Social Works Practice Res I From Problem to Research Question

Study Notes
Social Work Practice Research I – Week 4 Discussion
Topic: From Problem to Research Question
1. Introduction
Research Problem: A clearly defined issue or gap in knowledge that requires investigation.

Research Question: A focused query that guides the study, derived from the research problem.

Process: Moving from a broad problem to a specific research question involves refining, narrowing, and aligning with social work practice and research goals.

Relevance to Social Work: Ensures research addresses real‑world issues, informs interventions, and promotes social justice.

2. Identifying the Research Problem
Definition: A statement about an area of concern, a condition to be improved, or a gap in knowledge.

Sources of Problems:

Practice challenges (e.g., high caseloads, ineffective interventions).

Policy gaps (e.g., lack of services for marginalized groups).

Literature gaps (e.g., limited studies on specific populations).

Personal interest or lived experience.

Criteria for a Good Problem:

Relevance to social work.

Feasibility to study.

Ethical appropriateness.

Potential to contribute to knowledge and practice.

3. Refining the Problem
Clarify Scope: Narrow broad issues into manageable topics.

Contextualize: Situate problem within social, cultural, and policy environments.

Review Literature: Identify what is already known and where gaps exist.

Consult Stakeholders: Engage practitioners, clients, and communities.

Align with Values: Ensure problem reflects social work ethics and social justice.

4. From Problem to Research Question
Step 1: Identify broad problem (e.g., “High dropout rates among foster youth”).

Step 2: Narrow focus (e.g., “Educational challenges faced by foster youth in high school”).

Step 3: Review literature (e.g., studies on trauma, school support, peer relationships).

Step 4: Formulate research question (e.g., “How does trauma influence high school dropout rates among foster youth?”).

Outcome: A clear, focused, and researchable question.

5. Characteristics of a Good Research Question
Clarity: Easily understood and specific.

Focus: Narrow enough to be manageable.

Relevance: Addresses issues important to social work practice or policy.

Feasibility: Can be answered with available resources and time.

Ethical: Respects participants and aligns with professional values.

Innovation: Offers new insights or perspectives.

6. Types of Research Questions
Descriptive: Explore characteristics of a population or phenomenon.

Exploratory: Investigate new or under‑researched areas.

Explanatory: Examine relationships between variables.

Evaluative: Assess effectiveness of interventions or programs.

Comparative: Contrast groups, contexts, or interventions.

Predictive: Forecast outcomes based on variables.

7. Role of Literature Review
Contextualization: Situates problem within existing knowledge.

Gap Identification: Highlights areas needing further research.

Theoretical Framework: Connects problem to relevant theories.

Methodological Insights: Reveals strengths and weaknesses of prior studies.

Justification: Demonstrates why research question is important.

8. Ethical and Cultural Considerations
Representation: Ensure diverse voices are included.

Respect: Honor cultural contexts in framing questions.

Equity: Avoid privileging dominant narratives.

Transparency: Clearly explain how problem and question were identified.

Accountability: Align with social work values of justice and dignity.

9. Case Example
Problem: Rising rates of intimate partner violence in immigrant communities.

Refinement: Focus on barriers to accessing services.

Literature Review: Limited studies on cultural stigma and systemic barriers.

Research Question: “What cultural and systemic factors influence immigrant women’s access to intimate partner violence services?”

Outcome: A question that is specific, relevant, and ethically grounded.

10. Benefits of Moving from Problem to Research Question
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.

11. Challenges
Overly Broad Problems: Difficult to narrow into researchable questions.

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 refinement.

Ethical Issues: Sensitive topics may complicate research.

12. Strategies to Overcome Challenges
Refine Scope: Narrow problems and focus questions.

Seek Diverse Sources: Include global and marginalized perspectives.

Use Technology: Employ citation managers and search tools.

Collaborate: Work with peers or supervisors.

Critical Evaluation: Assess quality and relevance of sources.

Reflexivity: Reflect on researcher bias and positionality.

13. Integration into Practice
Assignments: Use research questions 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 framing questions.

Trauma‑Informed Research: Growing emphasis in social work.

Intersectionality: Increasing focus on overlapping identities in research questions.

15. Conclusion
Moving from problem to research question is a foundational step in social work research.

It requires clarity, refinement, and alignment with literature, ethics, and cultural contexts.

Effective research questions provide direction, justification, and relevance.

Ultimately, this process strengthens evidence‑based practice, social justice, and professional growth.

Quiz (15 Questions)
Multiple Choice
Which step comes first in the research process? a) Literature review b) Identifying the problem c) Formulating the hypothesis d) Collecting data

Which type of research question examines relationships between variables? a) Descriptive b) Explanatory c) Exploratory d) Evaluative

Which characteristic ensures a research question is manageable? a) Clarity b) Focus c) Innovation d) Ethics

Which tool helps visualize relationships between themes in literature? a) Concept mapping b) Regression analysis c) Random sampling d) Hypothesis testing

Which ethical principle requires including marginalized voices in research questions? a) Confidentiality b) Representation c) Integrity d) Competence

True/False
A research problem is broader than a research question. (True)

Literature reviews only summarize sources without analysis. (False)

Reflexivity helps researchers recognize their biases in framing questions. (True)

Overly broad problems are easy to refine into research questions. (False)

Intersectionality is increasingly emphasized in social work research questions. (True)

Short Answer
Define a research problem in the context of social work research.

Provide one example of a descriptive research question.

Identify two benefits of refining a problem into a research question.

Describe one challenge in moving from problem to research question.

How can literature reviews support the development of research questions?

Social Works Practice Res I- week 4 DISCUSSION
From Problem to Research Question
At this point, you may have an idea of your general social work topic, but what specific problem does that point to and how can that problem be conveyed as a question to be explored? In order to conduct a successful research study, the research question must be clearly defined, well justified, and offer something new to the social work knowledge base. The research study can only be as good as the research question that guides it.
For this Discussion, you articulate the problem you are focusing on and craft your research question to address that problem. You also consider the value of the identified problem by considering how it relates to social work practice.
BY DAY 3 (Please write out the sub headings)

To Prepare:
Review the Learning Resources on identifying research problems and developing research questions.
Consider the problem that you would like to study in your proposed research, the gap in knowledge that it addresses, and how it connects to social work practice.

By Day 4
Share the problem you are focusing on in your research. What would you like to know about this topic; that is, what is a gap in knowledge that your research on the topic could fill? Based on the identified problem, develop and share your research question here. How does this problem relate to practice?
 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.

Course book

Research Methods for Social Workers 8TH 18
Author: Yegidis, Bonnie L.
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-451256-3
ISBN-10: 0-13-451256-1
Edition/Copyright: 8TH 18
Publisher: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Paperback) 7TH 20
Author: American Psychological Association
ISBN-13: 978-1-4338-3216-1
ISBN-10: 1-4338-3216-X
Edition/Copyright: 7TH 20
Publisher: American Psychological Association – APA

Resources

Required Readings
Yegidis, B. L., Weinbach, R. W., & Myers, L. L. (2018). Research methods for social workers (8th ed.). Pearson.
oChapter 3: Developing Research Problems and Research Questions (pp. 52–70)

SAGE Research Methods. (n.d.). Project planner: Developing a researchable questionLinks to an external site.. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://methods.sagepub.com/project-planner/developing-a-researchable-question

Required Media
Walden University, LLC. (2021). Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approachesLinks to an external site. [Interactive media]. https://class.waldenu.edu

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