Making a Difference in Families: Research That Creates Change

This resource for social work professionals and students explores the challenges of doing research with families and the key methods used. Discussed are critical approaches to research with families, including action research, focus groups, and participant observation, with special attention paid to the vulnerable position these families are often in as clients of social services and as research subjects. Qualitative and quantitative research methods and ways researchers can involve participants in the process are explored. Detailed case studies of research in a variety of settings, and with different kinds of family situations, are provided.