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Research Skills for Social Work
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Research Skills for Social Work

Second Edition


June 2012 | 160 pages | Learning Matters
Social Work students often find research an intimidating and complex area of study, with many struggling to understand the core concepts and their application to practice. This book presents these concepts in an accessible and user-friendly way. Key skills and methods such as literature reviews, interviews, and questionnaires are explored in detail while the underlying ethical reasons for doing good research underpin the text. For this second edition, new material on ethnography is added.
 
Introduction
 
Planning your research
 
Undertaking a literature review
 
Interviews
 
Focus groups
 
Questionnaires
 
Documentary analysis
 
Analysing your data
 
Writing up your dissertation
 
Conclusion
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

While the book is quite concise, which I think will apeal to undergraduate users in particular, it can be a little dry. For example, in several instances there are lists of definitions, which I think will be a little unappealing for students to read through, especially since many already come in with the expectation that research methods are "boring". Additionally, while too lengthy a book may be unapealing for students, I think book has erred on the side of being too short--some of the entries (for example, on ethnography) are just too short to provide adequate coverage of important methods.

Dr Jasmine Fledderjohann
Department of Sociology, Lancaster University
November 2, 2016

A very good textbook to introduce research to undergrads and post grades and have used it in writing myself. I would recommend to students.

Ms Ikedola Animashaun
Social Work Department, Brunel University
March 11, 2015

My year 1 students have been struggling with research concepts. This has helped them understand the required concepts. It is clearly written in sensible language. It makes it palatable and easy to apply.

Ms Eve Rees
health sciences/social work, Cardiff Metropolitan University
February 11, 2015

This is a helpful introductory book for social work students on research methods.

Dr Gillian Constable
Division of Social Work, Glasgow Caledonian University
November 13, 2014

A very useful for Access to Social Science students intending to study for a degree in Social work.

Mrs Michele Ponting
Social Work, PACA Adult Learning
December 14, 2015

This book provides a useful introduction to research concepts and explores key areas in a user friendly manner. It is an informative tool for novice research students to build their knowledge and research skills with useful links to the PCF.

Mrs Maria Brent
Social Work Department, Royal Holloway
May 15, 2014

This book is excellent. It provides a really comprehensive and structured description of what students need to do to formulate and conduct their own social work research project. It also provides really nice examples of other student's research projects to help demonstrate how to apply different research methods in practice. I will definitely be recommending it to Master's degree students on the social work degree programme at the University of Wolverhampton. An essential text.

Miss Fiona Morgan
School of health and wellbeing, Wolverhampton University
February 11, 2014

Important book for students dissertations and social work studies.

Professor Teodor Mircea ALEXIU
Humanities , University of the West Timisoara
December 11, 2013

Text helps to focus practitioners on the essential skills and activities underpining social work research

Dr Erica Joslyn-Beales
Suffolk School of Social Sciences, University Campus Suffolk
March 11, 2013

I like this as a core text for a short course on research in social work. Commentary on recommended further reading and websites is very useful.

Dr Niamh Flanagan
Social Science , University College Dublin
March 7, 2013