The Research Process in the Human Services : Behind the Scenes

In this book, Alexander and Solomon have compiled twenty original research articles (previously published in a wide range of respected journals) that illustrate different methodological approaches and issues in developing and implementing community-based research, with a range of vulnerable respondents, of different ages, from a range of minority groups. Among service populations included are those who are homeless, have substance abuse problems, are severely mentally ill, and are involved with the child welfare and criminal justice systems. Each article is accompanied by original commentaries by the reprinted articles' authors, in which they describe how and why they came to do the research; concerns in the design and conduct of the study; their own views about the strengths and limitations of the research; advice about future research in the area; and human subjects' issues, including working with IRBs. Through this presentation, the text documents the lived experience of doing research, including its challenges, as well as its joys.

Leslie Alexander is a professor at the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research at Bryn Mawr College. Her major areas of research include client-worker relationships and ethical issues in implementing research in community-based settings. She has served on a number of editorial boards, is a frequent reviewer for scholarly journals, and has been funded by both NIMH and private foundations.

Phyllis Solomon, Ph.D., is a professor of social work who teaches in the area of research. She was the Director of a National Institute of Mental Health social work research development center; and currently serves on numerous mental health, psychiatric, and social work journal editorial boards. She is also the Principal investigator of an evaluation of PRIME (Partners Reaching to Improve Multicultural Effectiveness) which is funded by Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration.