Keynote for the workshop on the development day of the Latin University of Bethlehem, Palestine, in cooperation with Latin university Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany.

1. KatHO NRW Aachen Köln Münster Paderborn
Evidence based Social Work Practice
Implementing learning in social organizations
Prof. Dr. Michael Ziemons
Katholische Hochschule Nordrhein-Westfalen
Abteilung Köln
Wörthstr. 10- 50668 Köln
Raum 319A
Telefon: 00492217757140
E-Mail: m.ziemons@katho-nrw.de
www.katho-nrw.de

2. KatHO NRW Aachen Köln Münster Paderborn
Three dimensions of social work:
- practice
- theory
- research
(Engelke 2004)

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What's evidence?
„EbP consits the following sequence of
events:
1. Convert the need for information into an
answerable question(s) (...).
2. Track down the best available evidence to
answer each question.

10. KatHO NRW Aachen Köln Münster Paderborn
What's evidence?
3. Critically evaluate this evidence in terms of its
validity, impact and potential relevance to our
client.
4. Integrate relevant evidence with our clinical
expertise and client values and circumstances.

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What's evidence?
5. Evaluate our expertise in conducting
Steps 1 - 4 above, and evaluate the
outcomes of our services to the client,
especially focusing on an assessment of
enhanced client functioning and/or
problem resolution“
(McNeece, Thyer, 2004, S. 10)

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Categories of Evidence
A-Level: Systematic Reviews/Meta-Analyses &
Randomized Controlled Trials
B-Level: Quasi-Exerimental Studies, Case-Control
and Cohort Studies, Pre-Experimental Group Studies,
Surveys
C-Level: Qualitative Studies

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What's evidence?
„EbP says that one should rely on the best
AVAILABLE evidence, not only on BEST
evidence, such as based on RCT (=
randomised-controlled studies - M.Z)
(because often there is no BEST evidence
available)“
(McNeece, Thyer 2004, S. 10)

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Organisational learning
Three types:
●
Individual Learning
●
Collective/ Social Learning
●
Organisational Learning

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Organisational learning
Definitions
„Organisations learn through experiences. They're
acting, regarding their experiences, watch the
consequences and develop implications for
further actions. This is an adaptive-rational
process.“ (March et al.)

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Organisational learning
Definition
„Organisational learning can be understood as a
continuous process of exchanging informations
between a system and its environment. This
process allows the system to implement
changes and initiate answers.“ (Morgan)

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Organisational learning
Definition
„Organisational learning happens, if members of
an organisation become learning agents for
their organisation, if they discover mistakes in
the organisational daily used concepts and
theories referring to the external and internal
environment of the organisation, correct them
and embed the results of their research in the
individual and shared opinions in the
organisation.“ (Argyris & Schön)

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Organisational learning
System-theoretical and
constructivistisc Aspects
Structur of the system
Behavior patterns
Real situations

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Conclusion
Evidence based practise offers the chance to
make an advantage in the professionalisation of
social work: from mission to profession.
It is an ethical and scientific need.
Universities are the natural partners, and
service learning is the best curricular place.

26. KatHO NRW Aachen Köln Münster Paderborn
Literatur
Argyris, C./ Schön, D. A. (1999): Die lernende Organisation: Grundlagen,
Methode, Praxis, Stuttgart
March, J. G. (1990): Entscheidung und Organisation: kritische und
konstruktive Beiträge, Entwicklungen und Perspektiven, Wiesbaden
Marsick, V. J./ Watkins, K. E. (1999): Facilitating Learning Organizations,
Vermont/USA
McNeece, A./Thyer, B.: Evidence-Based Practice and Social Work. In:
Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 1(2004), S. 5-23
Morgan, G. (1986): Images of organization, Newbury Park; London; New
Delhi
Schmidt, R.: Evidence-based Social Work Practice. Ein Impuls zu mehr
und zu anderer Fachlichkeit, in: „Blätter der Wohlfahrtspflege“, Heft 3/2006
Pictures coming from: Kate Davis, Zanaa Howard: Design thinking and
Evidence based practice, on slideshare.net – thx a lot!

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Thanks for your attendance!