EBOOK Qualitative Methods for Practice Research

Qualitative methods have become increasingly popular among researchers, and while        many comprehensive textbooks describe the standard techniques and philosophical        assumptions, it is often assumed that practitioners are consumers of research and        not producers. This innovative book describes how qualitative methods can be used to        investigate the in-vivo use of theory in social work practice. It offers not just a        comprehensive overview of methods, but a concise, accessible guide focused on how to        study and explicate application of theory, and the creative tension that inevitably        exists between theory and practice. Theory-to-practice gaps are indispensable        conditions for conducting engaged scholarship, which in turn promotes collaboration        between researchers and practitioners in addressing practice-related problems in        real-world settings.Engaged scholarship and critical realist assumptions are applied        to three case studies that combine research questions with data collection        techniques and analytic strategies. Thematic, grounded theory, and narrative        research techniques are all illustrated, including original quick-start instructions        for using ATLAS.ti software. Institutional ethnography is also presented as a method        that is particularly useful for social work practice settings.By generating        knowledge of practice in open and natural systems, qualitative methods can be used        to examine how practice is experienced and how interventions may be understood and        transformed. This cutting-edge pocket guide will equip practitioner-scholars with        the foundation for conducting research that makes a difference.