Academically, there's been a schism between theorists who prefer a positivist method and those who prefer a post-positivist method. Positivists assert that knowledge of social problems and dynamics must be observable and bias-free, thus quantitative; post-positivists maintain there is no way for a researcher to break free of bias, and that knowledge is derived from qualitative methods. This debate reached its zenith in the 1980s. The contemporary opinion is that one is not necessarily better than the other is; they're just two different, equally valid methods.
The empathy model for social work considers contemporary, interdisciplinary ideas about cognitive science related to empathy. This method insists upon the healthy emotional cultivation of individuals being studied. Self-awareness and emotional regulation from the subjects are necessary; hence, the latest therapeutics methods may need to be enacted. Karen E. Gerdes, an associate professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University, states, "By introducing the proposed model of empathy, we hope it will serve as a catalyst for discussion and future research and development of the model."
Social work originally developed along moral -- as opposed to scientific -- guidelines. However, as the discipline grew, scientific methods like positivism began to greatly influence the field. However, postmodern developments review the overriding role of science as a critical agent in many disciplines. Hence, a current breakthrough in social work is the revamping of both morality's and science's role. Phillips Dybicz, an assistant professor of social work at Keimyung University, stresses that a truly postmodern discourse "seeks to have scientific knowledge circumscribe the boundaries within which a hermeneutic inquiry driven by a critical consciousness guides social work interventions."
The 21st century has seen a plethora of breakthroughs in emerging technologies, and this trend has spread into the field of social work. Many argue that social workers now must rely heavily on network culture and other emerging technologies to excel at their job and truly improve their communities. Therefore, information and communication technologies have become prevalent in social work's literature, especially regarding health care and interpersonal communication. Social workers now use social and communication networks to research, analyze and correspond with their patients, in order to diagnose and effectively treat them. Continued attention will be placed on this subject in the years to come.