SOWK 793 Evaluation Research in Social Work  

Course Syllabus

I. Purpose/Rationale

Social workers have a responsibility to evaluate the quality of services provided to clients. This responsibility includes evaluating practice effectiveness at the unit or agency level, examining the effectiveness of programmatic decisions on client outcomes, and assessing additional issues about the quality, benefits, and costs of service provision. The responsibility to evaluate program delivery systems stems from both the ethical standards as set forth by the 1996 National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and agency or reimbursement standards for accountability in professional practice. The purpose of this course is to expand students’ knowledge and skills in conducting group evaluation research.

II. Course Content

This course examines single-system designs used to evaluate practice or practice interventions with clients. The designs, which are n=1 types of studies, can be used with any size system, e.g., individuals, couples, families, or organizations (agency) units. Students in this course will learn a variety of single-system designs and statistics that are used with such designs.

This course also examines a number of group designs that can be used to evaluate programmatic practice decisions, agency programs, and the inferential statistical analyses that are appropriate to given types of designs or levels of measurement. Included in the course content are process and product types of evaluations, quasi-experimental and randomized designs, and cost effectiveness and cost analysis designs.

Program design and evaluation involve a variety of values and ethical issues. These issues are present from the initial planning of evaluation through the conclusion of the study and during subsequent decisions related to the use and ownership of data. In addition to values and ethics that are related to the phases and implementation of evaluation, other values and ethical issues inherent to program design and evaluation include honesty in evaluation, ethical standards related to evaluation, the protection of data and research participants’ confidentiality, informed consent, and issues related to the ownership of data. Values and ethics are infused throughout the course in class discussions but are reviewed in detail in Unit II.

Issues related to populations at risk, social and cultural diversity, and oppression are integrated within course discussions as these relate to selecting measurements, the selection and use of various types of designs, and program components. Two additional required readings focus on the use of empowerment and social action research in program evaluation. These readings, with their client-centered approach to evaluation, further uphold the values of the profession.                   

III. Course Objectives

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

1. Describe a variety of single-system and group research designs and criteria for their use in evaluation of social work programs and policies.

2. Create a data file on SPSS and produce tables, graphs, plots, and descriptive statistics of the data.

3. Analyze and interpret findings from tables, graphs, plots and descriptive statistics of the data.

4. Select and apply various tests of hypotheses to evaluate the statistical significance of the data regarding social work programs and policies.

5. Develop evaluation research plans which reflect sensitivity to social and cultural diversity.

6. Discuss the ethical implications of various decisions regarding planning, designing, implementing, and reporting evaluations; and, identify responses which are consistent with social work values and the NASW Code of Ethics.

IV. Linkages to Other Courses

This advanced year course builds upon knowledge of research concepts and methods developed during foundation year research courses, particularly SOWK 791, as well as upon the expansion of knowledge students acquire about human behavior, social work practice, and social welfare policies and programs. It extends students’ understanding of research methods and their ability to evaluate social work practice, using a variety of evaluation designs.

This course is closely linked with the field practicum, in that students are required to design their own evaluation research as a part of this course, participate in any ongoing research in their field agency, and use program evaluation in their advanced year placement.

V. Methods of Instruction

Instructors may use a variety of teaching methods and learning aids. These may include lectures, class discussions, speakers, small group projects, homework calculations, quizzes, or student presentations. In addition, classroom instruction will be provided on the use of computers and SPSS for entering and analyzing data. Inferential statistics will be used as statistical tools for the test of hypotheses.

Any student who because of a disability may need special arrangements or accommodations to meet the requirements of this course should consult with the instructor as soon as possible. The office of Disability Services provides an array of services to meet the needs of students with disabilities, according to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. See information and guidelines provided in The Carolina Community: Student Handbook and Policy Guide.