Assessing the potential for qualitative data mining in practice-based child welfare research

The multifaceted, dynamic nature of child welfare interventions and the demand for evidence-informed practice calls for an array of practice-based research tools. This analysis examines the use of qualitative data mining related to narrative case record data to conduct practice-based research in child welfare. It includes a structured literature review, and case study results examining 1) qualitative data mining experiences in child welfare agencies and 2) the utility of case records as data sources. It concludes with a discussion of challenges posed by qualitative data mining and the potentials for its use in practice-based research in child welfare settings.