Practice and research,Ian F Shaw

Reviewed by: Malcolm Carey, University of Manchester, UK

This remains an unusual contribution within the social work field as it offers a collection of contributions by one distinguished pedagogue over many years, from 1976 onwards. Most of the 25 chapters are drawn from journal articles and chapters in books published throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with an additional introduction complete with an informative biography. There are five key sections which comprise this extensive anthology and each explores perspectives on social work research, evaluation, qualitative social work research, practice and research, and finally, participative research.

Ian explores a wide range of inter-related themes in great detail, and also embroils his elaborate prose with subtlety, rich insight, passion, strong links to interpretive sociology in particular, and regular use of metaphors. There are too many topics or pressing concerns explored to detail, yet key remains the role of qualitative research in its various guises and formats within an ever shifting, yet often challenging and contested social work discourse. For example, in Chapter 2 Ian asks us whether social work research is distinctive. It is according to the author but we are also encouraged to recognise the limits and dangers of disciplinary imperialism, and instead recognise the benefits and necessity for collaboration and critically engagement with symbiotic disciplines such as sociology, social anthropology and housing. In relation Ian has drawn significantly from a wide range of influential theorists housed across distinct disciplines and paradigms; from Geertz, Becker, and Giddens, to Karl Popper, Norman Denzin and Jan Fook, and many more besides. This engagement with theorists is a particular strength of his work as is the implicit thread of cumulative discussions related to methodology that encompasses ethics, politics, social trends including not least the notable rise of new qualitative methods, and more besides. As well as being academically astute and articulate, the author clearly seeks to promote the validity and legitimacy of social work research, yet there is a pragmatic realisation that linking research findings to the messy fields of practice is not always easy or adequately supported.

A number of chapters stand out as of particular relevance for practice. For example, Chapter 17 concentrates upon Doing Well in Social Work and explores the political implications and resultant methodologies of a rapidly growing service evaluation culture from the 1980s onwards in America and Europe. Here qualitative participative evaluations are promoted as being highly relevant despite the political push for more realist and/or behavioural approaches promoted by neo-liberal governments or less open minded academics. Such critical themes again appear throughout and are immersed in context, reflection and detail. Similarly, in the final section on user involvement in research I found Chapter 23 on Engaging the User especially informative, including not least the clear recommendations made on how to achieve what may otherwise emerge in praxis as either a tricky or unethical set of engaged processes, despite often ulterior political motives or extensive rhetoric to the contrary (Carey, 2010, 2013).

Possibly, some students may find Ian’s depth of theoretical knowledge and intricate prose difficult in parts to follow, mostly due perhaps to the range of theorists that he regularly draws upon as well as the simple fact that research methodology is at time identified (unfairly and inaccurately) as unduly difficult or as “dry as law” within academic circles. In converse, I would suggest that combining sociological theory and critical insight with creative applied research makes it much more appealing and easier to follow and understand. The weighting towards sociology and also the strong repeated focus on topics such as evaluation and participation might be interpreted by some as drawing some attention away from other core policy developments of the time, such as the advancement of case/care management or personalisation, yet clearly these topics closely relate to such developments. Finally the title is not entirely representative of the contents: as suggested it’s as much about Practice, Research and Theory and not necessarily in that order.

Despite any such reservations this anthology deserves a place in any library that accommodates students and teachers on social work and other social science courses. It is well written and engaging and even the older chapters still have relevance since research continues to grow as priority in the ever changing, and perhaps unstable world of social work education and practice. Highly recommended, but especially so for Masters and PhD students on sociology and social work courses.