The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods

Bruce Thyer is currently a Professor and former Dean with the College of Social Work at Florida State University.  Dr. Thyer spent the years 1987 - 2002 with the University of Georgia, where he earned the rank of Distinguished Research Professor.  He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  In 2012 he was elected to the Social Work Academy of the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Thyer is the founder and current editor of one of social work′s premier journals, RESEARCH ON SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE, and is the author of over 250 articles, 80 chapters and he had authored or edited over 25 professional books.  His research interests involve the promotion of evidence-based practice, evaluation research, applied behavior analysis, and social work theory.

I like Thyer′s book, but I will use it as a recommended text, rather than a main text my research methods course. It can be a great resource for the doctoral students. For my needs, the text I currently use, Engel and Schutt, I think does a better job in covering Social Work research methodology. It has good structure and a continuity of ideas and themes.

• Preface to the First EditionPreface to the Second EditionAcknowledgmentsCh 1. Introductory Principles of Social Work Research - Bruce A. ThyerPART I: QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES: FOUNDATIONS OF DATA COLLECTIONCh 2. An Overview of Quantitative Research Methods - Phyllis Solomon and Jeffrey DraineCh 3. Probability and Sampling - William R. NugentCh 4. Reliability and Validity in Quantitative Research - Randall E.Basham, Catheleen Jordan, and Richard A. Hoefer Ch 5. Locating Assessment Instruments - Kevin Corcoran and Nikki HozackCh 6. Statistics for Social Workers - J. Timothy StocksPART II: QUALITATIVE APPROACHES: TYPES OF STUDIESCh 7. Descriptive Studies - Stephen Tripodi and Kimberly BenderCh 8. Survey Studies - Royce A. Hutson and Athena R. KolbeCh 9. Needs Assessments - Leslie M. Tutty and Michael A. RotheryCh 10. Secondary Data Analysis Studies - Melissa RadeyCh 11. Pre-Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Studies - Bruce A. ThyerCh 12. Randomized Controlled Experiments - Ram A. Cnaan and Stephen J. TripodiCh 13. Program Evaluation Studies - TK Logan and David RoyseCh 14. Single-System Studies - Mark A. MattainiCh 15. Using Cost ? Procedure ? Process ? Outcome Analysis - Brian T. Yates, Peter Delaney, and Dorothy Lockwood DillardCh 16. Meta-Analyses - Jacqueline Corcoran and Julia H. LittellCh 17. Systematic Reviews - Julia H. Littell and Jacqueline CorcoranPART III: QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES: FOUNDATIONS OF DATA COLLECTIONCh 18. An Overview of Qualitative Research Methods - Michael J. HoloskoCh 19. Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research - Cynthia S. Franklin Patricia A. Cody, and Michelle BallanPART IV: QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES: TYPES OF STUDIESCh 20. Narrative Case Studies - Jerrold R. Brandell and Theodore VarkasCh 21. Oral History Studies - Natalie Ames and Stephene DiepstraCh 22. Naturalistic Inquiry - Bart W. Miles and Bebra Jozefowicz-SimbeniCh 23. Participant Observation Studies - R. Kevin GrigsbyCh 24. Ethnographic Research Methods - Christine T. LoweryCh 25. Participatory Action Research Studies - Esther Blum, Tuula Heninonen, and Judy WhitePART V. CONCEPTUAL RESEARCHCh 26. Theoretical Research - Bruce A. ThyerCh 27. Historical Research - John R. Graham and Alean Al-KrenawiCh 28. Literature Reviews - Karen M. Sowers, Rod Ellis, and Adrienne DesselCh 29. Critical Analysis - William M. EpsteinCh 30. Policy Analyses - Susan D. EinbinderCh 31. Logic Models - Karen A. RandolphPART VI. GENERAL ISSUESCh 32. Ethical Issues in Social Work Research - Frederic G. ReamerCh 33. Gender, Ethnicity, and Racial Issues - Antoinette Y. Farmer and David BessCh 34. International Research - Jorge Delva and Marcela Castillo AltmanCh 35. Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods - Goutham Menon and Charles D. Cowger Ch 36. Applying for Research Grants - Scott M. Geron and Gail S. Steketee Author IndexSubject IndexAbout the Editors