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This chapter describes ethical issues in social research including discussion of the NASW Code of Ethics, Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, and requirements for the protection of human subjects. In addition, quantitative research methods; qualitative research methods; mixed-methods research designs; experimental, quasi-experimental, explanatory, exploratory, and descriptive research; program evaluation; and the relative merits of disparate models of research are also presented. The requirements of rigor in both quantitative and qualitative studies and evaluating the degree of fit between research strategies and problems under investigation are also discussed.

This chapter provide a more detailed examination of translational research by highlighting its role in understanding and facilitating the process of EBP implementation. The chapter is divided into two sections. The first section presents examples of studies of EBP effectiveness, dissemination, and implementation within the context of social work practice. The second section of the chapter provides a more detailed examination of research on EBP implementation. This section reviews studies conducted by social workers and/or in social work practice settings of barriers to and facilitators of EBP implementation and the development and evaluation of evidence-based “strategies” designed to overcome these barriers and facilitate implementation. The chapter concludes by introducing a strategy for research on EBP translation and implementation that highlights an integrated focus on process and outcomes, organizational context, and two types of research methods (mixed methods and community-based participatory research).

Chapter 1 introduces the extraordinary global spread of diaspora institutions since the 2000s, and reviews existing efforts to explain this trend as an expression of state interests and national identities. The chapter then outlines the new theory presented in this book, which is based on the idea that diaspora institutions are spreading today as a result of efforts to build a global migration regime. It highlights an unintended consequence of these efforts, namely the spread of human geopolitics: strategic competition over populations rather than territories. The chapter also provides an overview of the book’s structure.

To highlight quantitative and qualitative approaches to better understand perceptions and reflections of urban residents relevant to the links between environmental features discussed in Chapter 5 geographically referenced health outcomes discussed in Chapter 7. Strategies to capture what residents perceive, feel, and recommend regarding their environments include characterization of lived experiences (via surveys, focus groups, in depth interviews) as well as detailed assessments of taking place within urban contexts (via ecological momentary assessment, photovoice, ethnography). Participatory approaches that engage community members are illustrated with examples from Bogotá, Madrid, and Philadelphia.

This chapter describes and briefly evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the sources of evidence on voluntary action used in this book, and the challenges faced when using a mixed-methods approach. The chapter discusses the derivation of quantitative estimates of levels of volunteering and considers the challenges in analysing volunteering levels over time due to of variations in methodology and discontinuities in the availability of survey data. The chapter goes on to describe the source of qualitative data, writing undertaken by Mass Observation Project (MOP) volunteer writers and considers the advantages and limitations of this source. The chapter proceeds to a discussion of the challenges of mixed-methods work using these diverse sources. While MOP respondents can clearly be said to be active citizens, by the same token, this means that they are not typical of the general population, when compared to national social surveys drawing on respondents who are representative of the population. The chapter concludes with a discussion of how the various datasets are brought into dialogue with one another, and of the value of mixing data and methods of analysis.

This chapter reviews what we have learned about civic engagement. It then provides recommendations about what kind of research is needed to provide a fuller understanding of citizenship and to inform the development of programs and policies. These recommendations include conducting more research with marginalized populations, doing more multinational and multidisciplinary research, examining civic engagement as a process, utilizing more qualitative and mixed research methodologies, and examining the role of the Internet and social media. More needs to be done to evaluate programs and policies designed to build participation and to disseminate the knowledge that has already been generated. The chapter ends with recommendations about actions that can be taken to build civic engagement. These include focusing on young people, providing quality programs and activities, reaching out to those who are disengaged, providing more opportunities for involvement, and reducing systemic barriers to engagement.