China Journal of Social Work

26/08/2026

[Special issue - Call for papers] Negotiating Legitimacy: Medical Social Work in Clinical Settings across Chinese Societies

Rationale
The legitimacy of medical social work in clinical settings refers to the professional recognition, institutional acceptance, and operational authority that social workers hold, or seek to attain, within healthcare systems historically organised around biomedical priorities. Legitimacy is not merely a matter of formal credentials or job titles; it is enacted daily through documentation, interdisciplinary meetings, and bedside interactions, where medical social workers continuously justify their presence, define their scope, and demonstrate their distinct contributions to patient care. For clinical practice, legitimacy shapes whether social workers are consulted early or late, whether their assessments inform treatment planning, and whether their interventions are adequately resourced. Without it, medical social workers risk being ‘relegated’ to discharge planning or crisis-only functions; with it, they can address the full biopsychosocial spectrum, including mental health crises, family conflict, care transitions, and advance care planning, among others (e.g. palliative counselling, financial resource navigation, caregiver support). In Chinese societies, where healthcare reform proceeds amid entrenched medical hierarchies, divergent regulatory landscapes, implementation gaps, and ambiguous scope-of-practice definitions, the question of medical social work legitimacy carries urgency.

Aims and Scope
This Special Issue aims to advance theoretical and empirical understanding of medical social work legitimacy in clinical settings across Chinese societies. Rather than treating legitimacy as a fixed attribute or binary status, we conceive of it as dynamic and contested – shaped by institutional structures, professional interactions, policy environments, and discursive practices. Our goal is to assemble papers that illuminate these dimensions, attending equally to constraints and agency.

Guest Editors
Dr Bo LI (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Prof. Jiong TU (Sun Yat-sen University)
Prof. Chengpu YU (Sun Yat-sen University)
Prof. Juan CHEN (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Submission Deadline: 30 June 2027

For further details on the special issue, please visit: https://polyucgdn.com/article/511

15/07/2026

What role can financial social work play in promoting resilience, reducing vulnerability, and fostering inclusive development? This special issue explores these important questions through diverse research and practice perspectives.

The first part of the special issue on “Financial Social Work for Family Well-Being and Social Development” was previously published, focusing on the policy architecture, practice models, and practice interventions. The second part of the special issue was recently published, focusing on issues related to this concept and gender, vulnerability, and specific population groups.

Below, we share the abstracts for the articles featured in Volume 19, Issue 1. We hope these articles inspire further discussion, research, and practice in financial social work.

Articles
Gender disparities in Housing Provident Fund participation in China: an analysis based on propensity score matching
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2639992
Written by Yingying Zhang
Abstract: The Housing Provident Fund (HPF) was designed as a mandatory savings schemeto facilitate housing asset building among employees in China. However, the HPF has long been criticised for its potential role in exacerbating economic inequality. Women may face significant disadvantages in HPF participation and benefits, further reinforcing existing gender disparities in economic security and housing access.To examine this issue, this study employs three propensity score matching (PSM) methods to ensure comparability between male- and female-headed households and uses logistic regression models to examine gender disparities in HPF participation. The Nearest Neighbour Calliper Matching model (β = −0.346, p < 0.01), the Kernel Matching model (β = −0.419, p < 0.01), and the Radius Matching model (β = −0.311, p < 0.01) all indicate that female-headed households (coded as 1) are significantly less likely to participate in the HPF compared to their male-headed (coded as 0) counterparts.

Breaking the cycle: financial self-efficacy, gender ideology, power, and violence against women in China
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2676557
Written by Xiaomin Li
Abstract: This study investigated the complex interplay between financial self-efficacy, relational power, and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimisation and the moderating effects of gender ideologies. Survey data were collected from a sample of 334 abused Chinese women. Results indicated that higher financial self-efficacy was associated with more balanced relational power and in turn with lower levels of IPV victimisation. The gender ideologies of women, their male partners, and interpartner (dis)similarity significantly moderated these relationships. Findings from this study underscore the importance of incorporating financial empowerment, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering gender-equitable relationships in IPV reduction in the Chinese context.

Individual resilience and financial well-being early in the COVID-19 pandemic: does gender make a difference?
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2648538
Written by Xiaoxia Xie, Julian Chun-Chung Chow, Xiaoyao Jiang & Hui Bai
Abstract: This study examines the impact of resilience on individuals’ financial well-being (FWB) during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether gender differences exist. To achieve this, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with 3,884 volunteer participants in China. The findings are as follows: First, participants’ individual resilience significantly and positively affected their FWB. Second, men’s resilience and FWB were higher than women’s. Third, there were significant gender differences in the impact of resilience on FWB. Therefore, during public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, individual resilience is essential, and the implementation of related psychological intervention measures may improve individuals’ FWB.

Financial capability and well-being among migrant workers in post-COVID China: evidence from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2648539
Written by Yingying Zeng, Fan Chen, Yutian Chen & Min Hu
Abstract: While many migrant workers had made significant financial progress over the past decades, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted migration patterns and employment opportunities, putting the progress they had made at risk. This study examines the financial capability and well-being of migrant workers in Hangzhou, an industrial hub with a large migrant workforce. Using original survey data collected from 664 migrant workers in two communities with high migrant worker populations between January and March 2025, we investigated the relationship between different dimensions of financial capability–financial knowledge, access to financial services, and digital financial literacy–and financial well-being. We found that both financial access and digital financial literacy were positively associated with financial well-being, which highlighted the importance of strengthening financial capability–especially in digital contexts–as a protective factor for migrant workers’ economic resilience in times of crisis, with implications for policy and intervention efforts aimed at promoting financial inclusion and stability.

Book Review
Shehuigongzuo lilun: lishi huanjing xia shehuifuwu shijianzhe de shengyin he zhihui [Social work theory: voice and wisdom of social service practitioners in historical environment]
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2685114
Written by Min Tong
Book reviewer: Haiping Chen

Back Matter
Word of Appreciation to Manuscript Reviewers
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2694661
Written by Juan Chen & Sibin Wang

Financial Social Work for Family Well-Being and Social Development (Part II). Volume 19, Issue 1 of China Journal of Social Work

24/06/2026

[Special issue - Call for papers] Social Work Practitioners Conducting Research in Chinese Societies: Bridging Theory and Practice in Changing Context

Overview
In recent decades, Chinese societies have witnessed a surge in practitioners conducting research across education, social service, community development, healthcare and management. From “Action Research” in classrooms to “Clinical Reflection” in social services, practitioners are increasingly taking the lead in generating knowledge that is grounded in their unique cultural and professional realities.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for practitioners to share insights, practical knowing, practice wisdom and innovative methodologies developed in their practice. It also seeks to highlight how social work practitioners in Chinese contexts navigate the complexities of culture, policy and practice to promote more context-sensitive services, and strengthen reflective capacity and professional identity. The papers will reflect the distinctive landscape of research conducted by practitioners across Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and Chinese diaspora communities worldwide.

Guest Editors
Prof. Hok Bun KU
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dr Mandy LAU
Changi General Hospital

Important dates
Abstract Submission (Deadline: 15 August 2026)
Full Paper Submission (Deadline: 15 November 2026)

For further details on the special issue, please visit: https://polyucgdn.com/article/502

11/06/2026

“Financial social work” is an emerging and innovative practice area within the social work profession. Its central mission is to build financial capability and assets for individuals and families, particularly those who are economically vulnerable, with the aim of enhancing financial well-being and promoting broader social development. Through the dedicated efforts of social workers, this field has gradually been systematically integrated into education, research, policy, and practice. In China, although “financial social work” was formally introduced in the 2010s, the concept can be traced back to the early 20th century, including Professor Fei Xiaotong's Peasant Life in China published in the 1930s, as well as the Chinese rural construction movement and practices.

Faced with the complex and ever-changing challenges of the 21st century, the importance and space of “financial social work” in social work and social governance are gradually increasing. To this end, the China Journal of Social Work launches a special issue entitled “Financial Social Work for Family Well-Being and Social Development”. This special issue is co-edited by Jin Huang from Washington University in St. Louis, Suo Deng from Peking University, and Shu Fang from the Central University of Finance and Economics. The papers in this special issue are published across Volume 18, Issue 3 and Volume 19, Issue 1. The five papers in Volume 18, Issue 3 focus on policy architecture, practice models, and practice interventions, whilst the papers in Volume 19, Issue 1 explore issues related to gender, vulnerability, and specific population groups.

Below, we share the abstracts for the articles featured in Volume 18, Issue 3. We invite you to explore these summaries, and you may access the full version of the editorial via the link provided below.

Editorial
Financial social work in China: foundations, frontiers, and global connections
Jin Huang, Suo Deng & Shu Fang
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2683386

Articles
The JinShe community financial education project: a case study of localised financial social work practice in China
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2648543
Written by Ling Zhou, D**g Zhang, Guoyuan Zhang & Jin Huang
Abstract: The JinShe Community Financial Education Project launched in 2021. Grounded in the Financial Capability and Asset Building (FCAB) framework, it addresses financial capability gaps among vulnerable populations through a “dual-track empowerment” approach targeting access, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours. The project established a rigorous “training + supervision + support” financial social worker cultivation system. Service delivery operates through embedded stations employing diverse methods.

As of April 2025, the project expanded to 84 communities across 29 cities. It trained 164 social workers and over 550 volunteers, delivering 950+ activities to 200,000+ residents. Evaluation results show significant improvements: financial capability scores increased by 14.2%, fraud identification accuracy rose from 56.8% to 75.4%, appropriate investment selection increased from 58.7% to 74.8%, and credit card overdue rates declined from 9.1% to 4.0%. The JinShe Project offers a robust model and contribute to a “distinctively Chinese approach” with global applicability.

Child Tax Credit access for low-income families: leveraging VITA under the One Big Beautiful Bill
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2632822
Written by Baorong Guo, Annah Bender, Sharon D. Johnson, Paula Miller & Ericka Jones
Abstract: H.R.1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act), signed into law on 4 July 2025, expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) by increasing benefit levels and establishing a permanent, inflation-adjusted structure. However, millions of low-income families remain at risk of exclusion due to persistent barriers to tax credit access. As a key practice in financial social work and a cornerstone of social services in the community, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programme – a proven, IRS-certified, community-based tax service – can play a key role in ensuring that the new CTC reaches families with the greatest need. Policy action is needed to strengthen and expand VITA’s infrastructure, staffing, and outreach capacity.

Building financial resilience: Jordan’s social policies on families’ well-being
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2676555
Written by Rasha Istaiteyeh
Abstract: This article examines how social policies in Jordan shape the financial well-being of families amid persistent economic pressures, including unemployment, inflation, and regional instability. It analyses key policy areas such as social protection, health care, education, labour market initiatives, microfinance, and financial inclusion, highlighting their effects on household financial stability and long-term resilience. Drawing on international experiences and the concept of Child Development Accounts (CDAs), the article explores how asset-building and financial capability policies could strengthen economic security for Jordanian families, particularly vulnerable groups. The study argues that shifting from short-term assistance toward long-term social investment approaches can enhance financial inclusion, savings behaviour, and economic mobility. The effectiveness of these policies, however, depends on sustained political commitment, institutional coordination, and the ability to adapt to changing socio-economic conditions in Jordan.

Improving nearly-elderly pension well-being via financial social work: analysis on the basis of CHFS2019
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2676553
Written by Liangyu Li, Bangyuan Chen & Xixi Li
Abstract: Financial social work is a key strategy to improve national financial capacity and public financial well-being. This paper focuses on the pension financial well-being of the 50–60 near-elderly group and its influencing factors. Utilising the 2019 China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) data, Logit and OLS regression models, this study examines how household characteristics, economic status and individual financial behaviour affect pension financial asset holding and returns, and explores feasible financial social work intervention pathways. Findings indicate that, within household characteristics, education significantly positively impacts asset allocation and returns, while health boosts allocation but reduces returns. Within economic status, income positively correlates with allocation, whereas agricultural occupation lowers the likelihood of asset holding. Within individual financial behaviour, fixed deposit holdings significantly and positively affect both outcomes. Accordingly, stratified financial literacy education, financial health support and family asset co-construction are proposed to enhance this group’s pension financial well-being.

Digital inclusion and financial social work: income heterogeneity and charitable engagement among Chinese households
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2659597
Written by Xiao Liang & Weidi Yang
Abstract: This study examines how household income levels and internet usage interact to influence charitable giving in urban and rural China, using panel data from 2010 to 2022. Employing fixed-effects regression with interaction terms, we found that both low- and high-income households donate more than middle-income households; however, internet usage significantly increases charitable giving among middle-income households. The internet serves as a positive moderator, especially among middle-income groups, by reducing transaction costs and improving donation accessibility. Moreover, urban-rural disparities persist but narrow significantly among internet users. These results underscore the role of digital connectivity and economic resources in shaping charitable values. The results indicate that improving internet infrastructure and reducing income inequality can increase individuals’ inclination to donate and support the advancement of a more equitable society. Importantly, the findings align with the principles of financial social work, which emphasise strengthening individuals’ financial capability, promoting social inclusion, and addressing structural inequalities.

Book Review
Maintaining a sustainable work-life balance: an interdisciplinary path to a better future
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2683383
Edited by Peter Kruyen, Stéfanie André & Beatrice Van der Heijden
Book reviewer: Md. Abu Issa Gazi

Financial Social Work for Family Well-Being and Social Development. Volume 18, Issue 3 of China Journal of Social Work

17/03/2026

Today is World Social Work Day! The China Journal of Social Work wishes everyone a wonderful celebration. The theme for this year is “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society”. This theme emphasises the vital role social work plays in bringing people together across different communities, cultures, and systems to collectively shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.

In recent years, the journal has published numerous articles exploring various pathways to bridging social divides, enhancing community resilience, and promoting sustainable development. To mark this occasion, we are delighted to share these works with you. The articles listed below are freely accessible. You can read the full articles by clicking on the links. Finally, we wish you all a wonderful World Social Work Day once again!

Theory and practice of Social Work of Reconciliation (SWR) in building inclusive communities in Hong Kong
Hok-Bun Ku
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2489827
Abstract: We live in the age of disaster and conflict, the social work profession must think about how to respond. Using the approach of practice research, the author collaborated with a local faith-based social work organisation for approximately eight years, gradually developing a framework of social work of reconciliation (SWR) within the practice process. The framework now guides the service design for the organisation. In this article, the author will first introduce the framework of SWR and then use the case of this organisation, in which he was involved from 2010 to 2022, to illustrate how the organization was guided by the framework of SWR to provide services that intend to repair the cracks and restore the broken relationships between people and people, people and self, and people and nature, to jointly build inclusive communities that embrace justice, equality, social cohesion, peace and harmony.
Published in Volume 17, Issue 3

Disasters and the need for Glocal Social Work
Panagiotis Pentaris
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2627922
Abstract: As climate change intensifies the risks of extreme weather conditions, the likelihood of disasters also increases. Under those circumstances, societies need to explore the degree to which they are prepared to respond to them and mitigate the potential risks from such events. Approximately 60,000 deaths are recorded during disasters annually, while millions of people are displaced, and the economic impact on infrastructures and community services is tremendous. This paper draws on these facts and argues that as the prevalence of disasters and their impact increase, social work skills and knowledge must advance to adequately and effectively respond to the needs of individuals and communities. The paper argues the need for Glocal Social Work, which considers global phenomena and circumstances regarding disasters but finds suitable methods to apply this knowledge to local communities and respond directly to the populations affected.
Advance online publication

The new roles of the community practitioner in promoting community governance: the emergence-based approach practice
Orna Shemer & Hagai Agmon-Snir
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2459396
Abstract: Community governance is the right of residents to have a say in their lives and the belief that they can do so. Based on a literature review and professional field experience, this article focuses on the roles of community practitioners who use an emergence-based approach to support community governance and introduce an innovative approach to community practice in the 21st Century. The article begins by explaining the key changes that inspired this approach. While the traditional outcomes-based approach (OBA) focuses on community analysis and planning, the emergence-based approach (EBA) recognises that communities are complex systems with limited capacity to analyse and plan their future. To implement the EBA, three roles are presented: probing, engaging and “Doula”. These roles together constitute the “community flywheel”, which enables the growth of community governance initiatives through all community stakeholders. A combined model of the OBA and EBA is suggested to promote community governance processes governance processes effectively.
Published in Volume 17, Issue 3

Implementing bottom-up practices with top-down identities: the processes and strategies for renovating community spaces
Yu Xiang & Guanghuai Zheng
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2026.2622662
Abstract: Community space renovation is a core topic in community social work; however, the mainstream top-down construction model often suffers from insufficient local characteristics, limited resident participation, and neglect of its social and political aspects. Taking a social work team’s renovation practice as an example, this study proposes an alternative path: practitioners leverage their top-down identities to promote bottom-up practices. It further analyses three action strategies: community orientation, social network utilisation, and participatory empowerment. The study argues that despite China’s persistent strong state/weak society structure, government-supported practitioners still have room to adopt bottom-up approaches in community development through their own choices and actions.
Advance online publication

Supporting older people coping in a digital society: comparing case studies in China and Finland
Qingyun Fan
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2023.2214401
Abstract: The use of information and communication technology (ICT) can enrich interactions and improve the quality of life of older people. However, some of them will face difficulties in dealing with digital technologies. Finland and China have conducted several projects coaching older people in using ICT. This article compares the different ways these social services are organised and maintained in two local projects. The data for this comparative case study were collected through participant observation and separate focus group interviews with three groups: older people, practitioners and volunteers. Despite enormous historical and cultural differences, the social service projects share similarities as multisectoral services. Support from the public sector and effectiveness in mobilising volunteers are the core reasons for the smooth implementation of these services. The results of this study may inform approaches to further social services that seek to improve the well-being of older people through ICT.
Published in Volume 16, Issue 2

30/12/2025

The Editorial Board and International Advisory Board members of the China Journal of Social Work have recently selected the Best Articles of 2023 and 2024.

The Best Article of 2023 is “Developing a natural language-based AI-chatbot for social work training: an illustrative case study” (Vol. 16, No. 2), and the Best Article of 2024 is “Unveiling Hong Kong’s mental health preferences: insights from survey experiment towards precision care” (Vol. 17, No. 2).

The authors of both award-winning articles will each receive a prize of USD 400. You may click the links below to read the full text for free.

“Developing a natural language-based AI-chatbot for social work training: an illustrative case study” was co-authored by Chitat Chan and Feng Li. This study focuses on social work training in a Chinese context and adopts an illustrative case study design to successfully develop a chatbot based on large-scale generative pretrained transformers (LGPTs). The chatbot is capable of engaging in natural conversations with users and helps students effectively practice core skills such as clarification, open-ended questioning, and summarisation. This research overcomes the limitations of traditional retrieval-based chatbots, whose conversations were often rigid and lacked flexibility, and fills the gap in the application of generative AI for social work training in Chinese contexts.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2023.2176901

“Unveiling Hong Kong’s mental health preferences: insights from survey experiment towards precision care” was co-authored by Juan Chen, Luqi Yuan, Siqin Kong, Bo Li, and Dicky Chow. Grounded in the discourse on precision mental health (PMH), this study employed discrete choice experiments with 1,006 Hong Kong residents to analyse their preferences for mental health services. Mixed logit regression and sub-group analyses were used to identify individual and group variations in service preferences. The results highlight a strong preference for services that offer prompt access, affordability, and professional endorsement. Familial contexts and psychological stress levels were found to significantly influence service choices. This study underscores the diverse nature of service preferences among Chinese adults in Hong Kong and provides important insights for optimising mental healthcare delivery in the local context.

Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2024.2423950

16/09/2025

The 18.1 issue of the China Journal of Social Work is published online. This is a special issue titled “Professionalisation of social work in Asia”. It aims to explore the evolution of professionalisation of social work in Asia and discuss the dynamic interplay between global influences and local realities. It includes the examples in China, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand. We would like to share the abstracts of the articles. You may access the full version of the editorial by clicking the link.

This special issue was edited by our editors, Prof. Crystal KWAN and Prof. Hok Bun KU from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The first article traces the historical development of social work education in Thailand, emphasising the interplay between indigenous charitable traditions and Western influences since the 1950s. The second study analyses the distinctive features of social work development in Kyrgyzstan, shaped by its historical and cultural heritage alongside international modelling. The third article advocates increased use of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of social work practice in China. The final article finds that professionally educated Chinese social workers, particularly those with higher degrees, exhibit paradoxically heightened turnover intentions.

Editorial
Professionalisation of social work in Asia: the push and pull of global and local influences
Crystal KWAN & Hok Bun KU
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2542611

Articles
A historical perspective on social work education in Thailand
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2459901
Written by Kritsada THEERAKOSONPHONG, Auschala CHALAYONNAVIN & Pred EVANS
Abstract: This article explores the historical context of social work education in Thailand, emphasising the interaction between modern Western welfare systems and the foundations of this relationship in the charitable approach of traditional Thai culture. This article utilises a historical perspective and various sources of documents. The United Nations agencies offered technical assistance by establishing a Social Work Training Institute programme at the National Institute of Culture in the 1950s. The government of Thailand thereby integrated social work into the national development agenda. Seven decades ago, the Faculty of Social Administration at Thammasat University was founded as the first university-level institution in Thailand. Although Thailand’s religious and cultural context significantly influences social work education, it is crucial to understand its welfare regimes through a political and historical lens. This highlights the diversity of welfare regimes as opposed to a single universal framework for professional standards.
Keywords: Social work education in Thailand; historical context of social work education; Faculty of Social Administration at Thammasat University; history of social work; social work

Features of the development of social work in Kyrgyzstan: cultural and historical factors, current trends and key directions
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2513883
Written by Musaeva Nurgul KUSEYINOVNA, Shailoоbek Kyzy AISULUU & Tentigenova Asel IBIRAIMOVNA
Abstract: Social work in Kyrgyzstan is closely connected to the historical and cultural heritage of the Kyrgyz people. At the same time, it is influenced by international approaches, which contribute to the formation of current trends and directions for development. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how historical and cultural background, as well as foreign experiences, have influenced social work in Kyrgyzstan. Understanding the cultural context is essential for integrating traditional values into modern models of social work and for adapting to new challenges. To conduct a comprehensive analysis, we reviewed scientific literature, government regulations, statistical data and other sources. The study reveals that social work in contemporary Kyrgyzstan is undergoing a process of institutionalisation, its status is being formed, and practical and theoretical bases are being enriched. This involves the integration of national cultural approaches with modern ones. The study also highlights areas where problems need to be addressed.
Keywords: Social work; historical and cultural context; trends in social work development; case management in social services; key population groups; home visiting; areas of social work

Using experimental research designs to evaluate social work practice in China
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2546871
Written by Bruce A. THYER
Abstract: There is increasing attention being given to the role of research in promoting the discipline and practice of social welfare in China. One particularly useful form of research consists of empirically evaluating the outcomes of social work services, programmes and policies. The purpose of this article is to advocate an expanded use of outcome evaluations that use true experimental research designs, studies where participants (individuals, families, schools, villages, hospitals or other naturally occurring groups) are randomly assigned to receive an intervention that is the focus of the study, or to another condition, such as treatment as usual, a placebo-intervention, delayed treatment, or in some cases to no treatment. After the intervention, differences in outcomes may be validly seen as caused by the treatment that participants received. This ability to make valid causal inferences can be a great strength of true experimental intervention designs, a feature not usually available using other methods.
Keywords: Evaluation; experimental; practice research; programme evaluation; randomised controlled trial; RCT

Impact of professional education on the turnover intentions of Chinese social workers
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2541419
Written by Tenglong WEN, Hao YAN & Fan WU
Abstract: The misalignment of social work graduates in employment and the high turnover rates have hindered the professionalisation of social work in China. This study involves a national sample of 4,558 Chinese social workers to explore how professional education influences turnover intention, with professional identity and job satisfaction as mediators. Findings reveal that social workers with professional education exhibit greater turnover intentions, particularly those with higher degrees. Professional identity and job satisfaction sequentially mediate the relation between professional education and turnover intention. These findings reveal a paradox in the development of China’s social work workforce: social work departments face greater difficulties in retaining talents nurtured through the education system, which seriously hinders the professionalisation process of social work in China. Managers should enhance social workers’ recognition and satisfaction with their work by strengthening continuing education and improving career advancement pathways.
Keywords: China; job satisfaction; professional education; professional identity; turnover intention

Book Reviews
Critical thinking for social work, 2nd ed.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2543476
Written by K. BROWN and L. RUTTER
Book reviewers: Frederic Kornelius MARBUN & Isa Catya WIBOWO

Developing your communication skills in social work, 2nd ed.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2542445
Written by P. BEESLEY, M. WATTS, and S. HARLOW
Book reviewer: Xi WANG

Back matter
Word of Appreciation to Manuscript Reviewers
Written by Juan CHEN & Sibin WANG
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/17525098.2025.2542911

Professionalisation of Social Work in Asia. Volume 18, Issue 1 of China Journal of Social Work