The Social Work Research Centre at the University of Stirling: A Profile

Abstract

Research on the processes and outcomes of social work is much demanded and at a critical stage in its development. Research centers can provide a fruitful context for the conduct and dissemination of studies relevant to policy and practice and for the development of appropriate methodologies. The Social Work Research Centre at the University of Stirling in Scotland, jointly sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Scottish Office, provides one model for such centers. Its purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of social work; it is methodologically pluralistic, and it encourages collaboration between social worker practitioners and researchers. The advantages, tensions, and contributions of its approach are discussed in the context of social work and social policy research in Britain and the United States.