ABSTRACT
It is an encouraging sign that child welfare research is now adopting a broader range of theoretical and methodological approaches than in the past. Rutter (2000) observed the tendency for research in this field to have remained rather separate from mainstream social sciences. While it can be commended for the commitment to dissemination and engagement with policy and practice concerns., child welfare research needs also to be informed by up to date thinking in sociology, social policy, psychology, economics and other relevant disciplines. Whether as a result of Rutter's wise counsel or natural progression for a maturing field, the academic base of child welfare research is strengthening. For example, the Economic and Social Research Council-funded Theorizing Social Work Research seminar series sponsored a range of papers from national and international contributors on theoretical, conceptual and methodological issues (for example Fook 2000; Gould 2000; Sinclair 2000). New research initiatives include replication and
follow-up studies, controlled trials, exploratory work and collaboration between multidisciplinary teams.
