Abstract
The authors describe the “aim” of the book is to “ … provide researchers, and future researchers, with an up-to-date and comprehensive set of tools to investigate public health issues and problems, to ultimately better inform public health policy and practice” (p. xxi). The primary motivation for its creation “ … is to convey a diverse and contemporary view of public health research methods” (p. xxi). They acknowledge that to be successful the work must go beyond traditional epidemiologic approaches and the content report the myriad of methodologies and technologies that are required within today’s public health landscape.
The book is organized with six separate sections that follow the overall research process from planning and preparation (Part I), to implementation (Parts II–V), and to application of findings (Part VI). It includes an initial chapter that informs the reader of the historical development of epidemiologic and public health research methods. In sum, they attempt to demonstrate how public health issues can be viewed from a myriad of different perspectives and addressed with an equivalent number of possible research methods.
The chapter contributors are a very distinguished group of international experts with a wide variety of expertise that have academic, clinical, and program administrative experience. Each chapter has a degree of structural consistency and contains several general content areas: definition of the topic area, relevance of the content to public health, discussion of practical dimensions (i.e., how to), current issues and future directions, and additional resources. Where appropriate, the material is stated within the context of global health. The theoretical basis for the individual research approaches is provided in the appendix section and is readily available as reference material.
Each chapter provides a very extensive current reference section, most of which is empirically based. The content is appropriate for graduate level social workers and other public health professionals whose primary interest is in evidence-based practice within health and mental health settings and the broader public health arena. Advanced practitioners/administrators who work within similar settings will also find the material to be extremely helpful as a resource guide from clinical or program planning, problem identification to intervention, and assessment.
Of particular interests are Section V: Cost-Cutting Methods and Approaches and Section VI: Applying Research Findings. Both sections are especially pertinent and helpful within the context of today’s increasing program accountability and stricter budgetary environment. The authors provide tools that help the practitioner/administrator to evaluate, plan, intervene, and assess how to more effectively evaluate the inherent problems that limited financial resources and resistance to change present.
Overall, this is a very well organized, well-written reference text that provides an expanded set of research tools that will help investigators to expand beyond traditional epidemiologic approaches in dealing with the complex and challenging public health environment.