.
Education: Strengthens student learning and professional development.
10. Challenges
Overly Broad Questions: Difficult to answer comprehensively.
Limited Literature: Scarcity of studies in certain areas.
Bias: Risk of privileging dominant perspectives.
Information Overload: Managing large volumes of sources.
Time Constraints: Limited time for thorough review.
Ethical Issues: Sensitive topics may complicate research.
11. Strategies to Overcome Challenges
Refine Scope: Narrow questions and focus searches.
Seek Diverse Sources: Include global and marginalized perspectives.
Use Technology: Employ citation managers and search tools.
Collaborate: Work with peers or librarians.
Critical Evaluation: Assess quality and relevance of sources.
Reflexivity: Reflect on researcher bias and positionality.
12. Ethical and Cultural Considerations
Representation: Ensure diverse voices are included.
Respect: Honor cultural contexts in interpreting findings.
Equity: Avoid privileging dominant narratives.
Transparency: Clearly explain how sources were selected.
Accountability: Align with social work values of justice and dignity.
13. Integration into Practice
Assignments: Use research questions and literature reviews to structure papers.
Field Placement: Apply evidence‑based insights to client interventions.
Policy Advocacy: Highlight recurring issues for systemic reform.
Professional Development: Stay updated on emerging themes.
Community Engagement: Share findings with stakeholders.
14. Contemporary Issues
Digital Libraries: Expand access to diverse sources.
Open Access Movement: Increases availability of free scholarly articles.
Globalization: Requires intercultural competence in literature reviews.
Trauma‑Informed Research: Growing emphasis in social work.
Intersectionality: Increasing focus on overlapping identities in research questions.
15. Conclusion
The research question and literature review are foundational to social work research.
Together, they provide clarity, justification, and direction for studies.
Effective integration requires systematic methods, critical thinking, and cultural competence.
Ultimately, strong research questions and literature reviews advance evidence‑based practice, social justice, and professional growth.
Quiz (15 Questions)
Multiple Choice
Which characteristic ensures a research question is manageable? a) Clarity b) Focus c) Innovation d) Ethics
Which type of research question examines relationships between variables? a) Descriptive b) Explanatory c) Exploratory d) Evaluative
Which step in literature review involves grouping findings into categories? a) Annotation b) Organizing themes c) Critical analysis d) Writing review
Which principle emphasizes fairness in distribution of research benefits? a) Beneficence b) Justice c) Autonomy d) Confidentiality
Which tool helps manage and organize citations? a) Zotero b) Photoshop c) Excel d) PowerPoint
True/False
A literature review only summarizes sources without analysis. (False)
Research questions and literature reviews influence each other. (True)
Overly broad research questions are easy to answer comprehensively. (False)
Reflexivity helps researchers recognize their biases. (True)
Intersectionality is increasingly emphasized in social work research. (True)
Short Answer
Define a research question in the context of social work research.
Provide one example of a descriptive research question.
Identify two benefits of conducting a literature review.
Describe one challenge in identifying themes across multiple sources.
How can literature reviews support evidence‑based practice in social work?
Social Works Practice Res I- week 5 discussion 1
The Research Question and the Literature Review
A literature review, though it has some of the same qualities as a traditional research paper, serves a different aim. As mentioned, researchers must explore existing social work research in their topic by writing a literature review which situates their proposed study among other studies in the field. In this way, the various research studies “talk to each other” by telling a story about the current state of knowledge on a social work topic. It’s a good idea to keep your research question in flux while you explore the literature and to tweak it or take it in a new direction based on what you see. Why might that be?
In this Discussion, you explore the function of a literature review in the research process and consider the ramifications of deciding on a research question too early, before thoroughly surveying the existing literature.
BY DAY 3 (Please write out the sub headings)
To Prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on literature reviews.
Critically think about the research process and whether a research question or a literature review should be generated first.
By Day 3
By Day 4
Post your explanation of how a literature review differs from a traditional research paper for a course. In your explanation, address the function of a literature review. Finally, describe potential consequences of deciding on a research question without conducting a thorough review of the literature. Please use the Learning Resources to support your post (i.e., cite and reference).Note that your Instructor will provide feedback on your use of APA Style this week so that you may apply that feedback for next week.
For next week’s Assignment, you will continue to search for more articles for a total of six peer-reviewed research articles on your topic.
Please write out the sub headings)
Support your post with examples from the course text and any other resources used to respond to this Discussion. Demonstrate that you have completed the required readings, understand the material, and are able to apply the concepts. Include a full reference of resources at the bottom of the post.
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