Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)

(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

UNIT- 5 RESEARCH IN SOCIAL WORK, QUALITATIVE

APPROACHES

Social Work Research: Meaning, Scope and Uses

2.1 Introduction

 Social work research is a secondary or auxiliary method of social work.

 It is considered a crucial part of any meaningful social work intervention.
 It is defined as the application of research methods to create knowledge that can be used
to solve problems faced by social workers during their practice.
 Social work research is a sub-set of social research.
 The knowledge gained through social work research makes social work interventions
more efficient and effective.
 The scope of social work research is vast, covering the same diverse fields as the social
work profession itself, such as women and child, health, mental health, and disaster
management.

1 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

2.2 Meaning of Social Research

 Social research is a systematic process of pre-planned inquiry into various aspects of

human life.
 It is a careful and critical investigation aimed at discovering new facts or verifying old
ones to find the causes of social problems.
 Its ultimate goal is the betterment of human life by providing insights for remedial
interventions.
 Moser defines social research as "a systematized investigation to gain new knowledge
about social phenomena and problems".
 Young defines it as "a scientific undertaking which by means of logical methods, aim to
discover new facts or old facts and to analyze their sequences, interrelationships, casual
explanations and natural laws which govern them".
 Social research is the objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that can
lead to generalizations, principles, or theories to direct negative social change in a
positive direction.
 It is a broad term that includes research from disciplines like sociology, psychology,
anthropology, and social work.
 The overall goal of social research is to gain a better understanding of human behaviors
and interactions.
 Social research differs from natural science research because human behaviors are more
complex and outcomes can have multiple causes.
 It observes associations between variables rather than definitive cause-and-effect
relationships.

2.3 Social Research and Social Work Research: Similarities and Differences

 Similarities:
o Both are becoming increasingly inter-disciplinary.
2 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339
 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

o Both share similar approaches, research designs, and methodological details like
sampling procedures, data collection tools, and statistical analysis packages.
o In terms of the research process, there is almost no difference between the two.
 Differences:
o Focus: Social research focuses on gaining knowledge about social institutions and
SPSS
explaining the principles governing social order. Social work research, in contrast,
N-VIVO
deals with problem identification, explaining the nature of marginalization, abuse,
and human rights violations, and exploring solutions.
o Objective: Social science research is geared towards theory building and
knowledge acquisition. Social work research, however, focuses on the utilitarian
aspect—using knowledge to alleviate human suffering. It aims to develop
effective intervention strategies.
o Scope: Social sciences research is more generic, studying social trends, society,
and culture. Social work research deals with issues and problems that social
workers face in their practice. It also studies the challenges and competence of
social work practitioners to help the profession grow.
o Methods: Social sciences use qualitative methods to predict and verify
knowledge and develop theories. Social work research finds recent
methodological frameworks like qualitative, evaluation, and action research to be
more suitable as they are mainly application-based.

2.4 Scope of Social Work Research

 The scope of social work research is vast, paralleling the wide scope of the social work
profession itself.
 Its goal is to find answers to social problems and improve the effectiveness of social
work practice.
 The scope can be understood through the following domains:

3 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

o Studying social problems: Research precedes social work intervention to explore

factors contributing to problems. Baseline research helps in planning
interventions.
o Practice settings: Research is conducted in all social work practice fields,
including rural and urban communities, health, mental health, disaster
management, and issues of gender, crime, and poverty.
o Improving competence of social workers: Research aims to enhance the
expertise of social workers by studying the efficacy of different methods,
strategies, and tools. It also evaluates the effectiveness of social work education
and training models.
o Types of research: Social work research uses a wide range of designs and
methods, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, evaluation, impact
studies, and action research.
o Research Agencies: It is undertaken by universities for academic purposes like
PhD and M. Phil. dissertations, and by civil society organizations and government
bodies for feasibility studies or impact assessments of welfare programs.
o Social work approaches: Research has evolved to match social work
approaches, moving from a welfare orientation to a rights-based framework.

2.5 Uses of Social Work Research

 Knowledge Production: It helps build the scientific foundation of the social work
profession by testing hypotheses and creating a body of literature with theories and
practice models.
 Planning: Formative research and baseline surveys provide insight for planning social
welfare and development programs, leading to better success rates and effective use of
resources.

4 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

 Program and Policy Evaluation: It is used for evaluating programs and policies at all
levels, from grassroots organizations to national agencies. Mid-term evaluations help
address challenges and deviations.
 Enhancing Competence: It informs social workers about which strategies and models
yield positive results, thereby enhancing their competence and expertise.
 Understanding Target Groups: Research helps in better understanding communities,
which facilitates rapport formation and makes project implementation easier.
 Best Practices and Cost-Effectiveness: It highlights best practices that can be replicated
and scaled up. It also helps identify practice models that require minimal investment for
maximum impact, ensuring cost-effectiveness.
 Awareness and Behavior Change: It assists in designing effective messages for
awareness campaigns and in generating models for behavior change communication.
 Use with Other Methods: Social work research is essential for the effective use of other
social work methods such as casework, group work, community organization, social
action, and social welfare administration.

2.6 Social Work Research: Relation with Other Methods

 Social work research is a secondary method of social work practice.

 Casework: Research provides knowledge to caseworkers for problem diagnosis and for
selecting appropriate behavior modification strategies.
 Group Work: Theoretical frameworks used to understand group members and appraise
group stages are a result of social work research.
 Community Organization: Social work research, using techniques like participatory and
rapid rural appraisal, is used in baseline surveys to determine the needs of a community.
It also helps in understanding concepts like power dynamics and marginalization, which
are crucial for community workers.

5 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

 Social Action: It helps social actionists in problem assessment, understanding power

dynamics, and learning from previous social movements to design effective advocacy
strategies.
 Social Welfare Administration: Social work research plays a crucial role in gathering
information for planning and in the evaluation and impact analysis of implemented
projects and programs.
 Contemporary Methods: Research methods are essential for contemporary social work
methods like advocacy, networking, awareness campaigns, resource mobilization, and
public interest litigation.

Qualitative Research

1. Introduction to Qualitative Research

 Qualitative research explores complex educational phenomena, focusing on sociological and

behavioral aspects of human relations in specific contexts.
 It involves verbal and symbolic data gathered through questionnaires, observations, or
interviews, providing depth and detail.
 Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research emphasizes understanding dynamic situations
in natural settings without manipulation.

2. Objectives of Qualitative Research

 Define qualitative research.

 Discuss its relevance in education.

6 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

 Explain features of qualitative methods: biography, phenomenology, grounded theory,

ethnography, and case study.
 Describe procedural details and design qualitative research for educational problems.

3. Definition of Qualitative Research

 Early Definition: Opposite of quantitative research; focuses on few cases with many variables.
 Cresswell (1998): Inquiry process exploring social/human problems, analyzing words, and
studying natural settings.
 Denzin & Lincoln (1994): Multi-method approach using empirical materials (case studies,
interviews, observations) to describe meanings in individuals' lives.

Key Meanings:

1. Studies human/social problems holistically.

2. Emphasizes subjective interpretations of experiences.
3. Conducted in natural settings.
4. Uses diverse data collection techniques (interviews, observations, documents).

4. Characteristics of Qualitative Research

1. Multiple Realities: Perceptions vary by context and time.

2. Meanings & Interpretations: Focus on how people interpret events.
3. Knowledge Generation: Interaction between researcher and respondents.
4. Generalization: Avoids broad generalizations; values context-specific insights.
5. Human Relations: Complex causality; identifies patterns, not direct cause-effect.
6. Value Systems: Acknowledges researcher’s biases in problem selection, data collection, and
interpretation.

7 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

5. Reasons for Conducting Qualitative Research

1. Answers "what" and "how" questions about processes.

2. Used in early theoretical research to identify variables (e.g., tribal education).
3. Holistic study of multifaceted cases (e.g., village education plans).
4. Natural setting studies (e.g., school curricular practices).
5. Suitable for non-measurable variables (e.g., behavioral motives).
6. Researcher’s subjective role is crucial (e.g., interpreting participants' views).

6. Types of Qualitative Methods

1 Biographical Study

 Focus: Life stories of individuals (e.g., biographies, autobiographies).

 Steps:
1. Identify life experiences chronologically.
2. Gather contextual materials through interviews.
3. Organize stories into themes.
4. Interpret meanings and cultural contexts.

2 Phenomenological Study

 Focus: Essence of lived experiences about a phenomenon (e.g., professional ethics of teachers).
 Steps:
1. Researcher acknowledges preconceptions.
2. Formulate research questions.
3. Interview 5–25 experienced individuals.
4. Analyze data into themes and general descriptions.

8 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

3 Grounded Theory Study

 Focus: Develops theories from data (e.g., teaching-learning processes).

 Steps:
1. Collect data through field visits and interviews.
2. Categorize information.
3. Integrate data collection and analysis iteratively.
4. Develop a theoretical framework.

4 Ethnography

 Focus: Cultural/social group behaviors (e.g., tribal education practices).

 Method: Prolonged participant observation and interviews.
 Outcome: Detailed report on group customs and interactions.

5 Case Study

 Focus: In-depth study of a bounded system (e.g., a school, programme).

 Steps:
1. Identify unique cases.
2. Delimit study scope.
3. Gather multi-source data (observations, documents).
4. Analyze holistically or thematically.
5. Report findings descriptively.

Context of Qualitative Methods

 Ontological: Multiple subjective realities.

 Epistemological: Researcher interacts with the study context.

9 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

 Axiological: Value-laden inquiry.

 Rhetorical: Informal, narrative reporting.
 Methodological: Inductive logic (categories emerge from data).

Steps in Conducting Qualitative Research

1. Identify Problems & Questions:

o Central question (open-ended) and sub-questions (e.g., "What is professional ethics?").
2. Design Study:
o Purposive sampling (selecting participants who best inform the study).
o Data sources: Observations, interviews, documents, audiovisual materials.
3. Data Collection:
o Interviews: Open-ended, recorded.
o Observations: Participant or direct.
o Documents: Authentic records.
o Audiovisual: Photos, videos.
4. Data Analysis:
o Review and categorize data.
o Identify themes and patterns.
o Develop theories (grounded theory).
5. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES
o Use narrative descriptions. 6. SUGGESTIONS

Verification of Trustworthiness

1. Prolonged Engagement: Deep interaction with participants.

2. Rival Explanations: Explore alternative interpretations.
QUANTITATIVE
3. Triangulation: Cross-check data from multiple sources.
4. Peer Review: External feedback on methodology.
5. Member Checks: Participants validate findings.

10 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

6. Thick Descriptions: Detailed accounts for transferability.

7. Negative Case Analysis: Refine hypotheses with disconfirming evidence.

Detailed Explanation of Qualitative Research Methods

1. Biographical Study

 Purpose: Explore an individual’s life experiences.

 Example: A biography of an innovative teacher.
 Process: Chronological storytelling, thematic analysis, cultural interpretation.

2. Phenomenological Study

 Purpose: Understand lived experiences of a phenomenon.

 Example: Teachers’ views on professional ethics.
 Process: In-depth interviews, identifying common themes in experiences.

3. Grounded Theory

 Purpose: Generate theories from field data.

 Example: Theory on student-teacher collaboration.
 Process: Iterative data collection, coding, and theoretical saturation.

4. Ethnography

 Purpose: Study cultural groups in their natural environment.

 Example: Tribal education practices.
 Process: Participant observation, immersive fieldwork.

11 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

5. Case Study

 Purpose: In-depth analysis of a single case.

 Example: Management of a distance education programme.
 Process: Multi-source data, thematic or holistic analysis.

12 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

REFERENCES

1. [Link]
2. [Link]
3. [Link]
4. [Link]
OG_C_SEM_GBR_Core_CHT_BAU_ACQ_PER_MIX_ALL_tCPA_SUP_APAC_IN_EN_0325
25&utm_term=chatgpt&utm_content=177344203135&utm_ad=741704613486&utm_match=e&
gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22370388714&gbraid=0AAAAA-IW-
UULaoewc4W7xRm9w5WBIExwL&gclid=Cj0KCQjwss3DBhC3ARIsALdgYxN0HS9UUtA91
-EdGv2ylocef9HieTC1VH2_ipFQwpn9aEBAWjClZIMaAmazEALw_wcB
5. [Link]
6. [Link]
7. [Link]
8. [Link]
england-was-there-a-golden-age-for-the-poor/lessons/the-impact-of-the-elizabethan-poor-
law?sid-f29535=QReVZULKu8&sm=0&src=4
9. [Link]
10. [Link]
11. [Link]
powerful/#:~:text=However%2C%20the%20Church%20also%20was,basic%20hospitals%2C%2
0as%20well%20as
12. [Link]
_Result_of_Socio-Political_and_Economic_Conditions_of_the_Sixteenth_Century_England
13. [Link]
14. [Link]
Social%20Work%2C%20details,founding%20mother%20of%20social%20casework
15. [Link]
europe
16. [Link]
wide_beginnings_of_social_work_education
17. [Link]
1_Social%20Work_Final%20Revision%20Notes%20(CP%20Yadav%20Classes)-[Link]
18. [Link]

13 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339

 Medical Social Service Officer (MSSO)
(Relevant for AIIMS, KGMU, KSSSCI, ESIC, UPUMS etc. exam)

19. [Link]
b5216fd8736e/content
20. [Link]
21. [Source: Dr. Yamini Suvarna, RMS/M2]*
22. [Link]
23. [Link]
24. [Link]
25.

14 C.P. Yadav Classes | To Join new Course- Contact 9454058339