University of Hong Kong

Department of Social Work & Social Administration

Master of Social Work (PT)

 

SOWK6003: Social Work Research (II)

 

Instructors

January 12, 2009 – April 20, 2009 (Monday, 7:00-10:00pm, OLB 136)

Dr. WONG Yu Cheung

Tel: 2859-2078

Email: ssycwong@hku.hk

 

 

Course Description

In this course emphasis is given to the need for, and practical application of, research in the social welfare field. To illustrate the major concepts, methods and goals of social work research, this course is designed to provide a basic grounding in research methodology. The course syllabus will include: measurement and explanation in social work research; problem definition and the formation of hypotheses; techniques of data collection; observation, interviews, use of service records and documentary materials; data analysis and report presentation. Evaluation of social work methods and social welfare programmes will also be discussed, using selected research studies in the field of social work, social policy and social administration.

 

Course Objectives

 

Research II

It aims at enabling students to acquire the knowledge in conducting research studies, analyzing, interpreting and utilizing the data and findings.

 

 

Course content (Research II)

 

OLB 136 (1900-2200) Wednesday

Date

Topic

Week 1 (12/1)

Data preparation

Week 2 (19/1)

Data presentation

Week 3 (2/2)

Data presentation 

Week 4 (9/2)

Basic concepts in statistics

Week 5 (16/2)

Hypothesis testing and comparing group means

Week 6 (23/2)

Comparing group means (ANOVA)

Week 7 (2/3)

Comparing observed and expected data

Week 8 (9/3)

Non-parametric tests 

Week 9 (23/3)

Correlation and regression

Week 10 (30/3)

Multiple Regression

Week 11 (6/4)

Factor analysis

Week 12 (20/4)

Overview

 

Assessment

Items

Research II

Statistical assignments

10%

Term paper

20%

Year-end exam (Quiz and short questions)

20%

 

 

General Text Books for Research II

Free e-book  Stockburger, D. W. (1998). Introductory statistics: concepts, models, and applications

Howell, David C. (2002). Statistical methods for psychology. Pacific Grove, Calif.: Duxbury, 2002. 5th ed.

http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/stathome.html

 

SPSS Resources

Norušis, M. J. (2008). SPSS 16.0 guide to data analysis. N.J.: Prentice Hall; Chicago, Ill.: SPSS Inc.

Kinnear, P. R. (2009). SPSS 16 made simple. Hove; New York: Psychology Press.

SPSS Tutorials http://www.spsstools.net/spss.htm

Resources to help you learn SPSS http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/

 

Websites for statistical tests

Test statistics for programme evaluation

http://www.graphpad.com/www/book/Choose.htm

http://www.fon.hum.uva.nl/Service/Statistics.html

http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/statistics/tress1.html#THE%20REALLY%20EASY%20STATISTICS%20SITE

Visual Statistics Studio http://www.visualstatistics.net/

On effect size http://web.uccs.edu/lbecker/Psy590/es.htm