Design-Based Practice: A New Perspective for Social Work (Report‪)‬

The relationship between knowledge and practice in the field of social work has continued to spark debate among scholars and practitioners (Gomory, 1997). Many have argued that only knowledge derived from science should guide practice decisions and behavior. This argument, in turn, has led to discussion about the meaning of science and scientific inquiry in the field of social work (Witkin, 1989). Over the past 30 years, this has been repeatedly played out as a debate between proponents of a rational/experimental view of science (Hudson, 1982) and a more existential/ heuristic model (Heineman-Pieper, 1989). Regardless of whether they have sided with one camp or the other, most support the view that the social work profession needs to continue along the path of becoming more scientifically based. INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE IN SOCIAL WORK