Research Methods in Social Work and Social Science

SW805, Section 001

This doctoral-level course offers a comprehensive introduction to the essential elements of social work and social science research. It serves as an “introduction” by delving into core aspects of the research process, including research paradigms, ethics, problem and hypothesis formulation, literature review, research designs, data collection, data analysis, and proposal development. Various research designs associated with both qualitative and quantitative methods are introduced to spark student interest for further exploration in intermediate or advanced courses offered at the doctoral level. Additionally, the course contains “intermediate” to “advanced” content by stimulating in-depth discussions of the counterfactual model and introducing advanced quasi-experimental methods such as difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, instrumental variables, and propensity score matching.

By the end of this course, students will possess a robust foundation in social science research principles. They will be equipped with critical thinking and analytical skills necessary for evaluating research rigor (be an “informed consumer”) and conceptualizing, planning, and executing a rigorous research project (be a more “careful researchers”), culminating in the development of a comprehensive research proposal.

Special note from the instructor: While this course introduces advanced techniques, it primarily aims to foster a deeper understanding of the counterfactual model and to provide a fundamental knowledge of these methods. Students are not expected to conduct any actual analyses in this course or to possess advanced statistical training prior to enrollment. The primary focus of this course is research design, rather than statistical analysis. However, knowledge of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression is strongly preferred to fully understand course materials.