The book covers the following stages in the research process:

• formulating issues
• engaging with subjects to generate data
• analysing the data of practice

Coverage in terms of disciplines, relevance to South Africa, handling of quantitative/qualitative differences, meta-theoretical concerns, community participation, ethics, applied social research methods

The book is mainly directed at social work practitioners, but could be used by other helping professions and parts of it could be of interest to all students and teachers of research. Because the emphasis of the book is on participatory and anti-discriminatory research practice it has relevance to South Africa, in that these approaches have gained popularity and credibility over the past decade. It is a British text and as such, has no direct reference to South Africa. In the introductory chapter meta-theoretical concerns are raised, including the quantitative/qualitative divide and this is elaborated upon in the chapter entitled "Epistemology and Theory in Social Work". The book emphasises a participatory empowerment approach, which includes community or client participation. There is a chapter on "The Purposes and Values of Research" which goes into detail about ethical issues, as well as outlining the difference between values and ethics. Values and ethics is then covered in the following chapters in terms of formulating the issues, generating data, analysing data and evaluation. The book is addressed to social work practitioners who would like to incorporate research methodology and ideas into their practice, rather than researchers.

Evaluation of these coverages

The coverage of epistemological issues is current and very useful in that it is outlined clearly and simply, in an accessible way for students. Students also find the chapter on values and ethics to be useful and make sense in examining their own practice as social workers. The book attempts to raise issues of gender, race and class which previous social work and general research texts have failed to incorporate, and which I find useful for teaching.

Aims and target audience as indicated by the author, as well as appropriateness of these

The book is addressed to social work practitioners and students who are or want to be research-minded in their work. The authors define 'research-minded' as being 'thoughtful, reflective and critical about taken-for-granted and routine ways of thinking about doing things'. They see this as being essential if social welfare is to be developmental and is to challenge dominant discourses in society in general and social welfare organisations and practice.

The book is not touted as a research methods text. Instead it aims to explore the relationship between research and practice. This text achieves this and gives ideas about how feminist and participatory research approaches can be integrated into practice.

Readability of the text

This is a very accessible text which is simply written and well laid out. Difficult concepts such as epistemology, deconstruction and positivism are explained in ways which undergraduate students would understand. The text is made even more accessible by examples which are used to illustrate concepts. Practitioners would be able to critically look at their organisations and practice without having to wade through irrelevant information usually found in research texts, which tend to be dry and uninspiring.

Reviewer's experience of teaching with the text

I have been using this text for the past four years in the social work fourth year research methodology course. This text could not be used without input on research methods as it does not offer extensive coverage of this. It is most useful for teaching epistemological issues, values and ethics in research and the usefulness of participatory research methodology for social work, as well as using research techniques to evaluate one's practice from a gender, race and class perspective.

Appropriate level for use of text

This text could be used at an undergraduate as well as postgraduate level in social work and perhaps also other helping professionals, as it introduces the reader to epistemological and ethical issues on a basic level, but at a more advanced level encourages social workers to borrow from and to develop research approaches to look at their own practice from an emancipatory perspective.

Overall assessment of text, in terms of...

...How well it meets its own goals

The book meets its own goals well, in that the relationship between research and practice is explored, with feminist and participatory approaches being included. Epistemological issues and anti-oppressive values in social work practice are clearly explored and provide a valuable framework for readers to explore their own practice. The latter chapters on formulating issues, preparation and groundwork, engaging with each other to generate data of practice and evaluating were not of as much use to me as the first part of the book. Perhaps this is because I have been using it on an undergraduate level with students rather than a postgraduate one or in the field with
experienced practitioners .