Essential Research Methods for Social Work

Rubin (U. or Texas at Austin) and Babbie (Chapman U.) created the third edition of this text to answer the needs of instructors looking for a less advanced text than the other editions, but still retaining the essential research methods content in sufficient depth and breadth, with social work illustrations and applications throughout and with a constant focus on the utility of social work research in social work practice. Significant changes in this text as compared to the previous editions, include showing how its contents pertain to the core competencies delineated in the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS); an increased attention to mixed methods inquiry, which combines qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry within the same study; changes to chapters 4, 5, 9, 14, 15 and 16; the book's companion website, cengage.com/social_work/Rubin; an instructor's manual; the practice behaviors workbook; and more acknowledgements. The text includes nineteen chapters separated into eight parts: An introduction to scientific inquiry in social work; the research process; problem formulation and measurement; sampling and surveys; designs for evaluating programs and practice; additional qualitative and quantitative research methods; ethical and cultural issues in social work; and data analysis. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)