Best Practices Inquiry: A Multidimensional, Value-Critical Framework

From “Producing” to “Consuming” Research: Incorporating Evidence-Based Practice Into Advanced Research Courses in a Master of Social Work Program

“…Approximately 3 years ago, we revised the advanced research sequence to an EBP approach largely drawing on Petr and Walter's (2005) approach to teaching EBP, which included (a) the appraisal of the best available empirical evidence and the perceptions and preferences of the consumers and (b) the wisdom of the professionals when making appropriate practice decisions. It is interesting that many students and several faculty members "mourned" the loss of the previous curriculum.…”

“…These include articles on (a) how EBP can be introduced into a Master of Social Work foundation research course; and (b) how to teach EBP in a doctoral research course, a foundation practice course, or throughout the curriculum with example assignments, instructional supports, pitfalls, and solutions (Corcoran, 2007;Howard et al, 2003;Petr & Walter, 2005;Shlonsky & Stern, 2007). The present article adds to this existing literature by describing the transition of one U.S. Midwest school from a "producing research" curriculum focus in the advanced research sequence to an EBP focus, which embraces consuming research.…”

Best practices in community‐based prevention for youth substance reduction: towards strengths‐based positive development policy

“…To do a comprehensive review, extensive search procedures to locate studies have been conducted (Petr & Walter, 2005). The electronic databases of Social Work Abstracts, Social Service Abstracts, and PsycINFO were searched by using the keywords, youth, adolescent, substance abuse, smoking, alcohol, drug, communitybased, prevention, and policy.…”

“…One more step is necessary to critique and to advance the state-of-the-art of best practice analysis (Petr & Walter, 2005). The step is a systematic way to incorporate values into the inquiry, specifically the analysis of current best practices.…”

“…Although there are a number of values that the best practices could be weighed against, the following values are seen as critical in evaluating the best practices for preventing adolescent substance use. The following four values have been discussed in the substance prevention literatures and best practice studies as important consideration (Hawkins et al, 1992;Loeber & Farrington, 1998;Petr, 2004;Petr & Walter, 2005;Springer et al, 2004;Tyas & Pederson, 1998).…”