Introduction to Research: Understanding and Applying Multiple Strategies [Paperback]

Elizabeth DePoy PhD OTR MSW (Author), Laura N. Gitlin PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0815109792 | ISBN-13: 978-0815109792 | Edition: 2

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH provides the reader with a foundation from which to critique and understand research designs and their applications to healthcare and human service settings. It is divided into four parts: Introduction, Thinking Processes, Design Approaches, and Action Processes. The text reflects a new school of thought that recognizes and values multiple research strategies. This perspective proposes that naturalistic and experimental-type research strategies have equal value and contribute in complementary and distinct ways to a science of practice. Knowledge of these different research traditions presents new opportunities for addressing the complex health-related research questions that are emerging in today's health and human service environments.

Includes a well-balanced, detailed discussion of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, which provides a comprehensive and equal focus.

Features significantly expanded discussions on specific design strategies to facilitate the reader's ability to compare, contrast and integrate these strategies.

Contains a new chapter organization for a more logical flow of content, which is divided into four parts: Introduction, Thinking Processes, Design Approaches and Action Processes.

Provides expanded use of research examples, making the book more appropriate for a variety of healthcare and human service disciplines.

Features a conceptual framework in which a graphic appears throughout the text to highlight and integrate the two research traditions from a process perspective. The concept emphasizes that each research tradition must address 10 essential thinking and action processes. These processes are thought about and solved differently, depending upon the particular research methodology being pursued. It brings clarity and understandability to the material and ties the book together.

Contains an expanded, comprehensive glossary to aid student understanding of a sometimes challenging subject.

Includes case studies and field stories to provide real-life "snapshots" of what it is like to participate in different types of research processes.

Includes key terms, chapter outlines and hands-on learning exercises in each chapter.

Appropriate for occupational therapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech pathology, nursing, social work and other healthcare and human service professions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Providing a bridge between research and practice, this text for undergraduate and advanced students in the health and human services helps readers develop their clinical intuition to inform research, thinking, and action. Early chapters cover philosophical foundations and offer guidelines on reviewing the literature and formulating research questions. Design approaches are then described, covering both experimental-type designs and naturalistic inquiry designs, and practical actions are explained, such as setting the boundaries of a study, collecting info, and statistical analysis. Stories from the authors' own research practice demonstrate how to improve practice through inquiry. This fourth edition contains new material on ethics and informed consent documentation, and a new chapter on seeking financial support for research ideas, plus practical hints for getting started writing a research proposal. A student website offers background on statistics, web links, sample forms, and reference lists linked to PubMed abstracts. DePoy teaches interdisciplinary disabilities studies and social work at the University of Maine. Gitlin teaches occupational therapy at Thomas Jefferson University."

- Book News, Inc.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Book Description

Now there's more to love in the book you trust for a solid foundation in research! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Mosby; 2 edition (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815109792
• ISBN-13: 978-0815109792
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,422,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Breaking Plaster, September 22, 2001

By 

S. M Marson (Lumberton, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Research: Understanding and Applying Multiple Strategies (Paperback)

I have been teaching social science research methods since 1978. As a result, I believe I have reviewed most of the textbooks in the area. As a result, I feel I can make a couple of remarks regarding the work of DePoy and Gitlin.

First and foremost, this is a textbook. It was specifically designed for students in allied health professional studies and human service curricula. Compared to most textbooks, it is NOT dry writing. Clearly, the authors have a flare for words.

Second, the primary strength of this text is its evenhandedness. More so than any other text, DePoy and Gitlin address both the qualitative and quantitative methodologies. No text completes this task as effectively and as efficiently.

When Ph.D. students (within my doctoral cohort) were being educated, they shared an unsavory learning experience. Most of us were taught to become number crunchers. The value of qualitative research was downplayed. In some cases we were specifically taught that qualitative research methodologies were hampering the image and progress of the social sciences. Thus, qualitative techniques were portrayed as a strategy employed by professors to engage the interest of undergraduate students. Qualitative methods were often adopted as a "play time." The possible exception for my observation is anthropology. However, even doctoral educators in anthropology noted the value of number crunching.

DePoy and Gitlin offer a doorway to turn our thinking around. They contend that the research question must drive the research method - not the other way around. During my education (Baccalaureate, Masters, and Ph.D.), I was taught to design research questions that could be answered by employing regression analysis or a variation of it. DePoy and Gitlin do more to legitimize qualitative methodologies than any current authors. They accomplish this task by systematically examining a wide range of methods by demonstrating the value of each.

I see two problems.

First, the authors have embarked on a Herculean task. They skim the surface of the various methodologies, but offer little depth. In the end, students will not have an adequate knowledge base to employ any single research method without some additional educational support. Perhaps such educational support is a role for the research professor. Thus, the lack of depth may be a blessing in disguised.

Second, few of my students (3 to 25%) will enroll in graduate school. Thus, it is highly unlikely that they will be actively involved in a substantive research project. These students need to employ research methodologies to improve their job performance and gain insight into self-evaluation. This is a flaw in the work of DePoy and Gitlin. The authors do not directly address self-evaluation.

In the end, I believe that DePoy and Gitlin offers the best preparation for graduate school. Nothing comes closer. I highly recommend this book.

3.0 out of 5 stars intro to research, January 27, 2012

By 

sofie - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Introduction to Research: Understanding and Applying Multiple Strategies, 4e (Paperback)

Book is in great condition, no problems with delivery, arrived as was promised. Only negative is a sticky part on the back of the cover, so the book tend to stick to papers etc. Tried to get it off, no success so far.

3.0 out of 5 stars Difficult raed, June 15, 2010

By 

Family Planner (North Dakota, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Introduction to Research: Understanding and Applying Multiple Strategies (Depoy, Introduction to Research) (Paperback)

Find textbook information a difficult read. Takes a little more thought to read and process the information so don't take it for granted. You'll need time to completely understand the information so make sure you have the time to think things through so you're well prepared for class.