Synopses & Reviews
Reader friendly and clear, Rubin and Babbie's concise and social work-specific research methods book provides readers with the tools they need to understand the subject matter. Illustrations and examples throughout show readers how they can apply research to practice. Outlines, introductions, boxed features, chapter endings with main points, and review questions and exercises provide the information and practice readers need to learn the essentials. As part of the Cengage Empowerment Series, ESSENTIAL RESEARCH METHODS FOR SOCIAL WORK, 4th Edition, thoroughly integrates the core competencies and recommended practice behaviors outlined in the current Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Review
"It is a classic research methods text. Pretty much everything you need is there and it is delivered in a straightforward and non-intimidating fashion. But, it also makes the scientific process relevant to the modern social work practitioner."
About the Author
Allen Rubin has been doing and teaching research since 1976, when he received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Renowned in social work, Dr. Rubin has written several research texts, published numerous research studies on social work practice, and is a past president of the Society for Social Work and Research. Earl R. Babbie graduated from Harvard University before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and began teaching shortly thereafter. Credited with defining research methods for the social sciences, Dr. Babbie has written several texts, including the bestselling THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH.
Table of Contents
Part I: AN INTRODUCTION TO SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY IN SOCIAL WORK. 1. Why Study Research? 2. Evidence-Based Practice. Part II: THE RESEARCH PROCESS. 3. Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods of Inquiry. 4. Factors Influencing the Research Process. Part III: ETHICAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES IN SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH. 5. Ethical Issues in Social Work Research. 6. Culturally Competent Research. Part IV: PROBLEM FORMULATION AND MEASUREMENT. 7. Problem Formulation. 8. Measurement in Quantitative and Qualitative Inquiry. 9. Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement Instruments. Part V: SAMPLING AND SURVEYS. 10. Surveys. 11. Sampling: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. Part VI: DESIGNS FOR EVALUATING PROGRAMS AND PRACTICE. 12. Experiments and Quasi-Experiments. 13. Single-Case Evaluation Designs. 14. Program Evaluation. Part VII: ADDITIONAL QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS. 15. Additional Methods in Qualitative Inquiry. 16. Analyzing Available Records: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods. Part VIII: DATA ANALYSYS. 17. Quantitative Data Analysis. 18. Qualitative Data Analysis. Appendix A: Using the Library. Appendix B: Writing Research Proposals. Appendix C: Writing Social Work Research Reports. Appendix D: Random Numbers. Appendix E: Using Effect Sizes to Bridge the Gap Between Research and Practice. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.