Evidence-based practice in social work: perceptions and attitudes among Norwegian social workers

ABSTRACT

Although the concept of evidence-based practice (EBP) eludes precise definition, it is used as a trademark label to ensure that practice is based on science and thereby effective and of high quality. Proponents of EBP have proposed that both education and practice in social work should be transformed according to the principle of EBP. They attribute critical opposition to EBP to a lack of knowledge of what EBP is. In this article, we endeavour to clarify the concept and present results from a survey among social workers (N = 2060) from Norway. The survey results show that although many have heard of the concept, few have precise knowledge about it. However, the more educated social workers are (master’s level), the clearer their opinions, both critical and non-critical. The results are discussed in relation to neo-liberal governance and development of social work.

Sammendrag

Selv om begrepet evidensbasert praksis (EBP) er vanskelig å definere presist, blir det brukt som varemerke for å forsikre om at praksis er basert på vitenskap, og dermed effektiv og av høy kvalitet. Talspersoner for EBP har foreslått at både utdanning og praksis i sosialt arbeid bør legges om i samsvar med prinsipper i EBP. Kritikk av EBP blir forklart med manglende kunnskap om hva EBP er. I denne artikkelen forsøker vi å klargjøre EBP-konseptet, og presenterer resultater fra en spørreundersøkelse blant norske sosialarbeidere (N = 2060). Resultatene viser at selv om mange har hørt om konseptet, er det få som har presise kunnskaper om det. De som har utdanning på masternivå har mer profilerte oppfatninger av EBP, både positive og kritiske. Resultatene blir diskutert i lys av teorier om neoliberal styring og med tanke på mulige konsekvenser for fremtidig utvikling av sosialt arbeid som profesjonell praksis.

KEYWORDS:

• Evidence-based practice
• social work
• new public management
• neo-liberalism; reflexive governance

NØKKELORD:

• Evidensbasert praksis
• sosialt arbeid
• NPM
• nyliberalisme
• refleksiv styring

Acknowledgements

A grant from UH-nett Vest (the University and College Network for Western Norway) made this research possible. We extend our gratitude to our colleagues in the Research in Social Work Group within this collaboration network.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Tor-Johan Ekeland is Professor in social psychology at the Faculty of Social Science and History at Volda University College, and holds a part-time position at Molde University College, Norway. He has researched professional practice in different fields, for instance epistemologies in professional mental health practice. He is currently researching neo-liberal governance and the implications for professional practice and is teaching those subjects in PhD and master’s programmes for health and social workers.

Randi Bergem is a political scientist and professor at Faculty of Social Science and History at Volda University College, Norway. Public health, policy and organizing welfare services are her main research and teaching topics. She teaches in the master’s degree programme in planning and leadership at Volda University College.

Vidar Myklebust is an associate professor of clinical psychology and a clinical psychologist at Faculty of Social Science and History at Volda University College, Norway. He teaches in both the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes. His research and teaching topics are developmental psychology, addictions, mental health and mental disorders.

Additional information

Funding

A grant from UH-nett Vest (the University and College Network for Western Norway) made this research possible.