MSW MSW Master of Social Work Research and Program Evaluation Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A social work agency wants to know if clients who complete their substance abuse program have lower relapse rates after two years. Which type of program evaluation is this?

Accepted Answer

Outcome evaluation

Answer

Process evaluation

Answer

Needs assessment

Answer

Formative evaluation

Question 2

In social work research, what is the primary purpose of obtaining informed consent from study participants?

Accepted Answer

To ensure participants understand the study's purpose, risks, and their right to withdraw at any time

Answer

To guarantee that the research findings will be statistically significant

Answer

To protect the researcher from legal liability if participants are harmed

Answer

To increase the response rate of the study

Question 3

A researcher finds a correlation coefficient of -0.82 between caseload size and worker job satisfaction in a social work agency study. What does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

A strong negative relationship where higher caseloads are associated with lower job satisfaction

Answer

A weak relationship with no practical significance

Answer

A causal relationship proving caseloads reduce satisfaction

Answer

A positive relationship between the two variables

Question 4

Which of the following is the best example of a measurable program objective for a community mental health intervention?

Accepted Answer

Seventy percent of participants will report reduced depressive symptoms on the PHQ-9 within six months

Answer

The program will help people feel better about themselves

Answer

Staff will work hard to provide quality services

Answer

The agency will strive to improve community well-being

Question 5

What is the primary difference between a program's outputs and its outcomes in evaluation terminology?

Accepted Answer

Outputs are the direct products of program activities while outcomes are the changes that result from those outputs

Answer

Outputs measure long-term impact while outcomes measure short-term deliverables

Answer

Outputs and outcomes are interchangeable terms in program evaluation

Answer

Outputs refer to funding received while outcomes refer to money spent

Question 6

A social work researcher is studying the effectiveness of a trauma-informed care model but cannot randomly assign participants to treatment and control groups due to ethical concerns. Which quasi-experimental design would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Nonequivalent comparison group design using a matched comparison site

Answer

A single-subject ABAB withdrawal design

Answer

A cross-sectional survey administered once

Answer

A purely qualitative phenomenological study