ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book. The book explores the ways in which social work and research develop in welfare states normally regarded as being 'advanced'. It includes material that draws out examples of innovative and high-quality research, both substantively and methodologically. The book provides the basis for aiming to reach social work and research interests across north-west Europe and other comparable welfare states. It provides a resource for those involved in social work programmes. The book addresses the public issues when they explore aspects of how social work research takes particular forms and addresses characteristic issues in advanced welfare states. It presents an overview of international trends in social work practice and research. The book also presents some different ontological and meta-theoretical issues linked to the ambitions of advanced welfare services and the political ambition of managing social work and social problems through advanced and resource-loaded research.
