Research Methods for Social Workers,9780205281602

Research Methods for Social Workers

by ; ;
Edition: 3rd
ISBN13: 9780205281602
ISBN10: 0205281605
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 1998-09-01
Publisher(s): Allyn & Bacon
Upgraded Edition: Click here!
List Price: $58.85

Rent Textbook

Select for Price
Add to Cart
There was a problem. Please try again later.

New Textbook

We're Sorry
Sold Out

Used Textbook

We're Sorry
Sold Out

eTextbook

We're Sorry
Not Available

Buy from our Marketplace starting at $17.80

How Marketplace Works:

  • This item is offered by an independent seller and not shipped from our warehouse
  • Item details like edition and cover design may differ from our description; see seller's comments before ordering.
  • Sellers much confirm and ship within two business days; otherwise, the order will be cancelled and refunded.
  • Marketplace purchases cannot be returned to eCampus.com. Contact the seller directly for inquiries; if no response within two days, contact customer service.
  • Additional shipping costs apply to Marketplace purchases. Review shipping costs at checkout.

Summary

The Fifth Edition of Research Methods for Social Workers includes new information on needs assessment, how quantitative and qualitative methods can be used together, more coverage of ethical issues throughout the text and an updated literature review section. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface xi
PART I Knowledge-Building for Social Work Practice 1(44)
1 How Do We Get Our Knowledge?
3(22)
Historical Origins of Current Attitudes
3(6)
Tension between Research and Practice
4(1)
Efforts to Close the Gap
5(3)
Research and Practice--No Need for a Gap
8(1)
Types of Knowledge
9(2)
Descriptive Knowledge
9(1)
Predictive Knowledge
10(1)
Prescriptive Knowledge
10(1)
Where Do We Get Our "Knowledge"?
11(4)
Two Examples
12(3)
Characteristics of the Scientific Alternative
15(1)
Quantitative and Qualitative Research
16(2)
Quantitative Approaches to Knowledge-Building
17(1)
Qualitative Approaches to Knowledge-Building
17(1)
The Traditional Scientific Research Process
18(2)
The Environment for Scientific Social Work Research
20(2)
Summary
22(1)
References
23(2)
2 Ethical Issues in Social Work Research
25(20)
Treatment of Research Participants
26(9)
Evolution of Ethical Standards for Treatment of Participants
26(9)
Today's Standards for Treatment of Participants
35(6)
Voluntary Informed Consent
36(2)
No Unnecessary Paina and Suffering
38(1)
Anonymity/Confidentiality
39(1)
Need to Conduct the Research
40(1)
Other Ethical Obligations of Researchers
41(2)
Summary
43(1)
References
43(2)
PART II Beginning the Research Process 45(52)
3 Research Problems and Questions
47(14)
Why We Begin with Research Problems
48(1)
Setting Problem Priorities
49(5)
Identifying the Real Problem
54(2)
Selecting Research Questions
56(4)
Summary
60(1)
References
60(1)
4 Using Existing Knowledge
61(18)
What Is the Review of Literature?
61(2)
Purpose of the Review of Literature
63(1)
Potential Sources of "Literature"
63(10)
Standard Reference Materials
64(1)
Computer-Accessible Data Bases
65(1)
The Internet
65(1)
Books and Articles in Professional Journals
66(2)
Personal Interviews with Authorities
68(1)
Research Reports and Monographs
69(1)
Presentations at Conferences and Symposia
70(1)
Content of Workshops
70(1)
Public Documents and Records of Public Gatherings
71(1)
Newspapers
71(1)
Radio and Television Broadcasts
71(1)
Magazines and Periodicals
72(1)
Organizing the Literature Review
73(1)
Writing the Report of a Review of Literature
74(3)
Direction and Flow
75(1)
Use of Quotations and Citations
75(1)
The Role of the Researcher in a Report of the Literature Review
76(1)
Summary
77(1)
References
78(1)
5 Focused Research Questions and Hypotheses
79(18)
Focused Research Questions
79(2)
Hypotheses
81(14)
Related Definitions
82(5)
Types of Relationships Expressed in Hypotheses
87(3)
Forms of Hypotheses
90(1)
When Are Hypotheses Appropriate?
90(2)
Wording of Hypotheses
92(2)
The "Perfectly Worded" Hypothesis
94(1)
Use of Subhypotheses
94(1)
Summary
95(1)
References
96(1)
PART III Research Design Issues 97(150)
6 Introduction to a Research Design
99(28)
What Is a Research Design?
99(1)
The Purpose of Research Designs
100(1)
Broad Research Typologies
100(3)
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Designs
101(2)
The Knowledge-Building Continuum
103(13)
Exploratory Designs
104(1)
Descriptive Designs
107(3)
Explanatory Research
110(6)
Internal Validity and External Validity
116(6)
Internal Validity
116(4)
External Validity
120(1)
External Validity and Cultural Issues
121(1)
What Is the "Best" Research Design?
122(1)
Characteristics of Good Designs
123(2)
Summary
125(1)
References
125(2)
7 Qualitative Research Methods
127(22)
Interviewing in Qualitative Research
128(3)
Group and Individual Interviews
128(1)
Purpose of Interviews
129(1)
Benefits to Participants
129(1)
Attitudes toward Expression of Emotions
130(1)
Structuring of Interviews
130(1)
Discussion of Sensitive Topics
130(1)
Requests for Advice or Assistance
131(1)
Some Common Types of Qualitative Research
131(16)
Unstructured Systematic Observation
131(3)
Ethnographic Studies
134(3)
Cross-Cultural Research
137(1)
Case Studies
137(3)
Grounded Theory
140(1)
Oral Histories
141(1)
Feminist Research
142(5)
Summary
147(1)
References
148(1)
8 Quantitative Research Methods
149(24)
Secondary Data Analysis
150(8)
Sources of Secondary Data
150(1)
Different Uses of Secondary Data Analysis
151(1)
Tasks Required in Secondary Data Analysis
152(1)
Advantages of Secondary Data Analysis
153(1)
Disadvantages of Secondary Data Analysis
153(1)
Some Specialized Methods of Secondary Data Analysis
154(4)
Structured Observation Methods
158(3)
Roles That Can Be Assumed
158(1)
Steps in Conducting Structured Observation
159(2)
In-Person Interviews in Quantitative Research
161(4)
Advantages of Research Interviewing
162(1)
Disadvantages of Research Interviewing
163(1)
Acquiring Complete Data
164(1)
Telephone Interviews
165(2)
When Phone Interviews Are Effective
165(1)
Problems Related to External Validity
166(1)
Data Collection by Mail
167(4)
Problems with Data Collection by Mail
168(3)
Summary
171(1)
References
172(1)
9 Sampling
173(20)
Sampling Terminology
173(5)
Probability Sampling
178(4)
Nonprobability Sampling
182(3)
Selecting a Good Sample
185(2)
Sampling Distributions and Sampling Error
187(5)
Summary
192(1)
References
192(1)
10 Measurement Concepts and Issues
193(16)
Preparation for Measurement
194(2)
Conceptualization
194(1)
Operationalization
195(1)
Levels of Measurement
196(2)
Criteria for Good Measurement
198(9)
Reliability
199(3)
Validity
202(5)
Cultural Issues in Measurement of Variables
207(1)
Summary
208(1)
References
208(1)
11 Use of Data Collection Instruments
209(18)
Fixed-Alternative and Open-Ended Items
210(1)
Indexes and Scales
211(7)
Indexes
211(1)
Scales
212(5)
Construction of Scales
217(1)
When Are Existing Instruments Appropriate for Use?
218(1)
Use of Revised Instruments
219(1)
Constructing New Instruments
220(4)
Issues in Development of New Instruments
220(4)
Use of Self-Administered Instruments
224(2)
Advantages of Self-Administered Instruments
224(1)
Supervised Administration of Self-Administered Instruments
225(1)
Summary
226(1)
References
226(1)
12 Analyzing Data and Disseminating Findings
227(20)
The Data in Perspective
227(2)
Preparing for Statistical Analysis of Data
229(1)
Statistical Analysis of Research Data: An Overview
230(6)
The Uses of Statistical Analysis
231(5)
Interpreting and Reporting the Results of Statistical Analysis
236(2)
Disseminating Research Knowledge
238(7)
Reports and Monographs
238(2)
Internal Correspondence and In-Service Training
240(1)
Major Conference Presentations
241(2)
Other Professional Gathering
243(1)
Publication in Professional Journals
244(1)
Summary
245(1)
References
246(1)
PART IV Research to Evaluate Practice Effectivenes 247(46)
13 Evaluating Program Effectiveness
249(20)
What Is Program Evaluation?
250(6)
Planning/Evaluation Models
251(1)
Needs Assessment
252(1)
Evaluating Program Implementation
253(2)
Evaluating Program Outcomes
255(1)
What Is the Appropriate Design for a Program Evaluation?
256(2)
Other Types of Evaluation Research
258(3)
Cost-Benefit Analysis
258(1)
Program Impact Evaluations
259(1)
Program Structure Evaluations
260(1)
Who Should Conduct Evaluative Research?
261(3)
Use of an In-House Evaluator
261(1)
Use of an External Evaluator
262(1)
Empowerment Evaluation
263(1)
The Political Context of Program Evaluation
264(1)
Reports of Program Evaluations
265(2)
Summary
267(1)
References
268(1)
14 Evaluating Individual Practice Effectiveness
269(24)
Characteristics of Single System Research
269(5)
Conducting Single System Research
274(1)
Design Alternatives
275(14)
B
276(1)
AB
276(2)
ABA
278(2)
ABAB
280(2)
BAB
282(1)
ABCD
283(2)
Multiple Baseline
285(4)
Strengths and Weaknesses of Single System Research
289(3)
Summary
292(1)
References
292(1)
Postscript 293(2)
Additional Readings in Research Methods 295(6)
Index 301

An electronic version of this book is available through VitalSource.

This book is viewable on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and most smartphones.

By purchasing, you will be able to view this book online, as well as download it, for the chosen number of days.

Digital License

You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferable.

More details can be found here.

A downloadable version of this book is available through the eCampus Reader or compatible Adobe readers.

Applications are available on iOS, Android, PC, Mac, and Windows Mobile platforms.

Please view the compatibility matrix prior to purchase.