Applying research in social work practice - Softcover

Corby

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0335217842 ISBN 13: 9780335217847

Publisher: Open University Press, 2006

Synopsis

• What are the key issues and concerns raised by the debate about making social work more of an evidence-based profession?
• How is it possible to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of specific research projects?
• How can research findings be applied in social work practice?

In an era where professions are increasingly being questioned and made more accountable for their actions, social workers are required to relate their activities more directly to research findings than ever before. In the modern evidence-based practice debate, there are many claims (and counter-claims) about the benefits of research and about its applicability to social work practice. There are also major disputes about what type of research is most valid to the concerns of social work. This book tackles these debates with a view to clarifying the issues for students and practitioners in social work and social care fields.

In particular, the book examines:

• The political and ideological disputes surrounding the evidence-base debate in social work
• A wide range of research into social work with children, older people, mental illness and disability
• The three main paradigms of social research – objectivist, subjectivist and critical
• How research knowledge can be applied to practice

Applying Research in Social Work Practice presents social work students and practitioners with the background to the key current issues relating to social work practice and social research. It also provides guidance on the skills needed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a range of research studies. Finally, it offers help and guidance about how research can actually be applied in practice.

About this title

About the Author

Brian Corby is Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Central Lancashire. His main research interests are in the fields of social work and child protection studies and he has written several books on this subject including Child Abuse: Towards a Knowledge Base (Open University Press, 2005). He also an experienced teacher and currently lectures on research in social work to students across a range of levels.

Edition details

• Publisher: Open University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0335217842
• ISBN 13: 9780335217847
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 228