Methodological Problems of Evidential Description of Psychological and Social Practices

The article discusses the challenges of implementing an evidence-based approach in the field of psychological and social practices. The role of the “Standard of Evidence of Social Practices in the Sphere of Childhood” for the formation of a complex of collaborating science-based practice and practice-oriented science is considered. Four key areas of practice analysis are discussed: the regulation of practice, its validity, the effectiveness of practice (achievement of social results), the validity of data on the social results of practice. Based on the experience of expertise, the authors highlight several methodological difficulties faced by developers of practices in the process of their evidence-based description and presentation: difficulties in highlighting the essence of interventions that lead to change; difficulties in finding theoretical foundations for practices; lack of skills in building a logical framework; difficulties in finding research tools to assess the effects of practices. As an example of a successful, in the opinion of the authors, resolution of these methodological difficulties, a description of the social practice “Do not spill the water” (as in meaning “Thick as Thieves”) of the Charity Foundation “Our Children”.

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