Social Science - Sociology assignment 6

As you may recall, evidence-based practice relies on best available evidence, which is drawn from current research studies. But, just because a research study is published, it doesn’t mean it is without flaw. Social workers must make value determinations every time they interact with research they may apply to practice.

Imagine that you are a practicing social worker and encounter a question, issue, or challenge on which you need to learn more. You search in the social work literature and find a quantitative study on the topic. As you read it, you ask critical questions, closely analyze how the study was framed and conducted, monitor efforts toward validity, and ultimately decide whether to integrate the information in practice.

For this Assignment, you replicate this process of critical evaluation by critiquing a quantitative research study.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

TO PREPARE

Review the Learning Resources on critical reading and critique/evaluation.

Select one of the quantitative research articles your Instructor has provided.

Note: Below is the quantitative research articles from instructor.

In week 7, we are exploring research validity and research design.

Assignment: Quantitative Research Study Critique. In this assignment, review the list of the three articles below. Choose one to use for this assignment. Following the prompts in the assignment instructions, write a 3-page critique of the research presented in this article.

Eckstein, J. (2016). IPV stigma and its social management: The roles of relationship- type, abuse-type, and victims’ sex. Journal of Family Violence, 31(2), 215–225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9752-4

Gattis, M. N., & Larson, A. (2017). Perceived microaggressions and mental health in a sample of Black youths experiencing homelessness. Social Work Research, 41(1), 7– 17. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svw030

Kosciw, J., Palmer, N., Kull, R., & Greytak, E. (2013). The effect of negative school climate on academic outcomes for LGBT youth and the role of in-school supports. Journal of School Violence, 12(1), 45–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2012.732546

Read the research article with a critical eye, taking notes and considering how the study was conducted.

Download the Critique Template in the Learning Resources for use in this Assignment.

NOTE: CRITIQUE TAMPLATE ATTACHED SEPERATELY.

ASSIGNMENT BELOW:

Submit a 3-page critique of the peer-reviewed research study you have chosen from those provided by your Instructor.

In your Assignment, be sure to identify and evaluate the following, as described in the template:

Title and Authors

Literature Review

Strategy of Research (Descriptive, Exploratory, Explanatory)

Methodological Approach and Design

Threats to Internal Validity

Application to Practice

Based on your critique of this study, is this social work intervention or knowledge safe to integrate into your practice? Why or why not?

Use the Learning Resources to support your critique. Make sure to include appropriate APA citations and a reference list.

1

Quantitative Research Study Critique

Student Name

Walden University

SOCW 6301: Social Work Practice Research I

Instructor Name

Month XX, 202X

2

Quantitative Research Study Critique

Include an introductory paragraph that names the research study you are evaluating and

previews the structure and focus of your critique. Provide your overall assessment of the study in

a brief statement.

Title and Authors

In this section, evaluate the article title and the authors’ credibility. Do you think the title

adequately describe the study and its key elements? Who are the authors and have they conducted

and/or published previous research? Are they affiliated with a research institution or university?

Literature Review

Consider the following questions in your critique of the article’s literature review: To

what extent does the cited literature help you understand the problem? How does the literature

reviewed put the problem in context? Be specific. Do the authors indicate how their research is

different from and/or similar to earlier studies? Summarize what this article intends to add to the

knowledge base.

Strategy of Research

Address the following questions in your critique of the research strategy: What is the

strategy/aim of this quantitative study—is it descriptive, exploratory, or explanatory? Does this

strategy align with the research question?

Methodological Approach and Design

Consider the following questions in your critique of the methodological approach and

design: How does a quantitative approach (as opposed to a qualitative approach) correspond with

the research questions and/or hypotheses? Is the specific research design appropriate? To what

extent can the design answer the research questions or address the stated hypotheses?

3

Threats to Internal Validity

Consider the following questions in your critique of the internal validity: What have the

authors done to address threats to internal validity? How does the presence or absence of

information about validity affect your confidence in the quality of the study?

Application to Practice

Connect the information from the article to social work practice and provide your

recommendations. Based on your critique of this study, is this social work intervention or

knowledge safe to integrate into your practice? Why or why not?

4

References

(Include full references here for any sources that you have cited within the research study

critique. Note that the following references are intended as examples only.)

American Counseling Association. (n.d.). About us. https://www.counseling.org/about-us/about-

aca

Anderson, M. (2018). Getting consistent with consequences. Educational Leadership, 76(1), 26-

33.

Bach, D., & Blake, D. J. (2016). Frame or get framed: The critical role of issue framing in

nonmarket management. California Management Review, 58(3), 66-87.

https://doi.org/10.1525/cmr.2016.58.3.66

Burgess, R. (2019). Rethinking global health: Frameworks of Power. Routledge.

Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival

times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24(2), 225–229.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.225

Johnson, P. (2003). Art: A new history. HarperCollins. https://doi.org/10.1037.0000136-000

Lindley, L. C., & Slayter, E. M. (2018). Prior trauma exposure and serious illness at end of life:

A national study of children in the U.S. foster care system from 2005 to 2015. Journal of

Pain and Symptom Management, 56(3), 309–317.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.06.001

Osman, M. A. (2016, December 15). 5 do’s and don’ts for staying motivated. Mayo Clinic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/5-dos-and-donts-for-

staying-motivated/art-20270835

5

Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (7th ed.).

Wiley.

Walden University Library. (n.d.). Anatomy of a research article [Video].

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/instructionalmedia/tutorials#s-lg-box-

7955524

Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). Writing literature reviews in your graduate

coursework [Webinar].

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/webinars/graduate#s-lg-box-18447417

World Health Organization. (2018, March). Questions and answers on immunization and vaccine

safety. https://www.who.int/features/qa/84/en/