of thinking rather than the conclusions that you draw about life. There is no liberal or conservative bias in critical thinking; so if you want a structure that supports your bias, you will not find it in critical thinking.
You probably have already concluded that there is an inherent compatibility between the concept of critical thinking and the concept of science. According to Eileen Gambrill (2015),
Critical thinking and science go hand in hand. In both, there is an openness—even an eagerness—to learn by discovering that one has been wrong, a desire to accurately understand, present, and learn from other viewpoints, a deep curiosity about the world, and a willingness to say “I was wrong.” (p. xvi)
Steps in the Scientific Research Process
Several comments have been offered on the process of scientific research. Here we will examine four simple steps in this process: (1) the determination of the research question and the knowledge base that supports your inquiry, (2) the determination of the methods to be used to find a sample of study participants and to measure the study variables, (3) collection and analysis of data, and (4) the drawing of conclusions.
The first logical step is to determine the basic research question to be pursued. In other words, you are determining the purpose of your study. Let’s say your purpose is to determine if your tutoring service is having the intended effect of improving the grades of your at-risk students in your tutoring program. The second logical step is to select your study methods. In the tutoring example, you have your current clients as your study subjects. You will measure their grades to answer your research question. You will compare the grades of these clients at the end of the tutoring program with their grades at the beginning. The third step is the collection and analysis of data. In your example, let’s suppose the grades at the end of the program were statistically significantly better than the grades at the beginning. Your final step is to draw conclusions. With your data, you can conclude that the tutoring program was effective in the improvement of the grades of your clients.
Summary of What Makes It Scientific
We have reviewed the nature of science with regard to both its spirit and its processes. Several principles have emerged, such as the following:
1 If it is scientific, it is an investigation into the natural world, not the supernatural.This places emphasis on things that can be observed (measured). The Salem witch trials were an illustration of a supernatural investigation based on an unintelligent examination of things that could not be observed in the natural world.
2 If it is scientific, it starts with knowledge that has emerged from the work of other scientists, not the idiosyncratic curiosities of an individual.While we are all at liberty to examine idiosyncratic curiosities, we would not usually refer to this as scientific because it fails to be based on the existing knowledge. It leaves you vulnerable to the mistake of reinventing the wheel.
3 If it is scientific, it employs systematic procedures, not haphazard ones.In scientific inquiry, we do not put the cart before the horse. We do not, for example, decide that we want to conduct a study using interviews of social work research students before we decide on the research purpose. We do not just “go with the gut” about how to conduct a research study.
4 If it is scientific, it has objective methods of inquiry rather than biased ones.If we undertake a study to prove a point, we are not adhering to the spirit of scientific inquiry, no matter how important we believe the point is and how much the world will be better off if all believed it. Such endeavors may be found in political maneuvers or other methods of data collection, but it is not based on the scientific process, which is objective.
5 If it is scientific, it employs methods of measurement that reduce human error in observation (measurement error).People sometimes err in making observations, like responding to a questionnaire in a way that is not totally honest. Science uses multiple ways of observation (two heads are better than one) to reduce the effect of human error.
6 If it is scientific, it has an analysis of data that appreciates the idea of chance as one of the possible explanations.Scientific analysis of data tests for the likelihood that chance is an appropriate explanation for what has been tested. If we appreciate what chance means, we will avoid drawing conclusions based on nonsignificant data.
7 If it is scientific, it presents conclusions that are restricted to the results of the data analysis.The scientist avoids the temptation to offer opinions as study conclusions when these opinions are outside the bounds of the data analyzed. The scientist also avoids drawing conclusions that go beyond (exaggerate) the study results, keeping in mind the limitations of the study methods. Consequently, the scientist presents conclusions from a study that are tentative in nature, not given as the final answer to a question.
Social Work Practice and Science
Social work practice is aided by science in many ways. When we assess our client’s behavior, we can review scientific studies on the nature of this behavior and gain a better understanding of it. When we consider the methods we will use to help our clients, we can examine evidence about the different approaches that have been undertaken for the achievement of the objective our client is pursuing. We can examine whether certain interventions are better than others with a given client population. And we can do much more with science as a guide to social work practice.
Social work can be defined in many ways. One such way was presented in the Dictionary of Social Work (Barker, 2003). This definition indicated that social workers improve the capacity of individuals for problem solving and coping, and help those in need to find resources. It also emphasizes the interaction of the individual and the environment. Social workers, according to this definition, work with individuals, families, and communities.
This definition is quite broad and encompasses the large number of tasks and functions that are part of the social worker’s job. Clinical social work is one type of work in this profession. A definition from the NASW (2005) refers to clinical social work as being related to the application of social work theory and methods to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychosocial dysfunction, including behavioral and mental disorders.
Clinical social work, therefore, is related to work with individuals and small groups with regard to problems we typically classify as related to mental health. Social workers are employed in a variety of settings, but the greatest number serve in direct practice roles. Those who serve in different roles are spread out among many functions, like education, supervision, administration, planning, and so forth. Because of these facts, this book will put more emphasis on research methods for direct practice.
Alison Miley (2016), a student in a Master of Social Work program, undertook a study of the effectiveness of a caregiver support intervention in the reduction of caregiver burnout for the caregivers of dependent elderly individuals. A review of the literature assisted this student in defining caregiver burnout as a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that affects the attitude of the caregiver with regard to the caregiver service. The effect of burnout is a reduction in the quality of care and the termination of the caregiver service.
Miley (2016) also learned from the literature that social support reduces much of the stress associated with the provision of caregiver service. It also improves morale and life satisfaction and enhances feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem. Thus, a support group experience was designed for a group of caregivers served by the agency. This support group was offered monthly for 2 hours. It not only provided a support group experience but also provided for the caregiver to have some time off from the caregiver service.
Miley (2016) designed an evaluation of this
