The social work dissertation : using small-scale qualitative methodology / Malcolm Carey.

By:

Carey, Malcolm

Material type: Text

TextPublication details: Maidenhead : McGraw-Hill/Open University Press, 2009.Description: viii, 210 p. : ill. ; 23 cmISBN:

9780335225491 (pbk.)
0335225497 (pbk.)
0335225489 (hbk.)
9780335225484 (hbk.)

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

361.307 CAR

Contents:

Social work research and the dissertation -- The research process for a social work dissertation -- Key concepts in social work research -- Theory and social work research -- The literature review and literature based dissertations -- Social work methodology -- Traditional methods: interviews, questionnaires and focus groups -- Alternative methodology: narrative research, discourse analysis and life histories -- Qualitative analysis -- Writing up and dissemination.

Summary: This comprehensive book provides a clear and accessible guide for students undertaking small-scale qualitative research fpr a social work dissertation. Using jargon free, practical language, the book explains the research process and each of the key stages involved.

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Standard Loan	Thurles Library Main Collection	361.307 CAR (Browse shelf(Opens below))	0	Available		30026000063247
Standard Loan	Thurles Library Main Collection	361.307 CAR (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		30026000007509

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

""This excellently timed book is invaluable for social work students contemplating, or in the process of completing a modest qualitative study for a dissertation. Many barriers exist for students intending to embark on empirical work; this book, detailed but accessible, takes a theoretically informed approach to guide their path- it is much more than a pragmatic handbook."
Professor Steven M Shardlow, Chair of Social Work, The University of Salford, UK

"A trustworthy guide to the dissertation process from beginning to end. The advice offered is extremely sound, it is hard to disagree with anything Carey suggests, and if students choose to follow it they should considerably improve the quality of their submitted work."
Carolyn Taylor, Department of Applied Social Studies, University of Lancaster

"Most social work research dissertations use qualitative methodology - sometimes thinly so. Malcolm Carey's book answers the numerous questions students repeatedly ask, and in ways which will enrich the doing and teaching of dissertation work at both qualifying and postqualifying levels. It is written accessibly and with numerous helpfully worked examples. 'Have you read Carey?' may soon become a frequently heard question on social work courses. This book will definitely be near the top of my reading lists for dissertation skills courses."
Ian Shaw, Professor of Social Work, University of York

"Malcolm Carey is to be congratulated on this book. He has produced an accessible, user friendly, step by step guide to writing a dissertation which is packed with useful examples relevant to social work students. He has accomplished this without over-simplifying the concepts and theoretical perspectives he describes, thus ensuring that the reader can build upon what they have learned. The book will be helpful not only to qualifying the post-qualifying social work students, but to practitioners and managers who wish to undertake a piece of research, but feel a little daunted by the task."
Sue White, Professor of Social Work, Lancaster University, UK"

This comprehensive book provides a clear and accessible guide for students undertaking small-scale qualitative research for a social work dissertation. Using jargon free, practical language, the book explains the research process and each of the key stages involved. Also included are: Case examples of real student experiences Descriptions of key qualitative research concepts Examples used to explain theoretical models and research methodologies The book offers advice on how to get the most from supervision and explains the importance of ethics and political context within the research process. Use of social theory within research is explored, with suggestions of ways in which different theories can influence and help to contextualise social research.

Acknowledging the limited time and resources typically available to students, the book prioritises small-scale qualitative research. Literature based social work dissertations are discussed alongside key sources of information such as relevant journals and websites.

"The Social Work Dissertation" offers detailed yet concise explanations and is ideal for social work students at all levels, as well as social work practitioners.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

This comprehensive book provides a clear and accessible guide for students undertaking small-scale qualitative research fpr a social work dissertation. Using jargon free, practical language, the book explains the research process and each of the key stages involved.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

List of figures and: tables (p. ix)
List of case studies (p. xi)
Acknowledgements (p. xiii)
1 Social work research and the dissertation (p. 1)
Introduction (p. 1)
How to use this book (p. 1)
The book's structure (p. 2)
The nature of research (p. 3)
The benefits of research for social work students and practitioners (p. 5)
The social work dissertation (p. 6)
Bachelor, Masters and post qualification courses (p. 7)
Research ethics (p. 11)
Summary (p. 14)
Suggested reading (p. 15)
2 The research process for a social work dissertation (p. 16)
Introduction (p. 15)
Select an appropriate topic (p. 7)
Possible topics (p. 19)
Critically review the literature (p. 22)
Create a research proposal (p. 22)
Research committee applications (p. 25)
Choose or construct a research methodology (p. 28)
Apply select method(s) (p. 28)
Analyse data and findings (p. 29)
Write up your dissertation (p. 29)
Disseminate findings (p. 30)
Case examples (p. 30)
Supervision (p. 33)
Summary (p. 34)
Suggested reading (p. 35)
3 Key concepts in social work research (p. 36)
Introduction (p. 36)
Qualitative research (p. 36)
Applied and pure research (p. 38)
Qualitative data, evidence and triangulation (p. 38)
Research concepts, issues and context (p. 40)
Sampling (p. 41)
Reliability, validity and rigour (p. 42)
Inductive and deductive reasoning (p. 44)
Summary (p. 46)
Suggested reading (p. 47)
4 Theory and social work research (p. 48)
Introduction (p. 48)
Theory and the social work dissertation (p. 48)
Epistemology and social research theory (p. 50)
Recent developments in social work theory and practice (p. 65)
Ontology and ontological approaches (p. 67)
Ontology, epistemology, methodology and method (p. 68)
Summary (p. 71)
Suggested reading (p. 71)
5 The literature review and literature based dissertations (p. 72)
Introduction (p. 72)
The literature review (p. 72)
Primary and secondary sources (p. 76)
Key sources of secondary information (p. 77)
Keeping records and taking notes (p. 82)
The literature review process and critical analysis (p. 82)
Literature based dissertations (p. 83)
Summary (p. 87)
Suggested reading (p. 88)
6 Social work methodology (p. 89)
Introduction (p. 89)
Social work methodology (p. 89)
Case study research (p. 91)
Evaluation research (p. 96)
Feminist methodology (p. 101)
Grounded theory (p. 105)
Critiques of methodology and methodological pluralism (p. 108)
Summary (p. 109)
Suggested reading (p. 109)
7 Traditional methods: interviews, questionnaires and focus groups (p. 111)
Introduction (p. 111)
The interview (p. 111)
Questionnaires (p. 124)
Focus groups (p. 127)
Summary (p. 130)
Suggested reading (p. 131)
8 Alternative methodology: narrative research, discourse analysis and life histories (p. 132)
Introduction (p. 132)
Narrative research (p. 132)
Discourse analysis (p. 140)
Life history research (p. 148)
Summary (p. 154)
Suggested reading (p. 154)
9 Qualitative analysis (p. 155)
Introduction (p. 155)
Qualitative analysis (p. 155)
Analysis for a social work dissertation (p. 160)
Analysing documents (p. 164)
Basic thematic analysis (p. 165)
Comparative analysis (p. 166)
Critical analysis (p. 168)
Summary (p. 170)
Suggested reading (p. 171)
10 Writing up and dissemination (p. 172)
Introduction (p. 172)
When to write (p. 172)
Style and critical engagement (p. 173)
Key sections-an empirical based dissertation (p. 176)
Key sections-a literature based dissertation (p. 178)
Possible ways to improve your dissertation (p. 180)
Dissemination (p. 183)
Summary (p. 184)
Suggested reading (p. 184)
Appendix (p. 185)
Bibliography (p. 188)
Index (p. 200)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Malcolm Carey has worked as a social worker with older and disabled people for many years. He has also worked extensively in social work education, both as a teacher and active researcher.