Peer-reviewed article
Research Evidence, Research Evidence Use, and Social Work’s Impact
Fred Wulczyn ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This article discusses how social work can improve its impact by better connecting research evidence production with evidence use in policy and practice. It critiques current 'what works' frameworks for being too narrow in what they consider useful evidence, and proposes improvement science as an alternative approach. The article argues for building an evidence ecosystem that supports both generating relevant research and helping social workers apply it to real decisions.
Key points
- Research evidence production and research evidence use are distinct processes that both matter for social work impact
- Current 'what works' clearinghouses privilege intervention effectiveness studies while excluding other forms of inquiry needed for system improvement
- Narrow conceptions of what counts as useful evidence limit both evidence production and evidence use
- Improvement science is proposed as an organizing framework connecting diverse research, evidence use, action, and outcomes through continuous learning
- Social work needs an evidence ecosystem supporting both relevant evidence production and organizational capability to interpret and apply evidence
Limitations
This is a conceptual article about research frameworks and evidence use rather than empirical research evaluating an intervention with children. It does not provide data on actual outcomes for children or families, nor does it evaluate a specific program's effectiveness.
Abstract
Social work’s impact depends not only on producing research evidence but also on using it effectively. This article distinguishes research evidence from research evidence use, which is defined as the processes through which evidence is acquired or generated, interpreted, and applied to policy and practice decisions. It argues that contemporary evidence-based policy frameworks, particularly “what works” clearinghouses, have elevated the importance of rigorous evidence while simultaneously narrowing what counts as useful evidence, privileging intervention effectiveness studies over other forms of inquiry needed for system improvement. This narrow conception limits both evidence production and evidence use. The article proposes improvement science as an alternative organizing framework that connects diverse forms of research evidence, evidence use, action, and outcomes through continuous learning. Strengthening social work’s impact therefore requires an evidence ecosystem that supports both the production of relevant evidence and the capability of social workers and organizations to interpret and apply that evidence to the decisions that shape policy, practice, and outcomes.