The Practice of Research in Social Work
4th Edition
Published on 4. April 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
496 pages
978-1-5063-0426-7 (ISBN)
Description
The authors are proud sponsors of the 2020 SAGE Keith Roberts Teaching Innovations Award-enabling graduate students and early career faculty to attend the annual ASA pre-conference teaching and learning workshop.
The Fourth Edition of The Practice of Research in Social Work introduces an integrated set of techniques for evaluating research and practice problems as well as conducting studies. Evidence-based practice comes alive through illustrations of actual social work research. Updated with new examples, the latest research, and expanded material on technology and qualitative methods, this popular text helps readers achieve the 2015 EPAS core competencies essential for social work practice..
The Fourth Edition of The Practice of Research in Social Work introduces an integrated set of techniques for evaluating research and practice problems as well as conducting studies. Evidence-based practice comes alive through illustrations of actual social work research. Updated with new examples, the latest research, and expanded material on technology and qualitative methods, this popular text helps readers achieve the 2015 EPAS core competencies essential for social work practice..
More details
Edition
4th Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 203 mm
Weight
957 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5063-0426-7 (9781506304267)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Rafael J. Engel | Russell K. Schutt
The Practice of Research in Social Work
Book
04/2012
3rd Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€153.01
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Rafael J. Engel, PhD, is Emeritus Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work where he taught from 1988 to 2025. He completed his PhD degree at the University of Wisconsin, MSW degree at the University of Michigan, and BA degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He was one of the three Principal Investigators (with Jeffrey Shook and Sara Goodkind) of the Pittsburgh Wage Study initiative (www.pittsburghwagestudy.pitt.edu) and Director of Research for Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh. In addition to Practice of Research in Social Work? he has co-authored Fundamentals of Social Work Research (with Russell Schutt) and co-edited Measuring Race and Ethnicity (with Larry Davis). He has authored or co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles as well written monographs, technical reports, and research briefs and has presented numerous papers at peer-reviewed conferences. Much of this work has focused on poverty, income inequality, mental health, substance use, and gerontology. Though recently retired (August 2025), Engel continues to write about lower-wage work and assist with studies on Jewish identity as part of the Jewish Identity Research Collaborative.
Russell K. Schutt, PhD, is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he received the 2007 Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Service and taught from 1979 to 2022. He is also a Clinical Research Scientist I at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a Lecturer (part-time) in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. He completed his BA, MA, and PhD degrees at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Sociology of Social Control Training Program at Yale University. In addition to ten editions of Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research and seven editions of Making Sense of the Social World, with Daniel F. Chambliss, PhD, as well as coauthored versions for criminal justice, psychology, and education, his other books include Homelessness, Housing, and Mental Illness (2011), Social Neuroscience: Brain, Mind, and Society (coedited, 2015), and Organization in a Changing Environment (1986). He has authored and coauthored more than 70 peer reviewed journal articles, as well as more than 30 non-refereed articles and book chapters on social support, mental and physical health, health services, organizations, homelessness, law, and teaching research methods. His research has been funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the National Science Foundation, the Veterans Health Administration, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Fetzer Institute, and state agencies. Details are available at https://blogs.umb.edu/russellkschutt/.
Russell K. Schutt, PhD, is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he received the 2007 Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Service and taught from 1979 to 2022. He is also a Clinical Research Scientist I at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a Lecturer (part-time) in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. He completed his BA, MA, and PhD degrees at the University of Illinois at Chicago and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Sociology of Social Control Training Program at Yale University. In addition to ten editions of Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research and seven editions of Making Sense of the Social World, with Daniel F. Chambliss, PhD, as well as coauthored versions for criminal justice, psychology, and education, his other books include Homelessness, Housing, and Mental Illness (2011), Social Neuroscience: Brain, Mind, and Society (coedited, 2015), and Organization in a Changing Environment (1986). He has authored and coauthored more than 70 peer reviewed journal articles, as well as more than 30 non-refereed articles and book chapters on social support, mental and physical health, health services, organizations, homelessness, law, and teaching research methods. His research has been funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the National Science Foundation, the Veterans Health Administration, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Fetzer Institute, and state agencies. Details are available at https://blogs.umb.edu/russellkschutt/.
Content
CHAPTER 1. Science, Society, and Social Work Research
Reasoning About the Social World
Everyday Errors in Reasoning
The Social Scientific Approach
Social Work and the Social World
Research in the News: Why Did New York City's Homeless Population Increase?
Social Work Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Social Work Research in Practice
Alternative Research Orientations
Social Work Research in a Diverse Society
CHAPTER 2. The Process of Social Work Research
Social Work Research Questions
Consider Social Diversity when Formulating a Question
Foundations of Social Work Research
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Theory and Social Work Research
Research in the News: Does Money Buy Happiness?
Alternative Research Strategies
Social Research Standards
CHAPTER 3. Ethical and Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research
Research on People
Historical Background
Research in the News: Is it Ethical Science?
Ethical Principles
Institutional Review Board Reviews
Internet Research
Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research
CHAPTER 4. Measurement
Concepts
Research in the News: What is your Race?
From Concepts to Observations
Levels of Measurement
Measurement Error
Assessing Measurement Accuracy
Measurement Validity
Ways to Improve Reliability and Validity of Existing Measures
Using Scales to Identify a Clinical Status
Measurement in a Diverse Society
Measurement Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 5. Sampling
Sample Planning
Research in the News: What are the Best Practices for Sampling Vulnerable Populations?
Sampling Methods
Sampling Distributions
Recruitment Strategies with Diverse Populations
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 6. Causation and Research Design
Research Design Alternatives
Research in the News: Why is Child Poverty so High?
Criteria for Quantitative (Nomothetic) Causal Explanations
Comparing Research Designs
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 7. Group Experimental Designs
Threats to the Validity of Group Experimental Designs
Features of True Experiments
Types of True Experimental Designs
Quasi-experimental Designs
Nonexperimental Designs
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Diversity, Group Design, and Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Experimental Research
CHAPTER 8. Single-Subject Design
Foundations of Single-Subject Design
Measuring Targets of Intervention
Analyzing Single-Subject Designs
Types of Single-Subject Designs
Research in the News: Exercise Your Brain?
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Single-Subject Design in a Diverse Society
Ethical Issues in Single-Subject Design
CHAPTER 9. Survey Research
Survey Research in Social Work
Designing Questionnaires
Writing Questions
Refine and Test Questions
Survey Design Alternatives
Survey Research Design in a Diverse Society
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Survey Research
CHAPTER 10. Qualitative Methods
Fundamentals of Qualitative Methods
Participant Observation
Intensive Interviewing
Research in the News: Can Taping Interviews Capture a Trend?
Interviewing Online
Focus Groups
Community-based Participatory Research
Qualitative Research in a Diverse Society
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research
CHAPTER 11. Qualitative Data Analysis
Features of Qualitative Data Analysis
Techniques of Qualitative Data Analysis
Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis
Research in the News: What's in a Message?
Content Analysis
Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis
Implications for Evidence-based Practice
Ethics in Qualitative Data Analysis
CHAPTER 12. Secondary Data Analysis and Mixed Methods
Secondary Data Analysis
Mixed Methods
CHAPTER 13. Evaluation Research
Evaluation Basics
Describing the Program: The Logic Model
Questions for Evaluation Research
Design Decisions
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Evaluation Research in a Diverse Society
Ethics in Evaluation
CHAPTER 14. Quantitative Data Analysis
Introducing Statistics
Preparing Data for Analysis
Displaying Univariate Distributions
Summarizing Univariate Distributions
Describing Relationships Among Variables
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Quantitative Data Analysis in a Diverse Society
Ethical Issues: Avoiding Misleading Findings
CHAPTER 15. Reporting Research
Beginning With a Research Proposal
Writing Can Be Frustrating!
Reporting Results
Research in the News: How Much Should Social Scientists Report?
Poster Presentations
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Social Work Research in a Diverse Society
Ethical Considerations
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
Reasoning About the Social World
Everyday Errors in Reasoning
The Social Scientific Approach
Social Work and the Social World
Research in the News: Why Did New York City's Homeless Population Increase?
Social Work Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Social Work Research in Practice
Alternative Research Orientations
Social Work Research in a Diverse Society
CHAPTER 2. The Process of Social Work Research
Social Work Research Questions
Consider Social Diversity when Formulating a Question
Foundations of Social Work Research
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Theory and Social Work Research
Research in the News: Does Money Buy Happiness?
Alternative Research Strategies
Social Research Standards
CHAPTER 3. Ethical and Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research
Research on People
Historical Background
Research in the News: Is it Ethical Science?
Ethical Principles
Institutional Review Board Reviews
Internet Research
Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research
CHAPTER 4. Measurement
Concepts
Research in the News: What is your Race?
From Concepts to Observations
Levels of Measurement
Measurement Error
Assessing Measurement Accuracy
Measurement Validity
Ways to Improve Reliability and Validity of Existing Measures
Using Scales to Identify a Clinical Status
Measurement in a Diverse Society
Measurement Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 5. Sampling
Sample Planning
Research in the News: What are the Best Practices for Sampling Vulnerable Populations?
Sampling Methods
Sampling Distributions
Recruitment Strategies with Diverse Populations
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 6. Causation and Research Design
Research Design Alternatives
Research in the News: Why is Child Poverty so High?
Criteria for Quantitative (Nomothetic) Causal Explanations
Comparing Research Designs
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 7. Group Experimental Designs
Threats to the Validity of Group Experimental Designs
Features of True Experiments
Types of True Experimental Designs
Quasi-experimental Designs
Nonexperimental Designs
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Diversity, Group Design, and Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Experimental Research
CHAPTER 8. Single-Subject Design
Foundations of Single-Subject Design
Measuring Targets of Intervention
Analyzing Single-Subject Designs
Types of Single-Subject Designs
Research in the News: Exercise Your Brain?
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Single-Subject Design in a Diverse Society
Ethical Issues in Single-Subject Design
CHAPTER 9. Survey Research
Survey Research in Social Work
Designing Questionnaires
Writing Questions
Refine and Test Questions
Survey Design Alternatives
Survey Research Design in a Diverse Society
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Survey Research
CHAPTER 10. Qualitative Methods
Fundamentals of Qualitative Methods
Participant Observation
Intensive Interviewing
Research in the News: Can Taping Interviews Capture a Trend?
Interviewing Online
Focus Groups
Community-based Participatory Research
Qualitative Research in a Diverse Society
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research
CHAPTER 11. Qualitative Data Analysis
Features of Qualitative Data Analysis
Techniques of Qualitative Data Analysis
Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis
Research in the News: What's in a Message?
Content Analysis
Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis
Implications for Evidence-based Practice
Ethics in Qualitative Data Analysis
CHAPTER 12. Secondary Data Analysis and Mixed Methods
Secondary Data Analysis
Mixed Methods
CHAPTER 13. Evaluation Research
Evaluation Basics
Describing the Program: The Logic Model
Questions for Evaluation Research
Design Decisions
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Evaluation Research in a Diverse Society
Ethics in Evaluation
CHAPTER 14. Quantitative Data Analysis
Introducing Statistics
Preparing Data for Analysis
Displaying Univariate Distributions
Summarizing Univariate Distributions
Describing Relationships Among Variables
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Quantitative Data Analysis in a Diverse Society
Ethical Issues: Avoiding Misleading Findings
CHAPTER 15. Reporting Research
Beginning With a Research Proposal
Writing Can Be Frustrating!
Reporting Results
Research in the News: How Much Should Social Scientists Report?
Poster Presentations
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Social Work Research in a Diverse Society
Ethical Considerations
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