Applied Research in Residential Treatment

Here is a much-needed handbook for residential treatment administrators and clinicians considering research projects. Applied Research in Residential Treatment urges that applied, not basic, research is appropriate for residential treatment centers (RTCs). Research can be helpful for clinical work and RTC operation, but is not effective unless properly designed. This book suggests appropriate topics for research projects, gives practical suggestions on design, and contains example research reports. There are many technical books on research design, but few, if any, dealing with research projects suitable for RTCs--until now. Applied Research in Residential Treatment begins with an overview of the place of research in RTCs, followed by chapters presenting a range of research studies--both successful and not so successful--as examples. Specifically, chapters discuss:

hypothetico-deductive (quantitative) versus observational-inductive (qualitative) approaches to research and evaluation
the disadvantages and difficulties in using outcome measures to study the effects of treatment
choice of statistical tools, sampling techniques, and interviewing strategies in research design
the inutility of large statistical studies in understanding the individual child or milieuApplied Research in Residential Treatment is a helpful guide for clinicians and administrators currently planning research programs. It is also an informative source for those who wish to do research in the future and would like to know more about what strategies to follow.