Abstract

Every credible study of homeless people begins with what are now standard caveats. The numbers and the characteristics of homeless people within a study sample must be explained in the framework of the definitions and methods used in the studies. It is critical to understand the impact of the methods on the outcomes of such studies, and it is essential to recognize when methodologies developed for one context are suitable for use in others. One important product of this National Institute of Mental Health-funded study is the successful adaptation of methods for field research on homelessness in rural settings. This article identifies the design dilemmas and the process issues in rural studies that are applicable to social work research in rural environments. Serious misinformation is generated when inappropriate urban techniques and conclusions are used to discuss the size and characteristics of homelessness in the rural United States.

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