ABSTRACT A systematic review of interventions to support looked‐after children in school
included interventions that aimed to improve attainment, or prevent drop‐out or exclusions …

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have rarely been used in evaluations of social work
interventions with children in the UK. This article discusses the use of an RCT in the national …

From its inception, this journal has been concerned with connections between evidence,
policy and practice. The decision to devote a section of the journal to practice reflected an …

In contemporary knowledge societies, scientific research has been emphasised as a key
component of effective and accountable service provision. This paper examines …

Quantitative research makes a very important contribution to both understanding and
responding effectively to the problems that social work service users face. In this unique and …

What does political science tell us about important real-world problems and issues? And to
what extent does and can political analysis contribute to solutions? Debates about the …

The need to justify public expenditure has increased the emphasis on impact of research.
Identifying ways to maximise impact is a requirement of research funders and a concern of …

Whilst systematic reviews, meta-analyses and other forms of synthesis are considered
amongst the most valuable forms of research evidence, their limited impact on educational …

This paper concerns the impact of social work research, particularly on practice and
practitioners. It explores the politics of research and how this affects practice, the way that …

Researchers complain how difficult it is to get practitioners and policymakers to use
research. In contrast, this paper looks at the issues from the perspective of practice, and …