Unobtrusive Research Methods in Social Work: A Comprehensive Guide
Chapter Overview
In this chapter, we will explore
unobtrusive methods of collecting
data.
Unobtrusive Research
refers to
methods of collecting data that don’t
interfere with the subjects under study.
Qualitative and quantitative
•
Unique in that they do not require
the researcher to interact with the
people you study
People leave tracks
Why unobtrusive
measures?
•
Historical analysis
•
Content analysis
•
Secondary data
Historical &
Comparative
Research
•
Generally qualitative methods are
used to examine past developments
with goal of informing present
•
Also used to inform cross-cultural
comparisons, esp. in policy research
•
Consider primary vs. secondary
sources
•
Hermeneutics: art of interpretation
Identifying sources
of historical data
If you were to design a historical study in
your topic area…
•
Where might you go to find
historical data?
•
What archives might you need
access to?
•
What questions would you want to
ask?
Strengths and
limitations
•
No Hawthorne effect
•
Cost-effective (usually)
•
Can correct mistakes
•
Historical analysis
•
Validity problems
•
Data may not exist
•
Limited ability to understand context
Content
analysis
“Who says what, to whom, why, how, and
with what effect?”
•
Studying texts and their meaning
•
Text: printed materials, visual media,
performances, art
•
Primary vs. secondary sources
•
Not
a lit review
•
Coding sheet
Content
Analysis:
Choices
•
Qualitative: identify themes, identify
meaning of themes
•
Quantitative: assigning raw values to data
for statistical analysis
•
Physical traces: need to understand context
in which it was created
•
The deeper you go into each text, the less
you can cover
•
Inductive vs deductive analysis
Lies my teacher told me…
Conversation with Dr. Loewen
•
https://youtu.be/PzsHvK7nUi
4?t=2m12s
•
How are students taught
history?
•
Qualitative content analysis
•
Anti-racist framework
Content
analysis
example…
What texts could we analyze that
might address the migrant caravan
and our nation’s immigration policy?
•
How could we analyze current texts
using content analysis?
•
How could we analyze historical texts
using historical analysis?
Secondary data
•
Collected by another researcher
•
Cost-effective, less time
•
Purpose may include:
•
Answering a new research
question
•
Replicating results using different
statistical methods
•
Analyze unanalyzed data
•
Usually uses large datasets from
surveys, other large studies
•
Example: Census data or American
Community Survey data
Secondary
data
(continued)
Disadvantages
•
Data may be out of date
•
Study may have used outdated definitions,
diagnoses, vocabulary
•
No control over type of data collected
•
Missing data
•
Complicated coding, weighting
•
Lack of documentation from original study
Secondary
data activity
Search the Institute for Social Research ICPSR
database:
https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/ICPSR
/index.html
•
Find a dataset you might be able to use on a
project related to your question
•
Identify potential sources of secondary
quantitative data for your project or a close
topic.
•
What research questions might you be able to
answer with secondary data?
Reliability in
unobtrusive
measures
Stability: do you code the same thing the same way each time?
•
Methodological notes, coding rules
•
Auditing, peer review
Intercoder reliability: do all researchers on your project code the
same data in the same way?
•
Peer review, conferencing
•
Methodological notes, coding rules
•
Statistical analysis
Accuracy: does your coding meet an objective standard?
•
Example: “clear, accessible language”= Clear
Communication Index
•
https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/index.html
Explore the realm of unobtrusive research methods in social work, where data collection is done without disrupting subjects. Learn about historical analysis, content analysis, and the importance of using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Discover how to identify and analyze historical data sources effectively while considering the strengths and limitations of unobtrusive measures.
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 14: Unobtrusive Research Scientific Inquiry in Social Work
Chapter Overview In this chapter, we will explore unobtrusive methods of collecting data. Unobtrusive Research refers to methods of collecting data that don t interfere with the subjects under study. Qualitative and quantitative Unique in that they do not require the researcher to interact with the people you study
Historical analysis Content analysis Secondary data Why unobtrusive measures?
Generally qualitative methods are used to examine past developments with goal of informing present Also used to inform cross-cultural comparisons, esp. in policy research Consider primary vs. secondary sources Hermeneutics: art of interpretation Historical & Comparative Research
If you were to design a historical study in your topic area Where might you go to find historical data? What archives might you need access to? What questions would you want to ask? Identifying sources of historical data
No Hawthorne effect Cost-effective (usually) Can correct mistakes Historical analysis Validity problems Data may not exist Limited ability to understand context Strengths and limitations
Who says what, to whom, why, how, and with what effect? Studying texts and their meaning Text: printed materials, visual media, performances, art Primary vs. secondary sources Not a lit review Coding sheet Content analysis
Qualitative: identify themes, identify meaning of themes Quantitative: assigning raw values to data for statistical analysis Physical traces: need to understand context in which it was created The deeper you go into each text, the less you can cover Inductive vs deductive analysis Content Analysis: Choices
Lies my teacher told me Conversation with Dr. Loewen https://youtu.be/PzsHvK7nUi 4?t=2m12s How are students taught history? Qualitative content analysis Anti-racist framework
What texts could we analyze that might address the migrant caravan and our nation s immigration policy? Content analysis example How could we analyze current texts using content analysis? How could we analyze historical texts using historical analysis?
Collected by another researcher Cost-effective, less time Purpose may include: Answering a new research question Replicating results using different statistical methods Analyze unanalyzed data Usually uses large datasets from surveys, other large studies Example: Census data or American Community Survey data Secondary data
Disadvantages Data may be out of date Study may have used outdated definitions, diagnoses, vocabulary No control over type of data collected Missing data Complicated coding, weighting Lack of documentation from original study Secondary data (continued)
Search the Institute for Social Research ICPSR database: https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/pages/ICPSR /index.html Secondary data activity Find a dataset you might be able to use on a project related to your question Identify potential sources of secondary quantitative data for your project or a close topic. What research questions might you be able to answer with secondary data?
Stability: do you code the same thing the same way each time? Methodological notes, coding rules Auditing, peer review Intercoder reliability: do all researchers on your project code the same data in the same way? Peer review, conferencing Methodological notes, coding rules Statistical analysis Reliability in unobtrusive measures Accuracy: does your coding meet an objective standard? Example: clear, accessible language = Clear Communication Index https://www.cdc.gov/ccindex/index.html
