Rick Csiernik is a professor in the School of Social Work at King's University College. Rachel Birnbaum is a distinguished university emerita professor in the School of Social Work at King's University College.
The strength of the approach used by these authors is that discussion of research methods and concepts are grounded in the case example providing opportunity for social work students to connect the abstract discussion of research concepts and theory to information contained in the case examples ... The book is useful to social work students... [and] can also be used effectively by instructors, as the discussion questions embedded in each section could be used for small group work and discussion in the classroom ...The case study approach is an effective means to read, learn, and teach research methods. -- Judy Hughes Social Work Education This book is written in a simple, straightforward style with little jargon. It is aimed at students, not academicians or researchers, and it is easily readable and comprehensible. The authors' social constructionist perspective will appeal to students and qualitative method instructors in particular. It stresses experiential learning, understanding through dialogue, empowerment of students, and the sharing of power between students and instructors... Used for course assignments and class discussions, the real world case studies speak directly to the interests of our students, and should immediately engage them. -- Marsha Schwam-Harris, Journal of Teaching in Social Work