The Social Work Dissertation: Using Small-Scale Qualitative Methodology

✍ Scribed by Malcolm Carey

• Publisher: Open University Press
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 226
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Cover
......Page 1
Title Page
......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Tables......Page 10
List of case studies......Page 12
Acknowledgements......Page 14
How to use this book......Page 16
The book’s structure......Page 17
The nature of research......Page 18
The benefits of reseach for social work students and practitioners......Page 20
The social work dissertation......Page 21
Bachelor, Masters and post qualifcation courses......Page 22
Research ethics......Page 26
Summary......Page 29
Suggested reading......Page 30
Introduction......Page 31
1 Select an appropriate topic......Page 32
Possible topics......Page 34
3 Create a research proposal......Page 37
Aims and objectives......Page 38
Methodology and method......Page 39
Research committee applications......Page 40
5 Apply select method(s)......Page 43
7 Write up your dissertation......Page 44
Case examples......Page 45
Supervision......Page 48
Summary......Page 49
Suggested reading......Page 50
Qualitative research......Page 51
Qualitative data, evidence and triangulation......Page 53
Research concepts, issues and context......Page 55
Sampling......Page 56
Reliability, validity and rigour......Page 57
Inductive reasoning......Page 59
Deductive reasoning......Page 60
Summary......Page 61
Suggested reading......Page 62
Theory and the social work dissertation......Page 63
1 Positivism and post-positivism......Page 65
2 Interpretivism......Page 68
3 Critical theory......Page 71
4 Postmodernism......Page 75
Recent developments in social work theory and practice......Page 80
Ontology and ontological approaches......Page 82
Ontology, epistemology, methodology and method......Page 83
Suggested reading......Page 86
The literature review......Page 87
Primary and secondary sources......Page 91
Monographs......Page 92
Government publications......Page 94
Independent reports......Page 95
Reliable Internet sources......Page 96
The literature review process and critical analysis......Page 97
Literature based dissertations......Page 98
Structure......Page 100
Summary......Page 102
Suggested reading......Page 103
Social work methodology......Page 104
Case study research......Page 106
Case studies for a social work dissertation......Page 110
Evaluation research......Page 111
Feminist methodology......Page 116
Grounded theory......Page 120
Critiques of methodology and methodological pluralism......Page 123
Suggested reading......Page 124
The interview......Page 126
Interview formats......Page 128
Interview questions......Page 129
Core interview skills: approach and rapport......Page 130
Taping or note taking during interviews......Page 133
Potential problems......Page 134
Analysis......Page 137
Interview checklist......Page 138
Questionnaires......Page 139
Focus groups......Page 142
Summary......Page 145
Suggested reading......Page 146
Narrative research......Page 147
Potential problems and criticism of the narrative approach......Page 153
Discourse analysis......Page 155
Life history research......Page 163
Criticism of life history research......Page 168
Suggested reading......Page 169
Qualitative analysis......Page 170
within social work qualitative analysis......Page 175
Analysing documents......Page 179
Basic thematic analysis......Page 180
Comparative analysis......Page 181
Critical analysis......Page 183
Summary......Page 185
Suggested reading......Page 186
When to write......Page 187
Style and critical engagement......Page 188
Literature review......Page 191
Findings and analysis......Page 192
Key sections – a literature based dissertation......Page 193
Methodology......Page 194
Possible ways to improve your dissertation......Page 195
Try not to laboriously recite or rehash other people’s ideas......Page 196
Avoid repetition......Page 197
Dissemination......Page 198
Suggested reading......Page 199
Appendix......Page 200
Bibliography......Page 203
Index......Page 215
Back Cover
......Page 226