Social Approach Research Articles

How practising social workers benefit from teaching social work students in university classrooms

ABSTRACT This paper explores the impact on practising social workers who engage in teaching social work students in a university classroom setting. Using a narrative inquiry approach, focus group interviews were conducted with social workers from three London local authorities to understand how teaching opportunities influence their professional development and practice. The findings reveal that classroom interactions, characterized by dialogical engagement and student curiosity, prompt social workers to reflect on and reconsider established social work knowledge and practices. Teaching in a university environment invites practitioners to develop a revised understanding of their professional identity by enhancing self-reflexive opportunities and by freeing up new ways to think about social work. These insights, often cultivated by students asking unanticipated questions, are taken back to the practitioners’ workplace, potentially leading to shifts in their practice with colleagues and service users. The paper concludes that teaching not only benefits students, but also offers practising social workers unique opportunities for continuous professional development, as university classrooms can foster a dynamic, social constructivist approach to learning.

A Conditional Indirect Effects Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, Social Support, and Race With Alcohol Consumption among Postpartum Mothers.

Alcohol use and alcohol-related mortality for pregnant and postpartum women have increased, and there are racial disparities in both alcohol consumption and pregnancy outcomes. In addition, data indicate that women of Color are more likely to experience many forms of violence and face more adverse consequences from violence than non-Hispanic White women. Therefore, the current study examined how the direct and indirect pathways between intimate partner violence (IPV), depressive symptoms, and alcohol consumption are moderated by both social support and race among postpartum women. In 2022, a cross-sectional survey was administered to participants across the U.S., including 503 postpartum mothers. Participants responded to a survey battery assessing three social support strategies (appraisal support, belonging support, and tangible support), IPV, depressive symptomology, race, and alcohol consumption. A conditional process model was specified to examine the multifaceted direct and indirect relationships between IPV, the three aspects of social support, depressive symptomology, race, and alcohol consumption among postpartum mothers. Postpartum mothers experiencing violence consumed more alcohol, and depressive symptoms partially accounted for this relationship; however, some pathways were conditional upon either social support or race. For instance, women of Color who experienced violence consumed more alcohol than White women who experienced violence. Also, the protective effects of Appraisal Support in relation to depressive symptoms was stronger for White women than women of Color, while higher Belonging Support was more protective against alcohol consumption for women of Color than White women. Each social support approach contributed unique insights into the multidimensional nature of these relationships, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets for prevention-intervention efforts utilizing social support as a key buffering mechanism.

Application of Youth-Led Participatory Action Research to Examining Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Ontario: What Can We Learn?

Engaging adolescents and young people as partners in research is increasingly acknowledged as a vital strategy to ensure diverse voices are heard and to catalyze social change. This article, coauthored by adolescent and adult researchers, presents the methodological approach and outcomes of a youth-led participatory action research (YPAR) study in which three teams of youth researchers developed and implemented projects examining equity-related factors affecting adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR) in Ontario, Canada. Teams of four assigned-female youth researchers aged 16-19 years were recruited from three priority regions through purposive sampling. Selected youth completed a paid 5-day virtual YPAR training. Each youth team, supported by adult research mentors, identified key ASRHR issues in their region and developed a related research question. Each team then determined their study's design, obtained institutional ethics approval, and conducted data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Based on their findings, teams proposed potential solutions and communicated results to multiple stakeholders. Methodologically, the YPAR process amplified youth voices through a social justice-framed approach to examining ASRHR. Centering the perspectives, values, and experiences of youth positively impacted the youth researchers themselves, while yielding results that were relevant, meaningful, adolescent-responsive, and culturally informed. Results from the youth-led projects identified multiple barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services and products. Policy and practice implications encompassed concerns related to geographical accessibility, equity, service provider competence, and content of sexuality education curricula.

The Social Construction of Skill in International Migration: Perspectives from Asia

Skill-based selective migration policies are a dominant contemporary form of migration governance in labor receiving countries. Researchers have critiqued these policies, noting discrepancies between their intended goals and the actual labor market outcomes for immigrants. The social construction of skill offers a sociological interpretation of this migration phenomenon, emphasizing that skills and their categorization in international migration are intrinsically political. Skills are socially constructed by actors in specific local, national, transnational, and global contexts. This article reviews scholarship that explores these dynamics from Asian perspectives. It identifies the various positions that countries in Asia occupy in skill mobility and highlights the critical issues related to both outbound and inbound skill migration in this region, as well as intraregional mobilities. The concluding section cautions against a reproduction of skill hierarchy in social science research and advocates a social construction approach to analyzing skill mobilities in different world regions.

Selective deletion of Tsc1 from mouse cerebellar Purkinje neurons drives sex-specific behavioral impairments linked to autism

There is a striking sex bias in the prevalence and severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with 80% of diagnoses occurring in males. Because the molecular etiology of ASD is likely combinatorial, including interactions across multiple genetic and environmental factors, it is difficult to investigate the physiological mechanisms driving sex-specific differences. Loss of function mutations in TSC1 result in dysregulated mTORC1 signaling and underlie a multi-system disorder known as tuberous sclerosis (TSC). Interestingly, more than 50% of individuals diagnosed with TSC are also diagnosed with ASD, making TSC mutations one of the most prevalent monogenic causes of ASD. Mice harboring targeted deletion of Tsc1 selectively in cerebellar Purkinje neurons, referred to here as Tsc1mut/mut, have multiple ASD-linked behavioral impairments, including deficits in social interactions, motor coordination, and vocalizations. However, these ASD-linked behavioral deficits have only been investigated using male Tsc1mut/mut animals. Here, we used cohorts of male and female Tsc1mut/mut animals to determine if behavioral impairments, previously identified in this model, are similar across sex. Specifically, we measured balance and motor coordination and social interaction behaviors in two age groups across sex. We determined balance and motor coordination deficits are similar in male and female Tsc1mut/mut mice, and that deficits in the firing of Tsc1mut/mut Purkinje neurons located in the cerebellar vermis are also similar across sex. However, impairments in social approach behavior were found to be significantly more severe in Tsc1mut/mut males compared to females. These results indicate the selective deletion of Tsc1 in Purkinje neurons differentially impairs cerebellar circuits based on sex.

Visual Representations of Older People’s Sexuality in Popular Cartoons

This study explores the portrayal of older adults’ sexuality in popular cartoons, a medium often overlooked in discussions about aging and sexual representation. The research examines how visual and textual signs in cartoons produce humor by reinforcing stereotypes and normalizing judgments about later-life sexual behavior. Using a visual social semiotic approach, the study analyzes a selection of cartoons, focusing on how these depictions reflect societal attitudes towards aging and sexuality. The findings reveal that older individuals are often portrayed in a stigmatized manner, with their sexual desires and activities depicted as either comical or abnormal. This contributes to the marginalization of older adults in sexual discourse and perpetuates ageist stereotypes. The study concludes that while these representations may appear harmless, they play a significant role in shaping public perceptions and can negatively impact the self-image and sexual well-being of older individuals. Future research should further investigate how older adults perceive these portrayals and their implications for societal attitudes towards aging and sexuality.

Analysis on the Problems of Internet Conflicts and Countermeasures

Polarization and conflict online have grown as one of the most pervasive issues that characterize the contours of the digital environment, with serious risks to social cohesion, democratic discourse, and well-being. This paper thus seeks to trace those very root causes of online conflicts and the dynamics of the escalation process into group-based polarization. The paper considers a proposed model of how personal disagreements between two individuals scale up to large groups of conflicts with the help of cognitive biases, anonymity, and algorithmic reinforcement on digital platforms. Possible policy interventions at each stage of the escalation of conflict are discussed: from digital monitoring and public education about cognitive biases to online mediation programs and changes in algorithms to facilitate cross-cutting interactions. These findings suggest that only multilevel interventions that combine technological, social, and psychological approaches to mitigate conflict while preserving freedom of expression are effective strategies. The paper thus concludes that long-term solutions include changes in culture in building empathetic individuals and critical thinkers, not just immediate moderation. This gives a basis to governments and policymakers on how to understand the complexity and nuances involved in online conflict, thus forming the basis on which more balanced and inclusive digital environments could be developed that foster healthy dialogue and reduce polarization.

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction? The effect of servant leadership on firefighters’ global satisfaction – a social identity approach

ABSTRACT This study aims to integrate the principles of servant leadership with social identity theory to develop a comprehensive model of the positive effects of this leadership approach on followers’ job satisfaction and life satisfaction. Our 4-wave study focuses on a sample of 303 French firefighters and shows that servant leadership significantly predicts firefighters’ job satisfaction and life satisfaction through the mediation of organizational identification. Our results also indicate that the need to belong moderates the mediating effect of organizational identification on the relationships between servant leadership and both individuals’ job and life satisfaction. The theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Academic citizenship beyond the service role: views of academics in England and the Philippines

ABSTRACT The evolving nature of academic work in higher education invites a deep questioning of the conventional view of academic citizenship as the service role. Drawing insights from a multi-site case study of academics in England and the Philippines and taking a social psychological approach to citizenship, the paper reveals that for academics who work in highly performative contexts, academic citizenship means more than a ‘service’ role. It is perceived as a notion that integrates their activities, ideals and values as well as the ways they approach their work – how they see themselves as being academic citizens. Academic citizenship goes beyond the undertaking of activities with moral, altruistic and civic merits. This paper proposes the view of academic citizenship as a practice of enactment not simply a function of membership status. It encompasses the processes and means by which academics use freedoms and autonomy at their disposal, and the value they see as central to their membership in their academic communities.

Children's social preference for teachers versus peers in autism inclusion classrooms: An objective perspective.

In inclusive preschools, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD) are less socially engaged with peers than are typically developing (TD) children. However, there is limited objective information describing how children with ASD engage with teachers, or how teacher engagement compares to engagement with peers. We tracked over 750 hours' worth of children's (N = 77; NASD = 24, NDD = 23, NTD = 30; Mage = 43.98 months) and teachers' (N = 12) locations and orientations across eight inclusion preschool classrooms to quantify child-teacher and child-peer social preference. Social approach velocity and time in social contact were computed for each child and compared across social partners to index children's preference for teachers over peers. Children with ASD approached teachers--but not peers-more quickly than children with TD, and children with ASD were approached more quickly by teachers and more slowly by peers than children with TD. Children with ASD spent less time in social contact with peers and did not differ from children with TD in their time in social contact with teachers. Overall, children with ASD showed a greater preference for approaching, being approached by, and being in social contact with teachers (relative to peers) than children with TD. No significant differences emerged between children with DD and children with TD. In conclusion, children with ASD exhibited a stronger preference for engaging with teachers over peers, re-emphasizing the need for classroom-based interventions that support the peer interactions of children with ASD.

Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on neural activity in the nucleus accumbens of male mice engaged in social behavior.

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a commonly abused recreational drug, induces prosocial effects such as increased sociability and empathy. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been suggested to play a crucial role in these MDMA-mediated prosocial effects. However, the relationship between social behavior and NAc neural activity, and the effects of MDMA on this relationship, remain unknown. In this study, we measured NAc neural activity using fiber photometry and classified the behaviors of mice at times of transient increases in NAc neural activity during the social approach test (SAT). We found that NAc neural activity transiently increased at the onset of turning toward and sniffing novel mice during the SAT, although the frequency of turning was relatively low. We then examined the effects of MDMA on behavior and NAc neural activity and found that MDMA decreased the duration of sniffing per bout but did not alter NAc neural activity at the onset of turning toward or sniffing novel mice. These results suggest that MDMA does not affect the transient increase in NAc neural activity at the onset of social behaviors.

Behind the scenes of theatrical meaning: a social semiotic approach to inter- and intramodal interactions in performance

Behind the scenes of theatrical meaning: a social semiotic approach to inter- and intramodal interactions in performance

The Symbolic “Realms of Memory” in Sofia at the Beginning of Bulgarian Political Transition (1989–1993)

Abstract The article aims to study the social change in Bulgaria in the short period immediately after the fall of the totalitarian regime in November 1989. The rapid renaming of the streets, squares, and institutions of Sofia is examined, and the changes of the city symbols (coat of arms, city flag, and city day) are commented on. The main research questions are: whether and how social transformation was projected at the tangible and intangible urban space; and to what extent these changes affected local collective memory. The study uses a social history approach and is primarily based on historical analysis of archival documentation.

Linkage to care and prevention after HIV self-testing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Effective linkage to prevention and care is a crucial step following HIV testing services. This systematic review aimed to determine the proportion of individuals linked to prevention and care after HIV self-testing (HIVST) and describe factors associated with linkage. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search across eight databases (2010-October 2023) identified studies on linkage to care after HIVST, defined as receiving a confirmatory test or initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) if the self-test was reactive, and/or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if the self-test was non-reactive. A random-effects meta-analysis summarized the findings and meta-regression explored study-level covariates, such as world region, population type and service delivery model, that might explain the between-study heterogeneity. From 10,071 screened studies, 173 were included in the meta-analysis. The majority of studies focused on key populations in Africa using unassisted, oral fluid-based HIVST kits. Among those with reactive HIVST results, 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88-95) were linked to confirmatory testing (n = 124 studies), and 89% (95% CI: 84-93) of newly diagnosed individuals initiated ART (n = 88 studies). Overall, 84% (95% CI: 74-93) of self-testers were linked to care (n = 69 studies). However, only 9% (95% CI: 2-19) of individuals with non-reactive HIVST results were linked to PrEP services (n = 9 studies). Assisted HIVST was associated with higher linkage rates to confirmatory testing and ART initiation compared to unassisted testing. Meta-regression revealed that the type of delivery model for the HIVST kits influenced linkage and that individuals who obtained their HIVST kits through a social network-based approach (SNA) were more likely to be linked to confirmatory testing (adjusted odds ratio = 1.28 [95% CI: 1.10-1.50], p = 0.001) compared to non-SNA service delivery model. In the context of expanding HIVST services globally, we found that linkage to confirmatory testing and ART initiation after HIVST is generally high, particularly when assisted HIVST or SNA-based distribution is used. Strengthening timely linkage is vital for improving health outcomes, reducing HIV transmission and achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goal. Ongoing research and collaboration with community-based organizations are needed to overcoming barriers and ensuring positive outcomes for those using HIVST. CRD42022357570.

Antara Merdeka dan Dijajah: Problematika Kawula Desa Perdikan di Wilayah Eks Karesidenan Madiun, 1742-1962

This research focuses on examining the social and economic aspects of perdikan villages, especially the problems of perdikan village people in the former Madiun Residency area. This research uses historical research methods with a social and economic approach. The relationship between kawula and priyayi in several perdikan villages in the former Madiun residency area has not resulted in significant conflict, although in practice the kwula are still charged with taxes and the obligation to work. Apart from the psychological factor of the kawula that they were bound by a relationship with the perdikan village gentry because they lived on their land, the working relationship was only between the kawula and the perdikan village gentry, not between the kawula and the Dutch East Indies colonial government.

INVESTIGATING CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY INTERMEDIATE PHASE MATHEMATICS TEACHERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

In this empirical paper, the authors discuss the challenges experienced by the intermediate phase teachers in the implementation of formative assessments in mathematics teaching and learning. Numerous reports regarding South African learners' poor performance in mathematics necessitated the research. Challenges associated with the language of learning and teaching are the primary contributors of this issue. The paper is grounded in the social constructivist theory which places emphasis on the notion that learning occurs when learners are provided with opportunities to apply the cultural psychological mechanisms they utilize, that include mathematical concepts, language, and diagrams and then taught the way to apply those mechanisms as to gain an in-depth comprehension of (some) phenomenon. In this quantitative paper, the questionnaire was administered to 151 respondents to elicit information on assessment challenges. The study found that the implementation of formative assessments poses a challenge to most of the in-service teachers. Considering these findings, the study recommends that subject advisors and policy makers provide ongoing professional development for teachers regarding the implementation of formative assessments. Additionally, teachers should employ the social constructivist approach while assessing learners, particularly for projects and investigations as forms of formative assessments.

Blind Conformity: The Interplay of Trait Group Loyalty and Leader Group Prototypicality in a Simulated Sunk Cost Situation

Across a pilot study and 2 experiments (N = 503), we examined the conditions under which loyal members would conform to their leader’s sunk cost bias—a tendency to persist in a failing course of action despite its apparent negative outcomes. Drawing on the social identity approach to leadership and trait-situation principles, we hypothesized that the effect of members’ trait group loyalty on their conformity would be stronger when their leader was perceived as a prototypical member. As hypothesized, members high, not low, in trait group loyalty evaluated more favorably the undesirable performance of their leader and conformed more to the leader’s sunk cost bias. But these results emerged only when the leader was perceived as a prototypical member.

Ethical implications of employee and customer digital footprint: SMEs perspective

In a world where Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) increasingly leverage their Digital Footprint (DF) for business growth, ethical concerns surrounding employee and customer DF pose a significant challenge. This research investigates how SMEs can navigate this complex landscape, balancing the creation of business value with the broader social value of managing data. Drawing upon Kantian ethics, which emphasizes the duties of organizations to respect individuals’ autonomy and protect their rights, the study addresses a critical gap in understanding the ethical implications of DF for business value creation and employee experiences. Using a social constructivist approach, the research reveals the importance of DF awareness and proposes a novel conceptualization of DF as a dual entity: (i) an independent actor influencing consumer decisions and (ii) a collaborative activity within and beyond the organization. This broadens the traditional view of DF and informs a new framework for ethical DF management in SMEs. This framework emphasizes four core pillars – data transparency, data protection, data privacy, and data transformation – supported by stakeholder involvement. The study also highlights overarching factors three key actions and DF strategic implications at the end.

Comparative semiotics of womanhood: portrayal of Chinese and Pakistani women in contemporary paintings

Abstract Images have the potential to both alienate and unite. Due to their ideological power, images can both create and clear misconceptions. To analyze the semiotic variation in the portrayal of women in contemporary art in relation to feminine identities and ideological representations, the study analyzes the choice of ideational signs in the contemporary Chinese and Pakistani paintings on the basis of the social semiotic approach of the grammar of visual design suggested by Kress and van Leeuwen. Considering diversity of themes and portrayal of women, 30 Pakistani and 30 Chinese paintings, painted by 17 Chinese and 17 Pakistani male and female painters were selected through an information-rich sampling technique. Results suggest that loneliness, waiting, leisure, and love for nature are the common themes related to Chinese and Pakistani women which the painters have creatively modeled. The images vary in the sense that Chinese women have been represented in constructive gender roles, such as working women, ballerinas, sports women, and hardworking farmers, etc., while Pakistani women have been represented in terms of resistance, oppression, victimhood, religiosity, and protection. The study has implications for gender studies, multimodal representations, and the way we comprehend, describe, and construct the interconnected yet fragmented fabric of our world.

“Sukul Bhoj” a Newar feast: indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and living for ecological sustainability

ABSTRACT “Sukul Bhoj” is the feast organized by the Newars, an indigenous community of Nepal. It has a unique contribution to the ecological, health, and financial aspects, which is now shadowed by the buffet and party system, as people these days find it difficult and feel outdated to organize such a traditional feast. Hence, this paper subscribed to narrative inquiry through Vygotsky’s social constructivist approach to explore and access the cultural values, tools, and techniques used in Sukul Bhoj and its contribution to the ecological, health, and financial aspects. The participants were two Newar community leaders. The findings revealed that “Sukul Bhoj” is a significant step toward addressing global and local issues like environmental degradation, health issues, economic crises, and the loss of cultural identity. Finally, this study concluded that integrating indigenous knowledge and contextualizing the pedagogical practice helps develop 21st-century skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration among the learners.