Perspektiv på evidensbaserad praktik - En analys av debatten kring evidensbaserat socialt arbete i Sverige

The aim of this study was to examine and analyze the ongoing Swedish debate on the evidence- based practice (EBP), and thereby be able to present an idea of why the debate arose and continues. We used perspective analysis to analyze debate articles published in two of Swedens leading journals within the subject of social work, Socionomen and Socialvetenskaplig tidskrift. The articles where published between 2005-2014 and mainly written by university researchers and representatives from the Swedish authority Socialstyrelsen. Three main themes were identified: EBP as an idea (including sub-themes as the impact on the profession and client, and discussions regarding the definition of EBP), how EBP should be implemented and by whom, and discussions regarding whether EBP causes medicalization of social work or not. The analysis was based on social constructivism and new institutionalism. The results show contradictions between the perspectives in their views on who should lead and develop the social work practice, and how. Furthermore differed the perspectives approach to quantitatively and qualitatively based knowledge. The results also showed that the debate is part of a translation of the idea of EBP, and that it’s inevitable when the idea taken from the medical field is going to be implemented within social work practice