Critical Realism for Welfare Professions

As a discipline, social work needs an inclusive meta-theory for both research and practice that goes beyond positivism and constructivism. This is the first book to present and discuss how critical realism can contribute to a more useful and realistic approach to both research and practice in social work. As a theory of science that includes normative theories and emphasises method-pluralism and holistic thinking, critical realism is applicable to a world of poverty, global health problems and social conflicts.

Contributors to this book present a realist perspective on social work. The connection between critical realism and social work is illuminated through a theoretical introduction in Part One. Part Two covers the specific topics of normativity, interdisciplinarity and education. Part Three presents practical/empirical examples from contemporary research in social work, using different approaches based on critical realism.

As critical realism can contribute to a useful and realistic approach to research and practice, this book is essential reading for professionals, academics and students working in different fields of social work and healthcare.

Monica Kjorstad is Associate Professor in Social Work at The Faculty of Social Sciences at Oslo and Akershus University College. Her fields of interests are social administration and planning, leadership and topics connected to social work, welfare and human rights

May-Britt Solem is Associate Professor in Master of Applied Social Science - specialisation Family Therapy at Oslo University College of Applied Sciences, and has constructed the master program in family therapy. She is a social worker and family therapist and holds a PhD in psychology