Practising social work research case studies for learning - Csiernik, Rick (University of Toronto Press, 2010)
"Research is as critical to social work practice as individual and group counseling skills, policy analysis, or community development. Using an approach similar to those adopted in direct practice courses, this book integrates research with social work practice and in so doing, promotes an understanding and appreciation of the research process to social work students
Sixteen case studies adapted from actual events and case files illustrate different research approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, single subject, and mixed methods. Through these real-life examples, the authors demonstrate the processes of conceptualization, operationalization, sampling, data collection and processing, and implementation. Designed to help the student and practitioner become more comfortable with the research process, Practicing Social Work Research uses a student-centered approach that capitalizes on the strengths that social work students bring to assessment and problem solving."--pub. desc
Includes bibliographical references and index
Introduction : steps in the process of research -- Case studies. Research and the media : what are you being told? ; A question of ethics : Willowbrook ; Another question of ethics : studying HIV ; Understanding ideas and counting them ; Implementing a pilot project : a question of sampling ; Who do you ask : sampling in a qualitative context ; Criminal justice issues in social work research : the search for causality ; Psychometric properties : how should we measure? ; The validity of research ; The application of quasi-experimental design in social work research ; The power of one : single-case study design ; One more : another example of single-case study design ; Asking questions properly : an examination of questionnaire design ; Asking questions in child advocacy : which approach is best for children? ; Q & Q : employing both a qualitative and a quantitative approach ; On PAR : engaging and empowering clients through Participatory Action Research ; Measuring client satisfaction : do they like me? -- Critical analysis of quantitative research -- A critical analysis of qualitative research. A qualitative design : surviving the tornado : psychiatric survivor experiences of getting, losing, and keeping housing / Cheryl Forchuk, Cathy Ward-Griffin, Rick Csiernik and Katherine Turner ; A quantitative design. An examination of two different approaches to visitation-based disputes in child custody matters / Rachel Birnbaum