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SWK 6521 Advanced Clinical Social Work

Evidence Based Practice

Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is a decision-making process that uses three main components:

Venn Diagram of Practitioners' Expertise, Best Evidence, and Client Values and Expertise

Source: Nichols, Darlene. Evidence-Based Practice for Social Work. 2021.

Types of Best Evidence Studies 

  • Systematic Reviews
  • Meta-Analyses
  • Randomized Controlled Trials
  • Cohort Studies
  • Case Control Studies
  • Case Series and Case Reports

Appraise the Information

Three questions to answer when reading the research:

  1. What was the research question and why was the study needed?
  2. What was the research design?
  3. Was the research design appropriate for the question?
Learn More about Evidence Based Practice from the National Association of Social Workers

Selected Social Work Databases

Social Work Data and Statistics

There are many government agencies, educational institutions, and other organizations that publish data and statistics on the Internet.  Listed here are a few to get you started.