Learning in Finnish Social Work Practice and Research

Abstract

Accepting Bartlett’s vision of social work’s evolution resulting from action research, the article argues that in Finland, extensive action research is occurring, and this is resulting in service innovations. However, little of this research is published in academic journals and has only limited dissemination. Drawing on data from new interviews with experienced social workers in the City of Tampere, Finland, the article details the nature and extent of action research by social workers. A new framework with which to analyse action research from the logic-of-practice is used to show not only how extensive the action research is, but also how readily situated action research can be analysed from a broader perspective, making dissemination easier.