Written by a top scholar in the field, Practitioner's Guide to Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice gives essential and practical guidance on how to integrate research appraisal into evidence-based practice endeavors to ensure the best client care. This reader-friendly book presents you with the knowledge you need about various research designs and methods so that when engaging in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process, you can determine which interventions, programs, policies, and assessment tools are supported by the best evidence.

"An extraordinary and important book. Its approach to evidence-based practice is very sound, realistic, and generous to the complexities of everyday practice. It provides an excellent practitioner's desk book to those who want to implement evidence-based practice. Reading and using this book is a must."
Haluk Soydan, PhD, University of Southern California, School of Social Work

"This book is informative to old-timers like me, and I would imagine to those new to the research enterprise and evidence-based practice. Allen Rubin has done it again! Another fine contribution to research and the advancement of evidence-based practice."
Kevin Corcoran, PhD, JD, Portland State University, School of Social Work

"This book has the potential to change practice in the helping professions. Rather than focusing on how to conduct research, Practitioner's Guide to Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice instead shows readers how to understand the literature....In particular, Rubin's generous use of humor and the inclusion of simple, practice-relevant examples make this book a pleasure to read."
Aron Shlonsky, PhD, University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work

"I particularly like the integration of research methods and EBP; this is the book's major innovation in my mind as it allows readers to see the connections between research and practice. Rubin also succeeds by taking very complex EBP principles and explaining them in practical terms."
Jeffrey M. Jenson, PhD, University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work

An accessible and intelligent guide that provides readers with the step-by-step skills they need to effectively appraise and use research as part of the evidence-based practice process

Practitioner's Guide to Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice gives essential and practical guidance on how to integrate research appraisal into evidence-based practice endeavors to ensure the best client care.

Written by a top scholar, this reader-friendly book presents you with the knowledge you need about various research designs and methods so that when engaging in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process you can:

• Determine which interventions, programs, policies, and assessment tools are supported by the best evidence

• Find and critically appraise qualitative and quantitative research studies in seeking evidence to answer different kinds of EBP questions

• Measure treatment progress and outcomes

Practitioner's Guide to Using Research for Evidence-Based Practice is an important, new book that will show you how to easily appraise and integrate research supporting evidence-based treatments that improve the delivery of care and optimize treatment success.

Acknowledgments xix

PART I OVERVIEW OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE

Chapter 1 Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice 3

Emergence of Evidence-Based Practice 5

Defining Evidence-Based Practice 6

Evidence-Based Practice Is Not Restricted to Clinical Decisions 11

Developing an Evidence-Based Practice Process Outlook 11

Easier Said than Done 15

Key Chapter Concepts 16

Review Exercises 17

Additional Readings 18

Chapter 2 Steps in the EBP Process 19

Step 1: Question Formulation 19

Step 2: Evidence Search 20

An Internet Search Using Google Scholar and PsycINFO 23

Step 3: Critically Appraising Studies and Reviews 27

Step 4: Selecting and Implementing the Intervention 28

The Importance of Practice Context: A Policy Example 29

Step 5: Monitor Client Progress 32

Feasibility Constraints 32

Key Chapter Concepts 35

Review Exercises 36

Additional Readings 37

Chapter 3 Research Hierarchies 38

More Than One Type of Hierarchy for More than One Type of EBP Question 39

Qualitative and Quantitative Studies 41

Types of EBP Questions 42

Key Chapter Concepts 56

Review Exercises 57

Additional Readings 58

PART II CRITICALLY APPRAISING STUDIES FOR EBP QUESTIONS ABOUT INTERVENTION EFFECTIVENESS

Chapter 4 Criteria for Inferring Effectiveness 61

Internal Validity 62

Measurement Issues 68

Statistical Chance 72

External Validity 78

Synopses of Research Studies 80

Key Chapter Concepts 82

Review Exercises 83

Additional Readings 84

Chapter 5 Critically Appraising Experiments 85

Classic Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design 86

Posttest-Only Control Group Design 89

Solomon Four-Group Design 90

Alternative Treatment Designs 92

Dismantling Designs 93

Placebo Control Group Designs 94

Experimental Demand and Experimenter Expectancies 96

Obtrusive versus Unobtrusive Observation 98

Compensatory Equalization and Compensatory Rivalry 98

Resentful Demoralization 99

Treatment Diffusion 99

Treatment Fidelity 101

Practitioner Equivalence 101

Differential Attrition 103

Synopses of Research Studies 105

Key Chapter Concepts 107

Review Exercises 108

Additional Readings 109

Chapter 6 Critically Appraising Quasi-Experiments: Nonequivalent Comparison Groups Designs 110

Nonequivalent Comparison Groups Designs 111

Additional Logical Arrangements to Control for Potential Selectivity Biases 113

Statistical Controls for Potential Selectivity Biases 118

Pilot Studies 123

Synopses of Research Studies 126

Key Chapter Concepts 128

Review Exercises 128

Additional Readings 129

Chapter 7 Critically Appraising Quasi-Experiments: Time-Series Designs and Single-Case Designs 130

Simple Time-Series Designs 131

Multiple Time-Series Designs 134

Single-Case Designs 135

Synopses of Research Studies 144

Key Chapter Concepts 148

Review Exercises 149

Additional Reading 150

Chapter 8 Critically Appraising Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses…