Priorities for social work research are suggested and obstacles discussed Clarifying the goals
of research is suggested as a first step. Success in helping clients prevent or resolve real-life
problems is suggested as a key purpose ofknowledge development in professions such as social
work Priorities identified include diffusion of successful programs, developing effective education programs, intervention research (especially programmatic research), increasing the quality
of scholarship, and training m critical thinking and related knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Other priorities discussed include networking among those working in a given area and
increasing skills in grant preparation. Obstacles identified include funding priorities, different
definitions of knowledge, lack of understanding and misrepresentation of science, competing
contingencies, and seduction by theory. Others suggested include the prevalence of pathologies
of science, different goals, and the search for a unique knowledge base. Educational implications
are discussed
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