Two Why do research in social work?
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Ian Shaw
Abstract
This chapter distinguishes different ways scholars can understand the purpose of social work research, giving examples from the literature. Having recognised a range of appropriate purposes for doing research, it considers the consequence of this for how scholars deal with the tensions between these purposes. From there, the chapter considers how the presence of multiple purposes, sometimes in tension with one another, raises the question of how the purposes of social work research are, or should be, taken forward by collaborative, cooperative work. While collaboration may seem an obvious virtue, its achievement is not straightforward. One of the difficulties stems from how best to understand the relationship between social work in the academy and social work in the outside world.
Abstract
This chapter distinguishes different ways scholars can understand the purpose of social work research, giving examples from the literature. Having recognised a range of appropriate purposes for doing research, it considers the consequence of this for how scholars deal with the tensions between these purposes. From there, the chapter considers how the presence of multiple purposes, sometimes in tension with one another, raises the question of how the purposes of social work research are, or should be, taken forward by collaborative, cooperative work. While collaboration may seem an obvious virtue, its achievement is not straightforward. One of the difficulties stems from how best to understand the relationship between social work in the academy and social work in the outside world.
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
