One What is social work research?
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Ian Shaw
Abstract
This chapter outlines what seems feasible by way of describing the nature of social work and its linked research. If scholars are to have a clear sense of what ‘research’ means, both in general and in their own field, they need to think of what ‘science’ means. This will include a brief consideration of the relationship between ‘science’ and ‘art’. Following from that, the chapter asks the curious question — curious because it seems strange but also because it encourages curiosity — of whether successful, interesting, or worthwhile research depends at all on serendipity.
Abstract
This chapter outlines what seems feasible by way of describing the nature of social work and its linked research. If scholars are to have a clear sense of what ‘research’ means, both in general and in their own field, they need to think of what ‘science’ means. This will include a brief consideration of the relationship between ‘science’ and ‘art’. Following from that, the chapter asks the curious question — curious because it seems strange but also because it encourages curiosity — of whether successful, interesting, or worthwhile research depends at all on serendipity.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables ix
- Introduction 1
- What is social work research? 3
- Why do research in social work? 25
- Doing research application 39
- Mapping social work research 61
- Social work research over time 81
- Place and space 103
- Sociological social work: a case example 121
- Doing good social work research 151
- References 173
- Index 191
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents vii
- List of figures and tables ix
- Introduction 1
- What is social work research? 3
- Why do research in social work? 25
- Doing research application 39
- Mapping social work research 61
- Social work research over time 81
- Place and space 103
- Sociological social work: a case example 121
- Doing good social work research 151
- References 173
- Index 191
