Читать книгу Social Work Research Methods - Reginald O. York - Страница 34

When students have completed the content of this book, they will be able to enhance their practice with the use of published research studies. They will know the extent to which the practices they choose are based on evidence. In addition, students will be able to evaluate their own practice through their own research. This means they will be able to evaluate whether their practice achieves the intended objectives using data they have collected and analyzed statistically.

In this text, students will encounter knowledge about social work research methods that is user-friendly, practical, and applied to specific tasks in the completion of research studies. They will end this experience with an enhanced appreciation of science, an understanding of the research process, knowledge of critical concepts in research, and the ability to complete an entire research study on their own.

Emphasis is placed on the application of knowledge of essential concepts, with special attention given to the evaluation of practice. The interdependence of research tasks is illustrated in several ways, such as, for example, the fact that a good definition of target behavior will guide the selection of the appropriate measurement tool. The mystery of statistics will be substantially reduced by the student’s experience with the analysis of data using a convenient Internet website using simple instructions.

This content of this text is grounded in my several decades of experience teaching research methods at more than one university and by my experience as the author of four other research texts. I have observed the experiences of more than a thousand social work students in the pursuit of knowledge about research methods. My students have taught me a lot about how best to present knowledge about this topic. I am in indebted to them for their contributions.