historical research, social work

Historical research which is applied in social work is one of the methods to describe how and where social work started, how it developed during time and where it stands today. Results of historical studies can form blueprints for contemporary social services programs or models for community developments. The paper deals with two levels of historical research in social work. At first describes it at general, defines the term historiography, shows similarities and differences from other areas and methodological fundamentals. In the second part the paper offers a practical example of these type of research. It presents a qualified knowledge of the history of social welfare and social work in seventies and eighties of 20th century in Czechoslovakia. It maps historical development of social care, including social services and identifies used methods of social work in this time.