SW 274: Evaluation of Social Work Practice and Programs
Spring 2009
Valerie Thomas, MSW, LICSW
Holland Hall 213 B, e-mail <thomasv>
Office: 507-786-3173 Home: 507-645-1088 (before 8:00 PM)
Office hours: Monday 11:00-12:00, Thursday 2:30-3:30 (others by appointment)
DEPARTMENT MISSION
The Social Work Program prepares liberally educated professional social workers to ethically serve diverse populations and promote a just global community.
DEFINITION OF GENERALIST PRACTICE
Generalist practice is a multilevel intervention with clients (individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities) of diverse backgrounds. It uses the social systems framework, planned change process, empowerment perspective and strengths-based approach to practice. It is grounded in the liberal arts, scientifically informed and ethical.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Social Work majors study scientific approaches to building knowledge for generalist practice and assessing effectiveness and efficiency of both individual practice and social service programs. Students learn to assess needs and progress, design case interventions, measure client satisfaction, and assess program outcomes. They evaluate elements of practice with diverse clients and portions of programs with which they are familiar and apply ethical standards to scientific inquiry.
OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this course, the students should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and appropriate applications of various scientific research approaches used to monitor and evaluate practice and programs.
- Demonstrate abilities to:
a. Describe a need or problem
b. State measurable goals for addressing a need or problem
c. Locate or collect data
d. Analyze observations or data using statistical procedures and computer software
e. Organize conclusions
f. Disseminate results for improved practice and service delivery. - Recognize common cultural expectations, values, and beliefs as potential biases, especially toward women and other populations at risk, in designing, implementing, evaluating, and using research.
- List commonly accepted guidelines for conducting ethical research, including those in the NASW and Minnesota Board of Social Work Codes of Ethics.
- Recognize and describe appropriate responses to ethical dilemmas which may arise from political conflict or economic sponsorship of evaluations.
- Recognize and develop evaluations of interventions and programs which acknowledge partnership with and empowerment of the client groups receiving the services, regardless of size or diversity of background.
- Recognize the relationship between evaluation of practice and programs and the framing and reforming of social policies.
- Demonstrate commitment to evaluation as an integral part of any play for intervention by consistently including it in all areas of generalist practice.
POLICY ON DISABILITIES
Any student with a documented intellectual, physical or emotional disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential. Students with disabilities must also contact Ruth Bolstad bolstad@stolaf.edu Student Disability Services Specialist in the Academic Support Center (x3288) located in Room 1 of Old Main Annex.
READINGS
Required Text (same as used last year):
Marlow, C.R., & Boone, S. (2005). Research methods for generalist social work (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Required Articles (can be found on L: Drive under SW 274, class materials):
Cooper, M.G. (2006). Integrating Single-System Design Research into the Clinical Practice Class. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 26(3/4), 91-102.
Rogers, G. and Bouey, E. (2004). Appendix A: Reviewing the literature. In R.M. Grinnell & Y.A. Unrau (Eds.), Social Work Research and Evaluation: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches (7th ed.) (pp. 388-401). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
SCHEDULE
February 10 (Tuesday) - Introduction to Class
February 12 (Thursday) - Social Work, Science and a Generalist Approach
Read: Marlow Chapter 1 & 2
February 17 (Tuesday) -) - Special guests – director of the TORCH program to discuss research ideas
Read: Marlow Chapter 3
Review: http://www.northfieldnews.com/news.php?viewStory=46763
Assign groups
February 19 (Thurday) Literature Review and Identifying Variables
Meet in the Library for Research Instruction by Kris McPherson
Read: Marlow Chapter 4
February 24 (Tuesday) - Deciding the questions
Discussion of IRB process
Read: Marlow Chapter 9
Review: St Olaf IRB (Institutional Review Board) website at http://www.stolaf.edu/academics/irb/
February 26 (Thursday) - Work in groups during class to:
- identify questions,
- draft additional survey questions,
- work on IRB.
Due (by end of class from each group): Evaluation questions and Draft of Survey Questions
*MARCH IS NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH*
March 3 (Tuesday) – Evaluation of Practice
Read: Chapter 7
March 5 (Thursday) - Needs Assessment
Read: Marlow Chapter 5
March 10 (Tuesday) - Needs assessment continued
Due: Literature Review
Additional opportunity – Social Work Career Night 6:00-8:00pm
March 12 (Thursday)- Work in groups during class on:
- Survey questions
- IRB application
March 17 (Tuesday) - Program Evaluation Design – Outcomes/Summative
Read: Marlow Chapter 6
March 19 (Thursday) - Program Evaluation Design – Formative and Logic Models
*SPRING BREAK March 21-29*
March 31 (Tuesday) - Sampling and Data Collection
Read: Marlow Chapter 8&9
Due: Single Subject Design Paper
April 2 (Thursday) - Analyzing Data and How to Interview
Read: Marlow Chapter 10
April 7 (Tuesday) - Ethics in Research – Analysis of Quantitative Data
Read: Chapter 12
April 9 (Thursday) - Midterm Exam
April 14 (Tuesday) - Analysis of Qualitative Data
Read: Marlow Chapter 11
April 16 (Thursday)– Analysis of Quantitative Data
Read: Marlow Chapter 12
Due: Paper on ethics
April 21 (Tuesday) – Work on Project
April 23 (Thursday) - - MEET IN COMPUTER LAB – Holland Hall Room 205
Analysis of Qualitative Data
SPSS/Statistical Analysis
Read: Marlow Chapter 11
Time-line recommendation: You should have completed a rough draft of your final paper sections 1-4.
April 28 (Thursday)- Writing up Your Research
Dissemination of results
Discussion of relationship between research and social policy discussion/formation.
Discussion of Final Project sections 4-9
Read: Marlow Chapter 13
Due: Quantitative Data Worksheet
April 30 (Tuesday) – Time in class to work on project
Computer lab time has been reserved (HH 205).
Time-line recommendation: You should have completed a rough draft of your final paper sections 5-9.
May 5 (Thursday) - Time in class to work on Project
May 7 (Tuesday) – Possible preparation for presentation
May 12 (Tuesday) – LAST DAY OF CLASS - Review for Final Exam
Due: Final Paper & Evaluation of Self and Group
May 19 (TUESDAY) - FINAL EXAM 9-11
The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule and assigned readings as new opportunities for learning present themselves.
ASSIGNMENTS
#1. Literature Review (2-3 pages) (15 points) Due: March 10
Choose an aspect of our project with TORCH program.
For example:
Mentoring college bound HS students
First generation college students
Immigrants access to higher education
Programs to assist immigrants with college tuition
Immigrant student HS drop out rates
Cultural differences between immigrants and first generation Americans
Or another relevant, related topic
Find 3-5 articles from scholarly journals (at least one from a social work journal) that relate to this project. Consult with the reference librarians regarding scholarly journals as needed.
Write the APA citation for each article. Citation guides from St. Olaf Library website:
http://www.stolaf.edu/library/instruction/styles.html
Another great source for citation guidelines: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/09/
Write a review of your literature using Marlow Chapter 4 and Rogers, G. and Bouey, E. (2004) and http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/09/ as guides.
#2. Single Subject Evaluation Design Paper (3-4 pages) (15 points) Due: March 31
Create a small design for a single subject evaluation of your own behavior. The paper should describe the behavior you are hoping to change (statement of topic), question/hypothesis (i.e increasing exercise will increase positive mood; awareness of need to reduce caffeine will result in lower intake of caffeine) design (AB, ABC), data collection method, results (not interpretation, display visually with graph), discussion, limitations, implications for practice and possibilities for future research. Use Marlow, chapter 7 , and M. G. Cooper (2006) as guides.
#3. Paper on Ethics (2-3 pages) (15 points) Due : April 16
Review the NASW Social Work Code of Ethics section on research and evaluation (section 5.02). You can find it online: http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp.
Write a reflective essay conceptualizing your professional ethical responsibilities regarding research and evaluation. Include an example from previous volunteer/internship/work experience or imagine a possible ethical dilemma.
#4. Quantitative Data Analysis worksheet (15 points) Due: April 28
You will be given a worksheet with various basic statistical problems to complete.
#5. Final Project Paper (50 points) Due: May 14 (last day of class)
As a class, we will work with the TORCH program to develop a survey. The project will involve smaller assignments done individually and in groups to create a final product. At the end of class, you will present your research and findings to staff of TORCH program. The final report will include group collaboration through the semester. But, each person will turn in their own final paper. The final paper needs to 9include the following sections:
- Overview of Project
- Literature Review
- Evaluation Questions
- Design and Sampling
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
- Limitations
- Recommendations
- Implications for Practice
#6. Evaluation of Self and Group Work (credit as part of class participation points)
Due: May 14 (last day of class)
Write a few paragraphs describing and evaluating your own and your group members’ contributions to the group project. Please be honest – this will be kept confidential.
GRADING
Literature Review 15 points
Paper on Ethics 15 points
Quantitative Data analysis worksheet 15 points
Single subject evaluation design 20 points
Final written project 50 points
Midterm Exam 30 points
Final Exam 40 points
Participation in group project and class 15 points
TOTAL: 200 points
The guide to letter grades is below. Remember: Social work students must achieve at least a “C” in all required social work courses to attain an accredited degree in social work.
Outstanding A = 192+ Excellent A- =186+ Very Good B+ = 180+
Good B =174+ Generally Good B- =168+ Satisfactory C+ =162+ Sufficient C =156+
