Essay On Relationship Between Qualitative Analysis And Evidence-Based Practice

Without a doubt, evidence-based practice plays a central role to social work. This is due to the fact that it oftentimes informs best practices. A competent social worker understands this relationship in general and the ways it is beneficial to clients in particular. In order to analyze the relationship between qualitative analysis and evidence-based practice, this article will use two qualitative research studies. The first research study is an Evaluation of Evaluation Studies that used Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Work Literature. The objective of the study above was to examine the quality of evaluation of the aforementioned in terms of criteria used in qualitative research. While evidence –based practice is a relatively new term, this concept has continued to evolve over the past couple of years. There are a number of relating factors that drive the concept; cost pressures, managed care, information dissemination and consumer awareness. According to the article Evaluation of Evaluation Studies that used Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Work Literature, evidence-based practice is the best research evidence integration with issues like expertise and values. The second article used by this paper is about Latina Survivors of Domestic Violence. This paper aimed at understanding the above mentioned issue with regards to qualitative research. In this article, different perspectives of domestic violence to Latinas are offered from findings from community based participatory action research. From the two articles mentioned here, qualitative research can be viewed as research that is exploratory in nature. The method applied in the two articles in relation to evidence-based practice and qualitative research is a process of gaining understanding of the main and fundamental issues, opinions, motivations and reasons. This is done to offer insight into underlying issues and helps in the development of ideas as well as hypothesis for use in quantitative research.
Individual practitioner expertise in social work is integrated with evidence-based practice. This occurs through combining the two with the best evidence while considering the expectations and values of every client. Research is either primary or secondary. The main challenge when incorporating evidence from research into social work is the notable lack of evidence based organizational cultures in human service agencies. From the analysis of the two research articles above, a number of things emerge. First of all, the main contribution that qualitative research has on evidence-based practice is the generation of hypotheses. When conducting qualitative research, findings always suggest future potential research testing. Secondly, the validation and development of instruments in research evolve out of qualitative conventions. Research collects qualitative data on a subject and later translates the same into quantifiable tools.
In social work, qualitative research additionally provides the contexts used in the evaluation of evidence based practice. This means that when implementing evidence based practice, a critical analysis is required. Often, the critical assessment is conducted in an effort to anticipate the adoption of practice change. This evaluation takes note of the processes as well as the results. In the research case study above for instance, domestic violence for Latina women was assessed using qualitative design. The article found out that domestic violence is quite prevalent and suggested evidence-based therapy to treat patients and victims. In conclusion, interventions for practice that is evidence based is usually based and connected to qualitative information.

References

Crandall, M., Senturia, K., Sullivan, M., & Sharyne Shiu-Thornton. (2005). Latina
survivors of domestic violence: Understanding through qualitative analysis. Hispanic Health Care International, 3(3), 179-187.
Shek, D. L., Tang, V. Y., & Han, X. Y. (2005). Evaluation of Evaluation Studies Using
Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Work Literature (1990-2003): Evidence that Constitutes a Wake-Up Call. Research On Social Work Practice, 15(3), 180-194.