1. Taking a Critical Stance www.cjsw.ac.uk

2. Evidence-based practice the integration of the best research evidence with [professional] expertise and client values in making practice decisions. 'Best research evidence' means [practice] relevant research from basic and applied scientific investigations, especially drawing from intervention research evaluating outcomes McNeece & Thyer,2004 www.cjsw.ac.uk

3. Evidence-based practice Interventions that are counterproductive No better outcomes than non or minimal intervention Excellent outcomes with low priorities www.cjsw.ac.uk

4. Evidence-based practice Programme/intervention integrity Clear measurable objectives Appropriate (multi) methods Evidence from monitoring and evaluation Graduated or staged intervention according to needs and risks www.cjsw.ac.uk

5. What is respectable evidence? Systematic Reviews/Meta-Analyses Randomised Controlled Trials (gold standard) Quasi-Experimental Studies Case-Control and Cohort Studies Surveys Qualitative sources Narrative discourse Practice experience www.cjsw.ac.uk

6. Knowledge transfer and exchange Knowledge is always gained through action and for action. From this starting point, to question the validity of social knowledge is to question, not how to develop a reflective science about action, but how to develop genuinely well-informed action—how to conduct an action science” (Torbert 2001).

7. Action research a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a ‘community practice to improve the way they address issues and solve problems… “a spiral of steps, each of which is composed of a circle of planning, action, and fact-finding about the result of the action”… Lewin 1944 www.cjsw.ac.uk

8. Participatory Action Research a systematic cyclical method of planning, taking action, observing, evaluating (including self- evaluation) and critical reflecting prior to planning the next cycle (O'Brien, 2001) a way to increase understanding of how change in actions or practices can mutually benefit a community of practitioners (McNiff, 2002) www.cjsw.ac.uk

9. www.cjsw.ac.uk Developmental Action Inquiry

10. www.cjsw.ac.uk Integrated action research Evaluation - a process for making judgments about problem situations and professional activities to bring about improvement. Respondent participation as partners of researchers, sharing and learning together -> collaboration Researchers as catalysts and facilitators Participants identify the issue themselves as one they want to address Methods of research are flexible & appropriate Develop a research capacity in others Empowering process rather than one in which the participants are subjugated & exploited Process includes reflection on practice Fostering direct benefits to those involved in the research process as goal Research results in change in practice