Research on the processes and outcomes of social work is much demanded and at a critical stage
in its development. Research centers can provide a fruitful context for the conduct and
dissemination of studies relevant to policy and practice and for the development of appropriate
methodologies. The Social Work Research Centre at the University of Stirling in Scotland, jointly
sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Scottish Office, provides one
model for such centers. Its purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of social work; it is
methodologically pluralistic, and it encourages collaboration between social worker practitioners and researchers. The advantages, tensions, and contributions of its approach are
discussed in the context of social work and social policy research in Britain and the United
States.
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