Handbook of Research Methods in Social Work

Edited by Margaret Alston, Professor of Social Work, Penny Buykx, Associate Professor, Wendy Foote, Associate Professor of Social Work and David Betts, Lecturer in Social Work, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia

‘With so many new challenges facing social work globally, this excellent book provides a timely guide to the uniqueness and strengths of the profession’s diverse research paradigm. While firmly linked to other traditions, the collected authors show that social work scholars and practitioners are well-positioned to adapt science to both practice and policy in ways that are exceptionally inclusive. With its special emphasis on Indigenous ways of knowing and the ethical practice of research with populations that are too often silenced, this book will be particularly useful to social workers conducting and using research, now and in the future.’

• Contents PART I HISTORY AND POLITICS 1 Introduction: research for social workers 2 Margaret Alston, Penny Buykx, Wendy Foote and David Betts 2 Social work research in the international space 11 Malcolm Payne 3 Social work: ontology, epistemology, and methodology 27 Dr Steve J. Hothersall 4 Why should Indigenous Peoples have anything to do with the Western research system and who gets to decide? 40 Bindi Bennett, Kelly Menzel and Olivia Donnini 5 Empowering elements of holistic well-being: a framework for social work research 53 Maritta Törrönen 6 Ethical issues in social work research 67 Wendy Bowles and Richard Hugman 7 Assessing scholarly impact: conducting bibliometric analyses 79 David R. Hodge PART II APPLYING A THEORETICAL LENS 8 Critical theory, research methodology and critical social work 88 Steve Rogowski and Nhung Le Thi 9 Feminist research: applying a postcolonial feminist lens 99 Ruth Phillips 10 Queer theory and social work research 110 David Betts and Annika Herb 11 Ecological social work 121 Kati Närhi and Aila-Leena Matthies 12 Social justice in social work research 133 David Hodgson and Lynelle Watts PART III METHODOLOGY AND METHODS IN PRACTICE 13 Radical social work research: policy and politics 148 Maria Lúcia T. Garcia and Gary Spolander 14 Quantitative research 158 Sabretta Alford and Barbra Teater 15 Talanoa as a way of life: a research methodology, policy approach, teaching tool and form of professional practice 174 andjoji Ravulo 16 Mixed methods research in social work: exploring alcohol and other drugs through interdisciplinary collaboration 186 Wulf Livingston, Penny Buykx, Joanne Neale and Lillian Bruland Selseng 17 Mixed methods research 199 Lauren N. Bidwell and Johanna C. Báez 18 Authentic co-design in social work research: principles and practices 212Kate Davies, Chris Krogh and Penny Buykx 19 Using formative evaluation data to shape knowledge in a multidisciplinary field 225 Sigrid James 20 Documentary analysis1 239 Shurlee Swain, Wendy Foote, Frank Golding and Chris Krogh 21 Participatory research 251 Alex Wagaman, Jenée Lee, Aaron Kemmerer and Kimberly Embe 22 Critical reflection in research 266 Jan Fook 23 The practitioner researcher 278 andiona McDermott 24 What are the benefits of using photo-elicitation research methods with criminal justice-involved populations? A scoping review 290 Katherine Williams 25 Implementing feminist, participatory, and decolonial approaches to social work research 308 Naomi Joy Godden PART IV RESEARCH IN COMPLEX SITUATIONS 26 Child and family social work research 324 Wendy Foote and Karen Healy 27 Research in criminal justice settings: a critical reflection approach 338 Frank D. Baffour, Philip K. Kankam and Portia Darkwa Baffour 28 Social work research with people who use alcohol and other drugs 350 Sarah MacLean and Penny Buykx 29 Research with people who are older 362 Barbara Fawcett 30 Research on violence against women 371 Lesley Laing 31 Research in disaster contexts 382 Louise Harms 32 Cross-cultural research 393 Margaret Alston, Mahfuza Mala and Hasina Zaman 33 Social work research and COVID-19 408 Teresa F. Bertotti, Ana M. Sobočan, Kimberly Strom, and Sarah Banks34 Behaving ethically during challenging disaster situations: undertaking research and delivering aid during the armed conflict in Ukraine 420 Lena Dominelli 35 Dealing with the unexpected in research 433 Liz Beddoe and Tarsem Singh Cooner