Moving Forward: Reply to Feldman

Abstract

The paper replies to three issues that Fedlman raises in his assessment research since the 1991 National Institute of Mental Health Social Work Task Force Report. Three topics are addressed, the need to expand and better prepare the social work research workforce, the profession's current research infrastructure, and improving research- to-practice research translation. Ideas for workforce growth include attracting more students with articulation of social work's social justice and research missions, increasing doctoral education rigor, and peer review of doctoral education programs as a tool for program improvement. The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education has contributed to research education progress with its program standards, but not all programs meet these standards. Research to practice can be aided by the creation of AI-based tools. The profession needs better data on research productivity and infrastructure in research-intensive schools in order to raise needed resources for research.