Social Work Theories and Methods

The Second Edition of this celebrated book by two of the world′s leading researchers in social work introduces readers to the main theories, theorists and perspectives that contribute to the debate on social work theory and social work methods. It brings together some outstanding international researchers in social work to challenge the reader to critically question how they think about social work.

The new edition includes a focus on the psychosocial perspective, with three new chapters on:

• Cognitive behavioral approaches
• Attachment theory and psychoanalytic social work
• Ecological approaches

Each chapter allows the reader to relate the theories and methods discussed to their own personal experiences. This reader friendly book includes student questions, glossaries and recommended reading so that students and practitioners can reappraise and expand the knowledge they have learned.

This book will be valuable for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in social work theory and research methods, social work interventions and perspectives as well as post qualifying students and researchers in social work.

Mel Gray is Professor of Social Work and Research Professor in the Research Institute for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. She has published extensively on social work and social development. Recent books include Indigenous Social Work around the World (with Coates & Yellow Bird, Ashgate 2008), Evidence-based Social Work (with Plath & Webb, Routledge 2009), Ethics and Value Perspectives in Social Work (with Webb, Palgrave 2010), International; Social Work - 4 vols (with Webb, Sage 2010), Environmental Social Work (with Coates & Hetherington, Routledge 2012), Decolonizing Social Work (with Coates, Hetherington, & Yellow Bird, Ashgate 2012), Social Work Theories and Methods (2nd ed., Sage, 2012 with Webb), and New Politics of Critical Social Work (with Webb, 2010 Palgrave).

Stephen Webb is Professor of Human Sciences and Director of the Research Institute for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. His research focuses on theoretical approaches to social work drawing on contemporary social theory, evidence-based practice and social work ethics and values. He is author of several books including most recently Social Work in a Risk Society (Palgrave 2006) and Evidence-based Social Work (with Gray & Plath, Routledge 2009). He is co-editor (with Gray) of Sage′s four-volume International Social Work (2009), which includes a selection of seminal social work texts, and Ethics and Value Perspectives in Social Work (with Gray, Palgrave 2009). Most recently he has completed the Second Edition of Social Work Theories and Methods (with Gray, Sage) and New Politics of Critical Social Work (with Gray, Palgrave).