LSA Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In evidence-based practice, which of the following best describes the primary decision-making framework?
- Relying solely on the social worker's clinical intuition
- Integrating best available research, clinical expertise, and client values (Correct answer)
- Following agency policies without considering research findings
- Applying the same intervention to all clients regardless of circumstances
Correct answer: Integrating best available research, clinical expertise, and client values
Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and client values and preferences to guide intervention decisions.
Question 2: Which research design is most appropriate for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between an intervention and an outcome?
- Case study
- Survey research
- Randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Correct answer)
- Ethnographic study
Correct answer: Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
Randomized controlled trials, with random assignment to treatment and control groups, are considered the gold standard for establishing causal relationships.
Question 3: A social worker wants to understand the lived experiences of homeless veterans. Which research approach is most appropriate?
- Quantitative survey with standardized measures
- Randomized controlled trial
- Qualitative interviews or focus groups (Correct answer)
- Secondary data analysis of census data
Correct answer: Qualitative interviews or focus groups
Qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups are best suited for exploring subjective experiences and personal meanings.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a control group in experimental research?
- To receive the most intensive intervention
- To provide a baseline for comparison with the treatment group (Correct answer)
- To represent the general population
- To test multiple interventions simultaneously
Correct answer: To provide a baseline for comparison with the treatment group
A control group provides a comparison baseline, allowing researchers to determine whether changes in the treatment group are due to the intervention.
Question 5: Which of the following best defines 'reliability' in research measurement?
- The degree to which a measure accurately captures the concept it intends to measure
- The consistency of a measure across repeated administrations (Correct answer)
- The generalizability of findings to other populations
- The ethical soundness of the research design
Correct answer: The consistency of a measure across repeated administrations
Reliability refers to the consistency or repeatability of a measure — a reliable instrument produces the same results under the same conditions.
Question 6: When conducting research with vulnerable populations, which ethical principle requires that participants understand and freely agree to participate?
- Beneficence
- Confidentiality
- Informed consent (Correct answer)
- Non-maleficence
Correct answer: Informed consent
Informed consent ensures that participants understand the nature, risks, and benefits of the research and voluntarily agree to participate without coercion.
Question 7: A social worker reviews multiple published studies on a specific intervention before implementing it with clients. This process most closely reflects which step of evidence-based practice?
- Assessing the client's needs
- Searching for and critically appraising the best evidence (Correct answer)
- Evaluating the outcome of the intervention
- Formulating a clinical question
Correct answer: Searching for and critically appraising the best evidence
Reviewing and critically appraising existing research to find the best evidence is a core step in the evidence-based practice process.
LSA Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice 1
In evidence-based practice, which of the following best describes the primary decision-making framework?