Black cat, white cat: a pragmatic and collaborative approach to evidence‐based social work in China

Abstract

Current thinking suggests that evidence‐based practice (EBP) is a key to unlocking the potential for social work development in mainland China. But Chinese social workers may be confronted by the challenges of EBP in using research evidence, exercising expert judgment, as well as considering client characteristics, as social work is a relatively new enterprise in China's unique social–economic–political context. There is little indigenous research evidence for Chinese social workers to refer to. There are few experienced social workers and researchers since social work practice, education and research were reinstated only in the late 1980s. Mainland Chinese may not be aware of what social workers can do and may prefer authority‐based practice. This paper aims to first review the definition of EBP, followed by a discussion of the challenges and opportunities in applying EBP to social work in China. It then highlights the usefulness of collaboration between academics, practitioners, and clients in implementing EBP. A recent research project on ex‐offenders and their family members in Singapore is used to illustrate the feasibility of collaboration between academia and the field. 当前的理论认为， 以证据为本的实践是一个解开中国大陆社会工作重新发展潜能的钥匙。 然而， 中国社会工作者在运用研究证据、行使专业判断及考虑服务使用者的特质时， 或许会遇到实证为本的挑战， 因为在中国独特的社会、经济及政治环境下， 社会工作是一个相对地新兴的专业， 没有太多本土化的研究证据可供中国社会工作者参考。 同时， 因为社会工作实践、教育及研究在1980年代末期才得以复苏， 也没有太多富有经验的社会工作者及研究人员。 中国内地民众或许未曾意识到社会工作者能够做什么， 宁可依据以权威为本的实践。 本文的主要目的首先是检视以证据为本的实践的定义， 然后讨论在中国应用以证据为本的实践的挑战及机遇。 文章突出了在引用以证据为本的实践时， 学术界、前线工作者及服务使用者相互合作的益处。 藉一项在新加坡进行的前刑事犯人及其家人的近期研究成果， 以说明学术界与社会工作界合作的可行性。