Assignment Task: This is the discussion that I posted:
Post your explanation of which group research design and data collection method from those outlined in the Resources you selected as appropriate for the "Social Work Research: "Planning a Program Evaluation" case study and why.
According to Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen (2014) the primary focus of work is on foster care. that is, recruiting and training foster parents and running a traditional foster care with a higher interest in working with kinship care. The PhD student, Joan, will be making use of a group design, casual comparative, research, and data collection design. This research will be of observation in how the program is being executed, the ability of the foster parents to capture in training and this level of commitment in the implementation of that training and the expertise of the trainer. The new training program consists of six separate 3-hour training sessions that are typically conducted biweekly and is viewed as a fairly proceduralized training program (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014).
Then, generate criteria to be measured using the research design by identifying a specific outcome and a method for measuring that outcome.
According to Dudley (2014) summative evaluations focus on program outcomes and practice areas and strive to answer the question if the intervention reached its goals. Moreover, summative evaluations work best with quasi-experimental or experimental design, drawing from qualitative research methods. Outcomes can be measured through pre-training questionnaires and post-training questioners. In addition to this, benchmarks can be put in place to see how the training is not only being implemented in the home but the response of the children placed with that family unit. There should be a multi layered monthly questionnaire given to the foster parents to see if they see any marked difference the training has made to the benefit of the child in their home.
Specify who will collect the data and how the data will be collected.
Data will be assembled by interns and ongoing case management with the agency. These can be composed at the time of the monthly home visits or even through email surveys.
References:
Dudley, J.R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do. (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.
McNamara, C. (2006a). Contents of an evaluation plan. In Basic guide to program evaluation (including outcomes evaluation).
McNamara, C. (2006b). Reasons for priority on implementing outcomes-based evaluation. In Basic guide to outcomes-based evaluation for nonprofit organizations with very limited resources.
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen, S. (Eds.). (2014b). Social work case studies: Concentration year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
I need help with answering the following question:
You mentioned, "Data will be assembled by interns and ongoing case management with the agency." Please explain why interns would be responsible for this. What expertise would they have that might make one comfortable with such an assignment?