Designing and Conducting Research in Social Science, Health and Social Care
This book presents a novel and accessible way to learn about designing and conducting social research. Unlike traditional social research methods books, it provides a real world account of social researchers experiences and learning achieved through conducting research in a variety of fields.
It contains an eclectic collection of research and advice for conducting research from social researchers with varying backgrounds. Suggestions are made in relation to gaining access to research sites, conducting research on sensitive topics such as suicide, child sexual abuse and homelessness, ensuring the inclusive participation of participants with intellectual disabilities and children. Also included are discussions of conducting practitioner research, conducting research on individual change, psychoanalytically informed research, documentary research and post qualitative research. Other chapters focus on criticality in research on topics that have become politicised and moralised, ensuring that research conducted is credible and how knowledge in research is constructed through both the theoretical framework used and how it is conducted.
Bringing together a diverse collection of social research projects, Designing and Conducting Research in Social Science, Health and Social Care will be of interest to students, educators and researchers in the social sciences and professionals in related areas.
Fiona McSweeney lectures in psychology and research methods in the Technological University Dublin, Ireland and is an associate lecturer in psychology with the Open University. Her current research focusses on higher education and professional education in social care, though she is also interested in research methodologies, students experiences of higher education and higher education policy. She has published Learning for Work: Social Identities and Professional Education in Social Care and journal articles on social care education. She is the founding editor of the Journal of Social Care, aimed at encouraging research and publication in the field of social care.
Dave Williams is a lecturer at the Technological University Dublin, Ireland. He is programme chair of the BA (Hons.) in Social Care and lectures on the MA in Child, Family and Community Studies and MA in Social Care Management and Leadership programmes. He is the founding president of Social Care Ireland and is co-editor of the Journal of Social Care. His research interests include the topics of foster care, the professionalisation of social care work, social care education and the management of challenging behaviours in social care settings.
First published 2019
by Routledge
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2019 selection and editorial matter, Fiona McSweeney and Dave Williams; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Fiona McSweeney and Dave Williams to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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ISBN: 978-0-8153-7243-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-24542-5 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
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This book is dedicated to the social researchers of the future, Senan, S, Barra and File, for their unique ways of ensuring that their dad never missed an early morning meeting to prepare the manuscript.
It is also dedicated to Rhiannon, Adam, Feabhra, Ann, Neil and Ultan for listening to the editors!
Contents
Fiona McSweeney and Dave Williams
Nicola Hughes
Evelyn Gordon and Maeve Kenny
Judit Fullana and Maria Pallisera
Florbela M. Samagaio
Tamsin Cavaliero
Jeff Karabanow and Ian Stewart
Sharon Mallon
Raegan Murphy and Emma Hurley
Rosaleen McElvaney
Gerard Moore
Mark Smith
Hans Skott-Myhre and Kathleen S.G. Skott-Myhre
Paddy Dolan
Dave Williams
Fiona McSweeney
Mairead Seymour and Ben Meehan
Dr. Tamsin Cavaliero is a lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences IT Sligo. She previously worked in a range of youth work and education roles with members of the Irish Travelling Community. She produced the film R.E.C.A.L.L.: Reflecting Each Community at Local Level documenting the lives of the Travelling Community. In her time off she is an avid open water swimmer.
Dr. Paddy Dolan is a senior lecturer in sociology and social policy in the Technological University Dublin, Ireland. His research interests include figurational and historical sociology, sport, childhood, emotions and organisational change. His work has been published in Sociology, British Journal of Sociology, History of Education and Sociological Review, amongst others. He serves as secretary-treasurer of the Historical Sociology Research Committee (RC56) of the International Sociological Association.
Dr. Judit Fullana received her PhD in Education in 1995 from University of Girona, Spain, where she works as associate professor at the Department of Pedagogy. She teaches on the social education undergraduate programme and on the Masters programme in Diversity and Inclusive Education of which she is its current coordinator. Her research interests are focussed on social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and inclusive research. During the last 10 years she has worked in research on work inclusion, transition to adult life and independent living of people with intellectual disabilities. See http://recercadiversitat.wix.com/diversitat for more details about the work of her group.
Evelyn Gordon, MSc (Psychotherapy), PhD (Suicidology), RPN, Reg. Fam. Ther. & Supervisor (FTAI, ICP) is a lecturer and supervisor in psychotherapy at Dublin City University, Ireland. She worked for many years as a psychotherapist and psychotherapy supervisor in adult and adolescent mental health. She is involved in research in suicide and mental health.
Dr. Nicola Hughes is a lecturer in criminology in the Technological University Dublin, Ireland. Her teaching and research interests include: recidivism and desistance, the experience of imprisonment and its impact on recidivism and desistance, the analysis of large data sets and official data sources. She was involved in the first ever study of reimprisonment in Ireland and has published in a number of journals.
