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Beyond the Evidence Paradox: Engaging with Service Users and Citizens in the Implementation of Social Work Practice Research
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Beyond the Evidence Paradox: Engaging with Service Users and Citizens in the Implementation of Social Work Practice Research

Martin Webber, Lynette Joubert, Ilse Julkunen, Louise Whitaker, Monica Short and Catrine Torbjornsen Halas
Research on social work practice, Vol.First online
16/02/2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315261423075
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Health Publications

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Abstract

practice research implementation service user and citizen engagement co-design and co-creation social work
Purpose: There is a paradox in social work research. Evidence is generated in the belief that it will inform social work practice, though research findings are rarely implemented in full. This paper explores how engaging with service users and citizens in the research and implementation processes may assist with research implementation. Method: A case study method is used in which four examples of the implementation of practice research conducted in Australia, Finland and Norway in the fields of social inclusion in the disability sector; bereavement care; child welfare; and youth transitions are presented. These case studies are thematically analyzed using a collaborative narrative analytical method. Results: Three common themes emerged: the unpredictable and dynamic outcomes of the implementation processes; a long-term commitment to co-creation; and the vitality of lived experience which enhances research implementation. Conclusion: A research agenda arising from the limitations of this study and gaps in our knowledge is presented.

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