The Science of Social Work Debate: A Review of Points of View

Background and Purpose

            Debate regarding the relationship between social work and science has increased in both frequency and intensity over the last decade. Among those in favor of a science of social work, the proposed frameworks vary in specificity and flexibility. The objective of this study was to systematically review and organize these positions. In doing so, clarity surrounding existing dilemmas and needed decisions can be achieved.

Methods

A literature search of articles published in English, within a social work journal, and between 2000 and September of 2014 was performed by a team of seven reviewers to identify literature about science and social work.  Databases used included PsychInfo, Social Science Abstracts, and Ovid Social Science Abstracts. Each database was searched using the following Boolean terms: (AB: “SOCIAL WORK”) AND (AB: “SCIENCE”) AND (AB:“EPISTEMOLOGY”). The search parameters were combined independently with each of the following keywords: discipline, translational, applied, transformative, implementation, integrative, action and methodological.  These keywords were also used alongside: (TI: “SCIENCE”) AND (TI: “SOCIAL WORK”) in each database. From these, articles were selected based on relevance using consensus among all reviewers. Selected articles were sorted into groupings of articles, based on primary authorship and then randomly assigned to two reviewers. Cmap Tools Software Toolkit was used to construct concept maps of the points of view of each article and then of the main points of view of each grouping of articles. All seven reviewers identified prominent themes that captured most of the semantic units on each map. Finally, concept maps were created for each of the major themes representing the points of view in the debate about social work and science.

Results

One hundred and twenty-five articles were identified in the first search process and 54 were identified as relevant after the first review. The articles were clustered into 37 groupings based on authorship and three additional articles were removed after a second review of relevance. Three prominent themes among the remaining 51 articles were identified: a) points of view about definitions of social work as a science or the science of social work or how it is not a science, b) points of view of the applications of social work and its relationship with science, and c) the utility of a science of social work framework.

Conclusions and Implications

The three newly created concept maps of definitions, applications and the utility of a science of social work provide visual presentations consisting of meaningful statements of the main points of view in the debate about science and social work.  The maps clarify similarities and differences in points of view and represent the diverse components of issues addressed, while providing a fresh and useful framework to continue the discourse from a common understanding of how previous perspectives informed the debate.