Social Work Practice to the Benefit of Our Clients: Scholarly Legacy of Edward J. Mullen

x Social work as a product of modernity shares in the fundamental ambiguity of the principles that gave rise to the development of modern societies: the emphasis on individual autonomy and freedom as a means of breaking free from imposed obligations and constraints on one hand and the demand for universal equality in recognition of the mutual dependence in organic solidarity on the other. The conflict between both contributed to the severity with which social problems manifested themselves in the epochal structural changes of society. In striving to find a scientifically grounded knowledge base for its task of promoting social solidarity under these conditions, social work oscillated between reference points in positivist science and hermeneutic approaches to understanding human interaction, thereby also striving to hold together notions of care and control. In the current political climate, resonating in popular culture, which privileges individual autonomy over principles of equality, the social work profession is in danger of becoming polarized between a predominance of control functions in interventions concerning the public sphere and the relegation of care functions to the private sphere, particularly in the form of the privatization of services and a leaning toward counseling, therapy, and coaching in that domain. This split is also affecting the production of knowledge for social work practice, in which on one hand positivist approaches to research are receiving heightened attention and seek to satisfy the demand for the achievement of predetermined goals of intervention within the framework of evidence-based practice, whereas on the other expert systems are being challenged by the articulation of knowledge based primarily on direct experience and hence expressed in self-help and user-led approaches to services. Ed Mullen's contribution to social work theory can be regarded as a proposal that seeks to overcome this split and hence confronts the crisis of modernity manifesting itself therein to allow social work to return to its essential mandate under current political and cultural conditions, which is to contribute to the improvement of social conditions of human existence in modernity.

x This article provides insight into how evidence-based thinking has influenced the social policy context and social work research in Denmark and the debate about evidence-based practice in the trade union for Danish social pedagogues and practitioners. The article examines how these different agents understand and define evidence-based practice and research. One of the main conclusions is that the evidence-based approach has not had a significant impact on social work practice and research in Denmark, and the article reflects on different reasons for this phenomenon.

x The question of the relationship between research and practice is longstanding and central to our understanding of how to improve social work practice. Mullen's work on practitioner researcher collaboration has contributed a key perspective by emphasizing the need for mutual respect and outlining how to overcome barriers such as communication (particularly stereotyping) and philosophy (explanation vs. prediction as a goal). This chapter will initially contrast Mullen's early work on this topic while at the University of Chicago with his later work at the Center for Social Work Research at Columbia University, which were separated by 19 years and substantial developments in social work research. We then explore this issue in relation to the now substantial body of work on family group conferences. This field is interesting because the research has originated in practice innovation (rather than arising from researchers), a process characterized as enquiring social work practice. Analysis has suggested that despite this process and the collaborative ethos that Mullen's work embodies, advocates of evidence-based practice remain unconvinced of the need to engage directly with practice to develop knowledge. In particular, these advocates misrepresent the work because they fail to understand the model, what makes it work, and why it matters. This leads to an analysis of structural issues related to practitioners developing greater research literacy and the need for researchers to become practice literate. Finally, we note that there remains an additional step to involve the third player in this debate: the people who use services.

x Edward Mullen, the Willma and Albert Musher Professor Emeritus of Columbia University and fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, has been an active member of the evidence-based practice (EBP) movement in social work from its beginning. EBP has different challenges and possibilities in various countries because of the contextual nature of social work practice. Domestic violence is a serious problem almost everywhere, but the intervention strategies to alleviate it might not always be the same. A search among Cochrane and Campbell collaboration databases shows that many of the intervention strategies do not have a strong support system backed by research. This chapter addresses the question of how to work with a research-based orientation while lacking empirical evidence of the outcomes of interventions. Social workers cannot turn victims away from their services, although there might not be enough research support for the applied methodology. What kinds of solutions might be available for this ethical dilemma?

x This chapter reviews Edward Mullen's two early publications that in hindsight were a prelude to his later engagement in the emergence and development of contemporary evidence-based social work practice. Both books had national impact at the time of publication and later, via the development of evidence-based social work practice, gained transnational relevance. Despite some of the critics of evidence-based practice (EBP) who view EBP as a subsidiary of evidence-based medicine, this chapter explores social work's independent and parallel emergence during the last two decades and its assertion of its right to EBP. It credits Edward Mullen's publications on social work interventions as a major contribution to social work research and practice. It honors Edward Mullen's dedication, consistency, and persistence throughout his career.

x This contribution will present Professor Mullen´s valuable influence on the formation of the Swedish Centre for Evaluation of Social Services (CUS) and its successor, the Institute for Evidence-Based Social Work Practice (IMS), against a background of decades of debate and struggle around the basis of knowledge for social work practice in Sweden. Already during the 1960s, national politicians in Sweden joined forces with representatives of social services agencies in demanding more research underpinning the practitioners' decisions. The late 1970s saw the establishment of social work as a full academic discipline and an academic upgrading of the training programs. For reasons touched on in this article, however, it has taken until fairly recently for the Swedish social work community to embrace topics on the value and effects of social work interventions and thus support the concept of evidence-based practice. Professor Mullen came to play an important role in supporting CUS and IMS work in this direction.

x A trailblazer is someone who advances through unknown territory, leaving signs along the way for others to follow, so that they may not get lost and to help them safely arrive at their destination. In many ways, a review of the half-century research career of Dr. Edward Mullen justifies designating him as a trailblazer regarding the emergence of evidence-based practice (EBP) as a major influence in contemporary human services and health care. To support this contention, let us review the definition of EBP and its five steps.

x Edward Mullen's long and productive career is noteworthy in light of his contributions to social work research in areas including the process of social work interventions, social indicators research for strategic planning, social work education, use of research for personal practice modeling, evidence-based policy and practice, and comparative effectiveness research. Consistent themes throughout his career included the replication of his scientific methods and scientific reasoning in providing mentorship to his students. In this chapter, we reflect on his career as a mentor by taking inspiration from a pragmatic controlled trial to examine this dimension of his contribution to the scholarly community. Dr. Mullen's career provides a framework for all mentors to propel their students toward scholarly excellence.

x In this chapter I provide responses to comments made by the contributors to this volume. These authors have provided critical cross-national commentaries on contemporary issues that my past work has touched on. My responses are organized by key topics discussed by the authors. These issues pertain to evidence-based practice (EBP) including: (a) social work's journey toward EBP; (b) whether there is evidence of social work intervention effectiveness; (c) meanings of EBP across cultures; (d) what should be done when there is a shortage of evidence; (e) whether a conflict exists between practice research and EBP; (f) the gap between academic research and the needs of social work providers; and (g) social work expertise and the crisis of modernity. Prior to discussing these EBP topics, I comment on the role of mentorship in social work education.