Socw 6311 week 4 post responses | SOCW 6311 – Social Work Practice Research II | Walden University

Provide Responses to the following week 4 Posts:

By explaining how that colleague might rule out one of the confounding variables that they identified

Besure to use at least 1 reference.

Teatime Wilson 

RE: Discussion – Week 4

COLLAPSE

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Post an interpretation of the case study’s conclusion that “the vocational rehabilitation intervention program may be effective at promoting full-time employment.”

The team of researchers at the regional’s organization  conducted an outcome evaluation on a new vocational rehabilitation program for recent parolees with a goal to promote full time employment amongst the participants. The findings of the case study concluded that the vocational  intervention program may be effective at promoting full-time employment among recently paroled inmates ( Plummer et. al.,2014). In the study a sample size N=59 was provided with information of the 60 participants of the study. Of the 60 participants 30 had completed the program and 30 were on the waiting list. Only information for 59 was documented. According to Plummer (2014) the unemployment rate of the participants on the waitlist was 55% while 60% of the program’s participants were employed full time. The higher percentage of employed participants showed the effectiveness of the program.

Describe the factors limiting the internal validity of this study, and explain why those factors limit the ability to draw conclusions regarding cause and effect relationships.

The factors limiting the internal validity of this study were no random assignment used, difference in groups studied, unequal distribution of information of participants and assumptions. 

Internal validity is the approximate truth about inferences regarding cause-effect or causal relationships(Trochim,2006).  Because causal relationships were used in this study to show relationship between the participants enrolled and participants waiting to be enrolled, the internal validity of the study was relevant. The assignment was not random since it was put together by an organization that advocates  for nonviolent offenders. There was 1% difference in the groups studied due to 1 person waiting to participant did not give information. 

References

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]. 

Trochim, W. M. K. (2006). Internal Validity. Retrieved from http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intval.php.

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Xanado Kong 

RE: Discussion – Week 4

COLLAPSE

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Post an interpretation of the case study’s conclusion that “the vocational rehabilitation intervention program may be effective at promoting full-time employment.

The case study selects to have two groups (intervention group and comparison group) each consisting of 30 inmate individuals. It appears as though the vocational rehabilitation intervention program may be effective at promoting full-time employment. This is evidence of the employment levels for part-time and full-time in both participation group being equivalent for part-time and high for full-time. The alternative hypothesis states that there is a difference; It would allow us to say that it appears that the treatment (voc rehab program) is effective in increasing the employment status of participants. [Data collected showed significance in] a p value of .003, which is significantly beyond the usual alpha-level of 0.5 that most researchers use to establish significance (Plummer, 2014b).

Describe the factors limiting the internal validity of this study, and explain why those factors limit the ability to draw conclusions regarding cause and effect relationships.

There appears to be two limitations to this study factoring in the fact that no random assignment was used and the differences between both groups being bias. I believe that these factors pose limitations due to the study being narrow. It could have been expanded on to include a control group. Expanding on other areas within employment would help establish a cause and effect relationship. For example, being able to maintain an employment status, an inmate might find him/herself satisfying conditions of probation, such as paying fines or even displaying behavior for a sentence reduction. Cause and effect refers to a relationship between two phenomena in which one phenomenon is the reason behind the other (Salkind, 2014) .

References:

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]. Read the following section: “Social Work Research: Chi Square” (pp. 63–65)

Salkind, N. J. (2010). Encyclopedia of research design. SAGE.

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