An invaluable tool for health and social work students and
professionals who want to improve their practice through collaborative
research with patients, clients, and colleagues.
Throughout history, some of the most prominent contributors to health
and social sciences have been men and women comfortable with both
practice and academia. But today, research in health-related fields is
increasingly conducted in specialized settings by people who are first
and foremost researchers. Critics bemoan this loss of practice-based
research, long considered a vital part of the contribution that doctors,
nurses, public health workers, and social workers can make both to their
field and the communities in which they work. Unfortunately, the
explosion of new discoveries in health-related fields, along with the
exponential increase in the amount of knowledge being produced and the
growing demands of practice, have caused both the production and
application of knowledge to become highly specialized and increasingly
complex. This has resulted in a widening gap between research and
practice.
Recognizing the need for a guide to this type of research, Practitioner
Research for Social Work, Nursing, and the Health Professions is a
thoroughly reimagined version of a book originally published in 2011 in
the Netherlands. Aimed at American practitioners, it is a highly
practical guide for anyone in social work, nursing, and other health
care and social welfare settings. Its seven-step Practitioner Research
Method offers readers a tried-and-true approach to conducting research
in their own work environments, and the authors use real-world examples
to highlight strategies for overcoming barriers and incorporating
research.
While leading practitioners through each stage of the research process,
the authors explain in detail how to apply a variety of field-tested
tools and techniques. A unique and indispensable resource for students
in undergraduate and graduate research courses, as well as for seasoned
professionals who seek a practical guide for developing and implementing
their own research projects in social work, nursing, and the health
professions, this book is also the first textbook to introduce the
concept and practice of practitioner research to an American audience.
