Doing Social Work Research

"This book offers many practical examples of research projects taken from the author's own experience as a researcher. These examples illustrate the usually complex concepts of research methodology by showing how they are practised in the real world of social work, so the title is apt. Especially useful are the common features of social work research discussed at length in the final chapter, as a way of finding common ground in the disputed terrain of social work as a profession, and in social work research in particular."
Heather D'Cruz, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Australia

"Smith clearly highlights the parallels between the values of social work and the values that underpin research in this area, and in so doing, demonstrates the emancipatory potential of social work research...this is a valuable text that will help to allay many of the fears associated with conducting social work research."
Caroline Andow, Senior Research Fellow, University of Southampton, Social Sciences Department, UK

"As a third year social work student I found this book a good consolidation of what I have been learning this semester in my research and evaluation module. It has helped me with my end of module assignment, to demonstrate my understanding of social work research through a detailed literature search ... I found the practical examples of actual pieces of research particularly useful in getting an idea of how particular methods are used. I have found this book very useful as it has helped clarify the meaning of the research terminology and given me a good understanding of the overall process."
Sally Biskin, Social Work Student, Bangor University, UK

This accessible book is based on the author's extensive practical experience of carrying out and teaching research in the social work field. Social work research is shown to be both a distinctive academic enterprise and a task that can be accomplished effectively in line with the values and ethical principles that lie at the discipline's core.

Doing Social Work Research helps intending researchers to relate 'methodology' to 'method', so that they can make authoritative decisions about how to turn initial research questions into valid and feasible investigative strategies. In doing so, it introduces and evaluates a wide range of approaches across the spectrum of social work research.

building on this, the book provides detailed guidance on how to organize the research task, paying close attention to the practicalities of planning, preparation, implementat...