Understanding social problems within the context of social work requires careful analysis and the ability to develop researchable questions that can guide meaningful inquiries and interventions. Imagine you are a social worker addressing a significant social issue in your community, such as homelessness, substance abuse, or domestic violence. Drawing from your recent studies, consider how you would construct a research question that could help address this issue.
Reflect on your experiences or observations related to social problems. How might your insights inform the development of a comprehensive approach to researching these issues? Consider the concepts and methods you've learned during your studies, and determine which would be most appropriate for this task.
Identify a specific social problem you are interested in researching.
Develop a clear and concise research question related to this problem.
Explain which concepts or methods from your studies would be most effective in exploring this research question and why.
For the qualitative portion, I would use semi-structured interviews and focus groups with single-parent family members, social workers, and policymakers. This approach would allow me to uncover the nuanced systemic barriers that are not easily captured in a survey. I could explore their personal stories and gain deeper insights into issues like navigating public assistance, the impact of discrimination in the housing market, and the emotional toll of homelessness.
My own observations would inform this approach by highlighting the need to look beyond individual circumstances. I've noticed that many social service programs are designed with a one-size-fits-all approach, which often fails to address the unique challenges of single parents, particularly those from marginalized groups. By combining quantitative data with qualitative stories, my research would provide a comprehensive understanding of the problem. The quantitative data would show what is happening and to whom, while the qualitative data would explain why and how it is happening, which is essential for developing meaningful and effective social work interventions.
Sample Answer
Effective Concepts and Methods
To explore this question, a mixed-methods research design would be most effective, combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
The quantitative part of the research would involve collecting survey data from a large, representative sample of homeless and unstably housed single-parent families. This method is ideal for gathering statistical information on key variables, such as income levels, employment status, access to childcare, and the history of housing instability. The data would help identify a causal-comparative relationship between demographic factors (like race and ethnicity) and housing outcomes.