Evidence Based Practice Response

Need help with my Social Science question – I’m studying for my class.

Respond to a colleague’s post by explaining what might enable or prevent a social worker from applying research findings to his or her practice. Please use the Resources to support your post.

Colleague: Anthony

Post explanation of how research informs a social worker’s application of the steps in the process of evidence-based practice. Be sure to explain how research contributes to what a social worker may do in practice. Please use the resources to support your answers.

Evidence based practice is a 5 step process (Yegidis, Weinbach & Myers, p. 5) and research can influence how social workers apply these five steps.

1. Convert the need for information about the cause of the problem and possible interventions. Doing research into the problem the client is expressing is how we as social workers can find both tried and true methods as well as new methods of confronting the problem and providing the client with the chance to succeed.
2. Identify the best evidence with how to answer the question.

Research is done by the social worker to find similar situations or studies of similar conditions within the case to begin to identify possible solutions.

1. Appraise the evidence for its validity, impact, and applicability.

Once the social worker gathers the resources found during research they then evaluate the ability to apply the techniques to the case they are currently involved in.

1. Integrate the critical appraisal with clinical expertise and the client’s values.

After evaluating the resources and finding the techniques they consider most likely to succeed the social worker will compare those techniques to their experience and check to ensure they fall in line with the client’s values in order to be effective.

1. Evaluate the effectiveness in carrying out steps 1-4 and find ways to improve the practice.

After applying the techniques the social worker must follow up with the client in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique and determine if other techniques need to be used or if the client has experienced success and then the process can begin again to assist the client in their next hurdle.

When completing these steps we are working towards not only educating our self and adding to our own skillset but also towards satisfying the client. Our goal is to provide the client with the tools they need to succeed, which can be done using research and evidence based practice. This is not the only way to provide the client with the tools needed to succeed, but it is an effective and measurable one.

Yegidis, B. L., Weinbach, R. W., & Myers, L. L. (2018). Research methods for social workers (8th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.