Читать книгу Social Work Research Methods - Reginald O. York - Страница 40

How did you come to your opinion about whether the full moon affects behavior? How about another opinion? Do you believe that giving clients homework to undertake between therapy sessions is effective? What about the view that long-term treatment for depression is justified when compared with short-term treatment because it is more cost-effective?

We come to our opinions in a variety of ways. Sometimes we believe something because it has been handed down to us from a source of authority, like our parents. Other times we come to hold a belief because it makes sense to us. Maybe we believe in a way of doing something because this is the way we have always done it. These are three of many ways by which we come to our opinions.

None of these ways is supported by science, which requires the systematic collection and analysis of data. We could ask ourselves if we have beliefs about social work practice based on scientific evidence. Do we know of scientific studies that show that a certain service is effective with regard to a certain outcome? Many human service agencies advertise that they use evidence-based practices. This means that their practices are supported by evidence. In other words, their services are supported by science. They don’t just ask for the opinions of staff and leave it at that. They subject their practice questions to scientific inquiry.