ERIC Number: EJ1084415
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jan
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1049-7315
EISSN: N/A
Assessing Statistical Change Indices in Selected Social Work Intervention Research Studies
Ham, Amanda D.; Huggins-Hoyt, Kimberly Y.; Pettus, Joelle
Research on Social Work Practice, v26 n1 p44-52 Jan 2016
Objectives: This study examined how evaluation and intervention research (IR) studies assessed statistical change to ascertain effectiveness. Methods: Studies from six core social work journals (2009-2013) were reviewed (N = 1,380). Fifty-two evaluation (n= 27) and intervention (n = 25) studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were categorized by the statistical change indices and effect sizes reported. Only intervention studies were included in the final analysis. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance (28%) was the most frequently used primary change statistic and ?[superscript 2] (43%) was the most frequent secondary indicator. About 68% of studies reported effect sizes with Cohen's d (28%) being the most frequent. Conclusion: In addition to assessing statistical significance, the extent of rigor lies in determining the size of any change or effect in evaluation and IR. Implications for social work practice and research are discussed.
Descriptors: Social Work, Program Effectiveness, Intervention, Evaluation Research, Statistical Analysis, Periodicals, Content Analysis, Statistical Significance, Multivariate Analysis, Effect Size, Incidence, Regression (Statistics), Social Science Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A