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.
Table of Contents:
Preface xiii 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 151
Advantages of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 152
Risks in Relying Exclusively on Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 154
Where to Start 154
What to Look for When Critically Appraising Systematic Reviews 155
What Distinguishes a Systematic Review from Other Types of Reviews? 161
What to Look for When Critically Appraising Meta-Analyses 162
Synopses of Research Studies 174
Key Chapter Concepts 176
Review Exercises 178
Additional Readings 178
PART III CRITICALLY APPRAISING STUDIES FOR ALTERNATIVE EBP QUESTIONS
Chapter 9 Critically Appraising Nonexperimental Quantitative Studies 181
Surveys 182
Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Studies 193
Case-Control Studies 195
Synopses of Research Studies 197
Key Chapter Concepts 201
Review Exercises 203
Additional Readings 203
Chapter 10 Critically Appraising Qualitative Studies 204
Qualitative Observation 205
Qualitative Interviewing 208
Qualitative Sampling 211
Grounded Theory 212
Frameworks for Appraising Qualitative Studies 213
Synopses of Research Studies 218
Key Chapter Concepts 223
Review Exercises 227
Additional Readings 228
PART IV ASSESSING CLIENTS AND MONITORING THEIR PROGRESS
Chapter 11 Critically Appraising and Selecting Assessment Instruments 231
Reliability 232
Validity 236
Sensitivity 241
Feasibility 244
Sample Characteristics 245
Locating Assessment Instruments 246
Synopses of Research Studies 248
Key Chapter Concepts 250
Review Exercises 252
Additional Readings 252
Chapter 12 Monitoring Client Progress 253
A Practitioner-Friendly Design 255
Feasible Assessment Techniques 258
Summary 268
Looking Ahead 270
Key Chapter Concepts 272
Review Exercises 273
Additional Reading 273
Appendix A Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 4 274
Appendix B Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 5 277
Appendix C Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 6 280
Appendix D Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 7 283
Appendix E Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 8 285
Appendix F Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 9 288
Appendix G Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 10 292
Appendix H Critical Appraisals of Study Synopses at the End of Chapter 11 295
Glossary 299
References 313
Index 319
