Promoting Harmony Where There Is Commonly Conflict: Evidence-Informed Practice as an Integrative Strategy

Abstract

This article identifies dualisms in the continuing and sometimes acrimonious discourse concerning the relationship between social work practice and research. In so doing, it describes the epistemological assumptions of and differences between evidence-based practice, research-based practice, practice-based research, and reflective practice. In the spirit of the Hong Kong conference, the author extends McNeill's concept of “evidence-informed practice” to suggest a more inclusive and harmonious conception of practice–research integration. The article concludes by considering what such a model might look like.

KEYWORDS:

• evidence-based practice
• practice-based research
• research-based practice
• reflective practice
• evidence-informed practice