Social Practice Research Articles

Researcher-Reported Variables Needed for Translation of Social Communication Evidence-Based Practices for Elementary-Aged Students with Autism.

Organizations such as the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice have disseminated reports on evidence-based practices (EBPs) for individuals with autism to inform practice. However, some practitioners routinely employ unvalidated interventions more frequently than EBPs, signaling the presence of a research-to-practice gap. The current review investigated the degree to which single-case research studies with social communication outcomes for elementary-aged students with autism included details on variables that may impact the adoption and implementation of EBPs in practice. The results suggest limited reporting of variables that aid decision-making in the adoption and implementation of EBPs. Limited reporting can negatively impact uptake and fidelity and, therefore, student outcomes. Suggestions are made to improve researchers' reporting of the critical components of EBPs that will facilitate adoption and implementation by practitioners.

Noticing ‘them things that may have gone amiss otherwise’: exploring social work placements in schools in England

ABSTRACT Schools play a crucial in the lives of children, families and communities and are increasingly used by social work programmes in England for practice learning. This qualitative study involved in-depth semi structured interviews with ten social work students who had undertaken at least one placement in a school in England. The aim of this study was to understand social work students’ experiences of placements in schools and to explore the benefits and challenges associated with school-based placements. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, manually coded and analyzed for broad themes. The findings indicate a lack of clarity about the roles and tasks expected of student social workers in schools and highlights some benefits for children and families. Implications for social work education and practice are identified.

Reconsidering the impact of environmental, social and governance practices on firm profitability

PurposeThis paper investigates the relationship between commitment to ESG practices and firm performance using a synthetic index based on ESG disclosure and ESG performance scores.Design/methodology/approachUsing the Mazziotta-Pareto aggregation method, we develop a novel synthetic index of ESG engagement based on ESG rating and disclosure. This index is employed in a dynamic panel regression, implemented using the Arellano-Bond estimator, to explain profitability in a sample of 146 listed Canadian firms over the period spanning from 2014 to 2021.FindingsESG practices may either foster or hinder firm performance. In particular, a synergy emerges between the social and environmental dimensions of ESG practices, shedding light on the relevance of high standards in terms of environmental and social activities.Practical implicationsThe study emphasizes the significance of acknowledging the various facets of ESG engagement and the necessity of transcending the current constraints of accessible ESG data and ratings. Synthetic indices combining different types of ESG information may contribute to mitigating the problems created by strategic disclosure on the part of firms, which typically results in undesirable practices such as greenwashing and social washing.Originality/valueThis is the first study that applies the Mazziotta-Pareto method to develop a synthetic index of ESG engagement, tackling each pillar separately. Moreover, when investigating the effect of ESG engagement on profitability, we allow for cross-pillar synergies and/or trade-offs.

Social inclusion practices in the upstream supply chain: a systematic literature review

Social inclusion practices in the upstream supply chain: a systematic literature review

Browning’s Poetics of Necropolitical Power Dynamics

This article explores the life-scaring power dynamics in Browning’s poetry regarding the social praxis of gender as staged by Robert Browning’s “Porphyria’s Lover” and “My Last Duchess.” To this end, it peruses these poems to show the poetic necropolitics; politics of death. Delving into the poems, the male chauvinist narrators hold the bodies of their female counterparts before annihilating them. Taking stock of necropolitical power wielded by the sovereign narrators, this paper aims to parse the deadening lives of the perpetrated Duchess and Porphyria. For this purpose, it deploys Achille Mbembe’s understanding of necropolitics as a critical insight that he imbibes from Michel Foucault’s biopolitical racism (that holds the authority to deploy alterity and expose life to death). Meanwhile, the study does not only expand the necropolitical literary explication of Browning's poems, nonetheless, it attempts to reorient the readers to reexamine the alibi of the killers in the poems. Enthused by Mbembe’s acumen that revisits how power makes its subjects docile through political decisionism: “who must live and who must die,” this paper debates the sexist discourse of the killer-narrators and the living-dead ladies before their killing. Largely, it wonders to know how the subjects turn out to be the living dead or the object of male sadism. To elucidate this life-scaring politics; necropolitics, this paper also probes the presence (hegemonic existence) of sexist males that renders the female absent (non-existence) before they are immolated in the poems. It concludes that sexist patriarchy replicating the sovereign power constitutes the precarious life of the females via making them abject and invisible through ‘corpsing-policy’ which becomes a pertinent issue to rear humanism in Humanity Studies.

Cultural Representations in Border Literature: Reflecting on Harka Gurung’s Vignettes of Nepal

This article explores the issues raised in Harka Gurung’s Vignettes of Nepal and analyzes them from historical perspectives. Cultural activities of the different geographical locations of Nepal that Gurung explores in the book are based on border, culture and the literature. Culture is a part of social practices interlinked to the cultural activities that connect people and literature of a society or a cultural community under a chain of social/socio-cultural activities. There might be different kinds of cultural groups within the same geographical border but they have the same kind of humanitarian values. However, they have some conflicting borders because of the space on performances and understanding of the cultural critics. Here, border refers to both the cultural community’s line as well as geographical territory. Many people respect to each-other’s culture but some of them disrespect borderland culture and literature that creates social disharmony in the name of cultural identity. Culture is a part of literary activities that helps to generate the literature and every literature is based on the culture. Gurung’s Vignettes of Nepal incorporates twenty essays based on different geographical borderlands, cultural practices and literature. He begins his essays from west of Kathmandu and concludes them coming to the east. In this study, this researcher selects particularly a few essays based on cultural borderland. Border, culture and literature are inseparable and so this study is on cultural cum ethno-geographical methodology as it studies the behavioral things of the people of different cultural communities. Objective of this paper is to show the connectivity of literature in the cultural borderland. To achieve the research goal, this study centers on historical places and observes cultural practices in Nepal. This researcher applies Mary Anderson and Dor Bahadur Bista’s ideas as supporting tools to the research in addition to Shalom H. Schwartz’s theory based on universal human values and cross-cultural psychologies. Finding of this paper is that the humanitarian cultures of the borders are key subjects to create the socio-cultural harmonies that help to generate the literature.

Relational Cultural Theory and Intervention Approaches with Adolescent Girls: An Integrative Review

Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) offers a feminist, relationally-centered approach to therapy and social work practice, which is focused on the unique developmental experiences of girls, women, and individuals from traditionally underrepresented or marginalized groups. Much of the theoretical and intervention research on this model has focused on adult women, with less attention devoted to RCT's application with adolescent girls. This integrative literature review synthesizes qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and case study research on RCT to assess: 1) how RCT theoretical tenets have been translated into intervention strategies with adolescent girls, and 2) the degree to which RCT intervention research includes experiences of girls from diverse and underrepresented groups. Five electronic databases were searched through August 2023. Following deduplication and screening for inclusion/exclusion, 12 studies were retained for inclusion in this review. Analysis revealed four core RCT concepts that were linked with therapeutic intervention components across all included studies: mutual empathy, authenticity, empowerment, and the overall strengthening and deepening of relational connections. Over half of included studies reported samples that were over 50% girls of color, and/or having an expressed study purpose focused on girls from a diverse or underrepresented group. Practice implications for work with adolescent girls are discussed.

The Impact of the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) on Client Agency

ABSTRACT The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) is a therapeutic model designed to treat Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) integrating top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (somatic) methods. Reinforcing client agency is one of the four pillars of the NARM model. This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis investigated how NARM impacts client agency from the perspective of NARM Therapists. Fourteen NARM Therapists participated in a focus group to describe their work as a NARM trained trauma therapist treating clients who have experienced C-PTSD. The study revealed four themes that represent the phenomenon of client agency supported by the NARM model from the perspective of NARM Therapists. The emergent themes that support client agency include Connecting to Present Moment Awareness, Reflecting and Reinforcing Client Choices, Acknowledging Client Insight, and Contracting with the Client. Social workers can support clients experiencing C-PTSD by reinforcing client agency and utilizing trauma-informed approaches such as NARM to advance NASW standards for clinical social work practice standards one, two, and eleven (i.e. values and ethics, specialized practice skills, and interventions and professional development).

The ecospiritual approach for the advancement of social work: a concept and practice of ‘interconnectedness’ in Won Buddhism

ABSTRACT In the context of today’s globalized world, marked by heightened awareness of interconnected social challenges, this paper explores the integration of ecospiritual approach into social work practice and education. Recognizing spirituality as a universal aspect of human experience, the authors advocate for a spiritually sensitive approach to social work, emphasizing the search for meaning, purpose, and connectedness. Central to this discussion is the ecospiritual approach, which challenges Western paradigms of individualism and capitalism by embracing interconnectedness and interdependent relationships. This approach is exemplified through the exploration of Buddhism, African spiritual philosophy, and Won Buddhism, particularly focusing on concepts of Interbeing, Ubuntu, and the Fourfold Grace. This paper highlights the relevance of the Fourfold Grace and gratitude practices in Won Buddhism for building the ecospiritual framework into practice, emphasizing their potential to enhance knowledge and practice integrity in the field. The overarching goal is to promote collective awareness and commitment, advanced practices toward the advancement of social work, social justice, and a sustainable well-being society. The future directions in this paper share thoughtful visions and hopes.

Working Individually and Collectively: Assisting Young People with Cognitive Disability Transitioning from Statutory Systems

AbstractYoung people with cognitive disability exiting statutory child protection and/or youth justice systems are a particularly vulnerable group. They have varied, complex and dynamic needs. These are often poorly responded to, due in part to a lack of formal and informal supports. There remains a lack of specialised supports and a dearth of evidence regarding best practice in supporting this group. This paper explores social work practices which respond to the social isolation of this cohort and the gap in support as young people transition to adulthood. The paper focuses on a group program in Queensland (Australia) which was specifically designed to support young people with a cognitive disability leaving child protection and/or youth justice systems. It reports on a subset of data from a mixed-methods study. It presents the perspectives of the young people and their practitioners regarding the practices that supported the engagement of young people and created opportunities for connection and skill development within the group program. The findings highlight the importance of relationship-driven practices that are supported and resourced by the organisation, and the need for parallel individual and group work processes for achieving positive outcomes with young people with cognitive disability transitioning from statutory systems.

“But Did You Die?”: Intimate Partner Violence as a Social Determinant of Health

Many Black women experience worsening abuse; however, there is a significant number of women experiencing non-physical forms of abuse, what I term hidden abuse. In one in five domestic violence cases, the fatal or life-threatening event was the first episode of physical violence the woman experienced from their partner, suggesting that some Black women die before they receive help. Violence against Black women requires a systems approach that redresses resource inequities. I attempt to expand upon fundamental cause theory, a systems theory used by social science researchers, to show that intimate partner violence is a social determinant of health. I apply this theory to an autoethnographic case study of hidden abuse. Implications for Social Work research, practice, and policy include developing, advocating for, and evaluating programs and policies that increase financial instability, affordable housing, and access to community networks and social support for victims of violence.

An Investigation into Social Media Utilisation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and its Effect on Business Performance: A Case Study of Kabwata Township, Lusaka

This study investigated the impact of social media on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Kabwata Township, focusing on the types of social media used, its impact on brand visibility, customer acquisition, and the influence of social media marketing strategies on sales revenue and profitability. A mixed methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to provide a comprehensive understanding of SMEs' social media practices. The study targeted SMEs actively using social media in Kabwata. 100% response rate was achieved from a sample of 133 SMEs for quantitative data and additional insights from 20 SMEs for qualitative data. The results indicated that platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn significantly enhanced brand visibility and customer engagement. However, the choice of platform alone did not predict success; strategic implementation was crucial. Significant correlations and regression coefficients demonstrated the positive impact of social media marketing on SME success, though with a modest effect on sales revenue. Recommendations emphasized aligning social media activities with business objectives to maximize benefits.

Addressing loneliness in older adults: predictors, protective factors, and implications for social work practice

ABSTRACT Loneliness significantly impacts the mental well-being of older adults, prompting an examination of psychological predictors and buffering factors associated with it in this demographic. A cross-sectional study involving 246 community-dwelling older adults was conducted. The UCLA Loneliness Scale identified predictors of loneliness, including negative mood, hopelessness (negative future expectations and loss of motivation), and despair. Buffering factors included ego-integrity, personal growth, and purpose in life. Regression analysis revealed that negative mood, negative future expectations, and despair increased loneliness, with negative mood showing a strong association. Conversely, ego-integrity, personal growth, and purpose in life reduced loneliness. The study underscores the complex interplay of psychological factors shaping loneliness in older adults, highlighting the importance of addressing both risk and protective factors. Social work practitioners in healthcare settings can play a pivotal role in addressing loneliness among older adults by leveraging these factors.

Social Work and Policy Practice in Albania: Unpacking the Professional Engagement of Social Workers in Policy Reforms

Social Work and Policy Practice in Albania: Unpacking the Professional Engagement of Social Workers in Policy Reforms

Everyday practices and needs as entry points for an operationalisation of more collective approaches to sufficiency

When it comes to grappling with both the environmental and social dimensions of energy transitions, sustainable wellbeing can be seen as a normative aim to be achieved through the satisfaction of human needs. This article exposes an engaging conceptual framework that describes the reduction of consumption through social practice theory, combined with a eudaimonic approach to wellbeing. Drawing on individual interviews with people who declare themselves as ‘living degrowth’ in French-speaking Switzerland, the article discusses everyday practices of consumption reduction that inform the actualisation of fundamental needs. The article proposes an operationalisation of Max-Neef’s approach of needs satisfaction, showing that an emphasis can be placed on sustainable practices representing synergic satisfiers. To support social change towards sufficiency, the article discusses that synergic satisfiers must be planned for collectively. Synergic collective changes are discussed in relation to synergic configurations of practices towards consumption reduction and needs satisfaction – or sufficiency.

Growing up in the ‘Ghetto’: children's ambiguous attachment in racialised communities in Denmark

ABSTRACT This article examines the community attachments of children living in stigmatised non-profit housing estates in Denmark. Drawing on childhood studies’ emphasis on children's agency, the analysis explores how children shape their place attachments within urban landscapes. Methods include ethnographic fieldwork in two neighbourhoods, walk-along interviews and photo-elicitation. The findings reveal how architectural, material, and symbolic aspects of a neighbourhood may afford children's pluri-ethnic social relations and attachment practices to a local community, based on acts of care in everyday interactions. While these practices are common, the analysis also explores how the territorial stigma racialises children's social spaces and catalyses differentiations, both internally and beyond their neighbourhood. Thus, the study deepens our understanding of children's ambiguous perceptions of and reactions to growing up in stigmatised communities.

Book Review: Social work practice during times of disaster: A transformative green social work model for theory, education and practice in disaster interventions by Dominelli Lena

Book Review: <i>Social work practice during times of disaster: A transformative green social work model for theory, education and practice in disaster interventions</i> by Dominelli Lena

Seeking Communal Emotions in Social Practices That Culturally Evolved to Evoke Emotions: Worship, Kitten Videos, Memorials, Narratives of Love, and More.

In many instances, emotions do not simply happen to people by chance; Often, people actively seek out an emotion by engaging in practices that have culturally evolved to evoke that emotion. Such practices tend to be perpetuated and spread if people want to experience the emotion, like to recall it and tell others about it, want to give the emotion to others and experience it together, and/or regard the emotion as a sign of something wonderful. We illustrate this with a newly delineated emotion, kama muta. Many social practices around the world are structured to evoke kama muta. In those culturally evolved practices, and outside them, what typically evokes kama muta is a sudden intensification of communal sharing, or a sudden shift of attention to a communal sharing relationship. It seems probable that other social-relational emotions are also evoked by sudden changes in relationships or the sudden salience of a relationship. This change or saliencing may be incorporated in social practices that are perpetuated because they evoke the sought-after emotion. We suggest that such practices, as well as sudden changes in relationships that occur elsewhere, are especially promising places to discover social-relational emotions.

How accounting can shape a better world: framework, analysis and research agenda

Purpose This article centres on the pertinence of redefining accounting for tomorrow, particularly for facilitating the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, thereby, for shaping a better world. In aspiring for accounting to reach its full potential as a multidimensional technical, social and moral practice, this paper aims to focus on ideas, initiatives and proposals for realising accounting’s future potential and responsibilities. Design/methodology/approach The study deploys a further developed “strategic implementation framework”, initially proposed by Carnegie et al. (2023), with an emphasis on accounting serving “the public interest” so as “to enable the flourishing of organisations, people and nature” (Carnegie et al., 2021a, p. 69; 2021b). It depicts strategies towards the future of accounting and the world. Findings Significant opportunities are identified for accounting and accountants, working closely with a diversity of stakeholders, to become alert to and cognisant of the nature, roles, uses and impacts of accounting. The evidence presented notes a predominant inattention of accounting and accountants to the SDGs despite the deteriorating state of our social and natural environment. Research limitations/implications Whilst this article examines other articles in this special issue (SI), there is no substitute for carefully reading, reflecting on and deliberating upon these articles individually. Originality/value The time for accounting to focus on creating a better world can no longer be extended. Accounting’s full potential will not be realised by remaining in a narrow and complacent, technicist state.

On the Embeddedness of Strategic Appropriation: A Social Practice Lens

On the Embeddedness of Strategic Appropriation: A Social Practice Lens