1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of social work
research?
A) To generate academic publications
B) To inform evidence-based practice and improve client outcomes
C) To fulfill accreditation requirements
D) To compete with other social sciences
✓ Answer: B
2. The concept of 'evidence-based practice' in social work refers to:
A) Using only quantitative studies
B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
client values
C) Following agency protocols exclusively
D) Applying theoretical models without empirical testing
✓ Answer: B
3. Which research paradigm emphasizes objective measurement and
statistical analysis?
A) Constructivism
B) Interpretivism
C) Positivism
D) Critical theory
✓ Answer: C
4. A social worker who believes that reality is socially constructed would
most likely operate from a:
A) Positivist paradigm
B) Post-positivist paradigm
C) Constructivist paradigm
D) Empiricist paradigm
✓ Answer: C
,5. Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning in
research?
A) Generating theory from observations
B) Testing a hypothesis derived from existing theory
C) Collecting qualitative data without a framework
D) Grounded theory methodology
✓ Answer: B
6. Inductive reasoning in social work research involves:
A) Starting with a hypothesis and testing it
B) Moving from specific observations to broader generalizations
C) Using only experimental designs
D) Applying existing theories to practice settings
✓ Answer: B
7. The ethical principle of beneficence in research means:
A) Protecting participants from harm
B) Ensuring participants benefit from the study
C) Maximizing benefits and minimizing risks
D) Providing fair compensation to participants
✓ Answer: C
8. Which federal regulation governs the protection of human subjects in
research?
A) HIPAA
B) The Belmont Report principles codified in 45 CFR 46
C) APA ethical guidelines
D) NASW Code of Ethics
✓ Answer: B
9. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for:
A) Funding research studies
B) Publishing research findings
C) Reviewing research protocols to protect human subjects
D) Training researchers in methodology
✓ Answer: C
10. Which of the following constitutes a conflict of interest in social work
research?
, A) Publishing findings that contradict your hypothesis
B) Receiving funding from an agency whose programs you are evaluating
C) Using secondary data sources
D) Collaborating with other researchers
✓ Answer: B
11. Informed consent in research requires:
A) Verbal agreement from participants
B) Disclosure of purpose, risks, benefits, and voluntary participation
C) IRB approval only
D) Legal documentation notarized by an attorney
✓ Answer: B
12. Which population typically requires additional protections in social
work research?
A) College students
B) Licensed professionals
C) Children, prisoners, and cognitively impaired individuals
D) Affluent community members
✓ Answer: C
13. Participatory action research (PAR) is distinguished by:
A) The researcher maintaining full control of the study
B) Community members as co-researchers shaping the research process
C) Use of randomized control trials
D) Focus on biological determinants
✓ Answer: B
14. Which of the following best describes 'reflexivity' in qualitative
research?
A) The ability to generalize findings
B) The researcher's critical examination of their own biases and influence on
the study
C) Statistical reliability testing
D) Member checking procedures
✓ Answer: B
15. A literature review in social work research primarily serves to:
A) Demonstrate the researcher's knowledge
B) Identify gaps, establish context, and justify the study
, C) Replace data collection
D) Satisfy publication requirements
✓ Answer: B
16. Which database is most commonly used for social work literature
searches?
A) PubMed
B) Social Work Abstracts and PsycINFO
C) JSTOR only
D) Google Scholar exclusively
✓ Answer: B
17. A peer-reviewed article is considered more credible than a non-peer-
reviewed source because:
A) It is published by a university
B) It undergoes evaluation by experts in the field before publication
C) It is freely available online
D) It has been cited more times
✓ Answer: B
18. The concept of 'cultural humility' in social work research refers to:
A) Acknowledging cultural differences in data collection
B) A lifelong commitment to self-reflection and redressing power imbalances
in cross-cultural work
C) Learning the language of research participants
D) Using culturally validated instruments
✓ Answer: B
19. Which of the following is a primary source in social work research?
A) A textbook summarizing studies
B) A meta-analysis of published research
C) Original data collected by the researcher
D) A literature review article
✓ Answer: C
20. Epistemology in research refers to:
A) The study of research methods
B) The philosophical basis of how we know what we know
C) Statistical analysis procedures
D) Ethical research principles
research?
A) To generate academic publications
B) To inform evidence-based practice and improve client outcomes
C) To fulfill accreditation requirements
D) To compete with other social sciences
✓ Answer: B
2. The concept of 'evidence-based practice' in social work refers to:
A) Using only quantitative studies
B) Integrating the best available research evidence with clinical expertise and
client values
C) Following agency protocols exclusively
D) Applying theoretical models without empirical testing
✓ Answer: B
3. Which research paradigm emphasizes objective measurement and
statistical analysis?
A) Constructivism
B) Interpretivism
C) Positivism
D) Critical theory
✓ Answer: C
4. A social worker who believes that reality is socially constructed would
most likely operate from a:
A) Positivist paradigm
B) Post-positivist paradigm
C) Constructivist paradigm
D) Empiricist paradigm
✓ Answer: C
,5. Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning in
research?
A) Generating theory from observations
B) Testing a hypothesis derived from existing theory
C) Collecting qualitative data without a framework
D) Grounded theory methodology
✓ Answer: B
6. Inductive reasoning in social work research involves:
A) Starting with a hypothesis and testing it
B) Moving from specific observations to broader generalizations
C) Using only experimental designs
D) Applying existing theories to practice settings
✓ Answer: B
7. The ethical principle of beneficence in research means:
A) Protecting participants from harm
B) Ensuring participants benefit from the study
C) Maximizing benefits and minimizing risks
D) Providing fair compensation to participants
✓ Answer: C
8. Which federal regulation governs the protection of human subjects in
research?
A) HIPAA
B) The Belmont Report principles codified in 45 CFR 46
C) APA ethical guidelines
D) NASW Code of Ethics
✓ Answer: B
9. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for:
A) Funding research studies
B) Publishing research findings
C) Reviewing research protocols to protect human subjects
D) Training researchers in methodology
✓ Answer: C
10. Which of the following constitutes a conflict of interest in social work
research?
, A) Publishing findings that contradict your hypothesis
B) Receiving funding from an agency whose programs you are evaluating
C) Using secondary data sources
D) Collaborating with other researchers
✓ Answer: B
11. Informed consent in research requires:
A) Verbal agreement from participants
B) Disclosure of purpose, risks, benefits, and voluntary participation
C) IRB approval only
D) Legal documentation notarized by an attorney
✓ Answer: B
12. Which population typically requires additional protections in social
work research?
A) College students
B) Licensed professionals
C) Children, prisoners, and cognitively impaired individuals
D) Affluent community members
✓ Answer: C
13. Participatory action research (PAR) is distinguished by:
A) The researcher maintaining full control of the study
B) Community members as co-researchers shaping the research process
C) Use of randomized control trials
D) Focus on biological determinants
✓ Answer: B
14. Which of the following best describes 'reflexivity' in qualitative
research?
A) The ability to generalize findings
B) The researcher's critical examination of their own biases and influence on
the study
C) Statistical reliability testing
D) Member checking procedures
✓ Answer: B
15. A literature review in social work research primarily serves to:
A) Demonstrate the researcher's knowledge
B) Identify gaps, establish context, and justify the study
, C) Replace data collection
D) Satisfy publication requirements
✓ Answer: B
16. Which database is most commonly used for social work literature
searches?
A) PubMed
B) Social Work Abstracts and PsycINFO
C) JSTOR only
D) Google Scholar exclusively
✓ Answer: B
17. A peer-reviewed article is considered more credible than a non-peer-
reviewed source because:
A) It is published by a university
B) It undergoes evaluation by experts in the field before publication
C) It is freely available online
D) It has been cited more times
✓ Answer: B
18. The concept of 'cultural humility' in social work research refers to:
A) Acknowledging cultural differences in data collection
B) A lifelong commitment to self-reflection and redressing power imbalances
in cross-cultural work
C) Learning the language of research participants
D) Using culturally validated instruments
✓ Answer: B
19. Which of the following is a primary source in social work research?
A) A textbook summarizing studies
B) A meta-analysis of published research
C) Original data collected by the researcher
D) A literature review article
✓ Answer: C
20. Epistemology in research refers to:
A) The study of research methods
B) The philosophical basis of how we know what we know
C) Statistical analysis procedures
D) Ethical research principles
