Generalizability of findings of exploratory practice-based research on polydrug-addicted mothers

The generalizability of research using small nonrandom convenience samples is a central issue in social work. This analysis empirically examines the generalizability of findings in exploratory practice-based research by using the case of a study involving polydrug-addicted women. This article extends the discussion of generality of findings past the single-case research to applied research using larger samples. Specifically, generalizability to the larger population of the responses of 39 polydrug-addicted mothers on their parenting beliefs, parenting stress, and parent-child interactions is explored. This is done by systematically comparing the demographic characteristics of the small sample of women with a large random sample of 2,082 drug-addicted women.