"Thyer and Myers have written an easy-to-read primer on the topic of empirically evaluating the outcomes of social work practice. This resource, for social work students--graduate and undergraduate-- and for social work practitioners, presents outcome studies using both group-research and single-case designs. Unlike other books dealing with the topic of evaluating practice which use theoretical cases, Thyer and Myers use real-life examples of evaluating social work practice, ranging from those fairly low on the scale of internal validity to those that are pretty rigorous. The book begins with a refresher on evaluation research, provides a balanced approach to both single-system and group-evaluation designs, and closes with a discussion of ethical issues, myths, misconceptions, and practical cinsiderations in evaluation"--Back cover.

Evaluation and Social Work Practice offers a comprehensive treatment of the central issues confronting evaluation in social work that links theory and method to practical applications. Evaluation is an integral part of social work and social care provision, for both practice and service delivery. Evaluation can improve effectiveness and increase accountability and help develop new models of practice and service delivery. The authors argue that evaluation should not just be applied to practice but should be a direct dimension of practice. Appealing to the student, researcher and practitioner, Evaluation and Social Work Practice will become the standard reference source on evaluation in social work. XX

Well-known in the field, Royse and Thyer present and simplify all the essentials needed for a critical appreciation of evaluation issues and methodology. From this text, students will learn how to gather evidence and demonstrate that their interventions and programs are effective in improving clients' lives. This text is known for its student-friendly writing style and clear presentation of concepts, as well as its hands-on and applied focus.

Social workers are increasingly faced with the demands of evaluating their own programs and practice to maintain accountability to funding agencies, secure funding, and remedy a number of social problems facing our society. One of the nine basic competencies required by the social work accreditation agency is to be able to conduct evaluations. Evaluation is a critical area of practice for demonstrating accountability to clients, communities, numerous other stakeholders, and funding and regulatory agencies. Social Work Evaluation, Third Edition, offers a straightforward guide to a broad range of social work evaluations at both the program and practice levels. Author James R. Dudley's seven-step approach to evaluation makes use of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods to provide oversight and address important issues at the planning, implementation, and outcome stages of a program or practice intervention. His unique focus on involving clients in the evaluation process ensures that social workers consistently improve their capacity to impact their clients' well-being and remain accountable to them and others they serve. Case examples from the extensive evaluation experience of the author and others illustrate a wide range of logic-based methods discussed throughout the text for real-world application. This comprehensive text effectively aims to enhance student and practitioner skill sets to meet these demands of a changing field.

This text presents both the quantitative and qualitative methods and focuses on teaching students how to skillfully apply the full range of research designs, methods and strategies to evaluation of social work in all domains of social work practice. The book provides a framework for the integration of systematic inquiry with practice that can be used by all social workers. The authors have created a model called, "evaluation practice" that provides the evidence-based structure within which diverse social work theories and skills can be organized, examined and verified.

Over thirty years of input from instructors and students have gone into this popular research methods text, resulting in a refined ninth edition that is easier to read, understand, and apply than ever before. Using unintimidating language and real-world examples, it introduces students to the key concepts of evidence-based practice that they will use throughout their professional careers. It emphasizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, data collection methods, and data analysis, providing students with the tools they need to become evidence-based practitioners.