This is an accessible and practical guide to qualitative techniques for students and researchers across the social and health sciences. An essential companion for any student, the book provides a wide-ranging coverage of qualitative methods complemented by extended illustration from the array of academic disciplines in which qualitative research is found and employed. Comprehensive in its range of topics, each entry includes: *A concise definition of the method *A description of distinctive features *Examples to convey the flavour of a technique or principle *A critical and reflective...

The authors use a wealth of illustration, drawn from their own experience, and provide exercises for further study. They address composition, conduct and analysis and give guidance regarding the use of the Internet.

There is an increasing divergence of focus group practice between social researchers and commercial market researchers. This book addresses the key issues and practical requirements of the social researcher, namely: the kinds of social research issues for which focus groups are most and least suitable; optimum group size and composition; and the designing of focusing exercises, facilitation and appropriate analysis.

The authors use examples, drawn from their own focus groups research experience, and provide exercises for further study. They address the three main components of...

This volume reviews recent research into the nature and effects of addiction and considers the usefulness of policies which aim to prevent it. The contributors focus on topics such as smoking, alcoholism, gambling and injecting drug use, examining treatment and the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programmes. Such programmes include services for steroid users, needle exchange provision, and social workers' intervention in alcoholism. The reasons why people turn to substance abuse are explored as well as the real effects on health along with other subjects of importance to social...