Roy A. Ruckdeschel
Telephone
Email
Educational History
Ph.D. 1975
CURRICULUM VITAE
Professor of Social Work
School of Social Work
Saint Louis University
Office: (314) 977-2733 ruckdesc@slu.edu
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. Doctoral Program in
Sociology. Areas of specialization: Methodology, social psychology and sociology of education. Dissertation title:
Teachers and Their Unions: A Rank and File Perspective.
Dissertation Chairman: Mark Lefton
M.S.S.W. 1969
B.S. 1967
Experience
1986-Present
1987-1990
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
Milwaukee. Major emphasis in community organization and group work. Master’s Thesis: An Analysis of Black Power
Responses in the Milwaukee Study of Civil Disorder.
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee. Major:
History.
Professor of Social Work
School of Social Service
Saint Louis University
Director of the Masters Program
School of Social Service
Saint Louis University
1974-1985 Assistant Professor and Associate Professor
School of Social Service
Saint Louis University
Major Responsibilities at the School of Social Work, Saint Louis University (1974-Present)
Administrative and Curriculum Development Responsibilities
Chairperson, Faculty Recruitment and Review Committee (1998-2000)

Professional Writing
Publications and Scholarly Activity
Shaw, I., Briar-Lawson, K., Orme, J., and Ruckdeschel R. Editors, ( Published,
November, 2009) The Sage Handbook of Social Work Research . Sage Publications,
London,
Editorial Essay, Shaw, I., Briar-Lawson, K., Orme, J., and
Ruckdeschel R.
Uses of Social Work Research, Ruckdeschel, R., and Chambon, A.
Challenges and directions in social work research and social work practice, Orme J. Ruckdeschel, R., and Briar-Lawson, K.
Editor, Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice. Sage Publications, London, UK.
2002-Present. Founding Editor along with Ian Shaw of York University, UK
Roy Ruckdeschel (2002). “Qualitative Social Work: A Room with a
View” with Ian Shaw. Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 1 (1) 5-24
Roy Ruckdeschel (2002). “Teaching as Practice: Issues, Questions and
Reflections” with Ian Shaw Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 1 (2)
229-244.
Roy Ruckdeschel. “Qualitative Clinical Research and Evaluation, Obstacles,
Opportunities and Issues” in Evaluation and Social Work Practice ed. by Ian
Shaw and Joyce Lishman, Sage publications, 1999
Chairperson, School of Social Service Rank & Tenure Committee (1998-2002)
Chairperson, Family Concentration (1999-2002)
Chairperson, Strategic Planning Committee (1997-1998)
Director of the Masters Program (1987-1990)
Chair, University Qualitative Research Committee (1994-1996)
Member, University Rank and Tenure Committee (1989-1992, 1995-1996)
Member, University’s Graduate School Faculty (Appointed, 1979 to Present)
Member, various Ph.D. Dissertation Committees (1978-Present)
Member, Advisory Committee, Ethics Across the Curriculum (1998-present)
Member, Executive Committee, Center for Health Care Ethics (1997-present)
Chair, College of Education and Public Service Rank and Tenure Committee (2007-
2010)
Faculty Representative, Saint Louis University Board of Trustees Development and
Community Relations Committee (appointed by the Provost) (2007-present)
Roy Ruckdeschel. “Does Emphasizing Accountability and Evidence Dilute Service
Delivery and the Helping Role – Yes Response” in Controversial Issues in Social
Work Research, ed. by Walter Hudson and Paula Nurius. Needham Heights, MA;
Allyn and Bacon, 1994, pp. 9-13, 1921.

Roy Ruckdeschel, Pat Earnshaw and Andrea Firrek. “The Qualitative Case Study and
Evaluation: Issues, Methods and Examples” in Qualitative Research in Social
Work, ed. by Edmund Sherman and William Reid. New York, Columbia
University Press, 1994, pp. 251-264.
“Qualitative Research as a Perspective.” Social Work Research and Abstracts, Special
Issue, Contemporary Developments in Social Work Research Methodology,
Vol. 21, No. 2, Summer 1985, pp. 17-21.
“Microcomputers in Social Service Settings: Research Applications,” with Larry
Kreuger. Social Work, Vol. 30, No. 3, May-June 1985, pp. 219-224.
“The Student Log as a Vehicle for Development of a Professional Self” with Don Malon and Donna Spencer. Arete, Vol. 7, No. 2, Winter 1982, pp. 73-75.
“Qualitative Evaluation of Social Work Practice in Education” with Don Malon.
The Journal of Applied Social Sciences, Vol. 6, No. 2, Spring/Summer 1982, pp. 121-132.
“Science: Critical Faith or Dogmatic Ritual?” with Buford Farris. Social Casework,
Vol. 63, No. 5, May 1982, pp. 272-275.
“Qualitative Research: Epistemology and Practice.” Proceedings of the Conference on
Emerging Strategies For Inquiry in the Human Sciences, Saint Louis University
Department of Education Teachers Corps Program, Metropolitan College, Section
III, March 19-20, 1981, pp. 1-24.
“Phenomenological and Linguistic Turns in Social Thought: Impact on Community
Organization and Practice.” with Buford Farris. Social Development Issues,
Special Double Issue, “Community Organization for the 1980’s,” ed. by
Armand Lauffer and Edward Newman, Vol. 5, No. 2 & 3, Summer and Fall,
1981, pp. 126-133.
“Assessing Practice, A Critical Look at the Single Case Design,” with Buford Farris.
Social Casework, Vol. 62, No. 7, Sept. 1981, pp. 413-419.
“Catch 1234B: Integrating Material on Women into the Social Work Research
Curriculum” with Linda Rosenman. Journal of Education for Social Work,
Vol. 17, No. 2, Spring, 1981, pp. 5-12.
The Family Treatment Project—Data Analysis and Assessment, Report and Evaluation, sponsored by the Law Enforcement and Assistant Administration and the
St. Louis County Juvenile Court, Sept. 1979.
“An Empirical Study of the Symbolic and Objective World of the Pre-School Child:

A New Methodology and Some Preliminary Findings” with Don Malon.
Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, Vol. VI, No. 1, Jan. 1979, pp. 102-121.
Papers and Presentations (Since 2005)
Roy Ruckdeschel (May 27, 2010) Workshop: Navigating the Academy as Qualitative Social
Work Researchers with Jane Gilgun and Karen Staller
Roy Ruckeschel (May 28, 2010) Chair, Spotlight Session: Journal Publishing, Panelists: Roy
Ruckdeschel, Dorothy Becvar, Carol Rambo, RonChenail, Ian Shaw, Harry Torrance, and
Donna Mertens
Roy Ruckdeschel (May 28, 2010) A Critical Perspective on the Politics of Publication,
Plenary: Getting Qualitative Research Published in Refereed Journals: Some Political
Considerations Chair: Julianne Cheek, panelists Janice Morse, Roy Ruckdeschel, Yvonna
Lincoln and Julianne Cheek.
Roy Ruckdeschel (May 29, 2010) Chair Panel III: Symbolic Interaction and Social Work: The
Continuing Influence of the SI Perspective, Session Sponsored by Society for the Study of
Symbolic Interaction, Panelists: Roy Ruckdeschel, Ian Shaw and Mary Jo Deegan
Presentation (May 2009) 'Careers, Moral and Otherwise', Member of the panel on 'Historical
Perspectives in U.S. Social Work', Third International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry,
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Invited Expert (February 2009), “Data Analysis: An Interactive Session”, Generations in
Qualitative Research, University of Missouri-St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri
Chair (February 2009), “Writing for Publication: Invited Panel of Editors”, Generations in
Qualitative Research, University of Missouri-St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri
Chair (January 2009), Special Interest meeting of Journal Qualitative Social Work: Research and
Practice at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Meeting in New Orleans
Chair (January 2008), Special Interest meeting of Journal Qualitative Social Work: Research and
Practice at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.
Chair (January 2006), Special Interest meeting of Journal Qualitative Social Work: Research and
Practice at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

Chair (January 2005), Special Interest meeting of Journal Qualitative Social Work: Research and
Practice at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida
Chairperson and Organizer, (May 2005) Invited Roundtable, “Social Work as Qualitative
Inquiry; Praxis, Paradox and Parable”, First International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry,
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign,
Discussant, (January 2005) Symposium on “Qualitative Research on Client Experiences of
Treatment”, Society for Social Work and Research, Miami, Florida