This article was downloaded by: [University of Otago] On: 23 December 2014, At: 16:56 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/webs20
Introduction to the Special Issue on Implementation Research a
Johnny M. Jones & Michael E. Sherr a
b
School of Social Work, Baylor University , Waco , Texas , USA
b
Social Work Department , University of Tennessee Chattanooga , Chattanooga , Tennessee , USA Published online: 09 Jan 2014.
Click for updates To cite this article: Johnny M. Jones & Michael E. Sherr (2014) Introduction to the Special Issue on Implementation Research, Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 11:1-2, 1-1, DOI: 10.1080/15433714.2013.837336 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15433714.2013.837336
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &
Downloaded by [University of Otago] at 16:56 23 December 2014
Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/termsand-conditions
Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 11:1, 2014 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1543-3714 print/1543-3722 online DOI: 10.1080/15433714.2013.837336
Introduction to the Special Issue on Implementation Research
Downloaded by [University of Otago] at 16:56 23 December 2014
Johnny M. Jones School of Social Work, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
Michael E. Sherr Social Work Department, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Welcome to this special issue of the Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work on implementation research. As a cautionary note, if you expect a collection of articles that clearly define and explain how to engage in meaningful implementation with your scholarship, you should put this issue down now. If on the other hand you, like us, realize that implementation is fraught with issues and complexities that demand flexibility, then you will certainly want to read each article. We have organized the manuscripts into three groups. The first group includes articles that involve program implementation, data collection on the implementation, and subsequent changes that were made based on the data collection. The second group includes articles that focus on various issues and considerations that are essential when engaging in implementation research. The final group includes articles that address social work education’s role in implementation research. Too often in the social work profession, we seem prone to jump on the bandwagon of the latest fad in an attempt to legitimize the work that we do and to stake our claim as a profession. We adopt concepts, such as evidence-based, translational, and implementation, to our scholarship but too often strive to make our scholarship fit the mold rather than adapting the mold to best fit the meaningful scholarship that we strive for, which exists to advance the profession and ultimately to improve practice outcomes with individuals, groups, and communities that we seek to help. The evidence-based process is certainly one of those concepts that we have adopted with mixed results. Yet we believe the evidence-based process has true potential as a paradigm shift for our profession. Further, we believe implementation research can be a strong pillar that supports the evidence-based process by producing research-informed practice and practice-informed research that will truly translate into meaningful improvements in the way we do social work. The collection of articles in this special issue reflects the current state of implementation research in social work. Some showcase it as the strong pillar it could be, others point towards steps the profession needs to make if implementation research is to reach its potential, while the remaining articles address how to teach it to future social workers. Our hope is that you will find this issue as meaningful a discourse into the complexity of implementation research as we do.
Address correspondence to Johnny M. Jones, School of Social Work, Baylor University, One Bear Place, #97320, Waco, TX 76798-3720, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
1
Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/webs20
Introduction to the Special Issue on Implementation Research a
Johnny M. Jones & Michael E. Sherr a
b
School of Social Work, Baylor University , Waco , Texas , USA
b
Social Work Department , University of Tennessee Chattanooga , Chattanooga , Tennessee , USA Published online: 09 Jan 2014.
Click for updates To cite this article: Johnny M. Jones & Michael E. Sherr (2014) Introduction to the Special Issue on Implementation Research, Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 11:1-2, 1-1, DOI: 10.1080/15433714.2013.837336 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15433714.2013.837336
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &
Downloaded by [University of Otago] at 16:56 23 December 2014
Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/termsand-conditions
Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 11:1, 2014 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1543-3714 print/1543-3722 online DOI: 10.1080/15433714.2013.837336
Introduction to the Special Issue on Implementation Research
Downloaded by [University of Otago] at 16:56 23 December 2014
Johnny M. Jones School of Social Work, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
Michael E. Sherr Social Work Department, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Welcome to this special issue of the Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work on implementation research. As a cautionary note, if you expect a collection of articles that clearly define and explain how to engage in meaningful implementation with your scholarship, you should put this issue down now. If on the other hand you, like us, realize that implementation is fraught with issues and complexities that demand flexibility, then you will certainly want to read each article. We have organized the manuscripts into three groups. The first group includes articles that involve program implementation, data collection on the implementation, and subsequent changes that were made based on the data collection. The second group includes articles that focus on various issues and considerations that are essential when engaging in implementation research. The final group includes articles that address social work education’s role in implementation research. Too often in the social work profession, we seem prone to jump on the bandwagon of the latest fad in an attempt to legitimize the work that we do and to stake our claim as a profession. We adopt concepts, such as evidence-based, translational, and implementation, to our scholarship but too often strive to make our scholarship fit the mold rather than adapting the mold to best fit the meaningful scholarship that we strive for, which exists to advance the profession and ultimately to improve practice outcomes with individuals, groups, and communities that we seek to help. The evidence-based process is certainly one of those concepts that we have adopted with mixed results. Yet we believe the evidence-based process has true potential as a paradigm shift for our profession. Further, we believe implementation research can be a strong pillar that supports the evidence-based process by producing research-informed practice and practice-informed research that will truly translate into meaningful improvements in the way we do social work. The collection of articles in this special issue reflects the current state of implementation research in social work. Some showcase it as the strong pillar it could be, others point towards steps the profession needs to make if implementation research is to reach its potential, while the remaining articles address how to teach it to future social workers. Our hope is that you will find this issue as meaningful a discourse into the complexity of implementation research as we do.
Address correspondence to Johnny M. Jones, School of Social Work, Baylor University, One Bear Place, #97320, Waco, TX 76798-3720, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
1
