Problems In Social Research Research Articles

TELS: Evolution patterns of research keywords from the evidence of PNAS Social Sciences topics.

By reviewing scientific literature, researchers may obtain a comprehensive understanding of field developments, keeping abreast of the current research status and hotspot shifts. The evolution pattern of keywords is supposed to be an efficient indicator in revealing the shifting and sustainability configuration of scientific concepts, ideas, and research hotspots. Here we take an extensive investigation of the evolution of keywords among all publications in PNAS Social Sciences from 1990 to 2021. Statistical tests show the keyword mention time series always accompanied by the emergence of a log-normal distribution. Additionally, we introduce a novel schema of four patterns (TELS), which are Transient impact type, Explosive impact type, Large impact type, and Small impact type, respectively, to illustrate the evolution of keywords. The TELS schema can be used to capture the whole life circle feature of any proposed keyword, from a pool of candidates. By dividing the entire time into four periods, we also introduce the concept of elite keywords to reveal the temporal feature of social sciences focus. An explicit transition from anthropology research to neuroscience and social problems research can be observed from the evolution diagram. We argue that the proposed method is of general sense and might be applicable to other fields of science.

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ В ОБЛАСТИ СОЦИОЛОГИИ ИСКУССТВЕННОГО ИНТЕЛЛЕКТА: БАЗОВЫЕ ПОДХОДЫ. ЧАСТЬ 3

The article is devoted to the analysis of the most relevant and popular problems of social research of artificial intelligence, the results of which were published in the first quarter of 2022. The actualization of the problems of racism, various forms of social inequality associated with the use of various artificial intelligence algorithms continues. The attitude towards the neural network writer GPR-3 is subjected to massive criticism, despite the fact that the Australian philosopher David Chalmers considers it possible to assert the existence of independent intellectual activity in this computer program. Research continues on the role of artificial intelligence in improving governance, including at the state level. It is suggested that the bureaucratic social class not only will not disappear as artificial intelligence tools are introduced into government, but, perhaps, will strengthen its position. The pressing research in the field of the sociology of artificial intelligence is related to its role in modern medicine. There are ethical and bioethical issues associated with trust in artificial intelligence systems.

The Constructionist as Claims-Maker? A Pragmatist Intervention into Social Problems Theory.

In 1985, Steve Woolgar and Dorothy Pawluch wrote an influential essay about social constructionism, warning against the pitfalls of what they referred to as "ontological gerrymandering," which is to treat certain actors’ claims as socially constructed, while at the same time making realist claims about social conditions. Instead of this unbalanced and asymmetric approach, the best way forward for constructionists is to treat all claims made by any and all acting parties as putative, not necessarily true or false, and to avoid making any independent claims about the actual social conditions that actors are striving to define. Since this time, social problems research, science and technology studies, and environmental sociology have encountered both epistemic and political difficulties with this strict constructionist approach to being fully agnostic about social conditions and the reality of actors’ claims. Drawing on the social pragmatism of George Herbert Mead, I consider some of the problems encountered in the strict constructionist approach, and argue that ultimately, the sociologist herself cannot escape the general problem of having to make objective claims about the empirical social world. Instead of being agnostic about all claims made, sociologists are best to fully accept the responsibility and advantages of being full blown claimsmakers themselves.

Bibliometrics versus altmetrics: Researchers’ attitudes in Slovakia

Objective. The paper presents principal theoretical starting points and an overview of attitudes to altmetrics-based research evaluation among scientists of various disciplines in Slovakia, more specifically in comparison with traditional, bibliometric approaches.
 Design/Methodology/Approach. We used a questionnaire and asked researchers from various disciplines about their knowledge of principle characteristics defining the altmetrics and about their attitudes towards the application of bibliometrics and altmetrics approaches in the processes of research evaluation. The questionnaire covered a wide range of issues, predominantly associated with interpretation and perception of the importance of alternative indicators, including the factors influencing the interpretation. In this analysis, we concentrate on those parts of research reflecting the willingness of respondents to accept alternative indicators as part of research/science assessment.
 Results/Discussion. The attitude to the application of alternative indicators in research assessment is not significantly more negative among Slovak scientists if we compare it to other countries. The citations are still a respected indicator perceived as a tool for creating bonds within science. If they are perceived as obsolete or insufficient, it relates to the experience of researchers whose results are predominantly aimed at non-academic target group or if they are active in the research of social phenomena and problems. Due to pragmatic reasons connected with research financing, however, registering the citations is a generally accepted priority. Familiarity and practical experience with social media were identified as one of the factors influencing the interpretation of alternative indicators in the environment of both public and academic media.
 Conclusions. Traditional bibliometric methods, especially in the area of research evaluation, are still preferred over the altmetrics. The scientists realize that the kind of attention captured by the indicators based on social media is not comparable with the citation-based impact. Or, more precisely, that altmetrics reflects a different kind of impact whose correspondence with a traditional world of bibliographic citations remains to be explored.
 Originality/Value. The article presents the results of original research carried out in the community of scientists in Slovakia, applying quantitative research methods. It contributes to the results of previous studies on the attitudes and acceptance of altmetrics in the research community, with a special focus on research assessment.

Cumulative interest of legal and economic sciences in interdisciplinary research of modern social problems

The article examines a wide range of social problems of modern state-legal reality, the study of which intensifies the integral interest of legal and economic sciences. General theory of law and sectoral legal sciences, which investigate the effectiveness of the observance and protection of socio-economic rights and freedoms of man, reveal the problems of social inequality, modification of social relations and changes in the models of law and order, imperfection of legislation, law enforcement, etc., which correlates with the subject area of knowledge of economic theory. Attention dwells on the consideration of the categories “legal person”, “economic person”, “human capital”, understanding of law and economics as sociocultural phenomena, etc., which, in the context of globalization and its consequences, acquire new meanings, the study of which involves the use of interdisciplinary approach.

Neka razmišljanja povodom šest decenija od obnove Sociološkog pregleda (1961-2021)

On the occasion of the journal's anniversary, the author discusses three issues in the field of scientific policy in Serbia: the journal's language and script, the issue of the publisher, and the journal's place and role in the scientific community. The author concludes that the mass transition of scientific journals in Serbia to English, with the abolition of Serbian versions of texts (the tradition pursued by the Sociološki pregled / Sociological Review), leads not only to stopping the development of the domestic scientific terminology, but also to the stagnation and long-term disappearance of local (national) scientific communities. Scientific communities of individual countries or languages, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, are essential for scientific research of local (national) societies, their economic, social and cultural problems and specifics. Their gradual winding down can also be considered a form of cultural neocolonialism.

Соціоінженерний потенціал соціології соціальних проблем

Modern social processes are accompanied by deepening social problems, dysfunction of the management system at the micro, macro and meso levels, encourage the scientific community to respond more quickly and comprehensively to societal challenges. These circumstances require the use of social engineering tools to solve pressing social problems.The aim of the article is to reveal the socio-engineering potential of the sociology of social problems as a special sociological theory.It is proved that in its applied intention the sociology of social problems coincides with the subject area of social engineering, which is considered as a type, direction of activity, the main purpose of which is to regulate social relations between different social groups, solve social problems, ensure effective implementation of social reserves etc. based on the application of results and recommendations of sociological research, development of social projects, social technologies. It is determined that within the framework of sociological analysis two paradigms of research of social problems were formed: objectivist (based on the ideas of positivism and functionalism) and subjectivist or interpretive (based on symbolic interactionism and constructionism), but at the present stage of sociology of social problems lost their significance. Therefore, today a new approach to the consideration of social problems is being formed, which is based on the postulates of the new sociality, taking into account "post-social" transformations. It was found that in solving current social problems it is advisable to use the whole arsenal of social engineering tools, understood from the theoretical and methodological point of view of the sociology of social problems.It is noted that a promising direction for determining the socio-engineering potential of sociology of social problems is to adapt the provisions of sociological theories of social problems to changes that occur under the influence of the transformation of modern society – from industrial society through a transitional form of risk society to post-industrial (information) society.

Place of medical-geographic mapping in the study and research of social problems of society

Place of medical-geographic mapping in the study and research of social problems of society

Decomposition of social problems of management digitalization

The decomposition of social problems of management digitalization has been proved, presented and investigated in the article, the directories and formats of their positioning have been selected and opened consistently. Key objects of the research are manifestations of influence of social problems on setting, development and implementation of programs of management digitalization, approaches, opportunities and examples of definition of options of their resolution. Conducted analysis and formulated conclusions allow us to create complete representation and to implement applied recommendations about selection, a research and solution influence of social problems on management digitalization of modern organization. This is especially relevant today, when national, sectoral and regional programs for the digitalization of the economy and management define one of the key trends in breakthrough socio-economic development.The examples of the manifestation, study and resolution of social problems of digitalization from the actual practice of managing leading, efficiently operating domestic enterprises in the real sector of their sectors have been analyzed. The presenting material has been collected, processed and adapted by the author in the process of development, implementation and maintenance of the use of organizational and methodological materials commissioned by these organizations, as part of the implementation of applied research. In the statement of the provisions of the article, the material has been also used, collected by the author on open resources and in the processes of interaction with organizations of the infrastructure, that are actively introducing and widely using digital products and databases in management practice. Carried-out analysis of specific material actually involved in the processes of enterprises and organizations allows us reliably, adequately and prospectively oriented to identify, evaluate and decompose the existing range of social problems of management digitalization.

Social Problems and the Contextual Compromise: Subjectivity, Objectivity, and Knowledge in Everyday Life

This article builds on recent sociological debates about the explanatory importance of claims-making contexts and the continuing challenges associated with subjectivism and objectivism in social problems research. The sociology of knowledge is used to illustrate how the contextual compromise that has sustained social problems theory and method for at least two decades is based on a number of erroneous assumptions about subjectivity and objectivity in the tradition of phenomenological analysis. To strengthen recent discussions about the contextual dimensions of claims-making activities and framing techniques, the article critically assesses the curious neglect and continuing misrepresentation of the sociology of knowledge in constructionist analyses of social problems.

Social and economic development of the Lublin voivodeship

Relevance of research topic. Development is determined by consecutive social and structural formations that describe economic systems of particular societies, religion, features of the social structure, demographic factors, discoveries, inventions, culture diffusions, social movements. In the 21st century, the global economy has been subject to changes. Currently, greater attention is drawn to knowledge, modern technologies and innovations. Development consists of many factors, e.g. geographical location, natural resources, financial capital, human capital, use of modern technologies, government policy. The Lublin Voivodeship is one of the poorest developing regions of Poland. Subject of research. This paper is about the social and economic development of the Lublin Voivodeship. Purpose. Theoretical and practical analysis of theoretical and practical dimensions of the social and economic development based on the example of Lublin Voivodeship. Methods. Analysis of statistical data correlated with an analysis of literature sources. Study results. So far the Lublin Voivodeship has been mainly an agricultural region. The lack of well-developed industrialisation and land fragmentation are conditioned by the situation from before ages. The Lublin region is also relatively poorly developed with regard to infrastructure. Migrations from the region also pose a threat. Its great potential in the form of academic facilities and tourism constitutes its advantage. Application of results. Research of economic and social development problems, regional studies, educational process. Conclusions according to the article. Long-term development of the Lublin region should be based on its identified advantages. As data show, they include agricultural production, well-educated employees and tourist assets of the region. The 2014-2020 Strategy for the Lublin Voivodeship Development establishes four strategic directions of activities: strengthening of the region's urban development; restructuring of agriculture and development of rural areas; selective increase in the potential of knowledge, technological advancement, regional entrepreneurship; functional, both spatial and social (cultural) integration of the region. A part of solutions introducing changes should be initiated at the local, self-governmental level. Activities aimed at the development of subregional towns, connected with transfer of some services from Lublin, which already has the good development potential, are important. Use of support at the regional level and use of the EU funds under implemented programmes are necessary.

From Claims to Chains: the Materiality of Social Problems

Inspired by the work of Bruno Latour, I propose treating social problems not as claims, but as chains. Social problems chains consist of sites of claims-making activities connected by objectified forms of socialproblems, such as problem categories inscribed in texts or material constructions of problems. The focus of social problems research, then, should be three-fold. Research should attend to the activities that produce objectified forms of social problems. Research should also attend to the material forms that lend stability and mobility to constructions of social problems. And, finally, research should trace the paths those forms take, as they link sites of social problems activities and enable or constrain claims-makers’ efforts to build their own versions of problems. Doing so, social problems theory can better account for the diverse materials caught up in the construction of problems and the differences among competing constructions of problems.

ОСНОВНІ ПРИНЦИПИ СТВОРЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОГО ВІЗУАЛЬНОГО ПОВІДОМЛЕННЯ

The article is devoted to the definition of the basic principles of creating a visual message, the adherence to which contributes to the effectiveness of its influence on the target audience. In the context of Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine, counter-terrorism issues are more urgent than ever. In light of world research in psychology, the effectiveness of perceiving information depends, in particular, on the dominant channel of perception (audio, visual, kinesthetic). However, the results of a number of psychological experiments in the field of visual perception have shown that it is better to understand, memorize and reproduce the information we receive through our visual channels. Modern research of social problems leads to understanding - the world has become visual. Man of our time is under constant influence of visual content. So reporting to the consciousness of the necessary information effectively through this channel. Thus, the very visual message is an effective tool for counterpropaganda and for informing the population in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The result of the research is based on the study of the peculiarities of the visual perception of information about the world and, related to this, the possibilities of using two-dimensional space in the interests of creating products of psychological influence. In addition, an analysis was conducted of the psychological effect of color on the human subconscious, the emotiogenic structure of color combinations, the psychological effects of symbolic coding of information, general rules of composition, examples of successful graphic marketing. In forming practical recommendations for the implementation of the proposed principles, general publishing approaches to the creation of printed visual products, the technological features of different types of media, the effectiveness of distribution channels for products of psychological influence and the results of the analysis of the target audience were taken into account.

First Russian Interdisciplinary Study to Approach Socio-Humanitarian Issues of Organ Donation

The thesis has been prepared with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation, Grant No. 17-18-01444 of 2017 year. The innovation process in its essence is a mix of knowledge production, discoveries and technological inventions in conjunction with the creation of a favorable social environment for the positive perception of scientific achievements, their uptake, public support and successful implementation in practice. Existing difficulties in the progress of national organ donation and transplantation programs as a form of high-tech innovative research and clinical field to some extent are related to the insufficient theoretical understanding of emerging social, humanitarian and other problems. We introduce First supported by the Russian State integrated interdisciplinary study of these problems started as a cooperation of doctors, philosophers and theologians. Interdisciplinary team will conduct adequate research, based on current scientific knowledge and socio-humanitarian innovation policy including modern socio-humanitarian assessment. Particularly, the philosophical, religious, moral and anthropological problems of commodification (including commercialization) of the human body and its organs will be explored in order to analyze the moral paradoxes of development of transplantation and organ donation as a kind of high-tech innovative technologies. Project results will have essential value in respect of deepening of theoretical (philosophical, religious, anthropological, medical) interpretation of a human body as a gift, a resource, and a property. On specific material of technologies of organ donation essentially important aspects of interaction of innovative science and society will be presented, crucial importance of procedures of co-production of scientific knowledge and technologies with production of social values, normative ethical and legal systems will be described and interpreted. Creation of methodological framework for assessment of bioethical risks in transplantology and organ donation, development of the systems of media support and diagnostics of public perception of transplantology will be essential for the future of innovation programs and will make an essential contribution to development of domestic organ donorship. The research of ethical, social and legal problems of organ transplantation will be helpful for promotion of trust between innovative medicine and citizens that could results in betterment of healthcare in this area.

Bezpieczeństwo społeczne osób starszych w aspekcie systemu wsparcia społecznego na przykładzie Siemianowic Śląskich

The article in question has come into being as a result of the research and analysis of effects and social problems that was carried out in 2000 in Siemianowice Śląskie. The considerations among the others pertained to a relevant issue such as the feeling of social safety of the elderly in the system of social assistance. The analysis confirmed that the system of social assistance gives the feeling of safety in financial terms but it doesn’t satisfy all wants of the elderly. As a result the people take up various activities that help them to feel safer in their society. The elderly look for such areas that give satisfaction and make them being needed. The problem of ageing forces us somehow to create programmes or projects in order to keep the elderly independent and self-sufficient for as long as possible. This means that local policy should definitely focus on the areas that go further than health care and social assistance for the elderly.

Rigged or rigorous? Partnerships for research and evaluation of complex social problems: Lessons from the field of violence against women and girls

There is growing demand for robust evidence to address complex social phenomena such as violence against women and girls (VAWG). Research partnerships between scientists and non-governmental or international organizations (NGO/IO) are increasingly popular, but can pose challenges, including concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Drawing on our experience collaborating on VAWG research, we describe challenges and contributions that NGO/IO and academic partners can make at different stages of the research process and the effects that collaborations can have on scientific inquiry. Partners may struggle with differing priorities and misunderstandings about roles, limitations, and intentions. Benefits of partnerships include a shared vision of study goals, differing and complementary expertise, mutual respect, and a history of constructive collaboration. Our experience suggests that when investigating multi-faceted social problems, instead of 'rigging' study results, research collaborations can strengthen scientific rigor and offer the greatest potential for impact in the communities we seek to serve.

The potential of sociology of emotions in research of social problems

The potential of sociology of emotions in research of social problems

Multi-Paradigmatic Model of Educational System for Development of Civil Values of Learning Youth in a Multi-ethnical Educational Environment

The article covers a conceptual multi-paradigmatic model of educational system for development of civil values of learning youth in a multi-ethnical educational environment of the Russian Federation. The following paradigmatic models represent a multi-paradigmatic one: development of ethnical tolerance of learning youth, socialization of an individual based on application of the imperatives of national values, the concept for development of physical education of ethnophores based on core values of ethno-pedagogics, united by the target strategy and general methodology. Implementation of this model is aimed at upbringing of an integral personality, having ethnical tolerance, ability for inter-cultural reflection, and focused on the application of the means of physical culture in order to form the values and behavioral skills ensuring protection of personal well-being; development of environmental friendliness based on application of environmental imperatives of national values in the life being of the learning youth. As part of this conceptual approach, the civil values are represented by personal concepts: “inter-ethnical tolerance”, “health”, “healthy lifestyle”, “physical culture”, “physical culture of an individual”, “environmental culture”, and “national values”. This resulted in the development of the methodology for the research of social and educational problems of formation of learning youth’s civil values in the process of actualization of national values and the essence of multi-ethnical environment of the Russian Federation based on the determined contradictions and the results at the final stage of the experiment. Innovative technologies relating to formation of civil values of learning youth under conditions of implementation of a multi-paradigmatic model for educational system to form civil values of learning youth have been introduced in the educational process. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5p467

Contextual Understanding in Constructionism: A Holistic, Dialogical Model

This paper seeks to develop contextual constructionism through elaboration of the concept of context and the articulation of an accompanying methodology for empirical research. I approach context as a construct involving awareness when: (1) claims-makers define contexts in social problem debates, and (2) academic analysts do likewise in studying those debates and their outcomes. Such constructions can either converge or diverge, both within and across groups of claims-makers and analysts, with significant consequences for understanding and interaction. Importantly, context is never singular, for it always presupposes at least two related settings, namely, an immediate situation involving claims that is embedded in a more distant or general one which has at least a short-term historical dimension. Both social problems claims-makers and constructionist analysts, moreover, engage in “context work,” that is, efforts to sustain an overarching sense of setting between periods of social problems claims-making and research on them. I suggest that analysts examine claims-makers’ discourse in order to identify their view of context, and then apply the same scrutiny to their own presuppositions. Analysts should also be alert to strategic uses of context as a resource (“context gaming”), they should map significant shifts in constructions of context and pay attention to unobtrusive factors that might not yet have entered awareness. Finally, analysts should avoid overly deterministic accounts. For although contexts, as constructed, do indeed impose constraints, they ought not to be seen as eliminating agency, but only as locating it in ways that facilitate sociological insight.

Beyond Case Studies: Expanding the Constructionist Framework for Social Problems Research

Most constructionist analyses of social problems are case studies; these focus attention on the particulars of the case at hand. Analysts have devoted less attention to the ways cases can be connected. This paper presents a typology of such connections, based on five elements: the problem, the frame, the claims-makers, place, and time. The typology identifies ways each of these elements can serve as a basis for connecting different campaigns to construct social problems.