Author of the publication: PhDr. Bohuslav KUZYŠIN, PhD.

INTRODUCTION

The publication A Synthesis on Analysis responds to a partial methodological deficit in the research and diagnostic process of social work. In these areas, the techniques used are often limited and overly generalized, which weakens the possibility of later verification, as well as tracking the data assessment process itself. The methodological process of social diagnosis is also characterized by well-known limitations in definitions and the use of a limited number of methods. For these reasons, this publication is presented in a broader context oriented to the spectrum of social science disciplines, and in a narrower context to the methodological portfolio of social work. In content, it deals with a description of analytical procedures with an illustration of their application possibilities.

To obtain relevant information, we used the technique of a systematic review combined with secondary analysis.(1) In its first phase, we carried out the actual collection of defined data. Procedures for searching for primary studies were defined and sources of potentially relevant information were identified. An informal database of publications with a social science methodological topic was created.

The second phase focused on evaluating the quality and level of applicability of the collected data. The potential of collected sources was assessed using quantitative and qualitative indicators: the number of mentions recorded for individual publications,(2) publication order, tracking the presence of a differentiated approach to analytical procedures, applicability in areas of social work, and so on. In this way, a definitive version of the review was established and verification of valid information was conducted on the basis of recorded citation links. Our intention was to rely mainly on source-based and verified materials.

The third and fourth phases were defined as analytical-interpretive and presentational. A synthesis of the data obtained was carried out, which did not remain limited to basic statements about the presence of individual procedures, but, where possible, presented their application in specific examples from largely real research and diagnostic practice, although fictional. A didactic adaptation was also carried out, the goal of which was to improve the transfer of practical skills. Final verification was carried out by means of review. The developed models were sent for assessment to renowned experts in social science fields.

The first chapter of the publication defines the terminological description of the term analysis, its historical development and basic paradigms. The second is focused on general forms of the analytical process, which are examined in the following third chapter from the perspective of their application potential. The publication is concluded with a chapter on the use of selected elements of statistical analysis in social work.

As already stated, the aim of the study conducted and presented was to show the analytical possibilities of approaching a research problem mainly in the stages of data generation and evaluation. The intention before this publication is to respond to the scientific-pedagogical needs of social work, in which a deficit of similarly oriented literature was identified, which is partially reflected in the quality of the processed outputs. Methodological literature in this context is formulated generally, it addresses the entire spectrum of research techniques and generalizes the analytical approach. We believe that this publication, through its attempt to partially fill this gap, will contribute to the research potential quality of social science disciplines.

CONTENTS

  1. ANALYSIS 1.1. Terminological Excursion 1.2. Outline of the History of Analytical Procedures 1.3. Quantitative and Qualitative Paradigms

  2. GENERAL FORMS OF SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS 2.1. Classification Analysis 2.2. Relational Analysis 2.3. Causal Analysis 2.4. Systemic-Genetic Analysis

  3. THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS OF SOCIAL WORK 3.1. Comparative Analysis 3.2. Content Analysis 3.3. Sociometric Analysis 3.4. Case Analysis 3.5. Conversation Analysis 3.6. Meta-analysis 3.7. SWOT Analysis 3.8. Secondary Analysis

  4. SELECTED COMPONENTS OF QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS 4.1. Introduction to Quantitative Analysis 4.2. Selection of Elements into Research Samples 4.3. Confidence Interval 4.4. Chi-square Goodness-of-Fit Test 4.5. Chi-square Test of Independence for Contingency Table 4.6. Student's t-test 4.7. F-test 4.8. Paired t-test

Publication Title: A SYNTHESIS ON ANALYSIS Application Possibilities of Selected Analytical Procedures in the Research and Diagnostic Process of Social Work

Author: PhDr. Bohuslav KUZYŠIN, PhD.

Reviewers: doc. PhDr. Mária MACHALOVÁ, CSc. doc. PhDr. Lenka HABURAJOVÁ ILAVSKÁ, PhD. PhDr. Jozef VOROBEL, PhD.

Publisher: Prešovská univerzita v Prešove, Pravoslávna bohoslovecká fakulta ISBN: 978-80-555-0673-9

(1) See COOPER, H. M.: Integrating research: A Guide for Literature Reviews. 2nd ed. Newbury Park, 1989. In: HENDL, J.: Kvalitativní výzkum: Základní metody a aplikace. Praha 2005, pp. 349-358. (2) In this case, so-called citation analysis was used, the standard bibliometric method suitable for assessing publication quality, theory, potential of new models, or as a partial criterion for the existence of scientific revolutions. See for example FRIMAN, P. C. et al.: Changes in modern psychology: A citation analysis of the Kuhnian displacement thesis. In: American Psychologist. Vol. 48 (6). 1993, pp. 658-664.