Research in Social Care and Social Welfare

This important book explores the links between research, 'evidence-based' practice and policy in social care and social welfare. Basing their chapters in case-study material, the contributors examine the issues arising from qualitative and quantitative methodologies, critique orthodox views of ethics and language and offer examples of innovative social research methods. Research in Social Work and Social Welfare highlights and questions the assumptions that underpin social research and examines the notions of power, ethics, language and representation in research. It questions, for example, the impact of research done by `the West' upon `the rest'. The book takes an international approach and promotes methods of research that are participative and `empowering' and seeks to widen the scope of methods used in social research. It will enable the reader to develop his or her own analytical and critical faculty and widen the scope of methods used in social research. This volume will be an invaluable resource to students, researchers and practitioners using both quantitative and qualitative approaches.