Innovations in Social Work Research: Using Methods Creatively

378 Pages·2015·1.38 MB·English

by  Louise Hardwick

‘This excellent book offers ample evidence that social work researchers are
doing research in imaginative and productive ways across a variety of social
work settings. It contains a wealth of insights into the “doing” of research
using a wide variety of methods, and showcases the commitment of an
impressive cast of authors to using such research to support excellent social
work practice.’ Brid Featherstone, Professor of Social Work, Faculty of Health and
Social Care, The Open University
‘This is a rich and stimulating compendium of innovative social work
research…[it] illustrates the open-minded, methodological pluralism social
work really needs as an academic discipline.’ Sue White, Professor of Social Work
(Children and Families), Institute of Applied Social Studies, University of Birmingham
Innovations in
Innovations in
A valuable reference for understanding and applying innovative RS
SOCIAL
approaches to social work research. EO
SC
Featuring extended case studies of actual research projects,
EI
this book provides an overview of a number of central features A
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and qualities of social work research. It incorporates L
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both distinctive methodological exemplars and provides accounts CW WORK
of researcher strategies to address particular challenges, such as H
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carrying out studies with hard-to-reach populations. This book
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combines important methodological insights with pragmatic K
guidance on commonly experienced problems and how these
challenges can be overcome. RESEARCH
This is a key resource for social work and social care students,
social work practitioners and academics engaged in research.
Louise Hardwick lectures in the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and
Criminology at the University of Liverpool. She originally practised as a social
worker before moving into academia. Roger Smith PhD is Professor of Using Methods Creatively
Social Work in the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University.
Edited by
He qualified as a social worker and practised as a probation officer, specialising in
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Edited by
LOUISE HARDWICK,
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
ROGER SMITH AND
London N1 9BE, UK
400 Market Street, Suite 400 AIDAN WORSLEY
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
JKP
www.jkp.com Cover design: Rosamund Bird

Innovations in Social Work Research
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Edited by Joyce Lishman
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ISBN 978 1 84905 076 0
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Part of the Research Highlights in Social Work series
Innovations in
SOCIAL WORK
RESEARCH
Using Methods Creatively
Edited by
LOUISE HARDWICK,
ROGER SMITH AND
AIDAN WORSLEY
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
First published in 2016
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
73 Collier Street
London N1 9BE, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © Jessica Kingsley Publishers 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material
form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and
whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication)
without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the
provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a
licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby
Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission
to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work
may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Innovations in social work research / edited by Louise
Hardwick, Roger Smith and Aidan Worsley.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-84905-585-7 (alk. paper)
1. Social service--Research. I. Hardwick, Louise. II. Smith,
Roger S. (Roger Shipley), 1953- III. Worsley,
Aidan.
HV11.I466 2016
361.3072--dc23
2015009110
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84905 585 7
eISBN 978 1 78450145 7
LC: To C, my constant
RS: To Maggie, as ever
AW: To Lesley, for her love, support and guidance

Contents
Introduction .......................................... 11
Roger Smith; Durham University
SECTION 1: INNOVATIONS IN DESIGN AND PLANNING
1. Action Research for Social Justice: Researching and
Organising on Issues of Household Debt .................... 18
Sarah Banks; Durham University
2. A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Therapeutic Intervention
for Children Affected by Sexual Abuse ...................... 40
Tricia Jessiman, John Carpenter and Trish
O’Donnell; University of Bristol and NSPCC
3. Front Row Seats: Why Researchers Need to Get Closer to
Practice and How We Can Do So .......................... 59
David Westlake; University of Bedfordshire
4. Archival Resources for Social Work History .................. 77
Pat Starkey; University of Liverpool
5. A Study of Long-term Outcomes of Children with Harmful
Sexual Behaviours: Using Social Media to Reach and Engage
a ‘Hard-to-reach’ Population .............................. 92
Simon Hackett with Myles Balfe, Helen Masson and Josie Phillips;
Durham University and University of Huddersfield
6. Involving People with Dementia in a Systematic Review ....... 107
Nicolette Wade and Mike Fisher; University of Bedfordshire
7. Acting as a Critical Friend: Developmental Evaluations,
Service Users and the Role of the Researcher ................ 124
Roger Smith; Durham University
SECTION 2: INNOVATIONS IN RESEARCH METHODS
8. Observing Social Work Practice: Using Ethnographic and
Mobile Research Methods with Social Workers and
Service Users ......................................... 140
Harry Ferguson; University of Nottingham
9. Using Mobile Methods to Explore the Lives of Marginalised
Young Men in Manchester .............................. 155
Alastair Roy, Jenny Hughes, Lynn Froggett and Jennifer Christensen;
University of Central Lancashire and University of Manchester
10. Being Brave, Doing Creative: Using Visual Ethnography in
Social Work Research to Explore the Impact of Space and
Environment on Organisational Culture ................... 173
Jadwiga Leigh; University of Sheffield
11. Researching Recovery from Substance Misuse Using
Visual Methods ....................................... 191
Julian Manley, Alastair Roy and Lynn Froggett;
University of Central Lancashire
SECTION 3: INNOVATIONS IN DATA ANALYSIS
12. Validating Meaning Making: The Potential of
Phenomenological Inquiry .............................. 212
Sue Thompson; Avenue Media Solutions
13. The Elephant in the room: Taking Language Difference
Seriously in Research .................................. 228
Bogusia Temple; University of Central Lancashire
14. Data Analysis in Participatory Research with Adults with
Asperger’s Syndrome ................................... 241
Jackie Robinson; De Montfort University
15. Quantitative Research and the Secondary Analysis of
Longitudinal Data in Social Work Research ................. 259
Martin Elliott; Cardiff University