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Evidence-Based Practice: Counterarguments to Objections

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, lgibbs{at}uwec.edu

Eileen Gambrill

University of California, Berkeley

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of clients. The authors describe and offer counterarguments to objections to EBP. These objections could result in premature dismissal of this new form of practice and education that offers potential benefits to social work and its clients. Objections to EBP fall into six categories: (a) arguments from ignorance about the nature of EBP, (b) misinterpreted professional standards, (c) arguments appealing to tradition, (d) ad hominem arguments, (e) arguments on ethical grounds, and (f) philosophical arguments. Reviewing objections to EBP may help us to increase our understanding of barriers to use of practice-related research findings in the helping professions and honoring related requirements described in our code of ethics.

Research on Social Work Practice, Vol. 12, No. 3, 452-476 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/1049731502012003007


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