Ethics And Values In Applied Social Research

With the primary objective of raising ethical sensibility, this volume details the ethical problems and dilemmas faced by applied social science researchers. Issues such as the use of deception, the participant's right to privacy and informed consent, and the potential harm of public disclosure are confronted. The author discusses the need to review ethical problems and their implications in the context of current ethical standards in both society and the scientific community. Case studies illustrate unanticipated ethical dilemmas which might emerge during a research project. Issues are presented and interpreted clearly so that their complexity can be penetrated and potential solutions envisioned. The volume also includes specific methodolo

Ethical responsibility has intellectual and practical implications for social researchers. This book explores a range of issues, theories and questions, enabling readers to reflect upon, understand and critique these with confidence. With helpful examples and a glossary of terms, it is essential reading for new and experienced researchers alike.

Brings together international scholars across the social and behavioural sciences and education to address those ethical issues that arise in the theory and practice of research within the technologically advancing and culturally complex world in which we live.

Applied Social Research focuses on the real world context of applied research. It discusses the often overlooked, yet essential process of planning: poor planning inevitably produces inadequate research. The text helps researchers decide how to approach their applied research problems and to think through the major issues in the design and analysis of their project. 'Applied Social Research' also discussed the idea that in applied social research the use of a single method type is unlikely to provide answers to the often complex set of research questions being addressed and highlights the benefits of using two or more research methods in the one study. The author argues that such mixed method designs are becoming widely used in applied social research, particularly where the methods combine qualitative and quantitative data, thereby enabling a richer set of data to provide various perspectives on the research topic, removing limitations imposed by using single methods. Examples of such designs are provided throughout, useful mixed method designs are outlined and their advantages discussed.

Praise for earlier editions: I have been using this textbook as a required reading for my research class since 2004 because I found the text’s coverage of research concepts to be in-depth, and easy to read without the technicalities. —Ziblim Abukari, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Westfield State University Applied Social Research. . . is thorough, well organized, and clear, making it highly appreciated by my students. —Barry Loneck, PhD, School of Social Welfare, SUNY Albany Discover the practical side of research in human services with this easy-to-follow classic Designed for students and professionals in social work, public administration, nursing, criminal justice, and other human services fields, this text breaks down complex concepts into accessible, real-world applications. Follow along with easy-to-read language and engaging examples to uncover nonintimidating, practical tools for everyday problem-solving. Several new features, such as recorded practitioner interviews and Technology in Research boxes, clarify and reinforce the value of applied social research and innovative tools real professionals use in their work. This textbook takes readers on a journey through the entire research process, from identifying problems to collecting and analyzing data, and finally, to effectively communicating your findings. Each chapter closes with critical thinking and self-assessment questions to help evaluate students’ understanding of the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), promoting in-depth learning. Instructors will also welcome a wide array of instructor resources, including a new Instructor Manual, Sample Syllabi, Test Bank, and chapter PowerPoint presentations. New to the Eleventh Edition: Every chapter opens with an extended vignette highlighting how professionals incorporate research methods into their work. New Practitioner Profiles provide real-world insights into human services, and podcast segments with recorded interviews are included with every chapter. Chapters now include Technology in Research and Research in Practice boxes, helping readers understand the research practice and technological innovations. The new Instructor Manual includes additional discussion questions relating to the podcasts, learning activities to help students evaluate competencies, and more. Key Features: Clear explanations of the research process, from problem-solving to data analysis, simplifies learning. Explore real-life stories via practitioner interviews and vignettes in every chapter. All chapters close with bulleted main points, key terms for review, and several types of questions for evaluating competencies and self-assessment. Understand the link between research and improved services and develop logic-based research skills.

The social sciences playa variety of multifaceted roles in the policymaking process. So varied are these roles, indeed, that it is futile to talk in the singular about the use of social science in policymaking, as if there were one constant relationship between two fixed and stable entities. Instead, to address this issue sensibly one must talk in the plural about uses of dif ferent modes of social scientific inquiry for different kinds of policies under various circumstances. In some cases, the influence of social scientific research is direct and tangible, and the connection between the find ings and the policy is easy to see. In other cases, perhaps most, its influence is indirect-one small piece in a larger mosaic of politics, bargaining, and compromise. Occasionally the findings of social scientific studies are explicitly drawn upon by policymakers in the formation, implementation, or evaluation of particular policies. More often, the categories and theoretical models of social science provide a general background orientation within which policymakers concep tualize problems and frame policy options. At times, the in fluence of social scientific work is cognitive and informational in nature; in other instances, policymakers use social science primarily for symbolic and political purposes in order to le gitimate preestablished goals and strategies. Nonetheless, amid this diversity and variety, troubling general questions persistently arise.

This open access textbook offers a practical guide into research ethics for undergraduate students in the social sciences. A step-by-step approach of the most viable issues, in-depth discussions of case histories and a variety of didactical tools will aid the student to grasp the issues at hand and help him or her develop strategies to deal with them. This book addresses problems and questions that any bachelor student in the social sciences should be aware of, including plagiarism, data fabrication and other types of fraud, data augmentation, various forms of research bias, but also peer pressure, issues with confidentiality and questions regarding conflicts of interest. Cheating, ‘free riding’, and broader issues that relate to the place of the social sciences in society are also included. The book concludes with a step-by-step approach designed to coach a student through a research application process.