Describes six languages that scientifically minded and practice-competent social workers need to be fluent in lay language of client, abstract language of theorist, empirical and often quantitative language of researcher, categorical language of information scientist, technical terminology or jargon used by helping professionals, and preferential…

This handbook on conducting research was written for school social workers and contains these articles: (1) "The School Social Work Practitioner and Research: An Overview" (Elizabeth Timberlake and Lewis Carr); (2) "Defining Empirically Based Practice" (Deborah Siegel); (3) "Future Research in School Social Work Services: An Update" (Christine…

Data from National Association of Social Workers national membership list suggest that gap between practitioners and clinical researchers may stem from different mindsets and from actual differences in commitment to importance of clinical evaluation. In minds of practitioners, there appeared to be sharp distinction between formal single-subject…

Introduces this special issue highlighting social work research using a risk, protection, and resilience perspective. This perspective can be used to conceptualize problems in social work practice; develop plans of action for individuals, families, or communities, design services at the program level; and build measurement models for assessing…

Social work, ideologically speaking, is a profession grounded in principles of integration and interaction. The principles are embedded in curriculum policies for acceditation. They span interdisciplinary information, person and environment, research and practice, practice and policy, and theory and practice. The values, knowledge, and skills…

Traces the evolution of ethical norms, principles, and standards in social work during four stages in the profession's history: (1) morality period, (2) values period, (3) ethical theory and decision-making period, and (4) ethical standards and risk-management period. Recent developments in the profession include complex conceptual frameworks and…

Discusses 100-year-old debate about the primary function of the social work profession: to seek social reform or to provide individual treatment. Uses debate format to argue that these need not be mutually exclusive and divisive, and that they are increasingly evident in social work education and practice. (Author/JDM)