The purpose of this brief note is to critically reflect on the unresolvedness of the multiple debates within the field of social work, using both scholar and practitioner perspectives. These debates include theory’s relationship to research and practice, the micro-mezzo-macro practice divides, and broader questions of the profession’s identity.
AdamsKBMattoHCLeCroyCW (2009) Limitations of evidence-based practice for social work education: Unpacking the complexity. Journal of Social Work Education45(2): 165–186.
2.
AnastasJW (2014) The science of social work and its relationship to social work practice. Research on Social Work Practice24(5): 571–580.
3.
AustinMJAnthonyEKKneeRT, et al. (2016) Revisiting the relationship between micro and macro social work practice. Families in Society97(4): 270–277.
4.
BarberJG (2008) Putting evidence-based practice into practice. In: ThyerBA (ed.) Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work and Social Welfare. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
5.
BrekkeJS (2012) Shaping a science of social work. Research on Social Work Practice22(5): 455–464.
6.
ChanCLWNgSM (2004) The social work practitioner-researcher-educator: Encouraging innovations and empowerment in the 21st century. International Social Work47(3): 312–320.
7.
CollinsPH (2019) Intersectionality as Critical Social Theory. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
8.
CorbinJStraussA (2015) Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory (4th edn). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
9.
EngelRJSchuttRK (2010) Fundamentals of Social Work Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
10.
FineM (1998) Working the hyphens: Reinventing self and other in qualitative research. In: DenzinNKLincolnYS (eds) The Landscape of Qualitative Research: Theories and Issues. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, pp. 130–155.
11.
FreireP (1972 [1968]) Pedagogy of the Oppressed (trans. RamosMB). Barcelona: Herder.
12.
GilgunJF (2006) The four cornerstones of qualitative research. Qualitative Health Research16(3): 436–443.
13.
Hooksb (1994) Teaching to transgress: Education as the practice of freedom. Routledge.
14.
JacobsLAKimMEWhitfieldDL, et al. (2021) Defund the police: Moving towards an anti-carceral social work. Journal of Progressive Human Services32(1): 37–62.
15.
KnightCGittermanA (2018) Merging micro and macro intervention: Social work practice with groups in the community. Journal of Social Work Education54(1): 3–17.
16.
KringsATrubey-HockmanCDentatoMP, et al. (2020) Recalibrating micro and macro social work: Student perceptions of social action. Social Work Education39(2): 160–174.
17.
MacKinnonST (2009) Social work intellectuals in the twenty-first century: Critical social theory. Critical Social Work and Public Engagement, Social Education28(5): 512–527.
18.
MarshJC (2004) Theory-driven versus theory-free research in empirical social work practice. In BriggsHERzepnickiTL (eds) Using Evidence in Social Work Practice: Behavioral Perspectives. Chicago, IL: Lyceum, pp. 20–35.
19.
MontañoC (2012) Social work theory-practice relationship: Challenges to overcoming positivist and postmodern fragmentation. International Social Work55(3): 306–319.
