ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we discuss the foundations for this textbook. While there are many research books that describe the mechanics of research processes, we believe that research can be a powerful tool for positive social change. This requires social research to be seen in its social, historical, political and cultural contexts. Throughout the book, we note the ways in which these contexts ought to be taken into account in the shaping of research: from its inception to its conclusion. This chapter begins this work by examining what social research involves and how it fits within a social justice framework. We begin the chapter by prompting you, the reader, to think about what social research might mean, and then we explore the ways in which a social justice lens can assist us to make decisions about research design that upholds the values to which social work is attached.
