Advanced Research Methods: Program Evaluation

Catalog description

This advanced research methods course focuses on skill development for collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data collected from individuals and groups, including survey development, semi-structured interview protocols, individual interviewing techniques and focus group facilitation techniques. Students will utilize common software for data analysis to explore common bivariate statistical analysis and phenomenological analysis. Software for creating web-based surveys will also be explored. Skill development will be conducted in the context of conducting needs assessments, process studies, and outcomes studies in social work research. Critical inquiry into the evidence-based practice movement and positivist approach, with implications for cultural relativism will also be conducted. Students will have opportunities to participate in hands-on individual and/or small-group projects to experience data collection and analysis techniques using simulation and/or role-playing techniques and publicly available datasets.