The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Verner Denvall

Verner Denvall

Researcher

Verner Denvall

Evidence in action: a Thompsonian perspective on evidence-based decision-making in social work

Author

  • Verner Denvall

Summary, in English

Evidence-based practice presupposes evidence-based decision-making. In the debate it is argued that a social work fashioned after evidence should be more rational, less authoritarian and built on scientific knowledge, respect and ethics. Yet the empirical evidence that this idea works is weak. In fact the difficulties met during efforts to implement evidence could be a sound reaction. Indeed difficulties experienced could be a defensive organizational reaction to a new, disturbing technology. In this article James D. Thompson’s classical study Organizations in Action from 1967 is applied to evidence-based decision-making in social work. It shows to date that many problems have been given, at best, tenuous attention. It is argued that a focus on evidence will raise ambiguity and complexity levels within organizations and that new professional specialists will emerge. Further, new constellations of power will appear, leading to a change of balance within the domains of social work.

Department/s

  • School of Social Work

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Publication/Series

Working paper-serien

Issue

2006:4

Document type

Working paper

Publisher

Lunds universitet, Socialhögskolan

Topic

  • Social Work

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1650-8971