A1 Journal article (refereed)
Client documents in social work with adults as research data : scoping review of opportunities and challenges (2022)

Kuorikoski, T. (2022). Client documents in social work with adults as research data : scoping review of opportunities and challenges. Nordic Social Work Research, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857x.2022.2130406

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kuorikoski, Tuija

Journal or series: Nordic Social Work Research

ISSN: 2156-857X

eISSN: 2156-8588

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 05/10/2022

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857x.2022.2130406

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83503

Abstract

Documentation is an integral part of social work. It is a tool in client work, and it also has an accountability perspective. Documentation helps the practitioners to evaluate their own work and makes it possible to assess the impact of work and develop practices. The use of client documents for research purposes has been identified as an option, but it is still quite rare. Moreover, little attention has been paid to social work with adults in this context. The development of electronic information systems (EIS), including structured forms, presents new research opportunities. Through documentation, it is possible to make tacit information visible and obtain evidence, for example, about the effects of adult social work. The aim of this review is to examine the use of adult social work client documents in research: what kinds of documents are used as data, what are the aims and methods of the studies, and especially what opportunities and challenges are associated with the client documents as research data? The review finds that the methods and research topics are diverse. It indicates that documentation has a low status in adult social work, and recording practices are inadequate; this has implications for the client’s position and involvement, the development and monitoring of social work, and the usability of such documents for research purposes. These findings are a matter of serious concern, and they are linked to the demanding working conditions and the recording cultures that prevail in organizations, as well as problems with information systems.

Keywords: adult social work; documentation; storing and recording; files; notes; documents; registering; research

Free keywords: social work with adults; recording; case files; case notes; documentation

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1