Product Description

Sociological perspectives and their application to social work are an inherent part of the QAA benchmark statement in the social work degree. In addition, graduates must understand how sociological perspectives can be used to dissect societal and structural influences on human behaviour at individual, group and community levels. This title answers the need for a clear, core text which integrates the areas of sociology and social work. Carefully constructed to be accessible to beginners in the discipline, it links sociological concepts, debates and theories to subject benchmarks, social work occupational standards and codes of practice.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52848 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
Excellent links between key sociological concepts and practical aspects of social work. --Lecturer, Bolton Community College

This is an excellent LM title which really fills a gap in the market re social work and the important link to sociology. I have used it extensively with first year BA Social Work students. It is a very accessible read with excellent case studies. What I particularly like about it is that it is the only text that I have come across that truely applies social work practice to sociological perspectives and looks at this in relation to practice scenarios. I have recommended it to students and will continue to do so. The feedback from students has been very positive with several commenting on how they could not make the link between sociology and social work until they read this book! --Lecturer, Burnley College

Well laid out, contemporary, accessible. Good overview of central theoretical concepts. Excellent introductory text. --Lecturer, University of Winchester

About the Author
Jo Cunningham is a Principal Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire and programme leader of the BA Social Work. Jo has taught sociology and social work practice for a number of years. Before commencing her lecturing career, Jo was a social worker in the area of children and families. Research interests include childhood accidents and child death, and more recently the practice implications of asylum policy for professionals, children and their families. Steve Cunningham is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of Central Lancashire. He has taught sociology at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. His research interests are focused on the sociology of childhood, children s rights, and, more recently, the impact of asylum policies on the welfare of refugee children, and he is the author of numerous publications in these areas.

Customer Reviews

great recommendation

for a sociology novice like me, the book made it easier to understand theories/concepts.

Reasonable, worth it for your 1st year


As a social work student, I write this at 5.30am, after a long night of essay writing.

Postives:

1) Varied content - covers main areas of Sociology and Social Work so can always be used as a basic text for general concepts

2) Accessible style, easy to read

3) Links sociology to practice in a way many specialist texts dont

4) Specifies which Occupational Standards it covers

5) Lots of detail in some areas... functionalism and Marx being two of them


Negatives:

1) I dont like the structure. I would prefer it to be structured by theory, with it then applied but it seems to mix and match in a way that doesnt suit me. Some of the other learning matters books have a more preferable structure.

2) Not in depth enough to use for many assignments past year 1

3) Not enough specifically on models of disability, Durkheim and so on.

Brilliant book for social theory
Essential if (like me) you are a 1st year BSc social work student and studying social theory. It is really clear on the key approaches, such as structure/agency, functionalism, postmodernism etc etc also has excellent case studies which bring the theories to life.
Buy it!