Over thirty years of input from instructors and students have gone into this popular research methods text, resulting in a refined ninth edition that is easier to read, understand, and apply than ever before. Using unintimidating language and real-world examples, it introduces students to the key concepts of evidence-based practice that they will use throughout their professional careers. It emphasizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, data collection methods, and data analysis, providing students with the tools they need to become evidence-based practitioners.
First published in 1994, this text is designed to be used by graduate-level social work students in courses on evaluation and program design. Over the course of 20 years and 6 editions, the goals of the book have remained the same: to prepare students to participate in evaluative activities within their organizations; to prepare students to become critical producers and consumers of professional evaluative literature; and to prepare students for more advanced evaluation courses and texts. Grinnell, Gabor, and Unrau aim to meet these objectives by presenting a unique approach that is realistic, practical, applied, and user-friendly. While a majority of textbooks focus on program-level evaluation, some recent books present case-level evaluation methods but rely on inferentially powerful -- but difficult-to-implement -- experimental baseline designs. This text assumes that neither of these approaches adequately reflects the realities of the field or the needs of students and beginning practitioners. Instead, Program Evaluation for Social Workers offers a blend of the two that demonstrates how they can complement one another. The integration of case-level and program-level approaches provides an accessible, adaptable, and realistic framework for students to more easily grasp and implement in the real-world.
Since the first edition in 1981, Social Work Research and Evaluation has provided graduate-level social work students with basic research and evaluation concepts to help them become successful evidence-based practitioners, evidence-informed practitioners, and practitioners who are implementing evidence-based programs. Students will gain a thorough understanding and appreciation for how the three dominant research methodologies-quantiative, qualitative, and mixed methods-will help them achieve their professional goals, regardless of their area of specialization. Written in clear, everyday language, this edition also includes the pedagogical features that will make it easy and effective for classroom use.
This concise introduction to evidence-based social work practice culls the most salient chapters from the interdisciplinary Evidence-Based Practice Manual to form a student-friendly overview of the issues and interventions they will encounter throughout their BSW or MSW program. Part I defines terms and critical issues, introducing students to the language and importance of evidence-based practice and critical thinking. Chapters will explain how to search for evidence, how to evaluate what evidence really is, how to ask the right questions, how to develop standards, and how practitioners make use of research. Part II consists of practical applications, with each chapter focusing on a particular intervention or population. Topics include cognitive-behavioral approaches to suicide risks, manualized treatment with children, treating juvenile delinquents, and interventions for OCD, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, depression, and recovery. Several chapterss from the special edition of Brief Treatment & Crisis Intervention on evidence-based practice as well as two original chapters round out this much-needed introduction to evidence-based social work practice.
Featuring an evidence- and strengths-based approach to practice methods, this new text teaches students how to apply social work skills in a variety of settings. Designed to enhance self-awareness, professionalism, ethical reasoning, cultural sensitivity, and an appreciation for social justice issues, this text introduces readers to social work’s core values and practice methods to help them assimilate the skills needed for working in the field. Cases and skills-based exercises demonstrate how to make accurate assessments and design effective intervention plans. After laying the groundwork in theory, values, and ethics, the authors review methods for working with individuals, children, and families from an individual and environmental strengths-based perspective. Client engagement, assessment, intervention, evaluation and termination, and documentation are then reviewed. Readers are introduced to the foundational concepts of social work practice and through application learn to successfully work with clients. Key Features Integrates the Council on Social Work Education’s EPAS standards and core competencies throughout, including engagement, assessment, intervention, evaluation, social justice, ethics, critical thinking, professional conduct and decision making, and cultural competency and diversity. Case scenarios in client interview format that closely resemble actual interactions, followed by questions, test readers’ understanding of the practice skills needed to work in the field. Skill-building exercises including individual and group activities, role plays, simulations, and discussion questions that provide an opportunity to apply one’s knowledge and skill sets. Personal reflections that encourage students to examine their own beliefs to help them assimilate social work ethics and values into their professional demeanor. Icons throughout the text that draw attention to useful tips for developing direct practice skills. A strengths-based approach that heightens understanding and results in a higher level of proficiency in the change process. Introduces challenging situations often encountered in practice to help readers acquire the more advanced practice skills necessary for assessment and intervention. Resources including PowerPoints, test questions, sample syllabi, and suggested answers to text exercises and discussion questions.
The Foundations of Social Work Practice covers the core content required for foundation practice courses in master's-degree programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Practical and comprehensive and written at a more challenging level than most texts, this book covers all the essentials: knowledge needed for practice, skills for practice with systems of all sizes, the ecosystems perspective, and the use of research. With detailed emphasis on today's best practices, this book integrates concept and theory with skills-building exercises. It is an excellent text for preparing students for real-world experience. Book jacket.
Refined with input from students and instructors who used the previous seven editions, the authors have updated, rearranged, and added to the latest edition of this popular textbook. It contains six new chapters, four on evidence-based practice, emphasizing how important it is for students to master that concept; and it lays the foundation for their understanding of it by providing a comprehensive explanation of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. This edition is more current, useful, and aesthetically pleasing than ever before, and is sure to hold its place as one of the premier textbooks for research methods courses, appreciated by students and professors alike for its user-friendliness, and renowned for the way it helps social work programs produce professional, capable social workers.
Providing an introduction to evidence-based social work practice, this work offers an overview of the issues and interventions that encounter throughout the BSW or MSW program.
This concise introduction to evidence-based social work practice culls the most salient chapters from the interdisciplinary Evidence-Based Practice Manual to form a student-friendly overview of the issues and interventions they will encounter throughout their BSW or MSW program. Part I defines terms and critical issues, introducing students to the language and importance of evidence-based practice and critical thinking. Chapters will explain how to search for evidence, how to evaluate what evidence really is, how to ask the right questions, how to develop standards, and how practitioners make use of research. Part II consists of practical applications, with each chapter focusing on a particular intervention or population. Topics include cognitive-behavioral approaches to suicide risks, manualized treatment with children, treating juvenile delinquents, and interventions for OCD, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, PTSD, depression, and recovery. Several chapterss from the special edition of Brief Treatment & Crisis Intervention on evidence-based practice as well as two original chapters round out this much-needed introduction to evidence-based social work practice.
