This fourth edition introduces research methods as an integrated set of techniques for investigating social work research and practice problems. 

The authors are proud sponsors of the 2020 SAGE Keith Roberts Teaching Innovations Award—enabling graduate students and early career faculty to attend the annual ASA pre-conference teaching and learning workshop.

TheFourth Edition ofThe Practice of Research in Social Work introduces an integrated set of techniques for evaluating research and practice problems as well as conducting studies. Evidence-based practice comes alive through illustrations of actual social work research. Updated with new examples, the latest research, and expanded material on technology and qualitative methods, this popular text helps readers achieve the 2015 EPAS core competencies essential for social work practice..

CHAPTER 1. Science, Society, and Social Work Research
Reasoning About the Social World
Everyday Errors in Reasoning
The Social Scientific Approach
Social Work and the Social World
Research in the News: Why Did New York City’s Homeless Population Increase?
Social Work Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Social Work Research in Practice
Alternative Research Orientations
Social Work Research in a Diverse Society
CHAPTER 2. The Process of Social Work Research
Social Work Research Questions
Consider Social Diversity when Formulating a Question
Foundations of Social Work Research
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Theory and Social Work Research
Research in the News: Does Money Buy Happiness?
Alternative Research Strategies
Social Research Standards
CHAPTER 3. Ethical and Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research
Research on People
Historical Background
Research in the News: Is it Ethical Science?
Ethical Principles
Institutional Review Board Reviews
Internet Research
Scientific Guidelines for Social Work Research
CHAPTER 4. Measurement
Concepts
Research in the News: What is your Race?
From Concepts to Observations
Levels of Measurement
Measurement Error
Assessing Measurement Accuracy
Measurement Validity
Ways to Improve Reliability and Validity of Existing Measures
Using Scales to Identify a Clinical Status
Measurement in a Diverse Society
Measurement Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 5. Sampling
Sample Planning
Research in the News: What are the Best Practices for Sampling Vulnerable Populations?
Sampling Methods
Sampling Distributions
Recruitment Strategies with Diverse Populations
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 6. Causation and Research Design
Research Design Alternatives
Research in the News: Why is Child Poverty so High?
Criteria for Quantitative (Nomothetic) Causal Explanations
Comparing Research Designs
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
CHAPTER 7. Group Experimental Designs
Threats to the Validity of Group Experimental Designs
Features of True Experiments
Types of True Experimental Designs
Quasi-experimental Designs
Nonexperimental Designs
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Diversity, Group Design, and Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Experimental Research
CHAPTER 8. Single-Subject Design
Foundations of Single-Subject Design
Measuring Targets of Intervention
Analyzing Single-Subject Designs
Types of Single-Subject Designs
Research in the News: Exercise Your Brain?
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Single-Subject Design in a Diverse Society
Ethical Issues in Single-Subject Design
CHAPTER 9. Survey Research
Survey Research in Social Work
Designing Questionnaires
Writing Questions
Refine and Test Questions
Survey Design Alternatives
Survey Research Design in a Diverse Society
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Survey Research
CHAPTER 10. Qualitative Methods
Fundamentals of Qualitative Methods
Participant Observation
Intensive Interviewing
Research in the News: Can Taping Interviews Capture a Trend?
Interviewing Online
Focus Groups
Community-based Participatory Research
Qualitative Research in a Diverse Society
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research
CHAPTER 11. Qualitative Data Analysis
Features of Qualitative Data Analysis
Techniques of Qualitative Data Analysis
Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis
Research in the News: What’s in a Message?
Content Analysis
Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis
Implications for Evidence-based Practice
Ethics in Qualitative Data Analysis
CHAPTER 12. Secondary Data Analysis and Mixed Methods
Secondary Data Analysis
Mixed Methods
CHAPTER 13. Evaluation Research
Evaluation Basics
Describing the Program: The Logic Model
Questions for Evaluation Research
Design Decisions
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Evaluation Research in a Diverse Society
Ethics in Evaluation
CHAPTER 14. Quantitative Data Analysis
Introducing Statistics
Preparing Data for Analysis
Displaying Univariate Distributions
Summarizing Univariate Distributions
Describing Relationships Among Variables
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Quantitative Data Analysis in a Diverse Society
Ethical Issues: Avoiding Misleading Findings
CHAPTER 15. Reporting Research
Beginning With a Research Proposal
Writing Can Be Frustrating!
Reporting Results
Research in the News: How Much Should Social Scientists Report?
Poster Presentations
Implications for Evidence-Based Practice
Social Work Research in a Diverse Society
Ethical Considerations
Appendix A. Questions to Ask About a Quantitative Research Article
Appendix B. How to Read a Quantitative Research Article
Appendix C. Questions to Ask About a Qualitative Research Article
Appendix D. How to Read a Qualitative Research Article