Dr Christa Fouche is Associate Professor of Social Work at The University of Auckland, New Zealand. She is a registered social worker with vast experience internationally as practitioner, educator, researcher, manager and organisational consultant. Christa has developed numerous effective partnerships through active involvement in communities of practice. She has written papers and a co-authored book on practice research and acted as mentor on interdisciplinary and culturally diverse practice research teams.

• Section 1: The relationship between research and practice;The nature of practice-based research in Social Work;The context of practice research;Practice-research relationships;Section 2: Designing practice research;Framing the project;Designing applied research;Data collection and analysis in practice research;Section 3: Nurturing networks;Dissemination and utilisation;Research mentoring relationships;The full cycle.

"In practice research, collaboration between researchers and practitioners makes all the difference. Fouche's text takes our profession that next step." Irwin Epstein, Rehr Professor of Social Work Research, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, City University of New York "Essential reading for both students and practitioners of social work. This book will clarify, challenge and inspire in equal measure." Professor Hugh McLaughlin, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK