The Importance of Empirical Research

Abstract

In order help people in need find effective treatment, and to aid service providers/policy makers in selecting treatments, many of the major psychological associations of the West have accepted some form of evidence-based practice policy for their members. For example, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the Cochrane Reviews and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) all have guidelines as to what constitutes “evidence-based”. This development has walked hand in hand with third-party financers of care, such as governmental bodies or health insurance firms, demanding that treatments are empirically supported. In fact, similar movements are happening in related disciplines, such as social work and education.