While many psychosocial interventions used in social work practice have strong research evidence supporting their efficacy, a surprising number do not, potentially resulting in harmful outcomes. In this book, the authors cast a critical eye on the reality of commonly used scientific and pseudoscientific practices in social work today. Stressing the need for separating research-based practices from those not supported by adequate levels of evidence, they examine the scientific and pseudoscientific bases for popular social work interventions used in a variety of treatment settings. The text describes the history and characteristics of pseudoscience, along with the misuse of legitimate research. It examines pseudoscience practices in clinical assessment; working with children, adolescents, and adults; treating individuals with developmental difficulties; and how social work education training can and should discourage pseudoscience. The concluding chapter describes pathways through which social work practice can become more firmly grounded in contemporary scientific research. With the aim of promoting critical thinking among social work students and practitioners regarding the research behind popular interventions, this engaging book will be of value for courses in critical thinking and EBP and useful for all social work students and practitioners. Key Features: Promotes critical thinking regarding the evidence-based research-or lack thereof-behind a variety of social work interventions Written by renowned social work educators Addresses the history and characteristics of pseudoscience Examines pseudoscience practices in assessment and work with children, adolescents, adults, and individuals with developmental difficulties Presented in a clear and engaging style

Originally published in 1987, here are up-to-the-minute insights and perspectives on the application of the principles of behavioralism to social work practice. The foremost authorities in the field of behavioral social work provided important empirically based practice and qualitative research findings that effectively illustrated the validity of behavioral approaches to social work. This practical volume features original research findings that employ either conventional group research methods or single-subject approaches to practice evaluation; comprehensive reviews of the state of the art in behavioral social work; and treatment modalities, including individual, marital and family, and group interventions. All in all, this title has the information professionals needed to keep abreast of the developments in this field at the time.

Click on the Supplements tab above for further details on the different versions of SPSS programs.The canonical Handbook is completely updated with more student-friendly features

The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods is a cutting-edge volume that covers all the major topics that are relevant for Social Work Research methods. Edited by Bruce Thyer and containing contributions by leading authorities, this Handbook covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches as well as a section that delves into more general issues such as evidence based practice, ethics, gender, ethnicity, International Issues, integrating both approaches, and applying for grants.

New to this Edition

More content on qualitative methods and mixed methods More coverage of evidence-based practice More support to help students effectively use the Internet A companion Web site at www.sagepub.com/thyerhdbk2e containing a test bank and PowerPoint slides for instructors and relevant SAGE journal articles for students.

This Handbook serves as a primary text in the methods courses in MSW programs and doctoral level programs. It can also be used as a reference and research design tool for anyone doing scholarly research in social work or human services.

Exposing readers to "what works" across a wide range of practice domains, Readings in Evidence-Based Social Work meets a growing need within schools of social work to incorporate the latest research on evidence-based practice into the curriculum. This one-of-a-kind reader synthesizes current knowledge, adds editorial commentary and questions, and presents state-of-the-art material to help students better understand which social work interventions work and why. Key Features: Uses systematic reviews to evaluate studies that test the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions Offers a three-part organization that focuses on the major practice domains of children and families, at-risk youth, and mental health and well-being Provides an overview of the techniques of meta-analysis and systematic review Includes original commentary and discussion questions before each major section and concludes each section with important practice points Discusses barriers to evidence-based social work practice, as well as directions for future work Readings in Evidence-Based Social Work is appropriate for a wide variety of courses within the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) and Master's in Social Work (M.S.W.) curriculum including Generalist Social Work Practice; Foundations of Social Work Practice; Social Work Practice with Children and Families; Models of Intervention; Direct Practice in Social Work, Social Work Research; Interpersonal Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups; Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and many others.

Experimental research is of great value to social work. Well-designed studies help social workers understand which approaches are most effective, with implications for both practice with individual clients and social policy more broadly. Many social work practitioners conduct studies that randomly assign clients to specific interventions and various control groups in order to assess policy outcomes. However, social work programs often do not teach experimental methods. Critics continue to assert that true experiments are impractical, unethical, or simply too blunt a tool to evaluate the effects of social work practices and policies. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of experimental research in the field of social work. Bruce A. Thyer describes the logic and design of experimental methods, helping readers understand the basics and then exploring increasingly complex and sophisticated research. He illustrates key principles through examples of how social workers have evaluated real-world practice approaches. The book considers recruitment and representation of marginalized groups, the ethical issues involved in the design and conduct of experiments, and how social work researchers can ensure that all participants in an experimental study benefit from effective care. An appendix contains a chronological listing of published studies authored by social workers who conducted experimental research. Accessible to social work undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students alike and valuable for professionals from clinical workers to policy analysts, this book demonstrates the utility of experimental research across the entire spectrum of social work practice.

Experimental research is of great value to social work. Well-designed studies help social workers understand which approaches are most effective, with implications for both practice with individual clients and social policy more broadly. Many social work practitioners conduct studies that randomly assign clients to specific interventions and various control groups in order to assess policy outcomes. However, social work programs often do not teach experimental methods. Critics continue to assert that true experiments are impractical, unethical, or simply too blunt a tool to evaluate the effects of social work practices and policies. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of experimental research in the field of social work. Bruce A. Thyer describes the logic and design of experimental methods, helping readers understand the basics and then exploring increasingly complex and sophisticated research. He illustrates key principles through examples of how social workers have evaluated real-world practice approaches. The book considers recruitment and representation of marginalized groups, the ethical issues involved in the design and conduct of experiments, and how social work researchers can ensure that all participants in an experimental study benefit from effective care. An appendix contains a chronological listing of published studies authored by social workers who conducted experimental research. Accessible to social work undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students alike and valuable for professionals from clinical workers to policy analysts, this book demonstrates the utility of experimental research across the entire spectrum of social work practice.

Social workers have a long, proud history of service in most branches of the United States military. The experiences of social workers and other human service professionals of all military ranks have an important, often profound, and lasting impact that informs not only their practice within the military but throughout their career long after they have left the combat zone. In exploring the experiences of 13 American combat social workers (CSWs)-whose role is, among other things, providing military mental health services to members in their unit-this book shares lessons from military service through the lens of social work practitioners. The text includes strategies learned about social work practice in a war zone that are highly applicable to other highly stressful contexts (e.g., crisis intervention, stress reduction procedures, suicide prevention, brief psychotherapy, and consultation on family issues). Combat Social Work is uniquely positioned to serve as a valuable resource for social workers and other mental health providers interested in the assessment and treatment of trauma with active members of the military and military veterans.

Originally published in 1987, here are up-to-the-minute insights and perspectives on the application of the principles of behavioralism to social work practice. The foremost authorities in the field of behavioral social work provided important empirically based practice and qualitative research findings that effectively illustrated the validity of behavioral approaches to social work. This practical volume features original research findings that employ either conventional group research methods or single-subject approaches to practice evaluation; comprehensive reviews of the state of the art in behavioral social work; and treatment modalities, including individual, marital and family, and group interventions. All in all, this title has the information professionals needed to keep abreast of the developments in this field at the time.

It is usually the case that ethical and pragmatic considerations preclude the use of randomly assigning social work clients to experimental and comparative treatment conditions. In such instances, the practicality of employing a quasi-experimental method becomes an excellent alternative. Quasi-experimental research designs allow researchers to compare groups, and the use of increasingly sophisticated programs provides greater statistical control for what has become the most widely employed research approach used to evaluate the outcomes of social work programs and policies. This pocket guide describes the logic, design, and conduct of the range of such designs, encompassing pre-experiments, quasi-experiments making use of a control or comparison group, and time-series designs. An introductory chapter describes the valuable role these types of studies have played in social work, from the 1930s to the present. Subsequent chapters delve into each design type's major features, the kinds of questions it is capable of answering, and its strengths and limitations. By linking the theoretical discussion of quasi-experimental designs with actual applications in social work literature, the usefulness and vitality of these research methods comes alive for readers. While this book can be utilized as a manual, it will also have great value for practitioners seeking a greater conceptual understanding of quasi-experimental studies in social work literature. Human service professionals planning to undertake a program evaluation of their agency's services will find this book helpful in understanding the steps and actions needed to adopt a quasi-experimental strategy.

A brief guide to help students understand difficult terms in their research courses. This pocket guide is in an ideal supplement to the many discipline specific texts on research methods and statistics. The authors are prominent researchers and have years of writing and research experience. The book will also contain an interactive CD rom, which can be downloaded to their pc and searched as needed. The book contains over 1000 research and statistical terms, written in jargon free, easy to understand terminology. It will be a quick guide for students who are taking research methods courses as well as those who are working on their research projects.

Offering readers the most current knowledge on what works in substance abuse treatment today This one-of-a-kind anthology presents state-of-the-art material to help researchers better understand which interventions work and why, and it includes editorial commentary and critical thinking questions for each selection. The editors have organized this volume according to the process of evidence-based practice introduction to evidence-based practice, assessment, gender-based and culturally sensitive interventions, treatment issues and innovations, and policy considerations. Connecting science and clinical research to the practical needs of persons with substance and mental health disorders, this volume is a groundbreaking resource for those who need empirically based material on treatment innovations. Key Features Data on a wide range of cutting-edge issues such as housing for homeless alcoholics and use of prescription medications to reduce drug cravings Content by forward-looking experts in substance abuse treatment that promotes a public health perspective Five-part organization focused on the major practice domains of parentcentered intervention, gender-based and culturally sensitive programming, and interventions across the life span

Target Audience This is a must-have resource for substance abuse and mental health practitioners, faculty, policy makers, and students."

Exposing readers to "what works" across a wide range of practice domains, Readings in Evidence-Based Social Work meets a growing need within schools of social work to incorporate the latest research on evidence-based practice into the curriculum. This one-of-a-kind reader synthesizes current knowledge, adds editorial commentary and questions, and presents state-of-the-art material to help students better understand which social work interventions work and why. Key Features: Uses systematic reviews to evaluate studies that test the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions Offers a three-part organization that focuses on the major practice domains of children and families, at-risk youth, and mental health and well-being Provides an overview of the techniques of meta-analysis and systematic review Includes original commentary and discussion questions before each major section and concludes each section with important practice points Discusses barriers to evidence-based social work practice, as well as directions for future work Readings in Evidence-Based Social Work is appropriate for a wide variety of courses within the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) and Master's in Social Work (M.S.W.) curriculum including Generalist Social Work Practice; Foundations of Social Work Practice; Social Work Practice with Children and Families; Models of Intervention; Direct Practice in Social Work, Social Work Research; Interpersonal Practice with Individuals, Families and Small Groups; Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and many others.

Offering an insider's view of the subject, this practical guide demystifies the process of publishing in scholarly journals. The author explains how to increase the chances of having articles accepted, how to market published articles and how to achieve a consistent level of productive publishing.