Applying Research Evidence In Social Work Practice

This key textbook explores how good social work practice draws upon relevant and current research to ensure that interventions are as effective as possible. Social workers are increasingly required to demonstrate their knowledge of the research and evidence that underpin the daily decisions they make and actions they take and it is therefore vital that they are not only up to date with the latest research, but that they have the tools and understanding to successfully apply this to their practice. Written by leading experts in the field, this text book provides a step-by-step guide to implementing research in to every day social work practice. This is essential reading for any one taking a research module on Social Work programmes, at undergraduate and postgraduate level, or practitioners wishing to advance their own practise and deliver the best possible service they can.

Hugh McLaughlin is Professor of Social Work and Head of Faculty Research Degrees at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He has written and edited a range of books on social work practice and research. Barbra Teater taught on Social Work courses at the University of Bath and University of Bristol, UK, before assuming her current position as Professor of Social Work, MSW Program Director at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, USA. She is the bestselling author of An Introduction to Social Work Theories and Practice 2nd edition (2014) and Contemporary Social Work Practice (2014). Providing a user-friendly introduction to Social Work research, this textbook will demystify the most important concepts and show why it is important to embrace evidence-informed practice (EIP). In the face of complex and demanding work, it is crucial not to focus solely on the concept of evidence-based practice but to make use of all the evidence at your disposal and allow this evidence to inform your decisions. This book champions the integration of service user and carer knowledge, along with practitioners’ wisdom and the best research evidence to make a difference for service users. Containing helpful examples of how to apply EIP to practice encounters, as well as a range of further reading and activities to help you to critically reflect on your experience, this book explores how EIP can be used to enhance your effectiveness as a Social Work practitioner, professional and social scientist. Chapters in this textbook explore themes and skills you will need to consider and develop in your practice, including: • Identifying, assessing, and critiquing difference types of ‘evidence’ • Understanding what constitutes research knowledge • Ethical issues in practice and research • Implementation of evidence-informed practice and evaluating your practice • Interprofessional practice and creating evidence-informed cultures Written by experts in the field, this text is essential reading for all Social Work students and qualified practitioners. *** This book forms part of the Social Work Skills in Practice series. The series focuses on key social work skills required for working with children and adult service users, families and carers. The books offer both theoretical and evidence-informed knowledge, alongside the application of skills relevant for day-to-day social work practice. They are an invaluable resource for pre-qualifying students, newly-qualified social workers, academics teaching and researching in the field, as well as social work practitioners, including practice educators, pursuing continuous professional development. *** 'This book is an excellent introduction to the subject for social work students and social workers. It sets out in a very accessible style the ways in which social workers can develop understanding of key features of, and practical ways to make use of, Evidence-Informed Practice, within a real appreciation of the social work role and its values. I would advise all social work students and social workers to read it.' Professor Brian Littlechild PhD, Research Lead, Department of Nursing and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire, UK

"Within the context of the growing demands for ethical, legal, and fiscal accountability in psychosocial practices, Evidence-based practice for social workers: an interdisciplinary approach provides a coherent, comprehensive and useful resource for social workers and other human service professionals to help them: 1) conduct clinical assessments informed by current human behavior science; 2) implement interventions supported by current outcome research; and, 3) engage in evaluation as part of daily practice to ensure effective implementation of evidence-based practices. Rather than depicting evidence-based practice as a simple matching of diagnostic categories with intervention methods, the text encourages critical thinking and flexibility guided by best evidence in order to tailor evidence-based practices to individual client needs. The multidimensional and functional approach to assessment is designed to integrate the use of human behavior knowledge with an analysis of each client's unique experiences. Sample assessment/evaluation instruments (contributed by many leading experts) are provided to help practitioners better understand their use as both assessment and evaluation tools. Practice outcome research is summarized and "best practices" are described in considerable detail. Many case studies and sample treatment plans are provided to help the reader translate clinical research into everyday practice. Overall, EBPSW provides practitioners with a thoroughly researched yet practice-oriented resource for learning and implementing effective assessment, intervention and evaluation methods for a wide array of psychosocial disorders and problems-in-living in adults, children and families"--

Social workers play a crucial part in contemporary society by ensuring that individuals are able to address, overcome, and manage obstacles in their daily lives. In an effort to better serve their clients, many practitioners have turned to evidence-based practice. Evidence Discovery and Assessment in Social Work Practice provides practitioners with the tools necessary to locate, analyze, and apply the latest empirical research findings in the field to their individual practice. This premier reference work provides insights and support to professionals and researchers working in the fields of social work, counseling, psychotherapy, case management, and psychology.

Over thirty years of input from instructors and students have gone into this popular research methods text, resulting in a refined ninth edition that is easier to read, understand, and apply than ever before. Using unintimidating language and real-world examples, it introduces students to the key concepts of evidence-based practice that they will use throughout their professional careers. It emphasizes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, data collection methods, and data analysis, providing students with the tools they need to become evidence-based practitioners.

Social work students need to understand the relationship between research, knowledge and practice to be effective practitioners. In the second edition of this highly regarded book, Hugh McLaughlin shows how a research-minded perspective and an appreciation of evidence-based practice can lead students to achieve the highest level of individual and collective social work practice. Topics covered include: - How to assess, appraise and apply research - The philosophy of research - Improving the use of research in practice - Interdisciplinary contributions to social work and social work research Providing reflexive questions, practice examples and suggested reading throughout, this book is essential reading for all undergraduate students of social work. It will also be valuable reading for postgraduates and qualified social workers wishing to consolidate their understanding of social work research.

This ebook is a selective guide designed to help scholars and students of social work find reliable sources of information by directing them to the best available scholarly materials in whatever form or format they appear from books, chapters, and journal articles to online archives, electronic data sets, and blogs. Written by a leading international authority on the subject, the ebook provides bibliographic information supported by direct recommendations about which sources to consult and editorial commentary to make it clear how the cited sources are interrelated related. A reader will discover, for instance, the most reliable introductions and overviews to the topic, and the most important publications on various areas of scholarly interest within this topic. In social work, as in other disciplines, researchers at all levels are drowning in potentially useful scholarly information, and this guide has been created as a tool for cutting through that material to find the exact source you need. This ebook is a static version of an article from Oxford Bibliographies Online: Social Work, a dynamic, continuously updated, online resource designed to provide authoritative guidance through scholarship and other materials relevant to the study and practice of social work. Oxford Bibliographies Online covers most subject disciplines within the social science and humanities, for more information visit www.aboutobo.com.

School Social Work: An Evidence-Informed Framework for Practice offers school social work students and veteran practitioners a new framework for choosing their interventions based on the best available evidence. It is the first work that synthesizes the evidence-based practice (EBP) process with recent conceptual frameworks of school social work clinical practice offered by leading scholars and policymakers. Many other books on EBP try to fit empirically validated treatments into practice contexts without considering the multiple barriers to implementing evidence-based practices in places as complicated and multi-faceted as schools. Additionally, there are vital questions in the literature about what the best levels for intervention are in school social work. Responding to the complexity of applying EBP in schools, this volume offers a conceptual framework that addresses the real-world concerns of practitioners as they work to provide the best services to their school clients. For each domain of school social work practice, the authors critically review interventions, presenting the current research with guidelines for addressing such implementation issues as cost, school culture, adaptations for special populations, and negotiating multiple arenas of practice. In addition, the chapters are grounded in the process of evidence-based practice, illustrating how school practitioners can pose useful questions, search for relevant evidence, appraise the evidence, apply it in keeping with client values, and monitor the results. Written by four school social work scholars with over four decades of theoretical, research, and practice experience, this volume will be relevant to both research faculty studying school social work interventions and students learning about school social work practice.