Introduction
Social research methods enables social development worker to identify, diagnose and facilitate initiation of intervention programs in order to solve social problems and to meet social development needs.
The study of social research methods is therefore aimed at providing the social development worker trainees with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they will need in sampling, collecting, analyzing, presenting and interpreting data related to their day to day work.
1.0 General objectives
At the end of this subject, the trainee should be able to
- Understand and explain the importance of research methods in social development work;
- Understand basic concepts,and use various research methods in social development work.
- Identify and explain various issues related to social research.
- Evaluate social development programmes;
- Use research methods in identifying and diagnosing social problems and needs and conduct limited research.
1.2 Subject summary
- Nature and scope of social research
- Research methods, concepts and issues
- Research procedures
1.3 Content
1.3.1 Nature and scope of social research
a)Specific objectives
At the end of this topic,the trainee will be able to
- Explain the meaning of social research in relation to social development work;
- Identify and explain the major components of social research
- Explain the importance of social research methods
b)Topic outline
- Definition of social research
Major components of social research
- Objectives
- literature review
- theoretical framework
- conclusions and recommendations
Use of research in social work
- Identification of social needs and problems
- Diagnosis of social needs and problems
- Collection of data for planning development projects
- Impact assessment of social development services
c)Learning and instructional methodology
- Reading relevant materials
- Audio visual aids
- Lectures
- discussions
- role play
- projects
Assessment
- Tests
- assignments
- Presentation
- Observation
1.3.2 Research methods concepts and issues
a)Specific objectives
At the end of this topic, the trainee will be able to ;
- Understand and identify basic concepts in research
- Read and interpret research materials
- Use case studies, surveys and experiments in analyzing social situations
- Explain application and limitation of research methods and concepts
- evaluate development programme.
b)Topic outline
Basic concepts in research
- Variables
- Indicators/measurements
- Reliability
- Validity
- Probability
- Hypothesis
- Relationships
Research methods, application and limitations
- Case studies
- Surveys
- Experiments
Evaluation
- Definition of evaluation
- Importance of evaluation
- Design of evaluation
- Types of evaluation
- Utilization of evaluation
c)Learning and instructional methodology
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Tutorials
- Experiments
d)assessment
- Tests
- essays
- assignments
- presentation
- projects
- Observation
1.3.3 Procedures of undertaking research
Specific objectives
a) At the end of this topic, the trainee will be able to :
- Identify social problems
- Prepare a problem statement
- Justify the stated problems
- Set objectives of the research
- identify relevant literature and theory
- Undertake research
b) Topic outline
Problem identification
- Problem conceptualization
- Problem statement and justification
- Literature review and theoretical perspectives
- Objectives of the research
- Study design
Sampling and sampling procedure
- Population identification
- definition of sample
- Types of sample
- Basic sampling procedures
Data collection methods
- Simple observation
- Participant observation
- questionnaires
- interviews
- Secondary data/content analysis
- quasi experiment
Data analysis methods
- Classification of data for analysis
- frequencies
- ratios/proportions
- rates
- averages
- graphs
- tables
- interpretation
- inferences
- deductions
- coding
Presentation of research
- Order and sequence
- Publishing
- distribution
c) Learning and instructional methodology
- Lectures
- discussions
- field work
- tutorials
d) Assessment
- Tests
- essays
- assignments
- observation
- presentation
- projects
- observation