INTEGRATING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND SOCIAL WORK FIELD EDUCATION

TLDR

Social work academia is debating evidence‑based practice, and because practicum education is central to the profession, understanding field instructors’ perspectives is crucial. A survey of 283 field instructors found that 87 % consider EBP useful, yet evidence use is infrequent and time constraints are the main barrier.

Abstract

The social work academic community is currently considering and critiquing the idea of evidence-based practice (EBP). Given the vital part that practicum education plays in the social work profession, understanding the views of field instructors on this subject is essential. The George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University surveyed 283 field instructors within 180 agencies and found that the majority (87%, N=235) viewed it as a useful practice idea. However, most of the indicators employed to assess use of scientific evidence in social work practice revealed that it occurs too infrequently. A lack of time was reported as the greatest obstacle.