1,040
Views
14
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
ARTICLES

Practice research: what it is and its place in the social work profession

Pages 545-562 | Published online: 17 Dec 2010

References

  • Antle , B. J. and Regehr , C. 2003 . Beyond individual rights and freedoms: metaethics in social work research . Social Work , 48 ( 1 ) : 135 – 144 .
  • Atkinson , D. 2005 . Research as social work: participatory research in learning disability . British Journal of Social Work , 35 ( 4 ) : 425 – 434 .
  • Barry , M. 2000 . The mentor/monitor debate in criminal justice: “what works” for offenders . British Journal of Social Work , 30 ( 5 ) : 575 – 595 .
  • Bein , A. and Allen , K. 1999 . Hand in glove? It fits better than you think . Social Work , 44 ( 3 ) : 274 – 277 .
  • Bond , M. and Jones , J. 1995 . Research in practice: promoting the dialogue . Social Work Education , 14 ( 2 ) : 85 – 101 .
  • British Association of Social Workers 2002 British Association of Social Workers Birmingham Code of Ethics [online] Available at: http://www.basw.co.uk, accessed 2 Aug. 2008.
  • Brown L. & Loveridge L. 1999 Venture Press Birmingham ‘The politics of joint agency–university research’ in The Politics of Social Work Research and Evaluation Broad B. 159 – 170
  • Clark , A. , Kjorholt , A. T. & Moss , P. 2005 Beyond Listening , The Policy Press , Bristol
  • Comer , E. , Meier , A. and Galinsky , M. 2004 . Development of innovative group work practice: using the intervention research paradigm . Social Work , 49 ( 2 ) : 250 – 260 .
  • Cooper , B. 2001 . Constructivism in social work: towards a participative practice viability . British Journal of Social Work , 31 ( 5 ) : 721 – 738 .
  • Coughlan , F. J. and Collins , K. J. 2001 . Participatory developmental research—a working model . International Social Work , 44 ( 4 ) : 505 – 518 .
  • Coulton , C. 2005 . The place of community in social work practice research: conceptual and methodological developments . Social Work Research , 29 ( 2 ) : 73 – 86 .
  • Coy , M. 2006 . This morning I'm a researcher, this afternoon I'm an outreach worker: ethical dilemmas in practitioner research . International Journal of Social Research Methodology , 9 ( 5 ) : 419 – 431 .
  • Craig , G. 2002 . Making the links between practice research and policy: the Northern Fells Rural Project . SCCD News , 31 : 10 – 13 .
  • Davis , T. D. 2006 . Practice evaluation in social work: theorizing practitioner preference . Smith College Studies in Social Work , 76 ( 3 ) : 67 – 92 .
  • Davison , J. 2004 . Dilemmas in research: issues of vulnerability and disempowerment for the social worker/researcher . Journal of Social Work Practice , 18 ( 3 ) : 379 – 393 .
  • D'Cruz , H. 2000 5 Social work research as knowledge/power in practice , Sociological Research Online , no. 1, U86–U104, [online] Available at: http://www.socresonline.org.uk/5/1/contents.html, accessed 12 Jun. 2009.
  • D'Cruz , H. and Jones , M. 2004 . Social Work Research: Ethical and Political Contexts , London : Sage .
  • Department of Health 2005 Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care, , 2nd edn , Department of Health , London
  • Doornbos , A. et al. 2008 From fairytales to spherecards: towards a new research methodology for improving knowledge productivity , Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research , 9 , no. 2, Art. 48.
  • Durham , A. 2002 . Developing a sensitive practitioner research methodology for studying the impact of child sexual abuse . British Journal of Social Work , 32 ( 4 ) : 429 – 442 .
  • Dziegielewski , S. F. , Wodarski , J. and Feit , M. 2005 . Social service research: efficacy, necessity and effectiveness . Journal of Social Service Research , 32 ( 1 ) : 1 – 16 .
  • Epstein , I. 2001 . Using available clinical information in practice-based research: mining for silver while dreaming of gold . Social Work in Health Care , 33 ( 3/4 ) : 15 – 32 .
  • Fisher , M. 2002 . The role of service users in problem formulation and technical aspects of social research . Social Work Education , 21 ( 3 ) : 305 – 312 .
  • Fisher , M. , Francis , J. and Fischer , C. 2007 . Social Care Research Capacity Consultation, Report 16 in Using Knowledge in Social Care , London : Social Care Institute for Excellence .
  • Fook , J. 1996 . The Reflective Researcher: Social Workers’ Theories of Practice Research , St. Leonards, NSW, , Australia : Allen & Unwin .
  • Fook , J 2001 Identifying expert social work in Qualitative Research in Social Work , I . Shaw & N. Gould , Sage , London , pp. 116 – 131 .
  • Fook , J. 2003 . Social work research in Australia . Social Work Education , 22 ( 1 ) : 45 – 57 .
  • Fook , J. 2004 What professionals need from research , in Social Work and Evidence Based Practice , Smith D. , Jessica Kingsley , London , pp. 29 – 46 .
  • Fox , M. , Martin , P. and Green , G. 2007 . Doing Practitioner Research , London : Sage .
  • Fraser , D. M. 1997 . Ethical dilemmas and practical problems for the practitioner-researcher . Educational Action Research , 5 ( 1 ) : 161 – 171 .
  • Fuller , R. and Petch , A. 1995 . Practitioner Research: The Reflexive Social Worker , Buckingham : Open University Press .
  • Gardner , F. 2000 . Design evaluation: illuminating social work practice for better outcomes . Social Work , 45 ( 2 ) : 176 – 182 .
  • General Social Care Council 2002 Codes of Practice , GSCC , London .
  • Gibbs , L. and Gambrill , E. 2002 . Evidence-based practice: counterarguments to objections . Research on Social Work Practice , 12 ( 3 ) : 452 – 476 .
  • Hammersley , M. 2003 . Social research today: some dilemmas and distinctions . Qualitative Social Work , 2 ( 1 ) : 25 – 44 .
  • Healy , K. 2001 . Participatory action research and social work—a critical appraisal . International Social Work , 44 ( 1 ) : 93 – 105 .
  • Hewitt , J. 2007 . Ethical components of researcher–researched relationships in qualitative interviewing . Qualitative Health Research , 17 ( 8 ) : 1149 – 1159 .
  • Involve 2009 Guidelines [online] Available at: http://www.invo.org.uk/Publication_Guidelines.asp, accessed 12 Jun. 2009.
  • Jackson , A. , Frederico , M. and Black , C. 2009 . Exploring outcomes in a therapeutic service response to the emotional and mental health needs of children who have experienced abuse and neglect in Victoria, Australia . Child and Family Social Work , 14 ( 2 ) : 198 – 212 .
  • Jarvis , P. 1999 . The Practitioner-Researcher , San Francisco : Jossey Bass .
  • Jarvis , P. and Gibson , S. 1997 . The Teacher Practitioner and Mentor in Nursing, Midwifery, Health Visiting and the Social Services , Cheltenham : Stanley Thomas .
  • Jokinen , A. , Juhila , K. & Pösö , T. 1999 Constructing Social Work Practices , Ashgate , Aldershot
  • Joubert , L. 2006 . Academic–practice partnerships in practice research: a cultural shift for health social workers . Social Work in Health Care , 43 ( 2–3 ) : 151 – 162 .
  • JUC SWEC 2006 A Social Work Research Strategy in Higher Education 2006–2020 , Social Care Workforce Research Unit, the International Policy Institute, Kings College London London
  • Juliusdottir , S. and Karlsson , T. 2007 . Some indications for professional development in social work: a study of theoretical interest and attitudes towards research among Icelandic social workers . European Journal of Social Work , 10 ( 1 ) : 21 – 37 .
  • Kanuha , V. K. 2000 . “Being” native versus “going native”: conducting social work research as an insider . Social Work , 45 ( 5 ) : 439 – 447 .
  • Karvinen-Niinikoski , S. 2005 . Research orientation and expertise in social work—challenges for social work education . European Journal of Social Work , 8 ( 3 ) : 259 – 271 .
  • Kazi , M. A. F. 2000 . Contemporary perspectives in the evaluation of practice . British Journal of Social Work , 30 ( 6 ) : 755 – 768 .
  • Kiik , R. 2005 . The Estonian experience—how to inspire social work students to undertake research? . European Journal of Social Work , 8 ( 3 ) : 329 – 334 .
  • Labonte-Roset , C. 2007 . Status and special features of social work research within the canon of the social sciences and humanities: open and hidden asymmetries . European Journal of Social Work , 10 ( 3 ) : 417 – 421 .
  • Lawler , J. and Bilson , A. 2004 . Towards a more reflexive research aware practice: the influence and potential of professional and team culture . Social Work & Social Sciences Review , 11 ( 1 ) : 52 – 69 .
  • Lee , M. and Saunders , K. 2004 . Oak trees from acorns? An evaluation of local bursaries in primary care . Primary Health Care Research & Development , 5 ( 2 ) : 93 – 95 .
  • Lykes M. B. 2001 Sage London ‘Creative arts and photography in participatory action research in Guatemala’ in Handbook of Action Research: Participative Inquiry and Practice Reason P. & Bradbury H. 363 – 371
  • Lyons , K. 2000 . The place of research in social work education . British Journal of Social Work , 30 ( 4 ) : 433 – 447 .
  • MacDonald , G. 1997 . Social work research: the state we're in . Journal of Interprofessional Care , 11 ( 1 ) : 57 – 65 .
  • Matthies , A.-L. 2005 . Between science, practice and politics: practice research as a defining approach of social work research . European Journal of Social Work , 8 ( 3 ) : 273 – 278 .
  • McCoyd , J. L. M. and Shdaimah , C. S. 2007 . Revisiting the benefits debate: does qualitative social work research produce salubrious effects? . Social Work , 52 ( 4 ) : 340 – 349 .
  • McCracken , S. G. and Marsh , J. C. 2008 . Practitioner expertise in evidence-based practice decision making . Research on Social Work Practice , 18 ( 4 ) : 301 – 310 .
  • McCrystal , P. 2000 . Developing the social work researcher through a practitioner research training programme . Social Work Education , 19 ( 4 ) : 361 – 373 .
  • McCrystal , P. and Godfrey , A. 2001 . Developing a researcher–practitioner partnership for the effective evaluation of professional social work training . Social Work Education , 20 ( 5 ) : 539 – 549 .
  • McDermott , F. 2005 . Researching groupwork: outsider and insider perspectives . Groupwork , 15 ( 1 ) : 90 – 108 .
  • Mendenhall , A. N. 2007 . Switching hats: transitioning from the role of clinician to the role of researcher in social work doctoral education . Journal of Teaching in Social Work , 27 ( 3–4 ) : 273 – 290 .
  • Miller , K. 2007 . Preliminary Report on Practice-related Research Survey , Dundee : Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education .
  • Milton , P. 2000 . Mind the gap! Translating practice problems into research questions in an evaluation of a welfare programme . European Journal of Social Work , 3 ( 1 ) : 25 – 28 .
  • Moffatt , K. , George , U. , Lee , B. and McGrath , S. 2005 . Community practice researchers as reflective learners . British Journal of Social Work , 35 ( 1 ) : 89 – 104 .
  • Mullen , E. J. 2002 . Problem formulation in practitioner and researcher partnerships: a decade of experience at the Center for the Study of Social Work Practice . Social Work Education , 21 ( 3 ) : 323 – 336 .
  • Office of Deputy Prime Minister 2005 Office of Deputy Prime Minister London Best Value Performance Indicators , [online] Available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/134864.pdf, accessed 20 Aug. 2008.
  • Ohmer , M. L. and Korr , W. S. 2006 . The effectiveness of community practice interventions: a review of the literature . Research on Social Work Practice , 16 ( 2 ) : 132 – 145 .
  • O'Neill , C. , Cleak , H. , Brown , G. and Goodman , H. 1999 . “Getting started, getting feedback, and getting finished” … practice research in action . Australian Social Work , 52 ( 2 ) : 27 – 34 .
  • Padgett , D. 1998 . Does the glove really fit? Qualitative research and clinical social work practice . Social Work , 43 ( 4 ) : 373 – 381 .
  • Parton , N. 2000 . Some thoughts on the relationship between theory and practice in and for social work . British Journal of Social Work , 30 ( 4 ) : 449 – 463 .
  • Parton , N. 2008 . Changes in the form of knowledge in social work: from the “social” to the “informational”? . British Journal of Social Work , 38 ( 2 ) : 253 – 269 .
  • Peake , K. and Epstein , I. 2004 . Theoretical and practical imperatives for reflective social work organization in health and mental health: the place of practice-based research . Social Work in Mental Health , 3 ( 1/2 ) : 23 – 37 .
  • Peile , C. 1994 . Theory, practice, research: casual acquaintances or a seamless whole? . Australian Social Work , 47 ( 2 ) : 17 – 23 .
  • Plath , D. 2006 . Evidence-based practice: current issues and future directions . Australian Social Work , 59 ( 1 ) : 56 – 72 .
  • Powell , J. 2002 . The changing conditions of social work research . British Journal of Social Work , 32 ( 1 ) : 17 – 33 .
  • Powell , J. 2005 .  “Value talk” in social work research: reflection, rhetoric and reality . European Journal of Social Work , 8 ( 1 ) : 21 – 37 .
  • Powell , J. 2007 . Promoting older people's voices—the contribution of social work to inter-disciplinary research . Social Work in Health Care , 44 ( 1–2 ) : 111 – 126 .
  • Quick , L. , Forsyth , K. and Melton , J. 2007 . From graduate to reflective practice scholar . British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 70 ( 11 ) : 471 – 474 .
  • Regehr , C. , Stern , S. and Shlonsky , A. 2007 . Operationalizing evidence-based practice . Research on Social Work Practice , 17 ( 3 ) : 408 – 416 .
  • Reid , W. J. , Kenaley , B. D. and Colvin , J. 2004 . Do some interventions work better than others?—A review of comparative social work experiments . Social Work Research , 28 ( 2 ) : 71 – 81 .
  • Reimer , B. , Sawka , E. and James , D. 2005 . Improving research transfer in the addictions field: a perspective from Canada . Substance Use & Misuse , 40 ( 11 ) : 1707 – 1720 .
  • Rex , S. and Gelsthorpe , L. 2002 . The role of community service in reducing offending: evaluating pathfinder projects in the UK . Howard Journal of Criminal Justice , 41 ( 4 ) : 311 – 325 .
  • Rock , B. D. and Cooper , M. 2000 . Social work in primary care: a demonstration student unit utilizing practice research . Social Work in Health Care , 31 ( 1 ) : 1 – 17 .
  • Rosen , A. , Proctor , E. and Staudt , M. 1999 . Social work research and the quest for effective practice . Social Work Research , 23 ( 1 ) : 4 – 14 .
  • Ryan , V. 2007 . Filial therapy: helping children and new carers to form secure attachment relationships . British Journal of Social Work , 37 ( 4 ) : 643 – 657 .
  • Salisbury Forum Group 2009 University of Southampton Southampton Practice Research: The Salisbury Statement , [online] Available at: http://www.socsci.soton.ac.uk/spring/salisbury, accessed 12 Jun. 2009.
  • Scott , D. 1997 . Ethical issues in practice research: a case study . Australian Social Work , 50 ( 4 ) : 41 – 45 .
  • Shaw , I. 2005 . Practitioner research: evidence or critique? . British Journal of Social Work , 35 ( 8 ) : 1231 – 1248 .
  • Shaw , I. 2007 . Is social work research distinctive? . Social Work Education , 26 ( 7 ) : 659 – 669 .
  • Shaw , I. & Gould , N. 2001 Qualitative Research in Social Work , Sage , London
  • Sixsmith , J. 2004 . Young men's health and group participation: participatory research gone wrong? . Clinical Psychology , 43 ( 1 ) : 13 – 18 .
  • Social Care Institute for Excellence 2009 Social Care Institute for Excellence London Social Care Online , [online] Available at: http://www.scie-socialcareonline.org.uk/, accessed 12 Jun. 2009.
  • Social Services Inspectorate and Audit Commission 2002 Getting the Best from Best Value , Department of Health , London
  • SPRING 2010 University of Southampton Southampton Southampton Practice Research Initiative Network Group , [online] Available at: http://www.soton.ac.uk/spring/, accessed 21 Apr. 2010.
  • Talentia Union of Professional Social Workers 2007 Talentia Union of Professional Social Workers Helsinki Ethical Guidelines for Social Welfare Professionals , [online] Available at: http://www.talentia.fi/files/4599_EthicalguidelinesbyTalentia.pdf, accessed 12 Jun. 2009.
  • Thomas , N. and O'Kane , C. 2000 . Discovering what children think: connections between research and practice . British Journal of Social Work , 30 ( 6 ) : 819 – 835 .
  • Tsang , A. K. T. 2000 . Bridging the gap between clinical practice and research: an integrated practice-oriented model . Journal of Social Service Research , 26 ( 4 ) : 69 – 90 .
  • Wade , K. and Neuman , K. 2007 . Practice-based research: changing the professional culture and language of social work . Social Work in Health Care , 44 ( 4 ) : 49 – 64 .
  • Wadsworth , Y. 2001 The mirror, the magnifying glass, the compass and the map: facilitating Participatory Action Research , in Handbook of Action Research , P. Reason & H. Bradbury , Sage , London , pp. 420 – 432 .
  • Wang , C. C. , Wu , K. , Zhan , W. and Carovano , K. 1998 . Photovoice as a participatory health promotion strategy . Health Promotion International , 13 ( 1 ) : 75 – 86 .
  • White , S. 2001 Auto-ethnography as reflexive inquiry: the research act as self-surveillance , in Qualitative Research in Social Work , I. Shaw & N. Gould , Sage , London , pp. 100 – 115
  • Williams , V. , St Quintin , P. and Hoadley , S. 2006 . “Take your partners”: reflections on a partnership project in learning disability research . Action Research , 4 ( 3 ) : 295 – 314 .
  • Zlotnik , J. L. , Biegel , D. E. and Solt , B. E. 2002 . The Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research: strengthening social work research in practice and policy . Research on Social Work Practice , 12 ( 2 ) : 318 – 337 .

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.