Conceptual and Practical Research and Statistics for Social Workers

Conceptual and Practical Research and Statistics for Social Workers prepares students to intuitively theorize and utilize research and statistics within their social work practice. The book fosters the skills, savvy, and knowledge students need to interpret, apply, and produce studies within the discipline, enhancing their ability to become better consumers and producers of social work research.

The book features two main sections, Research and Statistics, and its organization reflects the basic research process. The text begins with coverage of research questions and design and then introduces various data collection methods and instruments. Students then learn how to effectively analyze data and report and disseminate key findings. Throughout, readers build their understanding of methodological, ethical, and logical concepts in research and statistics, become familiar with basic needs assessment and program evaluation, develop the ability to choose appropriate statistics, and more.

Employing everyday language, social work examples, metaphors, humor, and visual mapping, Conceptual and Practical Research and Statistics for Social Workers helps students tap into their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop key competencies. The text is an ideal resource for both undergraduate and graduate-level programs in social work.

Francis K. O. Yuen, DSW, ACSW is a professor in the Division of Social Work at California State University, Sacramento, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate level courses in statistics and research for social workers, social work practice, and grant writing. He has published widely and has served as the editor for a refereed journal for more than a decade. In addition to being a social worker and agency administrator, he has been an evaluator and consultant for many government, private nonprofit agencies, and universities, both in the United States and internationally.