Guidelines for evaluating outcome studies on social work practice

In order for the findings of practice research to have an impact on the profession, they must be publicly disseminated in a scientifically credible manner. This article presents guidelines to evaluate articles describing practice research studies using group designs in social work Apart from their use by social practitioners seeking guidance from the professional literature, these guidelines may also be used by researchers themselves to assist in the preparation of articles. Approximately 300 new doctoral graduates in social work are produced each year (Council on Social Work Education, 1990), and the vast majority of these professionals earn the PhD (doctor of philosophy) degree, a degree characterized as a &dquo;research&dquo; degree. Even among those obtaining the DSW (doctor of social work) degree, research training is a major component of the curriculum. Very few social work doctoral programs emphasize advanced training in practice skills, because the MSW degree remains the recognized graduate degree for clinical social workers and other advanced practitioners. As the supply of trained doctoral-level social workers has increased, our professional literature has reflected increased attention to the reporting o