Skip Navigation


BJSW Advance Access originally published online on November 30, 2007
British Journal of Social Work 2009 39(2):243-260; doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcm117
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
39/2/243    most recent
bcm117v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by van de Luitgaarden, G. M. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved.

Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work: Lessons from Judgment and Decision-Making Theory

Guido M. J. van de Luitgaarden

Guido M. J. van de Luitgaarden, BSW, MA teaches at Zuyd University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. He is also a Ph.D. student at the University of Salford, Salford Centre for Social Work Research and an associated researcher with the research centre for Comparative European Social Research and Theory (CESRT) at Zuyd University.

Correspondence to Guido M. J. van de Luitgaarden, Zuyd University, CESRT, PO Box 634, 6200 AP Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail: g.van.de.luitgaarden{at}hszuyd.nl


  Abstract

This paper introduces a critique of the experimentalist strand of the evidence-based practice movement in social work. It does so by drawing on the available body of knowledge that is found within the field of judgment and decision making. The nexus between experimentalist evidence-based practice and rational choice approaches to social work decision making is demonstrated. Subsequently, it argues that the properties of social work decision tasks are more likely to facilitate naturalistic than analytical decision making strategies. Recognition-primed decision making is introduced as a possible alternative to practice guidelines and decision aids. Finally, the consequences of embracing the principles of recognition-primed decision making are considered regarding social work practice, education and research.

Keywords: evidence-based practice, judgment and decision making, naturalistic decision making, rational choice theory, recognition-primed decision making, social work, decision tasks


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.