Quantitative Research Methods for Social Work: Making Social Work Count

Social work knowledge and understanding draws heavily on research, and the ability to critically analyse research findings is a core skill for social workers. However, while many social work students are confident in reading qualitative data, a lack of understanding in basic statistical concepts means that this same confidence does not always apply to quantitative data.
The book arose from a curriculum development project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), in conjunction with the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the British Academy and the Nuffield Foundation. This was part of a wider initiative to increase the numbers of quantitative social scientists in the UK in order to address an identified skills gap. This gap related to both the conduct of quantitative research and the literacy of social scientists in being able to read and interpret statistical information.
The book is a comprehensive resource for students and educators. It is packed with activities and examples from social work covering the basic concepts of quantitative research methods – including reliability, validity, probability, variables and hypothesis testing – and explores key areas of data collection, analysis and evaluation, providing a detailed examination of their application to social work practice.