Social Support Predictors, Dissertation – Methodology Example

Introduction

The main purpose of this study is to establish ways in which the different foundations social services in place are able to inculcate a system that will ensure that the homelessness of the youth is curbed as well as ensuring they are socially and economically empowered by instilling in them discipline that supersedes their harsh background of homelessness. This is done by looking at the challenges the youth in this quagmire face that might trigger these instances reoccurring when they are in this residential facilities provided by these institutions.

The research employs a quantitative research methodology with emphasis on the correlation research design that attempts to prove the relationship between the social services support and the relapse of the homeless youth relapse into homelessness and violence accustomed to the state of being homeless.

Researcher’s philosophy

I decided to employ these methods of research because it gave the best platform to ascertain the correlation between the social and economic support from the social services given to help the transition of the homeless youth into their new environment in the residential institutions that they were offered. This research design was capable of bringing into light the effectiveness of the social services support in keeping the previously homeless youth from the streets.

The study is mainly done by use of secondary data and a questionnaire that was filled out by the formerly homeless youth now occupying the residential institutions provided by the social services.

 Research design model

The research design model being used is quantitative research design. This design model is suitable for this study as it enables me to aptly analyze the sources of the information used in the study through use of a combination of statistical deduction and empirical evidence that is got through observation and extensive study of the secondary material (Hunter, Laura and Erin Leahey. 2008. “Collaborative Research in Sociology).

Given the hypothesis of this study is: does the social service’s support determine retention the formerly homeless youth in these residential facilities?

Research design

The research design employed in this study the regression analysis design. The regression analysis deployed in this research is the multiple linear regression design. This design is used to test the statistical relationships between variables. This design is suitable as it test for strength the relationship between the social services’ support and the relapse of the formerly homeless youth into homelessness and acts of evil associated with the state of homelessness.

Regression offers the best design as it tests for the relation between the main dependent variable which is the social services’ support and the two independent variables which are the relapse of the youth into homelessness and acts of evil when in the state of homelessness in the cases of relapse. Using ANOVA (analysis of variance) one is capable of noting the relation between the three variables in that one can see the reasons from relapse of the youth given the support they receive in these institutions.

The design studies how effective the social services’ support is in retaining and helping in the transition of the homeless youth into their new residential environment, how these services are effective and cost effectively used to curb the homelessness menace. The main research question being key indicators of success of the social services support, the study research design studies how successful the social services’ support is vis-à-vis their input into the settlement of the homeless youth.

Sampling design

The sample is drawn from a population of the formerly homeless youth hailing in their new residents provided by the social as well as the social workers who were working with them and taking care of them in these residential institutions. The sample size used in this study is of fifty willing participants drawn from sample population using the ratio of 4:1 respectively. The sampling method used is systematic sampling whereby the participants were systematically chosen to participate in the research study. The reason for this was to have equality in the representation of the sample population. The random sampling of the participants is so as to reduce the errors caused by biasness. This helps to authenticate the study results and findings.

Measures

The instruments of measure used in this study are semi structured questions from questionnaires developed to ascertain the quality of the services provided in the residential areas. Questionnaires are significant in that they give more detailed information than an interview could have given in that the participants are capable to remain anonymous through the whole research process. This is because this might bring constraints in their relationship with the social workers in cases of bad reviews from the participants.

Data collection procedures

The data collection procedures that are employed in this study include questionnaires carried out in a semi structured interviews and observation of the normal routines at the residential institution. These two procedures allow for authenticate data collection because it gives the study raw data from the natural set.

Pilot testing

This was done so as enable for there to be a good rapport between the study group and me so as to build and gain their trust in the study of this research. This study can only be successful in its meeting its objectives if the participants are open and ready to indulge us in their routine.

In this pilot test I sought to find out their normal routine and what it entailed in this institution. This was so as to enable observation of their daily routine feasible, time saving and cost effective.

Data analysis methods

The study intends to use descriptive statistics methods of data analysis in the analysis of the data that was collected through questionnaires. This done by use of the statistical application that helps in calculation and manipulation of measures of central tendencies as well as correlation and regression between the variables. This method enables us to use the ordinal data collected in hypothesis testing of the main research question.

Here I tested the correlation between the successes of the residential institutions and the input of the social workers into the project. This kind of analysis provides the best way to confirm the hypothesis by testing its confidence interval and the p-value of the hypothesis’ findings.

The emphasis of this research is on regression analysis of the main variables that is the input of the social workers and the success of the residential institutions.

Limitations of methodology

The main limitation of this kind of analysis is that it is not capable of correctly analyzing the emotional and behavioral content that the data collection would have come across therefore it doesn’t depict that aspect of the research. This is a limitation because there is no numerical value that can be attached to some of the participants’ sentiments.

Internal validity

Internal validity is the degree to which a scientific study is deemed authentic given the causal inferences. The confounding variable of whether the sponsorship of these institutions suffices to keep the program running without many hitches. This kind of extraneous variable is capable of affecting the research findings and results even influencing the independent variable.

Secondly there was need to check the background information of the information that ascertained their credibility as participants. The information concerning their background was got from the files that the social workers had on them. This because the measurement of this dependent variable may lead to extreme scores due to inadequacy in its computing thus leading regression of extreme scores to the mean.

The selection of the subjects could be biased therefore there was need to systematically choose the information that was to be used in the research so as to avoid incorrect results or analysis of the findings.

External validity

External validity on the other hand is the degree to which as study is deemed valid given the generalized inference to other situations. The sampling was systematic so as to avoid any misrepresentation in terms of the data collected from the sample population as random sampling would have led to inadequate information in terms of its representation of the population. This is because a holistic representation is what is needed.

Both the youth in the homeless institutions and their handlers in these institutions were involved in the data collection so as to get the valid information of their interaction these institutions so as to gauge the authenticity of the findings. This took care of the ecological factor that might affect the validity of the information.

Expected findings

The analysis of the data collected in the study is probably going to prove that there is a relationship between the kind of service and support the youth got from the social services in these residential areas and their transition into these new environments. Where the formerly homeless youth received good services they opted to stay and vice-versa.

Ethical issues

This study had ethical issues it had to looked into and addressed that would authenticate its findings as well as maintain the status quo in these residential areas. This was done by resorting to anonymity so as to protect the participants from harm as well as maintain confidentiality of their responses by use of questionnaires that didn’t take their personal details that would lead to identifying them.

The participants were randomly picked and their consent was taken into consideration before the process begun. This was so as to be assured of their volunteering and the honesty in their responses to the research questionnaire.

Conclusion

This methodology employed in the research of this study is sufficient to measure and effectively depict the correlation between the success of the social services residential project and the input of the social services in the transition of the homeless youth into their new residential abode. The quantitative method of research enables the research to be extensive in its hypothesis testing as it gets to determine the key indicators and the confidence interval of the z- score. The data collection employed which is questionnaire (primary) source and observation enables one to come up with ordinal data where one can easily analyze it by use of descriptive statistics. The findings of the research and analysis will effectively depict the kind of measures that need to be in place to make this project work.

References

Ferguson, K. M., & Xie, B. (2008). Feasibility study of the social enterprise intervention with homeless youth. Research on Social Work Practice, 18(1), 5-19.

Given, Lisa M. (2008). The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods.

Hunter, Laura and Erin Leahey. 2008. “Collaborative Research in Sociology: Trends and Contributing Factors”. American Sociologist

Moballeghi, M. & Moghaddam, G.G. How Do We Measure Use of Scientific Journals? A Note on Research Methodologies.