Week 5:Qualitative Analysis

Week 5:Qualitative Analysis

Last week, you looked at quantitative data analysis, which primarily involve the use of statistical analyses. This week, you will review how qualitative data is analyzed. Consider a social worker who conducted a single subject design along with focus groups to evaluate the effectiveness of a spiritual-based intervention for domestic violence survivors.

The numerical data from the single subject design showed that the intervention helped to improve clients’ level of self-efficacy. The focus groups explored clients’ perceptions about what specific elements of the intervention they found helpful. After the focus groups were completed, they were transcribed, and the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.

This week, you will explore how qualitative research can be used to inform social work practice. In addition, you will have the opportunity to analyze content analysis findings of a real life focus group that was conducted.

Students will:

• Interpret the thematic analysis results in a case study
• Apply qualitative findings to make practice recommendations
• Recommend ways to adapt practice to a culturally diverse group

Week 5:Qualitative Analysis

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Week 5:Qualitative Analysis

Document: Lee, M. Y, Wang, X., Cao, Y., Liu, C., & Zaharlick, A. (2016). Creating a culturally competent research agenda. In A. Carten, A. Siskind, & M. P. Greene (Eds.), Strategies for deconstructing racism in the health and human services (pp. 51-65). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. (PDF)

Copyright 2016 by Oxford University Press. Used with permission of Oxford University Press via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Document: Week 5 Handout Content Analysis of Focus Groups (PDF)

Week 5:Qualitative Analysis

Discussion: Qualitative Findings and Social Work Interventions

Evidence-based social work practice calls for the use of research data to guide the development of social work interventions on the micro, mezzo and/or macro-levels. Kearney (2001) described ways qualitative research findings can inform practice. Qualitative findings can help social workers understand the clients’ experiences and “what it may feel like” (Kearney, 2001).

Therefore, social workers can develop clinical interventions that take into account the experiences of their clients. Qualitative findings can also help social workers monitor their clients. For example, if after reading a qualitative study on how domestic violence survivors respond to stress, they can monitor for specific stress behaviors and symptoms (Kearney, 2001).

In addition, they can educate their client what stress behaviors to look for and teach them specific interventions to reduce stress (Kearney, 2001)

Given the increasing diversity that characterizes the landscape in the United States, social workers need to take into account culture when formulating interventions. Social workers can utilize qualitative findings to plan interventions in a culturally meaningful manner for the client.

To prepare for this Discussion, read Knight et al.’s (2014) study from this week’s required resources. Carefully review the findings, the photographs, and how the researchers wrote up the findings. Finally, review the specific macro-, meso-, and micro-oriented recommendations.

Then read Marsigilia and Booth’s article about how to adapt interventions so that they are culturally relevant and sensitive to the population the intervention is designed for. Finally, review the chapter written by Lee et al. on conducting research in racial and ethnic minority communities.

Kearney, M. (2001). Levels and applications of qualitative research evidence. Research in Nursing and Health, 24, 145–153.

By Day 3

Post the following:

1. Using one of the direct quotes and/or photos from Knight et al.’s study, analyze it by drawing up a tentative meaning. Discuss how this would specifically inform one intervention recommendation you would make for social work practice with the homeless. This recommendation can be on the micro, meso, or macro level.
2. Next, explain how you would adapt the above practice recommendation that you identified so that it is culturally sensitive and relevant for African Americans, Hispanics, or Asian immigrants. (Select only 1 group). Apply one of the cultural adaptations that Marsigilia and Booth reviewed (i.e., content adaption to include surface and/or deep culture, cognitive adaptations, affective-motivational adaptations, etc.)(pp. 424-426). Be as specific as you can, using citations to support your ideas.

By Day 5

Respond to at least 2 of your colleagues and elaborate on their recommendations for cultural adaptation with the group they identified. For example, you might discuss a merit or limitation of the cultural adaptation that your colleague proposed. Or you might suggest an alternative application of one of Marsigilia and Booth’s cultural adaptation.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

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Week 5 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5

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Week 5 Discussion

Week 5:Qualitative Analysis

Assignment: Analyzing Focus Group Findings

Imagine that two focus groups have been conducted in an Asian American and immigrant community in a large urban city. The rationale of conducting the qualitative study was because it has been noted that many Asian Americans and immigrants are reluctant to seek mental health services.

To further understand this issue, service providers including social workers, counselors, doctors, and nurses were recruited to discuss the barriers in implementing mental health services targeted to Asian Americans and immigrants. After the focus groups were transcribed, two research assistants were hired to conduct a content analysis of the transcripts.

Refer to the Week 5 Handout: Content Analysis of Focus Groups.

As the social worker, you have been asked to analyze the focus group data and are charged with working with an advisory board in the community to formulate social work practice recommendations using the ecological model.

To prepare for this Assignment, review Week 5 Handout: Content Analysis of Focus Groups.

By Day 7

Submit a 3-4-page report of the following:

1. Discuss the themes found in the Week 5 Handout: Content Analysis of Focus Groups. Based on this data, what is your analysis of the current barriers to services?
2. Create two social work recommendations to address a current barrier and explain how the recommendation proposed addresses the findings.
3. Discuss how you would collaborate with the research stakeholders (e.g. service providers and community members) to ensure that the data are interpreted accurately and that the practice recommendations made will be culturally appropriate.
4. Critically reflect on your own culture and explain how your cultural values and beliefs may have influenced how you interpreted the focus group data. What specific cultural knowledge do you think you need to obtain to conduct culturally sensitive research with this group?

Support the assignment with references using assigned readings and/or additional scholarly literature.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK5Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
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• Click the Week 5 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK5Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

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Submit your Week 5 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

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Week 5:Qualitative Analysis

Week in Review

In this week, you explored how qualitative research can be used to inform social work practice. In addition, you had the opportunity to analyze content analysis findings of a real-life focus group that was conducted.

In the next week, you will analyze the benefits of two types of program evaluations, process, and outcome evaluations. You will also analyze stakeholder concerns about evaluation.

To go to the next week:

Week 6