What form do analyses of the potential of new technologies in social work take today? A scoping review
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Autor:innen
Autor:in (Körperschaft)
Publikationsdatum
2026
Typ der Arbeit
Studiengang
Sammlung
Typ
01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift
Herausgeber:innen
Herausgeber:in (Körperschaft)
Betreuer:in
Übergeordnetes Werk
Journal of Technology in Human Services
Themenheft
DOI der Originalpublikation
Link
Zugehörige Forschungsdaten
Reihe / Serie
Reihennummer
Jahrgang / Band
Ausgabe / Nummer
Seiten / Dauer
1-41
Patentnummer
Verlag / Herausgebende Institution
Routledge
Verlagsort / Veranstaltungsort
Auflage
Version
Programmiersprache
Abtretungsempfänger:in
Praxispartner:in/Auftraggeber:in
Zusammenfassung
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies such as apps and information and communication technology (ICT) in social work is accelerating, yet systematic analyses of their potential for practice interventions are lacking. To address this gap, this scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) analyzed 60 articles (1997–2025) from 29 countries to investigate research methods and reported benefits and risks. Results indicated an absence of studies systematically evaluating technology’s potential prior to implementation in social work practice. Thematic synthesis identified five benefit domains – improved efficiency and decision quality, empowerment, workforce development, and reflective practice – and six risk domains – data protection and confidentiality, algorithmic bias and legal uncertainty, inclusion and usability barriers, and workforce and organizational strain – as well as a cross-cutting theme of ambivalence, where significant downsides – efficiency gains vs. technical limitations, expanded access vs. digital divide, improved decision quality vs. data protection – frequently countered potential gains. These findings suggest that digital technologies are not intrinsically beneficial, making assumption-driven adoption in the absence of concrete evidence of effectiveness ill-advised. The study provides a foundation for the development of a validated framework for use in methodologically rigorous systematic analyses of the potential of new digital technologies for social work interventions.
Schlagwörter
Fachgebiet (DDC)
Veranstaltung
Startdatum der Ausstellung
Enddatum der Ausstellung
Startdatum der Konferenz
Enddatum der Konferenz
Datum der letzten Prüfung
ISBN
ISSN
1522-8835
1522-8991
1522-8991
Sprache
Englisch
Während FHNW Zugehörigkeit erstellt
Ja
Zukunftsfelder FHNW
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Begutachtung
peer-reviewed
Open Access-Status
Hybrid
Lizenz
Zitation
Roth, S. (2026). What form do analyses of the potential of new technologies in social work take today? A scoping review. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 1–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2026.2738141