ABSTRACT
Four groups of social work practitioners were studied to find out the extent to which they empirically evaluated their clinical practice, and to assess the conditions under which practitioners are likely to evaluate their practice. Data were collected by a self-administered mail questionnaire. Results showed that the group using a behavioral approach evaluated practice to a greater extent than members of the other three groups. It is claimed that single-subject methodology is most appropriate with behavioral interventions and that the steps in empirical practice evaluation are concomitantly the components of behavioral practice. Predictors of practice evaluation —client, agency, and practitioner factors —were found to be important in determining whether practitioners empirically evaluate their clinical practice. Closer coordination is recommended between schools of social work and agency field settings to determine both the competence and willingness of field supervisors and agency administrators to have empirical clinical practice conducted in their agencies.
