Evidence-based social work practice: Challenges and promise

Abstract

Following an outline of basic premises that lend meaning to and support evidence-based practice (EBP), this article discusses three obstacles that challenge implementation of EBP in routine practice: (1) the uncritical transfer and use of lay decision heuristics, (2) espousal of epistemologies that are inhospitable to EBP, and (3) the dilemma that is inherent in idiographic application of empirical generalizations. The author presents a conception of practice guidelines for intervention (PGI), in which principles and procedures drawn from single-system design and systematic planned practice are integrated. The PGI culminates with an outline of an algorithm for implementation of empirically supported interventions that reconciles its uncertain fit to an individual client through a recursive adaptation-application-evaluation process to maximize outcome attainment. Implications for research and for professional education are drawn.

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