"In the field of social work, qualitative research is starting to gain more prominence as are mixed methods and various issues regarding race, ethnicity and gender. These changes in the field are reflected and updated in "The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods, Second Edition". This text contains meta analysis, designs to evaluate treatment and provides the support to help students harness the power of the Internet. This handbook brings together leading scholars in research methods in social work." --Book Jacket.
This comprehensive text contains introductory and intermediate coverage of qualitative and quantitative social work research and evaluation applications for undergraduate and graduate social work students. Features Integrates diversity and strengths/empowerment coverage throughout the text. Includes a complete chapter on ethics in social work research (Chapter 5), which shows students how to integrate research and ethics content. Provides comprehensive coverage on how to do a literary review, write a qualitative and quantitative paper/report, and cite Internet sources. Includes case studies and vignettes throughout the text, which bring a real-world focus to the subject. Includes Statistical Package for the Social Sciences in Appendix F, which illustrates data entry using SPSS with actual screen images to show students how to do tests of the null hypothesis, interpret significance tests, and understand measures of association. What the reviewers are saying . . . This book thoroughly presents all the most important topics for an introductory research text. I really like the balanced presentation of quantitative and qualitative research, the boxed material, and the reasonable price. I think this is a very good book. Thomas Barton, University of North Texas This text does a superb job in covering topics important to social work research students. I can t say enough positive things about how comprehensive I find this book it is clearly a superior text. The coverage of ethics, literature review, and writing research reports places this book head and shoulders above the rest. Janice Matthews Rasheed, Loyola University of Chicago [MyHelpingLabAd]"
From understanding the concepts of research and gathering data, to writing it all up and sharing knowledge, this book will guide your students to become researchers by giving them: a confident start with clarity on core concepts and getting it right ethically step-by-step guidance at each point in the research process, showing them diversity in approaches, the impact of context and how to overcome problems case studies of how real researchers embrace the challenges, surprises and successes of research an emphasis on the person in context, so their research is reflective of the realities of social work and social care practice a guide to writing it up and achieving impact and positive change with research.
How do social work students learn to use research to underpin their practice decisions? How do they learn that research is not an activity unconnected to their professional role and responsibilities, but rather acts as a foundation for their knowledge? By using the examples drawn from evidence-based practice (e.g. what is known to work and what we know about social work processes), the authors deliver a text that will help support students to appraise and then integrate research into both their daily practice decisions and their assignments and assessments. It will do this by defining key concepts like ′knowledge′ and ′evidence′ and then look at how these concepts include component parts - from law and legislation to practice knowledge and reflective and critical practice. Case examples are used to illustrate how a clear understanding of these component parts can build to a substantial evidence base from which to draw upon. Identifying relevant research and appraising its quality are core aspects of the book. Later chapters show students how robust knowledge of evidence-based practice can develop into a clear and confident approach to their workloads and their daily practice dilemmas.
KEY FEATURES: A ‵‵learn by doing" approach woven throughout the text helps students apply knowledge to practice. A three-part structure introduces the fundamentals of research methods, the different types of social work research, and the use of data analysis for evaluation of social work practice. Chapter-opening vignettes illustrate the value of chapter content to the practicing social worker. Chapter-ending practice exercises provide opportunities to apply chapter knowledge and gain a better understanding of research competencies. Practical guidelines for data analysis show students how to use the Internet to analyze data with simple step-by-step instructions. Discussion questions provide opportunities to spark class discussions and help students reflect on critical concepts. Chapter tests, lists of key learnings, and glossaries at the end of chapters serve as convenient tools for reviewing key concepts and definitions.
"Professors Hunter, Moen, and Raskin, along with their contributing authors, present essential skills and knowledge supported by empirical research to shape field policies and curricula. This book delivers a wealth of information that makes clear the effect field directors have on the practice community. This book sets standards for program quality and student competence and brings community practice perspectives back to social work programs ... This indispensable rseource illustrates how to build effective and efficient programs and provide leadership that promotes sustainable changes to improve the quality of existing field programs."--Back cover.
This introductory textbook on research methods in social work places emphasis on research as a natural corollary to practice. The text takes readers step-by-step through the process of developing a practical agenda for such projects. It explains how to formulate questions and hypotheses, conduct group and single-system naturalistic and experimental designs, analyze and compile data, and write research reports. Along the way, it presents discussions of the critical theoretical considerations, such as how to gauge reliability and validity, sort out qualitative and quantitative data analysis and more. Throughout there is specific methodological advice for integrating research agendas into everyday practice. Included are a glossary of terms, diagrams and examples from real-life studies focusing on cultural diversity and oppression, and increased emphasis on themes relevant to practice.
The Fourth Edition of Rafael J. Engel and Russell K. Schutt’s The Practice of Research in Social Work introduces an integrated set of techniques for evaluating research and practice problems as well as conducting studies. Evidence-based practice comes alive through illustrations of actual social work research. Updated with new examples, the latest research, and expanded material on technology and qualitative methods, this popular text helps readers achieve the 2015 EPAS core competencies essential for social work practice.
Research for Social Workers has built a strong reputation as an accessible guide to the key research methods and approaches used in the discipline. Ideal for beginners, the book outlines the importance of social work research, its guiding principles and explains how to choose a topic area, develop research questions together with describing the key steps in the research process. The authors outline the principles of sampling, systematic reviews and surveys and interviews, provide guidance on evaluation and statistical analysis and explain how research can influence policy and practice. This new edition includes: • an expanded discussion of rigour in qualitative research • more detailed analysis of systematic reviews • a new section on on-line surveys • enhanced examination of action research including recent examples of action research programs and • an expanded section on evidence-based practice. Featuring practical examples and end-of-chapter exercises and questions, and using non-technical language throughout, this is a vital reference tool for both students and practicing social workers.
