ABSTRACT
Social work helping activities are enriched when practitioners use relevant research especially research about effective information-gathering instruments and effective interventions and programs. Additionally, theory experts have identified six specific functions or uses of theory related to practice and the planned change process. Smith-Osborne blended two developmental theories, ego psychology and feminist theory, to explain shoplifting by female teenagers. Erikson's ego psychological theory articulates why some adolescents steal. Burton and Meezan used social learning theory to explain the behavioral patterns of sexually abusive male teenagers. Theories provide a degree of precision and rigor in descriptions of person-in-environment (PIE) configurations not available in everyday language. Useful and scientifically validated theory-based interventions increase our power as practitioners to change social systems and to help small-scale client systems achieve desired outcomes. Effective social workers can use theoretical languages when cooperating with experts in particular theoretical languages.
