The scientific practitioner revisited: Some obstacles and prerequisites for fuller implementation in practice

The introduction of systematic practice evaluation procedures into social work, particularly the use of single-system designs, was seen as heralding a new model of practice - empirically based practice - and of scientific practitioner - social workers performing in accordance with the model. In the context of increased articulation and almost universal inclusion of systematic evaluation procedures in the professional social work curriculum, this article discusses the failure of most practitioners in the field to incorporate this concept into their practice repertoire. Three elements in the conception of the scientific practitioner-practice as a problem-solving experiment; systematic evaluation of one's own practice; and practice grounded on empirically validated interventions - are used as a framework for addressing a number of basic issues believed to affect acceptance and a broad-based application of the scientific practitioner concept.