The Hong Kong Statement on Practice Research 2017: Contexts and Challenges of the Far East

Abstract

This statement on social work practice research highlights the contributions of scholars, practitioners, and conference participants in the Fourth International Conference on Practice Research (ICPR) in 2017, hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in May 2017. It focuses on the contexts and challenges of carrying out practice research in the Far East and beyond as well as raises pertinent questions about the development of practice research. It begins with a brief description of the context of social work practice research in the Far East. The second part explores the organizational and community contexts and challenges of practice research with special attention to the perspectives of practitioners. It concludes with reviewing some of the continuing challenges that will guide the program planning for the Fifth ICPR in 2020 in Melbourne, Australia, located at the crossroads between East and West.

East Meets West: Five Decades of Practice Research in Hong Kong

“…The definition of social work practice research is evolving. This study adopts the definition recently used by Dodd and Epstein (2012), Epstein (2001), and the Second International Conference on Practice Research Scientific Committee (Helsinki Forum Group, 2014) and also found in the Salisbury Statement of 2008 (The Salisbury Forum Group, 2011), the New York Statement of 2014 (Epstein et al, 2015), and the Hong Kong Statement of 2017 (Sim et al, 2019).…”

“…Joubert and Hocking (2015) developed a systemic model that encouraged social workers to participate in “evidence-informed” practice research. The unique context of each country and territory, whether its socioeconomic characteristics or the stage it has reached in social work development, has also emerged as an important consideration in the development of practice research in social work (Sim et al, 2019; Sim, 2016).…”

“…Following the Forum on Practice Research in 2008, subsequent International Conferences on Practice Research were held in New York in 2011, Helsinki in 2014, and Hong Kong in 2017. With the theme of “recognizing diversity, developing collaborations, building networks,” the fourth conference, held in Hong Kong, pushed the boundaries of practice research by engaging a broader international audience of researchers, practitioners, users, and decision makers from government bodies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs; Sim et al, 2019).…”

Werkplaatsen als ruimten voor kennisproductie, onderwijs en praktijkontwikkeling

“…Er wordt niet gerefereerd aan de eventuele betekenis voor beroepsopleidingen. Het in praktijk vormgeven aan deze uitgangspunten staat in de kinderschoenen (Austin, Fisher, & Uggerhoj, 2014) en leidt tot nieuwe aandachtspunten en vragen (Sim et al, 2018).…”

Dialogues and debates in practice research

“…This special issue, "Practice Research in Chinese Societies", emanates from and adds to the dialogues and debates from the Fourth International Conference on Practice Research (ICPR) that was hosted by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in May 2017 (Sim 2016;Sim et al 2018).…”