5294.0: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - 5:10 PM

Abstract #3887

Translating Research into Social Work Practice: Challenges and Opportunities

Gauri Bhattacharya, DSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Social Work, 1207 West Oregon Street, Urbana, IL 61801, 217 328-3067, gbhattac@uiuc.edu

Objectives. This study examined the factors in the areas of individual competence, organizational support, and researchers-practitioners' conformity that can impede or enhance integration of the research findings into practice. Parents' communication with their children on prevention of substance use/abuse was chosen as the practice issue.

Method. Previous research on substance abuse prevention guided the examination of the efficacy of the substance abuse prevention communication process among youths in an immigrant group-Asian-Indians. The subjects were 200 Asian-Indian youths, aged 13 to 18, who were born in the United States. A conceptual structural model systematically explored the synergistic relationship between research and practice.

Results. The youths' perception of the serious consequences that would follow for not obeying parental rules predicted non-drug use among the subjects. Factors inhibiting and encouraging the process of taking research into the fields were: at the individual level, knowledge and professional skills; at the organizational level, the feasibility and cost of incorporating the findings; and at the researcher-practitioners' level, assessment of the needs from the field and the issue of the generalizability of the findings.

Conclusions. The discussion on translating research into practice often fails to recognize the importance of the agency administrators in implementing this process. A concerted effort must be made to involve practitioners and administrators at the agency level not only as the end users, but also as guides and promoters of research.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to (1) identify the areas and ascertain the ways in which research can improve practice, (2) compare areas of relative effectiveness in incorporating research to deliver services, and (3) recognize the importance of improving individuals' competence to apply research into practice

Keywords: Drug Abuse, Practice-Based Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA