Dorothy Scott

Messages from Research

Obstacles to Research UseuLack of resourcesuExisting policyuOrganisational interestsuLack of practitioner knowledge and skillsuNon- practitioner friendly disseminationuResearch too general for specific practiceuResearch does not address key issues

Adding Meaning to MeasurementuWe need to complement quantitativeresearch with qualitative research whichcaptures the lived experience of thosewho provide services and those who useservices.

Donald Schon, 1983“In the varied topography of professionalpractice, there is a high, hard groundwhere practitioners can make effectiveuse of research-based theory andtechniques, and there is a swampylowland where situations are confused‘messes’ incapable of technical solution… in the swamp are the problems ofgreatest human concern.”

First Time Parent GroupsuIf it takes a village to raise a child, thenwhat might it take to rebuild the village?uTake up rate – 60%+ of all first timeparentsu80% of groups self-sustaining after 2yearsuPractice wisdom in engagement skills

Messages from this studyuYou can use data which already existsand combine it with quantitative andqualitative data which is collecteduThe research will have more impact ifwritten up in a practitioner friendly style

“Family Friends”uA mentoring program for young womenwith history of homelessness anddisadvantageuLessons from this study:– Geography a barrier– Crisis may not be a time for newrelationships– Need to consider significant others

Parental Experiences in Child SexualAbuse Cases, a qualitative studyuKey themes:– Trust and anxiety– Power and authority– Myth of “counselling as cure”– Contamination of sexuality– Creation of “the damaged child”– Wider family and social relationships

Messages from this study:uKeep an open mind re abuse allegationsuNeed for holistic assessment of child,family and social contextuNeed for engagement of fathersuNeed to be aware of our capacity to dofurther harm

Meta-Messages?uAim for “knowledge informedpractice”uBe humble about what we do notknowuNurture hope