DON'T JUMP, MOTHER LOVES YOU: THE RESCUE OF SOCIAL WORK FROM THE SUICIDE OF ITS OWN RESEARCH

Abstract

Instead of trying to improve its very inadequate research by yet another rededication to rationality, social work should take cognizance of its consistent failure across fifty years to produce any scientifically credible social service assessments. The pursuit of rationality in social work obscures its political acquiescence, a fable of the Arctic midgerby. The corrective myths of its research stunt the professional coming of age of social work and may well lead to its demise. Rather than social science, social criticism is more consistent with the field's traditions, inclinations, and capacities.