Sensitive Research in Social Work

Description

This book addresses issues related with researching sensitive topics in social work, focusing on marginalized, vulnerable and hard to reach people. It covers the definition, characteristics, challenges and opportunities of sensitive research, its philosophical roots and methodological debates, and the skills and values that are required along with the ethical, political and legal issues involved in conducting social work research. This book will cover innovative research methods appropriate for research on sensitive topics involving vulnerable people. It shines light on how to use traditional research methods sensitively, and how to generate data while minimizing the harm that can potentially be caused to research participants and researchers.  Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Boxes List of Activities 1: Sensitive Social Work Research Sensitive Research Why Sensitive Social Work Research Research Process Structure of the Book References Suggested Reading 2: The Philosophy of Sensitive Social Work Research Paradigm Building Blocks of Paradigms Axiology Ontology Epistemology Methodology and Methods Positivism Characteristics of Positivism Interpretivism Characteristics of Interpretivism Constructionism Characteristics of Constructionism Postmodernism Characteristics of Postmodernism Feminism Characteristics of Feminism Critical Research Characteristics of Critical Research Pragmatism Characteristics of Pragmatism Types of Research Quantitative Research Characteristics of Quantitative Research Qualitative Research Characteristics of Qualitative Research Similarities Between Qualitative and Quantitative Methods Mixed Methods Research Characteristics of Mixed Methods Research Research Strategies Survey Characteristics of Survey Data Collection Advantages Disadvantages Narrative Approaches Characteristics of Narrative Approaches Types of Narrative Approach Data Collection Advantages Disadvantages Ethnography Characteristics Data Collection Advantages Disadvantages Phenomenology Differences Between Descriptive and Interpretative Phenomenology Data Collection Advantages Disadvantages Participatory Action Research Data Collection Advantages Disadvantages Arts-Based Approaches Case Study Characteristics of Case Study Research Data Collection Advantages Disadvantages References Suggested Reading 3: The Ethical Aspects of Sensitive Social Work Research Ethical Issue and Sensitive Social Work Research Ethical Theories Confidentiality Informed Consent Ethical Challenges in Online Research Informed Consent in Social Media Voluntary Participation Vs Coercion Capacity and Competence to Consent Children and Young People Capacity and Competence to Consent of Adults Doing Research with Children Anti-Oppressive Research Ethical Approval References Suggested Reading 4: Skills Required for Sensitive Social Work Research Building Rapport and Relationships Active Listening Silence Empathy Prompting Probing Containing Anxiety Observation Skills Organisational and Administrative Skills Self-Disclosure Self-Discipline Planning and Prioritising Self-Awareness Reflection How to Reflect Debriefing Critical Thinking How to Think Critically Undertaking a Literature Review Good Literature Reviews Critical Appraisal of Literature Reviews Writing a Literature Review References Suggested Reading 5: Risk Assessment and Management for Sensitive Social Work Research Risk Assessment Components of Risk Assessment Risk Factors Types of Risk Assessment Actuarial Professional Judgement Approach Risk Management Principles of Risk Management Risk Log Safety Protocol Managing Physical Safety in Research De-Escalation Technique References Suggested Reading 6: Managing Emotion for Sensitive Social Work Research Definition of Emotion Emotion and Research The Significance of Emotion in Research Risk and Harm in Sensitive Research Physical Risk Psychological and Emotional Distress to Participants Social Risk Economic Risk Legal Risk Emotional Work and Sensitive Social Work Research Consequences of Emotional Work Management of Researchers’ Emotion Vicarious Trauma Counselling Versus Interview References Suggested Reading 7: Collecting Data for Sensitive Social Work Research Interviews Introduction Conducting Interviews Sensitively Sampling Methods Probability Sampling Non-Probability Sampling Pre-Interview During the Interview Ending the Interview After the Interview Three Different Types of Interview Interview Schedules Number of Participants Advantages Disadvantages Checklist for Interviews Observations Types of Observation Field Notes Sample Size Advantages Disadvantages Checklist for Observations Focus Groups Role of Facilitators Guidelines for Facilitators Planning Focus Groups for Sensitive Research Advantages Disadvantages Walking Interviews Advantages Disadvantages Visual Research Method Advantages Disadvantages Photovoice Consent Advantages Disadvantages Questionnaires Advantages Disadvantages References Suggested Reading 8: Analysing Data for Sensitive Social Work Research Processing Data Sensitively Preparation of the Data for Analysis Qualitative Data Analysis Thematic Analysis Narrative Analysis Types of Narrative Analysis Constant Comparison Ethnographic Analysis Conversation Analysis Semiotic Analysis Content Analysis Choosing the Appropriate Analysis for Sensitive Social Work Research Quantitative Data Analysis Types of Quantitative Data Descriptive Statistics The Power of Graphs to Present Findings Graphs and charts are used to visualise data. The aim of graphs and charts is to communicate data simply so that viewers can make sense of it and easily interpret the results. For example, the pie char References Suggested Reading 9: Interpreting and Presenting Findings for Sensitive Social Work Research Data Interpretation Techniques of Qualitative Data Interpretation Ethical Issues in Interpretation Research Journal Audience Qualitative and Quantitative Writing Styles Draft to a Final Version Discriminatory Language Stricture of a Thesis Some Writing Techniques Checklist for Drafting and Redrafting Process References Suggested Reading Appendixes Appendix A Appendix B Index