SOCW 6311: Social Work Research in Practice II

Please note that this is a master level course so master level work. Please check the grammar and you have to use the reading that I have provided to you. You must answer all the questions that I post. Thank you.

Week 1 Evidence-Based Practice: What, Why, and How

Resources Readings 

Thyer, B. (2010). Introductory principles of social work research. In B. Thyer (Ed.), The handbook of social work research methods (2nd ed., pp.18). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Cooney, S. M., Huser, C. M., Small, S., & OConnor, C. (2007). Evidence-based programs: An overview. What Works, WisconsinResearch to Practice Series, (6), 18. Retrieved from

OConnor, C., Small, S. A., & Cooney, S. M. (2007). Program fidelity and adaptation: Meeting local needs without compromising program effectiveness. What Works, WisconsinResearch to Practice Series, (4), 16. Retrieved from  

Small, S. A., Cooney, S. M., Eastman G. & OConnor, C. (2007). Guidelines for selecting an evidence-based program: Balancing community needs, program quality, and organizational resources. What Works, WisconsinResearch to Practice Series, (3), 16. Retrieved from

University of Wisconsin Extension. (2007). Research to practice report briefs. Retrieved from  

Small, S. A., Reynolds, A. J., OConnor, C., & Cooney, S. M. (2005). What works, Wisconsin: What science tells us about cost-effective programs for juvenile delinquency prevention. Retrieved from

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Evidence-based practices resource center. Retrieved from

Whittaker, J. K. (2009). Evidence-based intervention and services for high-risk youth: A North American perspective on the challenges of integration for policy, practice,

and research. Child & Family Social Work, 14(2), 166177. 

The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. (2018). Program registry. Retrieved from

Social Work Policy Institution. (2018). Evidence-based practice. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkpolicy.org/research/evidencebased-practice-2.html#resources Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013d). MSW homepage [Interactive media]. Retrieved from  

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013a). Bradley family episode 4 [Video file]. Retrieved from

Consider the following quotation: Oftentimes, potential users of research knowledge are unconnected to those who do the research, and consequently a huge gap ensues between research knowledge and practice behaviors (Barwick, M., Boudell, K., Stasiulis, E., Ferguson, H., Blase, K., & Fixsen, D., 2005). Social workers must work to close the gap perceived by the authors of this quote.

Assignment 

The first steps toward narrowing the gap between research and practice are recognizing that one exists and educating oneself and others. Social workers must realize the benefits and eliminate the misconceptions surrounding evidence-based practice. In the Bradley episode featured in the resources, the social worker combines her assessment of Tiffani Bradleys individual situation with her knowledge of research to evaluate her supervisors recommended intervention. Now that the social worker has recognized a gap, she/he/they need to access potentially relevant information for a specific case and critically analyze for its applicability to that case. This weeks Assignment allows you to practice these critical next steps in the Bradley family case.

To prepare for this Assignment, review Episode 4 of the Bradley family case study. Develop a list with 23 research able questions that you could use to find evidence about the efficacy of 12-step programs or other treatments for substance abuse in adolescents. Then, using the resources provided, search for two evidence-based interventions that would be appropriate for Tiffani Bradley. Be sure to consider quality of research, readiness for dissemination, replications, and costs.

Assignment

Accessing Information About Evidenced-Based Practices By Day 7 of Week 1, submit a 2- to 3-page paper that includes the following:

Summaries of the two interventions and their respective research regarding effectiveness

Recommendations for Tiffanis social worker that address the following: o Factors to consider when choosing between the two interventions o The social work skills that the staff would require to implement the intervention o The training required to implement each intervention

An evaluation of evidence-based practice based on your reaction to the experience in which you address the following questions: o Would you, as a beginning researcher, have enough knowledge to benefit from researching evidence-based practices? Why or why not?

o How might the research that you conducted increase your confidence in the intervention with Tiffani? o Is the information provided enough to make a decision regarding interventions? Why or why not?

Appropriate APA citations in your writing