Ethical Considerations of Evidence-Based Practice (Commentary) (Essay‪)‬

During the past decade evidence-based practice has become increasingly influential in social work practice and education (Gilgun, 2005). The increasing influence is evidenced by the proliferation of articles and books about the subject (Chwalisz, 2003). Evidence-based practice has largely been accepted as a positive advancement in the profession (Fook, 2004; Gilgun, 2005). Its proponents contend that basing social work practice on research evidence is an important ethical mandate (Gibbs & Grambrill, 2002). Indeed, incorporating state-of-the-art knowledge and research has long been considered essential to good social work practice (Goldstein, 1990; NASW, 2000). It is perhaps because of this recognition that the potential ethical consequences of the evidence-based practice movement have too infrequently been explored. Science, and, by extension, evidence-based practice, hold elevated and privileged positions within modern societies and are commonly viewed as value free and accepted on face value. Yet, within any epistemology lies implicit values that silently guide those who adopt its approaches and methods. This is also true for social work movements, theories and perspectives; values are embedded deeply within each and have implications for what problems the profession pays attention to and how it responds to them. Embedded within the structure and core elements of evidence-based practice are implied organizing principles that can lead to the privileging of certain sets of values, knowledge, and actions over others. Webb (2001) has asserted that "the emerging panacea of evidence-based practice in social work has thus far developed without critical commentary" (p.15). The purpose of this commentary is to briefly illuminate these tendencies as a means of stimulating dialogue and debate within the profession. The aim of this article is not to disparage the evidence-based practice movement but to highlight some of the dilemmas that call for more careful exploration.