Practitioner's Guide to Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice

by Allen Rubin (University of Texas at Austin )

• ISBN13: 9780470136652
• ISBN10: 0470136650
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-11-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Written by a top scholar in the field, Practitioner's Guide to Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice gives essential and practical guidance on how to integrate research appraisal into evidence-based practice endeavors to ensure the best client care. This reader-friendly book presents you with the knowledge you need about various research designs and methods so that when engaging in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process, you can determine which interventions, programs, policies, and assessment tools are supported by the best evidence.

Author Biography

ALLEN RUBIN, PhD, teaches in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas, Austin. He is world-renowned for his work in research methods and clinical practice and served as president of the Society of Social Work and Research from 1998-2000. He is the recipient of the Council on Social Work Education 2007 Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xix
Overview of Evidence-Based Practice
Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice	p. 3
Emergence of Evidence-Based Practice	p. 5
Defining Evidence-Based Practice	p. 6
Evidence-Based Practice Is Not Restricted to Clinical Decisions	p. 11
Developing an Evidence-Based Practice Process Outlook	p. 11
Easier Said than Done	p. 15
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 16
Review Exercises	p. 17
Additional Readings	p. 18
Steps in the EBP Process	p. 19
Question Formulation	p. 19
Evidence Search	p. 20
An Internet Search Using Google Scholar and PsycINFO	p. 23
Critically Appraising Studies and Reviews	p. 27
Selecting and Implementing the Intervention	p. 28
The Importance of Practice Context: A Policy Example	p. 29
Monitor Client Progress	p. 32
Feasibility Constraints	p. 32
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 35
Review Exercises	p. 36
Additional Readings	p. 37
Research Hierarchies	p. 38
More Than One Type of Hierarchy for More than One Type of EBP Question	p. 39
Qualitative and Quantitative Studies	p. 41
Types of EBP Questions	p. 42
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 56
Review Exercises	p. 57
Additional Readings	p. 58
Critically Appraising Studies for EBP Questions about Intervention Effectiveness
Criteria for Inferring Effectiveness	p. 61
Internal Validity	p. 62
Measurement Issues	p. 68
Statistical Chance	p. 72
External Validity	p. 78
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 80
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 82
Review Exercises	p. 83
Additional Readings	p. 84
Critically Appraising Experiments	p. 85
Classic Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design	p. 86
Posttest-Only Control Group Design	p. 89
Solomon Four-Group Design	p. 90
Alternative Treatment Designs	p. 92
Dismantling Designs	p. 93
Placebo Control Group Designs	p. 94
Experimental Demand and Experimenter Expectancies	p. 96
Obtrusive versus Unobtrusive Observation	p. 98
Compensatory Equalization and Compensatory Rivalry	p. 98
Resentful Demoralization	p. 99
Treatment Diffusion	p. 99
Treatment Fidelity	p. 101
Practitioner Equivalence	p. 101
Differential Attrition	p. 103
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 105
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 107
Review Exercises	p. 108
Additional Readings	p. 109
Critically Appraising Quasi-Experiments: Nonequivalent Comparison Groups Designs	p. 110
Nonequivalent Comparison Groups Designs	p. 111
Additional Logical Arrangements to Control for Potential Selectivity Biases	p. 113
Statistical Controls for Potential Selectivity Biases	p. 118
Pilot Studies	p. 123
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 126
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 128
Review Exercises	p. 128
Additional Readings	p. 129
Critically Appraising Quasi-Experiments: Time-Series Designs and Single-Case Designs	p. 130
Simple Time-Series Designs	p. 131
Multiple Time-Series Designs	p. 134
Single-Case Designs	p. 135
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 144
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 148
Review Exercises	p. 149
Additional Reading	p. 150
Critically Appraising Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses	p. 151
Advantages of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses	p. 152
Risks in Relying Exclusively on Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses	p. 154
Where to Start	p. 154
What to Look for When Critically Appraising Systematic Reviews	p. 155
What Distinguishes a Systematic Review from Other Types of Reviews?	p. 161
What to Look for When Critically Appraising Meta-Analyses	p. 162
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 174
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 176
Review Exercises	p. 178
Additional Readings	p. 178
Critically Appraising Studies for Alternative EBP Questions
Critically Appraising Nonexperimental Quantitative Studies	p. 181
Surveys	p. 182
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies	p. 193
Case-Control Studies	p. 195
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 197
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 201
Review Exercises	p. 203
Additional Readings	p. 203
Critically Appraising Qualitative Studies	p. 204
Qualitative Observation	p. 205
Qualitative Interviewing	p. 208
Qualitative Sampling	p. 211
Grounded Theory	p. 212
Frameworks for Appraising Qualitative Studies	p. 213
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 218
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 223
Review Exercises	p. 227
Additional Readings	p. 228
Assessing Clients and Monitoring Their Progress
Critically Appraising and Selecting Assessment Instruments	p. 231
Reliability	p. 232
Validity	p. 236
Sensitivity	p. 241
Feasibility	p. 244
Sample Characteristics	p. 245
Locating Assessment Instruments	p. 246
Synopses of Research Studies	p. 248
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 250
Review Exercises	p. 252
Additional Readings	p. 252
Monitoring Client Progress	p. 253
A Practitioner-Friendly Design	p. 255
Feasible Assessment Techniques	p. 258
Summary	p. 268
Looking Ahead	p. 270
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 272
Review Exercises	p. 273
Additional Reading	p. 273
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 4	p. 274
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 5	p. 277
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 6	p. 280
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 7	p. 283
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 8	p. 285
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 9	p. 288
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 10	p. 292
Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 11	p. 295
Glossary	p. 299
References	p. 313
Index	p. 319
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