LAUSR

person interested in social work research finds in the book various, original and – as the book announced – innovative examples. Regarding the subdivision of the book, a theoretical introduction of the sections is missing. It could have been interesting to present the importance and signification of the four as important defined aspects of the research process (design and planning; methods; data analysis; dissemination and impact) notably in relation to the theoretical and practical implications. Otherwise, one thinks as well that it would have been interesting to propose this structuration to the authors as these four aspects should occur in all examples, especially as the introduction points out ‘that a number of chapters could legitimately appear in more than one part’ (pp. 13–14). Concerning this, it seems also that an important aspect has been forgotten. It is about the epistemological anchoring of the research endeavour and about the research questions and hypothesis, part of the research process placed even before the ‘design and planning’ stage. The introduction provides some helpful information on how the chapters have been chosen and categorised, and how readers should understand them. But sentences of sometimes more than 70 words (e.g. second section p. 14) make the understanding a bit hard. The conclusion chapter provides also elements linking the different chapters. It notes that the ‘approaches of social work research are becoming increasingly eclectic’, though this is probably not only the case in Great Britain. The book provides a broad view on research activities in the social work field and presents some original approaches. The 19 examples justify buying the book, though one regrets the missed chance of going further into the analyses of social work research by analysing its concepts and epistemological bases, as well as the already mentioned relation between ‘research’ and ‘social work’. This would be necessary to establish systematic connections to social and human research discussions and deepen knowledge in the wide area of social work.