Social service agencies find themselves compelled to provide and interpret research. In this textbook, two child welfare experts offer techniques for conducting sound research in the field. Covering not only the methodological challenges but also the real-life constraints of research in child welfare settings, Baker and Charvat present a volume that can be used both for general research methods and as a practical guide for conducting research in the field of child welfare. In this text, two highly experienced researchers offer the best techniques for conducting sound research in child welfare. Covering not only the methodological challenges but also the real-life constraints of research in child welfare settings, Amy J. L. Baker and Benjamin S. Charvat present a volume that can be used both for general research methods and as a practical guide for conducting research in the field.

Baker and Charvat devote an entire chapter to ethical issues involved in researching children and their families and the limits of confidentiality within this population. Each chapter begins with a scenario that presents a question or problem to work through, enabling readers to apply the methods to a specific setting. Special sections explore the value of continuous quality-improvement activities, which enable the collection and analysis of data outside of the strictures of publishable research, and the implementation of program evaluations, which can be helpful in obtaining further research and programmatic funding.