The use of social science sources in social work practice journals: An application of citation analysis

Social work draws on the social sciences to contribute to its knowledge base and to increase the effectiveness of its interventions. Yet there is little empirical documentation of which social workers are most likely to use social science sources, what sources they draw on, how these sources contribute to social work writing and practice, and the extent to which the use of the social sciences has increased historically. The study discussed in this article examined the amount and kinds of references to social science literature found in a systematic sampling of articles from three major social work practice journals: Social Work, Social Service Review, and Families in Society (previously Social Casework). Analysis of citation data indicates that references to social science sources have significantly increased and that authors' educational credentials and organizational affiliations are significantly associated with social science use. When used creatively, content and citation analysis can offer social work a method for systematically investigating the use of the social sciences in the development of social work's knowledge bose.