Use of standardized measures in agency based research and practice.

This article reviews criteria for social workers' selection and use of standardized outcome measures for practice and research. Issues related to reliability and validity are discussed. The utility of standardized Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) measures, either generic or disease specific, is presented utilizing one measure, the SF-36+ Social Work, as an exemplar. The article concludes that such measures are viable and necessary for social work to demonstrate its value-added qualities in the emerging healthcare environment.