Book Reviews 105 The book is one of many on the systems approach but has made a definite contribution, which is to be welcomed. Reviewed by Dr Lengwe-Katembula Mwansa, Senior Lecturer, University of Botswana. Gillespie, D F and Glisson, D (008) (1993) Quantitative Methods Work: State of the art, Haworth Press, New York, ISBN: 1-56024-275-2,228 inc index. in Social pp of the National One of the outcomes Institute of Mental Health Task Force on Social Work Research is this edited collection of examples of the use of quantita- Initiated by the realisation that only a scattering of social workers tive methods. carry out research in the field of mental health, the Task Force analysed social wode research articles published 1977 and 1988. between the increase of convenience. The report found that although the use of advanced analytic techniques was the research tended to use «...quick, inexpensive and relatively simple increasing, research methods" , for example, cross-sectional designs and samples in the more advanced methods needs to be encouraged because they improve the researcher's ability to study complex social problems and interventions while reducing the risk of oversimplification error. Hence the idea of stimulating further research applying advanced methods. The editors argue that through this collection and quasi-experimental including descriptive The authors of the papers in this volume assume the reader is familiar with basic statistics and elementary inferential issues: measure- variables in quantita- techniques to analyse research methodology, techniques. The volume focuses on three types of methodological ment; tive analysis; and issues surrounding complex social phenomena. Three papers are devoted to each of these issues. of non-quantitative the use of quantitative issues related to the incorporation and inferential of examples development The measurement software packages equation modelling. The papers on the analysis of oon-qualitative of complex and abstract concepts used in social work is by Nugent and Hankins who evaluate Hudson's Generalised Content- that can be variable vari- by analysis by Combs- of event history analysis by Fraser, Pecora, Popuang and the question of how to model complex social phenomena, effects; while Coulton and Chow analyse interac- and finally Streeter and Gillespie present an ap- addressed ment Scale; Kronick and Silver examine different used for content analysis; and Orme and Fickling describe the useoflatent structural ables using quantitative methods Morrow-Howell Orme; and a presentation Haapala Addressing Koeske describes moderation tions using regression techniques; plication of network analysis. a paper on logistic of log-linear includes the application and Proctor; regression Book Reviews 106 All and methods, and include illustrations the articles in this collection techniques family preservation problem with the discussion about and approaches with sophisticated perspective quantitative on the future development over others. The editors provide excellent examples from different of a variety of areas, including there is a potential the relative merits of certain research methods research narrow tend to equate "good quality" a relatively this provides data analysis; and prevention of risks to infants. However of social work research. themselves As the editors point out, one of the problems with social work theory and methods of inquiry, or cause of the much discussed rift between social work pmctitio- the solution to this problem goes and calls on and the problem at hand. and research is the lack of linkage between substantive a consequence ners and social work researchers. Nevertheless, beyond the adoption social workers to be exposed to a wide variety of methods, sophistication that match most appropriately This would significantly practice. quantitative methods, of more sophisticated and gain expertise the gap between in the methods to closing contribute research The recent contributions to the social work literature on qualitative in this regard, as does the discussion to social work of analytic approaches used in the humanities (eg, the use of oral histories). Add to this the debates research paradigms" in social work, for example, research about and surrounding constructivism, methods make a valuable contribution the relevance social sciences the "alternative feminist matches social work practitioners research methods, the type of substantive etc, and what emerges is a methodologiCal forum that one would encourage considerations theoretical settings be responsive to the different Social work research and it confronts without being ranked as more or less advanced or more or less problems sophisticated. A fairly obvious example of this is presented in many African coun- tries where the types of survey methods advocated in developed are not inappropriate. A different only completely approach to research needs should be adopted, not one less "sophisticated", but one more responsive analysis held. should not, and cannot, be the standard to which social work research to the entire context of the phenomenon under study. Quantitative but more importantly impractical, countries is to consider. should Despite this tendency towards methodological elitism, use to social workers who wish to increase considerable advanced quantitative methods, and bringing such a collection edly provides a contribution to the advancement this volume will be of of undoubt- their knowledge together of social work research. Reviewed l7y Prof Christine Marlow, Fulbright Scholar, University of New Mexico. USA (on attachment at School of Social Work, Zimbabwe).