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

Abstract

Practice research is not always clearly understood, and some aspects of it are a continuing source of debate. The literature, mainly in social work and published in the last decade, was searched and reviewed to discern key issues, any consensus of opinion, and practice research's role in the social work profession. Practice research is defined as encompassing all research that is directly related to practice or concerning the application of research findings to practice, and its main purpose is to improve practice. Key issues raised in the literature are discussed, namely methodology and its implications, practitioner involvement, ethical issues and conditions that facilitate practice research. The benefits of practice research to employers, educators, practitioners and the profession are highlighted, and the paper concludes that practice research has a core that is sufficiently agreed upon to provide a firm basis for the profession to embrace it and practise it, yet to continue debating the issues where views differ.

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