Synopses & Reviews
In this extensive revision of their best-selling research methods text for social workers, Rubin and Babbie retain the integrity of their comprehensive, quantitative approach, while truly integrating increased coverage of qualitative methods. This text has been acclaimed for the depth and breadth of coverage and the clear and often humorous writing style. Building on those winning qualities, the authors have created a new edition that provides a balanced and up-to-date presentation, current coverage of technological advances, culturally competent research, and other topics of emerging importance. Considered the best social work research methods resource, Rubin and Babbie's text balances depth of content with student-friendly examples and consistently helps students see the connections between research and social work practice.
Review
"...an exceptional job explicating research methods for social workers... it is the definitive book on research methods..."
Review
"I am pleased to see more content on qualitative methods and culturally relevant research methods..."
Review
"I love the improvements made on this edition. For example, the program evaluation section...is integrated within the text..."
About the Author
After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, Allen Rubin served as a researcher for the Council on Social Work Education before joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin in 1979, where he remains as the Bert Kruger Smith Centennial Professor. He has published numerous research studies on social work practice and is a past president of the Society for Social Work and Research.A native of New England, Earl Babbie graduated from Harvard University before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and began teaching shortly thereafter. Earl Babbie has written several texts for Thomson Wadsworth, including the best-selling THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH.
Table of Contents
Part 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO INQUIRY. 1. Scientific Inquiry and Social Work. 2. Philosophy and Theory in Science and Research. 3. The Ethics and Politics of Social Work Research. Part 2: PROBLEM FORMULATION AND MEASUREMENT. 4. Problem Formulation. 5. Conceptualization and Operationalization. 6 . Measurement. 7. Constructing Measurement Instruments. Part 3: SAMPLING AND SURVEYS. 8. Sampling. 9. Survey Research. Part 4: DESIGNS FOR EVALUATING PROGRAMS AND PRACTICE. 10. Group Experiments for Evaluating Programs and Practice. 11. Quasi-Experimental Designs For Evaluating Programs and Practice. 12. Single-Case Evaluation Designs. 13. Issues in Program Evaluation. Part 5: QUALITATIVE, UNOBTRUSIVE AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT RESEARCH METHODS. 14. Qualitative Research Methods. 15. Analyzing Available Records: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. 16. Culturally Competent Research. Part 6: ANALYSIS OF DATA. 17. Qualitative Data Analysis. 18. Quantitative Data Analysis. 19. Constructing and Interpreting Bivariate and Multivariate Tables. 20. Inferential Data Analysis: Part 1. 21. Inferential Data Analysis: Part 2. Part 7: WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS AND REPORTS. 22. Writing Research Proposals And Reports. Appendixes: A. Using the Library. B. Random Numbers. C. Inferential Statistics and Single-Case Designs. D. Proportion Under Normal Curve Exceeded by Effect Size (ES) Values. E. A Guide to SPSS 11.0. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.