Amy J. L. Baker is director of research at the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection at the New York Foundling and the author of Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind (2007), which was featured in the New York Times. She is the author or coauthor of more than seventy peer-reviewed publications and five other books. Her website is www.amyjlbaker.com. Benjamin S. Charvat is a senior program manager at the New York City Department of Education and adjunct assistant professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. For more than a decade, he has taught research methods, program evaluation, and advanced social policy in children and families.

• List of Figures List of Tables Foreword, by Christine James-Brown Acknowledgments 1. Introduction to Child Welfare Research Part 1. Planning and Developing Research Studies 2. The Philosophy and Logic of Research 3. Ethical Considerations 4. Problem Formulation 5. Sampling Theory Part 2. Design Strategies 6. Single-System Design 7. Group Designs 8. Using Existing Data Part 3. Measurement Strategies 9. Measurement Theory and Measure Selection 10. Surveys 11. Case Studies 12. Focus Groups 13. In-Depth Interviews Part 4. Data Analysis and Writing Up and Sharing Research Results 14. Data Analysis Techniques 15. Dissemination of Research Findings Part 5. Special Topics in Agency Practice 16. Continuous Quality Improvement in Agency Practice 17. Agency-Based Program Evaluation 18. Final Thoughts Classroom Discussion and Activities Glossary 1. Social Science Research Methods Terms Glossary 2. Child Welfare Practice and Policy Terms References Index

Amy J. L. Baker is director of research at the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection at the New York Foundling and the author of Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind (2007), which was featured in the New York Times. She is the author or coauthor of more than seventy peer-reviewed publications and five other books. Her website is www.amyjlbaker.com. Benjamin S. Charvat is a senior program manager at the New York City Department of Education and adjunct assistant professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. For more than a decade, he has taught research methods, program evaluation, and advanced social policy in children and families.

• List of Figures List of Tables Foreword, by Christine James-Brown Acknowledgments 1. Introduction to Child Welfare Research Part 1. Planning and Developing Research Studies 2. The Philosophy and Logic of Research 3. Ethical Considerations 4. Problem Formulation 5. Sampling Theory Part 2. Design Strategies 6. Single-System Design 7. Group Designs 8. Using Existing Data Part 3. Measurement Strategies 9. Measurement Theory and Measure Selection 10. Surveys 11. Case Studies 12. Focus Groups 13. In-Depth Interviews Part 4. Data Analysis and Writing Up and Sharing Research Results 14. Data Analysis Techniques 15. Dissemination of Research Findings Part 5. Special Topics in Agency Practice 16. Continuous Quality Improvement in Agency Practice 17. Agency-Based Program Evaluation 18. Final Thoughts Classroom Discussion and Activities Glossary 1. Social Science Research Methods Terms Glossary 2. Child Welfare Practice and Policy Terms References Index

Amy J. L. Baker is director of research at the Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection at the New York Foundling and the author of Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind (2007), which was featured in the New York Times. She is the author or coauthor of more than seventy peer-reviewed publications and five other books. Her website is www.amyjlbaker.com. Benjamin S. Charvat is a senior program manager at the New York City Department of Education and adjunct assistant professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. For more than a decade, he has taught research methods, program evaluation, and advanced social policy in children and families.

• List of Figures List of Tables Foreword, by Christine James-Brown Acknowledgments 1. Introduction to Child Welfare Research Part 1. Planning and Developing Research Studies 2. The Philosophy and Logic of Research 3. Ethical Considerations 4. Problem Formulation 5. Sampling Theory Part 2. Design Strategies 6. Single-System Design 7. Group Designs 8. Using Existing Data Part 3. Measurement Strategies 9. Measurement Theory and Measure Selection 10. Surveys 11. Case Studies 12. Focus Groups 13. In-Depth Interviews Part 4. Data Analysis and Writing Up and Sharing Research Results 14. Data Analysis Techniques 15. Dissemination of Research Findings Part 5. Special Topics in Agency Practice 16. Continuous Quality Improvement in Agency Practice 17. Agency-Based Program Evaluation 18. Final Thoughts Classroom Discussion and Activities Glossary 1. Social Science Research Methods Terms Glossary 2. Child Welfare Practice and Policy Terms References Index