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Fundamentals of Social Work Research
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Fundamentals of Social Work Research

Second Edition
January 2014 | 400 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Designed to help students develop skills in evaluating research and conducting studies, this brief version of the popular, The Practice of Research in Social Work, makes principles of evidence-based practice come alive through illustrations of actual social work research. With integration of the CSWE Competencies, the text addresses issues and concerns common to the discipline and encourages students to address diversity and ethics when planning and evaluating research studies. The Second Edition includes a focus on qualitative research, a new chapter on research ethics, new sections on mixed methods research and community-based participatory research, and more.
 
Chapter 1. Science, Society, and Social Work Research
 
Chapter 2. The Process and Problems of Social Work Research
 
Chapter 3. Ethical and Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research
 
Chapter 4. Conceptualization and Measurement
 
Chapter 5. Sampling
 
Chapter 6. Group Experimental Designs
 
Chapter 7. Single-Subject Design
 
Chapter 8. Survey Research
 
Chapter 9. Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening
 
Chapter 10. Mixing Methods and Comparing Methods and Studies
 
Chapter 11. Evaluation Research
 
Chapter 12. Quantitative Data Analysis
 
Chapter 13. Qualitative Data Analysis
 
Chapter 14. Reporting Research
 
Appendix A: Questions to Ask About a Quantitative Research Article
 
Appendix B: How to Read a Quantitative Research Article
 
Appendix C: Questions to Ask About a Qualitative Research Article
 
Appendix D: How to Read a Qualitative Research Article
 
Glossary

Supplements

Student Study Site

The open-access Student Study Site includes the following:

  • Mobile-friendly eFlashcards reinforce understanding of key terms and concepts that have been outlined in the chapters.
  • Mobile-friendly web quizzes allow for independent assessment of progress made in learning course material.
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. This feature also provides questions to focus and guide student interpretation. Combine cutting-edge academic journal scholarship with the topics in your course for a robust classroom experience.
  • Carefully selected, web-based video resources feature relevant interviews, lectures, personal stories, inquiries, and other content for use in independent or classroom-based explorations of key topics.
  • Web resources are included for further research and insights.
  • Web exercises direct you to useful and current web resources, along with creative activities to extend and reinforce learning or allow for further research on important chapter topics. 
  • Interactive Exercises based on real research examples allow for improving understanding of methodological concepts.
  • GSS Datasets for quantitative data analysis practice.
Instructors Resource Site

The open-access Instructor Resource Site includes the following:

·  A Microsoft® Word test bank is available containing multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter. The test bank provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.

·  A Respondus electronic test bank is available and can be used on PCs. The test bank contains multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter and provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding. Respondus is also compatible with many popular learning management systems so you can easily get your test questions into your online course.

·  Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. Highlight essential content, features, and artwork from the book.

·   Lecture notes summarize key concepts on a chapter-by-chapter basis to help with preparation for lectures and class discussions.

·  EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. This feature also provides questions to focus and guide student interpretation. Combine cutting-edge academic journal scholarship with the topics in your course for a robust classroom experience.

·  Sample course syllabi provide suggested models for use when creating the syllabi for your courses.

·  Suggested course projects are designed to promote students’ in-depth engagement with course material.

·  Carefully selected, web-based video resources feature relevant interviews, lectures, personal stories, inquiries, and other content for use in independent or classroom-based explorations of key topics.

·  Web resources are included for further research and insights.

Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • A new chapter devoted to research ethics lays the foundation for the specific ethics sections in the individual chapters and includes coverage of internet-based research with more on netnography and interviewing online.
  • New sections discuss mixed methods research and community-based participatory research.
  • An added focus on qualitative research includes questions to use in evaluating a qualitative research study and a new Appendix D, "How to Read a Qualitative Research Article.”
  • Updated examples integrate content on diversity and evidence-based practice.
  • A new matrix links the topics covered in the book with CSWE Core Competencies.
  • Additional content on evidence-based practice includes the steps associated with the EBP decision model and the challenges in implementing EBP.
  • Coverage of emerging research efforts that use the Internet and other electronic media as a research tool has been added.
  • Many findings are now presented through presentations, publications, and reports.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Text content is fully integrated with CSWE Competencies.
  • An engaging writing style coupled with real, applied examples demonstrates why a study of research methods is relevant and interesting to future social workers.
  • Research with diverse populations is infused into every chapter.
  • Ethical concerns are highlighted in each chapter, along with chapter-ending ethics exercises.
  • Evidence-based practice is integrated throughout the text.
  • Chapter-ending exercises ask students to critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative research studies.
  • An expansive Student Study Site helps students master key topics through a variety of contemporary research examples, interactive exercises, quizzes, e-flashcards, web exercises, and more.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 4

Chapter 6