Differential Effectiveness of Prevalent Social Work Practice Models: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis of 45 recently published (1990–1994) independent studies of social work's differential effectiveness by prevalent practice models builds on the more general findings of related meta-analyses that have estimated that three-quarters of the clients who participate in social work interventions do better than the average client who does not. It found that the effectiveness of interventions based on different practice models—personal versus systemic-structural—was moderated by their primary focus for change. When the focus for change was clients themselves, personal orientations seemed more effective, whereas systemic-structural models were found to be more effective in supporting the change of other targets, such as environmental factors (structural change) rather than personal adaptation to environmental challenges.