Research issues in health and social care
D Cowan (2009) • Keswick: M&K Update Limited
According to the blurb, this book is aimed at the entire interdisciplinary team and can be used by both undergraduate and postgraduate research students. That is a broad brush, but the book does present an attractive and easy read, which could be used for occasional reference and supplementation of course materials - or even read through as an overview of the principles and practices of health and social care research.
The book does not feature too much by the way of interactivity. With the exception of the chapter about critical appraisal, text is presented to readers rather than actively engaging them through exercises or thoughtful application. Surprisingly for a modern book there is no reference to the various web-based materials that could enliven the copy and content, such as the virtual learning environments found at sites including Intute.
The text could have, accordingly, become quite heavy. However, the judicious use of category headers, bullet points, text boxes and summary headings does help to break up the wording. References are conveniently bundled at the back of the book so the flow of the chapters is not impeded.