Experimental Research Designs in Social Work - by Bruce A Thyer (Paperback)

About the Book

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of experimental research in the field of social work. Bruce A. Thyer illustrates key principles through examples of how social workers have evaluated real-world practice approaches.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

A valuable resource that equips social work researchers and practitioners with the tools and knowledge to conduct high-quality experimental research. Thyer's detailed exploration of experimental design types, ethical concerns, and practical applications makes this book a critical addition to the field, encouraging a more scientifically rigorous approach to social work research.--I Made Suarsana & Hestu Tansil La'ia "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment"

Social work students will greatly benefit from this excellent book....The text provides a clear integration of theory, practice, and research methods.--Denise Anderson "Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment"

An exceptional primary or secondary textbook for social work research and evaluation courses. It also serves as a valuable reference for social work practitioners aiming to increase their knowledge of research methodologies.-- "Social Work Education"

If you are actively engaged in professional social work, i.e., if you define yourself as a social worker, I'm recommending this book specifically for you.-- "Journal of Evidence Based Social Work"

An elegantly written, erudite, humane, entertaining, perhaps a bit "show-offy" argument for the critical role of RCTs in demonstrating the effectiveness of some and ineffectiveness of other social work interventions.--Irwin Epstein "Research on Social Work Practice"

This is an excellent book - focused, clear, readable, balanced and scholarly - and a valuable addition to the social work literature.-- "European Social Work Research"

Bruce Thyer has been a long-term advocate for clients receiving careful appraisals of potential service outcomes. Experimental Research Designs in Social Work is an important contribution for its extensive account of social work experiments and an up-to-date description of how to discover opportunities to evaluate practices and policies, adding to our knowledge about outcomes.--Eileen Gambrill, University of California Berkeley

I wish I had this book years ago! This comprehensive and beautifully written volume will be useful to both aspiring and seasoned experimental researchers. Experimental Research Designs in Social Work will be a work I reach to again and again as I plan and execute my next experimental trial.--Joseph Himle, University of Michigan

Outcome studies are essential to know whether or not an intervention is effective. This text--written by one of the foremost experts in experimental research--is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in designing, conducting, or evaluating intervention research.--David R. Hodge, Arizona State University

Thyer has helped to take the "experimenting" out of teaching experimental research design. This text provides a clear blueprint for teaching and learning about experimental research design. I trust that this book will be an invaluable resource for social work scholars for many years to come.--Javonda Williams, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Thyer skillfully presents the key principles and importance of experimental designs to social work. Easy to follow yet intellectually invigorating, this book seamlessly integrates theory, practice, and research methods.--Harold Briggs, University of Georgia

About the Author

Bruce A. Thyer is a distinguished research professor and former dean at the College of Social Work at Florida State University as well as an extraordinary professor with the Optentia Research Unit, North-West University, South Africa. He is the editor of the journal Research on Social Work Practice and coeditor of the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.