Social Work Research And Evaluation

Over thirty years of input from instructors and students have gone into this popular research methods text, resulting in a refined ninth edition that is easier to read, understand, and apply than ever before. Using unintimidating language and real-world examples, it introduces students to the key concepts of evidence-based practice that they will use throughout their professional careers. It emphasizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, data collection methods, and data analysis, providing students with the tools they need to become evidence-based practitioners.

Since the first edition in 1981, Social Work Research and Evaluation has provided graduate-level social work students with basic research and evaluation concepts to help them become successful evidence-based practitioners, evidence-informed practitioners, and practitioners who are implementing evidence-based programs. Students will gain a thorough understanding and appreciation for how the three dominant research methodologies-quantiative, qualitative, and mixed methods-will help them achieve their professional goals, regardless of their area of specialization. Written in clear, everyday language, this edition also includes the pedagogical features that will make it easy and effective for classroom use.

This book is the longest standing and most widely adopted text in the field of social work research and evaluation. Since the first edition in 1981, it has been designed to provide beginning social work students the basic methodological foundation they need in order to successfully complete more advanced research courses that focus on single-system designs or program evaluations. Its content is explained in extraordinarily clear everyday language which is then illustrated with social work examples that social work students not only can understand, but appreciate as well. Many of the examples concern women and minorities, and special emphasis is given to the application of research methods to the study of these groups. Without a doubt, the major strength of this book is that it is written by social workers for social work students. The editors have once again secured an excellent and diverse group of social work research educators. The 31 contributors know firsthand, from their own extensive teaching and practice experiences, what social work students need to know in relation to research. They have subjected themselves to a discipline totally uncommon in compendia-that is, writing in terms of what is most needed for an integrated basic research methods book, rather than writing in line with their own predilections.

Social Work Research and Evaluation applies systematically developed research knowledge to social work practice and emphasizes the “doing” of social work as a reciprocal avenue for generating research evidence and social work knowledge. Using the Examined Practice Model, authors Elizabeth G. DePoy and Stephen F. Gilson present research as the identification of a problem and then proceed to evaluate the efficacy of social work practice in its resolution. Diverse theories, actions, and sets of evidence from a range of professional and disciplinary perspectives are included to underscore the importance of integrating evaluation and practice in research.

Refined with input from students and instructors who used the previous seven editions, the authors have updated, rearranged, and added to the latest edition of this popular textbook. It contains six new chapters, four on evidence-based practice, emphasizing how important it is for students to master that concept; and it lays the foundation for their understanding of it by providing a comprehensive explanation of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. This edition is more current, useful, and aesthetically pleasing than ever before, and is sure to hold its place as one of the premier textbooks for research methods courses, appreciated by students and professors alike for its user-friendliness, and renowned for the way it helps social work programs produce professional, capable social workers.

Revised editon of Program evaluation for social workers, 2012.