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.