LCSW Prep: Research

What is a control group?

the group in an experiment that does not receive the new treatment or intervention.

It serves as the comparison group to determine whether the intervention is effective.

What is an experimental (intervention) group?

receives the new treatment or intervention being studied.

Researchers compare outcomes between the experimental group and the control group to determine treatment effectiveness.

Researchers compare clients receiving a new anxiety treatment with clients receiving a placebo. Which group receives the placebo?

Control Group

What is a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)?

the gold standard for experimental research.

Why is random assignment important?

• Gives every participant an equal chance of being assigned to any group.

• Reduces bias.

• Increases internal validity.

• Makes groups more comparable.

Why are randomized controlled trials sometimes difficult in social work?

Because withholding treatment from individuals who need services can be unethical.

Participants are randomly assigned to receive either a new antidepressant or a placebo. Depression scores are measured before and after treatment. What type of research design is this?

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

What is a quasi-experimental design?

resembles an experiment without random assignment.

Researchers decide who enters each group using predetermined criteria.

When is a quasi-experimental design commonly used?

When random assignment is:

• Impossible

• Impractical

• Unethical

A researcher assigns clients to treatment groups based on which clinic they attend rather than random assignment. What design is this?

Quasi-experimental design

What is a single-subject design?

The participant serves as their own control.

Why are single-subject designs useful?

They allow researchers to determine whether an intervention changes one individual's behavior over time.

A therapist measures a client's depression before CBT and again after 12 sessions. The client acts as their own comparison. What design is this?

Single-subject design

What is a retrospective design?

Participants are asked to look back and remember earlier experiences.

What is a cross-sectional design?

Researchers study different people at one point in time.

What is a longitudinal design?

Researchers study the same individuals over time.

What is a cross-sequential design?

A combination of:

• Cross-sectional

• Longitudinal

Researchers follow children diagnosed with autism from age 3 until age 18. Which design is this?

Longitudinal Design

Researchers compare 20-, 40-, and 60-year-olds today only. Which design is this?

Cross-sectional Design

Adults are asked to remember how their parents disciplined them during childhood.

Retrospective Design

What is a correlation?

A relationship between two variables.

When one variable changes, the other tends to change.

What is the difference between correlation and causation?

Correlation

• Variables are related.

Causation

• One variable directly causes the other.

Students receiving tutoring have lower grades than students who do not receive tutoring. Can we conclude tutoring causes poor grades?

No.

This is only a correlation.

What is the independent variable?

The variable the researcher changes or manipulates.

What is the dependent variable?

The outcome being measured.

It depends on the independent variable.

Researchers test a new antidepressant and measure depression scores afterward.

Identify:

1. Independent Variable

2. Dependent Variable

Independent Variable:
New medication

Dependent Variable:
Depression score

What is reliability?

refers to consistency.

What is inter-rater reliability?

Different observers obtain similar results using the same measurement.

What is validity?

means a test measures what it is intended to measure.

What is construct validity?

Measures whether an instrument accurately assesses the concept it claims to measure.

What is internal validity?

How confident researchers can be that the intervention caused the outcome.

What is external validity?

The ability to generalize findings to:

• Other people

• Other settings

• Other populations

What is concurrent validity?

A new test is compared to an already validated test measuring the same construct.

If both produce similar results, concurrent validity is supported.

What is predictive validity?

Determines whether a test predicts future outcomes.

What is a literature review?

A review of existing research to determine what is already known before conducting a new study.

What is a pilot study?

A small trial run used to:

• Test the research instrument

• Identify problems

• Improve the study before large-scale implementation

What is a pretest?

Data collected before an intervention to establish a baseline.

What is a posttest?

Data collected after the intervention to evaluate change.

What is the null hypothesis?

States that no relationship exists between variables.

What is the mean?

The average.

What is the median?

The middle score after arranging numbers from smallest to largest.

What is the mode?

The value that appears most often.

What is objective data?

Observable and measurable information.

What is subjective data?

Information based on the client's personal experience

Which is objective data?

A. "I feel anxious."

B. Blood pressure = 138/88

Blood pressure

What is qualitative research?

Explores:

• Experiences

• Meanings

• Feelings

• Beliefs

• "Why" and "How"

What is quantitative research?

Uses:

• Numbers

• Statistics

• Measurements

• Surveys with numerical data

Researchers interview 30 grieving parents to understand their lived experiences after child loss.

What type of research is this?

Qualitative Research

Researchers compare PHQ-9 depression scores before and after treatment using statistical analysis.

What type of research is this?

Quantitative Research