Evidence-Based Practice Manual: Research and Outcome Measures in Health and Human Services

The Evidence-Based Practice Manual (Roberts & Yeager, 2004) provides an invaluable resource for social workers who want to be on top of their game. Of the many challenges I face as a social worker, two of the most daunting are: 1) Sorting through the plethora of literature to find the most salient practice wisdom, and 2) applying the findings in evidenced-based practice in my work with clients. This compendium provides the kind of clinical direction and empirical support clinicians rarely find in the field. Each of the 104 chapters in this volume presents the "best of social work" in a thoughtful and informed context. Section I provides an overview of evidence-based practice and reviews critical issues in how practice becomes evidence-based. Section II reports on research ethics and step-by-step research grant guidelines. Rather than being dry and boring, these chapters sparked my imagination about ways that my own practice could contribute to the academic knowledge base. Sections III (Diagnosis, interventions and outcome research), V (Measurement), and VI (assessment tools and measures), are the equivalent of a clinical master class. The 36 chapters in these three sections provide the best information for practitioners that are available in a single edition. Sections IV (Epidemiological and Health Research), VII (Program Evaluation Skill Development), VIII (Qualitative Research Methods and Exemplars), and IX (Quantitative Research Exemplars) address the state of the art in social work research. Section X (Establishing, Monitoring, and Maintaining Quality and Operational Improvement) has particular relevance in this day of managed-care and 3rd party reimbursement. The editors have done a remarkable job at pulling together 10 sections of top-notch writing and research on topics which accurately reflect the multi-faceted nature of social work practice. Perhaps it's most important contribution is that the Evidence-Based Practice Manual celebrates the power and diversity of social work practice not through touchy-feely, friendly-visitor rhetoric, but rather through 104 chapters which demonstration empirically-based approaches to making our world a better place. I believe that the general public would gain respect for the profession by reading this book. I also believe that graduate schools of social work should require their students to purchase this book. There is no class offered in graduate social work that does not benefit from these readings. I wish I had such a compendium when I was in school. As a professional in the field, I'm grateful to have it now. Perhaps this compendium will provide a stepping-stone into the next phase of the profession's development.

Roberts & Yeager have accomplished a book that represents the most comprehensive treatment of evidence-based practice---it's the standard, bar none. There is everything in here between 2 covers. The book traverses a vast expanse of territory with surprising depth and clarity, all the way from treating the individual psychotherapy client to evaluating the outcomes of complex community programs. I especially believe every program evaluator or outcomes researcher will want this text on his or her bookshelf. The Evidence-based Practice Manual will be the standard in this field for years to come

Drs. Roberts and Yeager have clearly outdone themselves in one of the most informative books for professionals published in the past 10 years. This incredible volume contains specifcs on best-practices, evidenced-based models, assessment tools, research exemplars, research ethics, and more. These cutting-edge protocols are a must for all professionals and are presented in one practical book. Experts from multiple disciplines have contributed to make this a manual tailor-made for busy professionals. Go ahead and throw out those useless books on your shelves and replace them with this incredibly helpful and easy-to-use volume. You'll wonder how you've worked without it all this time.

The authors of this book have compiled a series of chapters by renowned scholars and practitioners to explore the use of evidence in practice decisions. For its breadth, the book delivers substantive discourse on the state of evidence, its accessibility, its continuing development and its utilization by practitioners. Competing discourses can be found on the merit of quantitative vs qualitative research methodologies, the nature of evidence and the criteria for assessing its strength. The book contains practical exemplars of practice-based research as well as chapters on the evidence for particular clinical conditions. Chapters on process and outcome program evaluation are also included. Practitioners, academics and researchers who are concerned about best practices, should have a copy on their desk. Reference librarians should have a copy on their shelves.

Roberts and Yeager hit the mark with this indispensable desk reference, which caters not only to professionals in a variety of fields, but to students and informed citizens alike. The Evidence-Based Practice Manual is the ultimate guide to information ranging from issues in public health to psychology to criminal justice. With the broad spectrum of topics, which the manual covers, as well as, the in depth view into the scope of the issues, finding answers to your questions is inevitable. This versatile manual truly takes the concept of evidence-based practice to the next level. If only I had a copy of this book during my senior year in college, it would have saved me numerous hours in the library searching for the latest evidence-based and practice research articles to document in my term papers. Thus, I strongly recommended it for experts and novices, as well as, everyone in between.