Rethinking the Epistemological Foundations of Social Work: An Inquiry into Its Artistic or Social Scientific Nature

Abstract

This research paper explores the ongoing discourse surrounding the professional identity of social work within the realm of social science disciplines. It posits the idea that social work may be more aptly classified as an art form, challenging established paradigms. Through a critical examination of various approaches in practice, ethics, and professionalism, the study highlights the absence of mandated educational seminars, a departure from norms observed in similar professions. Insights gleaned from the literature review shed light on the intricacies of social work practice, ethical dilemmas, and challenges in maintaining professionalism, and the limited use of evidence-based practices, leading many critics of the discipline to suggest that social work is needed but is not based on a robust scientific foundation, proposing it may be better characterized as an art than a science. Employing Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) model for scoping reviews, the paper conducts a comprehensive search for both published and unpublished research spanning the last 25 years. Findings reveal existential challenges facing social work, such as funding cutbacks, increasing demands for mental health services, and inadequate initiatives for field practitioner support. These challenges, coupled with the lack of employment security, affect prospective students’ interest, thereby compromising education quality and service delivery. As a result, criticisms challenging the conventional categorization of social work as a social science gain momentum, suggesting that social work is more similar to an art form that relies heavily on practitioners’ intuition, empathy, and creative problem-solving abilities. This perspective contributes to disparities in funding, empirical research, and the scarcity of scientific rebuttals to practitioners’ narratives, which are often rich with anecdotal experiences and subjective interpretations.