Praise for earlier editions: I have been using this textbook as a required reading for my research class since 2004 because I found the text’s coverage of research concepts to be in-depth, and easy to read without the technicalities. —Ziblim Abukari, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Westfield State University Applied Social Research. . . is thorough, well organized, and clear, making it highly appreciated by my students. —Barry Loneck, PhD, School of Social Welfare, SUNY Albany Discover the practical side of research in human services with this easy-to-follow classic Designed for students and professionals in social work, public administration, nursing, criminal justice, and other human services fields, this text breaks down complex concepts into accessible, real-world applications. Follow along with easy-to-read language and engaging examples to uncover nonintimidating, practical tools for everyday problem-solving. Several new features, such as recorded practitioner interviews and Technology in Research boxes, clarify and reinforce the value of applied social research and innovative tools real professionals use in their work. This textbook takes readers on a journey through the entire research process, from identifying problems to collecting and analyzing data, and finally, to effectively communicating your findings. Each chapter closes with critical thinking and self-assessment questions to help evaluate students’ understanding of the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), promoting in-depth learning. Instructors will also welcome a wide array of instructor resources, including a new Instructor Manual, Sample Syllabi, Test Bank, and chapter PowerPoint presentations. New to the Eleventh Edition: Every chapter opens with an extended vignette highlighting how professionals incorporate research methods into their work. New Practitioner Profiles provide real-world insights into human services, and podcast segments with recorded interviews are included with every chapter. Chapters now include Technology in Research and Research in Practice boxes, helping readers understand the research practice and technological innovations. The new Instructor Manual includes additional discussion questions relating to the podcasts, learning activities to help students evaluate competencies, and more. Key Features: Clear explanations of the research process, from problem-solving to data analysis, simplifies learning. Explore real-life stories via practitioner interviews and vignettes in every chapter. All chapters close with bulleted main points, key terms for review, and several types of questions for evaluating competencies and self-assessment. Understand the link between research and improved services and develop logic-based research skills.

Presenting the methods of social science research within the context of human service practice, the Fifth Edition of APPLIED SOCIAL RESEARCH is ideal for courses emphasizing applied research in human services, sociology, social work, criminal justice, counseling, and community planning. In this revised edition, the authors show research and human service practice as allies bound by common goals of advancing knowledge and creating a better world. Covering the full range of topics included in traditional social science research methods courses, the book devotes considerable attention to both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Used at the undergraduate and graduate levels, this popular text explores the growing diversity of ways in which research is applied to practice and the extensive links between research and practice.

Do you make evidence-based decisions when designing and conducting evaluations, and use methods validated by experience? Because of the growing importance of evidence-based decision-making for improving programs and policies, this issue examines methods selection: Which is better? How can one be improved? Are the results of the project worth the resources expended? and how that leads to confidence in value-based conclusions. It presents a constructive dialogue on valuing in evaluation, with the goal of developing a pragmatic approach for guiding method choice and for promoting methodology policies that support multiple approaches to valuation being employed in context-appropriate ways so as to serve the public interest. This is the 133rd volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Evaluation, an official publication of the American Evaluation Association.

Applied Social Research focuses on the real world context of applied research. It discusses the often overlooked, yet essential process of planning: poor planning inevitably produces inadequate research. The text helps researchers decide how to approach their applied research problems and to think through the major issues in the design and analysis of their project. 'Applied Social Research' also discussed the idea that in applied social research the use of a single method type is unlikely to provide answers to the often complex set of research questions being addressed and highlights the benefits of using two or more research methods in the one study. The author argues that such mixed method designs are becoming widely used in applied social research, particularly where the methods combine qualitative and quantitative data, thereby enabling a richer set of data to provide various perspectives on the research topic, removing limitations imposed by using single methods. Examples of such designs are provided throughout, useful mixed method designs are outlined and their advantages discussed.

This book shows students the steps involved in the research process, the various strategies for conducting a valid social inquiry, and most importantly, the persuasiveness and elegance of reliable social research. It highlights the link between academic research and the real world. Included are carefully chosen examples of each of the major methodological techniques-survey, interviews, fieldwork observations, experiments, content analysis, secondary analysis and program evaluation. Also included are selections on sampling strategies, research ethics and both qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

Each "Bibliography" lists and annotates the most important works published during the year. They are arranged by topic and indexed by author, subject, and geographic location.