Social Work Technology Research: Methodology Research Paper

Factors such as previous exposure to/experience with technology, confidence and anxiety when confronted with mathematical issues or propositions, ease of personal interactions, other sources of anxiety or situations that inspire confidence, and a host of other related professional and personal metrics were taken, in order to be correlated with measurements of overall technology use, technology-inspired anxiety, an technological confidence. Measures were all recorded quantitatively using a standard Likert scale as typically employed in similar structured survey/questionnaire instruments, providing a reliable tool for establishing concrete measurements.

Data Collection

Data collection took place according to standard survey/questionnaire methodology, and was very straightforward and low-intensity. After the survey/questionnaire instrument had been designed and properly validated, sufficient copies were produced and packaged with pre-paid return envelopes included, and were then shipped in bulk to the Office of Children's Services offices in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, and Wasilla in bulk, saving on resources, cost, and time. Respondents had a period of two weeks to complete and return the survey/questionnaire, including providing acceptance of the enclosed consent form, at their own leisure and in whatever setting they chose. No special equipment was necessary for the completion of the survey, nor was any extensive writing involved in this structure, quantitative, and closed-form instrument; respondents had simply to select responses to each item on the instrument by checking boxes for "yes" or "no" on some items, or rankings on a Likert scale for other items on the instrument. Complete instructions were also included with each individual survey/questionnaire instrument distributed, ensuring that respondents were adequately prepared and confident in providing answers. The overall data collection procedure was designed to allow for minimal resource requirement and to encourage maximum participation.

Data Analysis

Data analysis was performed using standard statistical techniques to determine correlations between the three key variables identified -- the rate of technology use, level of anxiety in regards to technology, and level of confidence when it comes to technology use -- and other metrics measured such as personal and professional attitudes, values, and experiences. With such analysis, it was possible to determine which of these lower-level metrics appeared to have either a positive or negative influence on levels of technology anxiety and/or technology and thus to create a preliminary model of potential barriers and encouragements of technology use amongst the research population. Analysis continued after the initial correlations and degrees of influence were established by situating these numbers in the context of other available data and statistics in order to present an overview of problems potentially facing the Alaskan Office of Child Service when it comes to an adequate integration and utilization of technology components in the carrying out of its daily tasks. This analysis is presented primarily in the discussions section of the research article.