Paradigms of social work praxis the case of street children

Abstract

Since the Enlightenment there have been discussions on the relationship between theory and newlinepractice in the social sciences. These discussions have also revolved around the purpose of newlinetheory in a social science. One viewpoint is that theory and practice are intertwined and one newlinecannot exist without the other: theory entails practice, and practice contributes to theory, and newlinethe relationship between theory and practice is, therefore, reciprocal. Another viewpoint is newlinethat theory and practice have different purposes. Those holding this later viewpoint are often newlineunaware of the practical implications of a theory and the theoretical implications of practice. newlineThere is yet another viewpoint which views theory and practice as mutually exclusive. Those newlineholding this extreme viewpoint are purists; they look at theory as speculation with little or no newlinepractical orientation, and practice as being completely devoid of theory. newlineIn terms of the orientation to their field of study, there are two categories of people in the newlinesocial sciences: (i) scholars and (ii) practitioners. Whether a scholar makes it explicit or not, newlinetheory entails suggestions for practice. The scholar might not go and practise directly in the newlinefield, but the theoretical work based on research does provide some understanding of and newlinepossible solutions to social problems. Thus, whether the scholar recognises it or not, her/his newlinetheory is linked to practice. Also, in the field, the practitioner makes assumptions (implicitly, newlineif not explicitly) about the problem at hand. However, based on the primacy of purpose, the newlinescholar and the practitioner might take extreme positions. However, based on the primacy of newlinepurpose, the scholar and the practitioner might take extreme positions. This creates a gap newlinebetween scholars and practitioners and leads to the assumption that the relationship between newlinetheory and practice takes meaning only in dialectical terms.