Writing And Research In Social Work

Social workers are required to communicate in writing for a range of purposes and audiences. The new edition of this best-selling book aims to raise the profile of writing skills in social work practice. It encourages the development of writing techniques which will stand the reader in good stead throughout their professional career. Examples of the types of writing covered include: - Case-notes - Reports - Proposals - Literature reviews - Journal articles - Funding applications. Reflective exercises, hot tips for effective writing and further reading are included in each chapter. The book is also linked to the professional standards that structure training, practice and continuing professional development. It will be an essential study guide for all students, practitioners and managers in social work settings.

Writing is an important skill, not just for a social work degree, but also as an integral part of practice. Social workers need to be able to write effectively in a range of formats for different contexts. Equipping students with guidance on both academic and assessed writing, and writing in social work practice, this book will use case studies and examples to develop their ability to plan and respond to the challenges of new and familiar writing tasks.

Social work practitioners write for a variety of publications, and they are expected to show fluency in a number of related fields. Whether the target is a course instructor, scholarly journal, fellowship organization, or general news outlet, social workers must be clear, persuasive, and comprehensive in their writing, especially on provocative subjects. This first-of-its-kind guide features top scholars and educators providing a much-needed introduction to social work writing and scholarship. Foregrounding the process of social work writing, the coeditors particularly emphasize how to think about and approach one's subject in a productive manner. The guide begins with an overview of social work writing from the 1880s to the present, and then follows with ideal strategies for academic paper writing, social work journal writing, and social work research writing. A section on applied professional writing addresses student composition in field education, writing for and about clinical practice, the effective communication of policy information to diverse audiences, program and proposal development, advocacy, and administrative writing. The concluding section focuses on specific fields of practice, including writing on child and family welfare, contemporary social issues, aging, and intervention in global contexts. Grounding their essays in systematic observations, induction and deduction, and a wealth of real-world examples, the contributors describe the conceptualization, development, and presentation of social work writing in ways that better secure its power and relevance.

This invaluable guide helps social workers develop the writing skills necessary for a successful career. Actual examples drawn from all arenas of social work demonstrate strong and problematic writing. Organized around the core social work curriculum, the book’s examples are applicable to every foundation course. Each example begins with field notes and proceeds through drafts to the final version, with explanations about corrections. Readers learn by doing through exercises interspersed throughout. Written by a social work and an English professor, the book provides a fusion of writing and practice, covering all the tools necessary for developing professional social work writing skills. Key Features: Provides chapters for each of the BSW/MSW foundational courses (HBSE, Practice, Policy, Research, and Fieldwork) to exemplify writing expectations in each area. Juxtaposes original drafts and corrected final versions with explanations about corrections made to highlight common mistakes. Includes writing samples used in actual practice such as research reports, court documentation, grant applications, intake forms, progress notes, press releases, and case assessments that exemplify every day challenges. Provides self-assessments and exercises to help readers identify their strengths and challenges. Highlights typical writing challenges including sentence structure, punctuation, use of voice and excessive verbiage, and sample resumes and cover letters, providing a valuable lifetime resource. Encourages practice in writing in different contexts and with different audiences to prepare readers for working in any social work venue. Covers legal and ethical issues and writing to influence policy and transmit research findings. New to this edition: Emphasizes writing fundamentals (new Ch. 1) by breaking the process into steps from note taking, to rough drafts, to editing the final version, to help students master most writing tasks. Connects critical thinking (new Ch. 2) and cultural competency skills (new Ch. 3) to writing and infuses this information throughout the book. Addresses CSWE 2015 EPAS and competencies to better prepare readers for writing professional documentation. Discusses the use of the APA style used in social work practice. Provides instructor’s resources including Power Points, a sample syllabus, and assignments, tips, and activities for using the book in writing and foundational courses. Designed for writing-specific social work courses such as interviewing and documentation, professional seminars, as well as writing modules in all BSW and MSW foundation courses, this book is ideal for anyone interested in strengthening their social work writing skills.

Research skills are central to successfully completing the social work degree. This title will help students develop those skills and apply them to all aspects of their work. Detailed information is included on a variety of research methods, such as focus groups, literature reviews, questionnaires and interviews, which are fundamental to students' research projects. Packed with useful practical examples, it provides plenty of opportunity for critical examination of research methods and their outcomes.

`A really fine book... an impressive work that adds much to the development of the use of qualitative methodology in social work research' - William J Reid, University at Albany 'The back cover of the book proclaims that "Qualitative Research in Social Work will be essential reading for all students, practitioners and researchers undertaking social work research." That just about sums it up for me' - British Journal of Social Work `This book is a significant milestone in the development of social work research. It is characterized by an unparalleled command of the field of qualitative research in social work, and by a commitment to an understanding of the demands and potential of day-to-day social work practice' - Mike Fisher, Director of Research, National Institute for Social Research `Qualitative Research in Social Work edited by Ian Shaw and Nick Gould, provides a state-of-the-art exposition and analysis of qualitative inquiry in relation to social work.... The book has an unusual degree of coherence for one with several authors. The five chapters by the editors (parts one and three) do an exceptional job of providing the necessary background information and setting the context for the six application chapters and of highlighting and discussing the issues raised in those chapters. The editors are respected scholars well-versed in the theory and practice of qualitative research. Similarly, the contributing authors represent both considerable experience in this field and a diversity of interests. This combination makes Qualitative Research in Social Work an excellent text for students, practitioners, and researchers alike. It is a benchmark for social work progress in this area and points the way for the continued development of qualitative inquiry' - Professor Stanley L Witkin, Department of Social Work, University of Vermont There is a clear need for a book which treats qualitative research as a substantive theme within social work, setting epistemological and methodological issues in a context whereby the agenda is set by, and is relevant to, social work. Qualitative Research in Social Work is just such a book and will be immensely useful for students, practitioners and researchers interested in and undertaking social work research. In the introductory chapters the co-authors set qualitative research within a context of social work developments and problems. The central section provides additional topicality and directness through specially commissioned chapters from leading figures in this field each covering key qualitative methods and relating them to social work settings, and the final section which reviews qualitative research in social work, and aims to exemplify ways in which social work thought and practice can be advanced through research.

Writing and research in Social Work is a practical guide for social work students that has three goals: (1) to provide instruction for students on how to conduct research for a literature review; (2) to provide active learning activities to write a literature review; and, (3) to offer strategies on how to present a literature review. After working through this guide, students will be able to develop a literature review that could aid in evaluating an agency practice or service. Students will experience a direct connection between research and practice, and contribute to the improvement of delivery of social work services.

This research methods text for social work is accessible to students in level and writing style, and its paperback format makes it less expensive than most texts on the market. The authors are social work instructors who understand the realities of social work practice and have included many social work practice examples. The text is ideal for a one-semester or quarter research methods course for undergraduate or graduate students with little or no prior knowledge of research. In response to reviewers and students, the fourth edition infuses content in three major areas. First, qualitative research methods are discussed and appropriate examples are offered throughout the book, not just in a single chapter. Secondly, research to evaluate practice, while still the focus of the last two chapters, is discussed alongside research for building a professional knowledge base at many points throughout the text. Third, discussion of ethical issues appears in many other places besides Chapter 2. It receives special emphasis in the discussions of program evaluations and single system research.