title: Evidence-based practices in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities: an international consensus approach.
abstract: As evidence-based practices become increasingly advocated for and used in the human services field it is important to integrate issues raised by three perspectives on evidence: empirical-analytical, phenomenological-existential, and post-structural. This article presents and discusses an evidence-based conceptual model and measurement framework that integrates these three perspectives and results in: multiple perspectives on evidence-based practices that involve the individual, the organization, and society; and multiple interpretation guidelines related to the quality, robustness, and relevance of the evidence. The article concludes with a discussion of five issues that need to be addressed in the future conceptualization, measurement and application of evidence-based practices. These five are the need to: expand the concepts of internal and external validity, approach evidence-based practices from a systems perspective, integrate the various perspectives regarding evidence-based practices, develop and evaluate evidence-based practices within the context of best practices, and develop a set of guidelines related to the translation of evidence into practice.
authors.affiliation: Hastings College, NE, USA. rschalock@ultraplix.com
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Schalock
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verdugo
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gomez
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D032921:Consensus; D003657:Decision Making; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D038622:Internationality; D017146:Models, Organizational; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011640:Public Policy; D011787:Quality of Health Care