ABSTRACT
Classical empiricism, embodied in the scientific method, served as the epistemological foundation for the developing field of social work. The empiricist focus of early social workers was evident in their research organizations and journals which published articles designed to make the case for social progress. Early pioneers like Jane Addams and Mary Richmond emphasized the importance of systematic data collection as a strategy to remedying social ills. Historical epochs have cycled between conservative and liberal phases, and social work, which is highly contextual, shifted its attention accordingly. Thus, during the Progressive Era, social workers tended to focus on social programs, social change, and social justice, whereas during subsequent conservative periods, the unit of attention focused on the individual and how he or she fared. Social work as a profession failed to chart a clear course through the battles among the theories and the critiques of traditional epistemology.
