"In social work, most agree that EBP is a process involving creating an answerable question based on a client or organizational need, locating the best available evidence to answer the question, evaluating the quality of the evidence as well as its applicability, applying the evidence, and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the solution. EBP is a process in which the practitioner combines well-researched interventions with clinical experience, ethics, client preferences, and culture to guide and inform the delivery of treatments and services."
Excerpt from the National Association of Social Workers' Evidence-Based Practice web page. The NASW defines Evidence-Based Practices, Evidence-Based Treatments, Evidence-Based Interventions, and Evidence-Informed Interventions and lists links to EBP resources.
"Evidence-based practice (EBP) is an educational and practice paradigm that includes a series of predetermined steps aimed at helping practitioners and agency administrators identify, select, and implement efficacious interventions for clients. This entry identifies definitions of EBP and traces the evolution of EBP from its origins in the medical profession to its current application in social work. Essential steps in the process of EBP and challenges associated with applying EBP to social work practice, education, and research are noted."
Jenson, J., & Howard, M. (2013). Evidence-Based Practice. In Encyclopedia of Social Work. : Oxford University Press.
View All Research and Evidence-Based Practice entries in Encyclopedia of Social Work.
Evidence-Based Practice is "the use of the best available scientific knowledge derived from randomized controlled outcome studies, and meta-analyses of existing outcome studies, as one basis for guiding professional interventions and effective therapies, combined with professional ethical standards, clinical judgment, and practice wisdom."
The Social Work Dictionary, 6th Edition (2014, NASW Press)
Podcast -- Four useful principles for evidence-based policy and practice
The Campbell Collaboration is an international social science research network that produces high quality, open and policy-relevant evidence syntheses, plain language summaries and policy briefs.
SAGE Handbook of Social Work (E-book)Several library databases have a way to filter search results for empirical methodologies. Try the techniques in bold in the following databases, in combination with other search terms for the topic you are researching.
In medical and nursing literature, a level of evidence may be assigned to a research article based on the quality of their methodological design, validity, and applicability to patient care.
Correlational studies might fall into Level IV or V on this chart, whereas intervention studies might fall into Levels II, III, or IV.
Adapted from Melnyk, B. M., & In Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice.
"A systematic review attempts to collect and analyze all evidence that answers a specific question. The question must be clearly defined and have inclusion and exclusion criteria. A broad and thorough search of the literature is performed and a critical analysis of the search results is reported and ultimately provides a current evidence-based answer to the specific question."
Source: Systematic Reviews. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2020)
Social Work and Systematic Reviews
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis: Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods. Littell, J. H., Corcoran, J., & Pillai, V. K. (2008). Oxford University Press.
Intervention studies are experimental studies that test the effectiveness of a preventative or therapeutic measure.
Read more: Usher, C. (2008). Experimental and Quasi- Experimental Design. In Encyclopedia of Social Work. : Oxford University Press.
Look for Methodology or Publication Types that use terms like clinical trial, randomised-controlled (RCT), experimental, quasi-experimental, treatment outcome study.
Correlational studies are observational studies that look at the relationships between two or more variables that are not controlled by the researcher. These studies can reveal if a relationship exists between variables, but are limited because they do not prove causation. They are often used for gathering information about a topic or in situations where performing an experiment is not possible.
Look for Methodology or Publication Types that use terms like cohort, case-control, descriptive, or observational, longitudinal study.
Some journals have additional Supplementary Online Information with important details of the research.
