John T. Pardeck is Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Work at Southwest Missouri State University. He is the author of Social Work After the Americans with Disabilities Act: New Challenges and Opportunities for Social Services Professionals (Auburn House, 1998).Francis K. O. Yuen is Professor in the Division of Social Work, California State University, Sacramento.

In a brief but thoughtful work, Pardek and Yuen examine the role of empirically based research in various aspects of social work and argue for enhancing the role of scientific inquiry throughout the discipline. Their book includes brief but informative chapters examining the role of scientific methodology in current social work practice, professional education, and scholarly publication. Responding to the rise of postmodern theory in the discipline, the authors offer a clear, succinct critique of trends within the profession and provide one vision for its future development. While perhaps somewhat oversensitive to perceptions of their discipline as non-rigorous and anti-intellectual, Pardek and Yuen present strong, persuasive arguments that students, practitioners, teachers, and scholars should carefully consider….A vigorous debate in the profession would be a welcome and appropriate legacy for Pardek, a prolific researcher and noted scholar who passed away while developing this treatise. Highly recommended. Collections supporting social work programs.

• PrefaceIntroductionDiverse Social Work PracticesA Call for Scientifically Based PracticeAn Analysis of Social Work EducationScholarly Productivity of Social Work Journal ReviewersStrategies for Improving the Profession of Social Work in the 21st Century