Practice Research in Social Work—Participation,Co-Creation,and Service Users’ Positions: Introduction to the Articles from the Sixth International Conference on Practice Research

Abstract

Purpose

This special issue examines practice research in social work, focusing on participation, co-creation, and service users’ positions in knowledge production and utilization. Practice research is advanced as a collaborative, context-sensitive approach that challenges hierarchical models of evidence and foregrounds co-produced knowledge.

Method

Drawing on the Sixth International Conference on Practice Research at Aalborg University, Denmark, the 11 special issue articles explore service user involvement, positionality, and organizational conditions shaping inquiry.

Results

The introduction synthesizes cross-cutting themes from the articles into an integrative framework linking epistemic justice, co-methodologies, and institutional supports for co-learning and improvements in practices, structures, and policies.

Discussion

The introduction concludes by advancing implications for practice researchers, practice research processes and projects, and sustainable practice research pipelines. Collectively, the special issue highlights practice research's potential to inform knowledge development and support systemic transformation.