The Practice of Research in Social Work

By Rafael J. Engel and Russell K. Schutt

Book Overview

Congratulations to esteemed author Russell Schutt, 2007 recipient of University of Massachusetts, Boston′s Chancellor′s Award for Distinguished Service

Based on Russell Schutt′s Investigating the Social World, the most successful and innovative social research text in the last decade, The Practice of Research in Social Work introduces research methods as an integrated set of techniques for investigating social work research and practice problems.

Key Features:

Integrates substance and method Each chapter focuses on a substantive research question in areas such as homelessness and domestic violence. The authors use real-life data and integrate the most contemporary treatments of the latest developments in social work research approaches. Treats specific methods as part of a coherent whole, rather than a disparate collection of techniques Throughout the text, the authors reveal how students can use a combination of methods--both qualitative and quantitative--to best explore their research question. Presents ethical decision-making as an integral part of the research design process rather than a disconnected step: Foundations of research ethics are introduced in Chapter Two, and each subsequent chapter concludes with a separate section on ethics in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Integrates cultural group differences and similarities in social work research throughout: The authors stress that the diverse populations with which one works should be considered during every step of the research process. Provides students with multiple methods for checking their reading comprehension and preparing for exams: The text comes bundled with Student Resources on a CD-ROM, featuring Interactive Exercises, SPSS(R) datasets, and survey instruments that relate to the datasets. The book′s Companion Student Study site: http: //www.sagepub.com/prsw offers a collection of journal articles, E-flash cards and self-quizzes. Provides instructors with ample materials to support different pedagogical approaches: Instructor′s Resources, which are provided on a CD-ROM, feature lecture outlines, Microsoft(R) PowerPoint(R) slides, and electronic versions of the artwork from the book to support different presentation styles. This CD also includes a dynamic textbank, suggestions for group projects, and other valuable teaching tools.

The Practice of Research in Social Work is an essential text for research methods courses in schools of social work, at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and for research methods courses in graduate counseling programs or in nursing programs.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1412913853
• ISBN13: 9781412913850
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Read the book twice!

I am completing a masters in Social Work and for the purposes of school I took research in Social Work (second time I am taking research; the first time it was in college) and I read this book twice from cover to cover. It could be a bit dense at the time but hey, it is not a book about butterflies it is a book about research. I liked the book a lot because it clearly explains all the important terminology. I ended up with an A in the class.