The Diffusion of Evidence-Based Practice: Reviewing the Evidence-Based Practice Networks in the United States and German-Speaking Countries.
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has had a major influence on U.S. social work while it has rarely been adapted in German-speaking countries. This study investigates how knowledge about EBP is diffused within and across geographical contexts. Network analysis methods reveals different diffusion patterns and provide reasons for these differences. For example, the U.S. discourse is self-contained and based on a more homogeneous knowledge base, while the German discourse is more heterogeneous and focuses on a notion of reflexive professionalism. The different conceptual influences within the U.S. and German discourses are discussed in light of future directions of disciplinary social work.
a Munich Center of the Learning Sciences , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München , Munich , Germany.|b Department of Social Work , Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München , Munich , Germany.
Christian
C
Ghanem
c Kent School of Social Work , University of Louisville , Louisville , Kentucky , USA.
Thomas R
TR
Lawson
b Department of Social Work , Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München , Munich , Germany.
Sabine
S
Pankofer
d Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Verhaltensmodifikation München , Munich , Germany.
Markos
M
Maragkos
a Munich Center of the Learning Sciences , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München , Munich , Germany.|e Educational Psychology , University of Augsburg , Germany.
Ingo
I
Kollar
D015706:Bibliometrics; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D011361:Professional Competence; D012107:Research Design; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
Evidence-based practice; citation analysis; knowledge diffusion; network analysis; review; science mapping