Sensitive research in social work

This book addresses issues related with researching sensitive topics in social work, focusing on marginalized, vulnerable and hard to reach people. It covers the definition, characteristics, challenges and opportunities of sensitive research, its philosophical roots and methodological debates, and the skills and values that are required along with the ethical, political and legal issues involved in conducting social work research. This book will cover innovative research methods appropriate for research on sensitive topics involving vulnerable people. It shines light on how to use traditional research methods sensitively, and how to generate data while minimizing the harm that can potentially be caused to research participants and researchers

Intro -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- List of Boxes -- List of Activities -- 1: Sensitive Social Work Research -- Sensitive Research -- Why Sensitive Social Work Research -- Research Process -- Structure of the Book -- References -- Suggested Reading -- 2: The Philosophy of Sensitive Social Work Research -- Paradigm -- Building Blocks of Paradigms -- Axiology -- Ontology -- Epistemology -- Methodology and Methods -- Positivism -- Characteristics of Positivism -- Interpretivism -- Characteristics of Interpretivism -- Constructionism -- Characteristics of Constructionism -- Postmodernism -- Characteristics of Postmodernism -- Feminism -- Characteristics of Feminism -- Critical Research -- Characteristics of Critical Research -- Pragmatism -- Characteristics of Pragmatism -- Types of Research -- Quantitative Research -- Characteristics of Quantitative Research -- Qualitative Research -- Characteristics of Qualitative Research -- Similarities Between Qualitative and Quantitative Methods -- Mixed Methods Research -- Characteristics of Mixed Methods Research -- Research Strategies -- Survey -- Characteristics of Survey -- Data Collection -- Advantages -- Disadvantages -- Narrative Approaches -- Characteristics of Narrative Approaches -- Types of Narrative Approach -- Data Collection -- Advantages -- Disadvantages -- Ethnography -- Characteristics -- Data Collection -- Advantages -- Disadvantages -- Phenomenology -- Differences Between Descriptive and Interpretative Phenomenology -- Data Collection -- Advantages -- Disadvantages -- Participatory Action Research -- Data Collection -- Advantages -- Disadvantages -- Arts-Based Approaches -- Case Study -- Characteristics of Case Study Research -- Data Collection -- Advantages -- Disadvantages -- References -- Suggested Reading -- 3: The Ethical Aspects of Sensitive Social Work Research.