Controversy
Who is failing abused and neglected children?
C Harrisona, J Massonb, N Spenceraa School of Health and
Social Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK, b School of
Law, University of Warwick
Correspondence to: Prof. Spencer n.j.spencer@warwick.ac.uk
Accepted 2 February
2001
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
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Introduction |
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This is a response to an article by Nigel Speight and Jane Wynne, `Is the Children Act failing severely abused and neglected children?', published in this journal in March 2000.1 Overall, we consider the article to be polemical and inadequately argued. Many of the points made are unsubstantiated and there are errors of fact. Where does evidence based practice go if senior practitioners prefer anecdotes and personal belief to research findings?
Restrictions on space preclude an exhaustive reply to all the points Speight and Wynne raise, so we have confined ourselves to addressing those considered most significant.
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Methodology |
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A primary weakness in the article is its anecdotal basis and
reliance on comments from colleagues. No attempt is made to address the
extensive research literature which relates to the periods before and
after the implementation of the Children Act. This high calibre, well
corroborated literature has been subjected to stringent peer
review.2
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