Social Approach Research Articles

Ubuntu or Compliance? Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Owners of Small- Medium-Sized Enterprises in Johannesburg, South Africa Regarding Corporate Social Responsibility

ABSTRACT There is a paucity of studies demonstrating how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt CSR interventions to enhance social and economic conditions of communities within which they operate. There is also a prevailing stereotype that Corporate Social Responsibility is only applicable to big, multinational companies. The study therefore explored the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 10 owners of SMEs in Johannesburg, South Africa regarding CSR. Guided by a social development lens, the study adopted a qualitative case study research design. Thematic analysis of interview responses revealed that most of these owners considered their SMEs to be practising CSR, and were motivated primarily by the intrinsic spirit of Ubuntu rather than extrinsic compliance with regulatory requirements. While some CSR interventions (such as skills-transfers as empowerment) were found to be consistent with the social development approach, others, such as philanthropy, were not necessarily developmental but nevertheless important in a developing country such as South Africa with its high levels of poverty. The key contributions of the study to knowledge are first, that it debunks the misconception in the literature that SMEs are too small and financially incapable of implementing CSR interventions; and second, that it enhances understanding from a developing world perspective of the factors motivating SME owners to engage in CSR.

Do the Bulgarian Media Have a Social Marketing Orientation?

Abstract The paper examines the problem of building a media environment through a socially responsible management model. The specific nature of this part of the non-production sphere – media business organisations – provides an opportunity to present a study of a relatively new phenomenon: the role of socially responsible marketing in mass media. A study of the importance of socially responsible marketing according to the practice of regional media in Bulgaria is presented, including a continuum review, nonstandardised interviews, and a survey of media teams and users applied. Answers are sought to the questions of how socially engaged the media are and what the expectations of their users are. The study shows that the monitored media produces products that objectively and impartially reflect social issues of public importance. However, there is a significant discrepancy between assessment and self-assessment of their contribution to public life. From the interviews conducted with journalists, it is clear that the media self-assess exceptionally highly as responsible participants in public life. However, users give a "two" on the five-point scale for the social role of the media. The main conclusion is that the creation of a socially responsible and alternative media space through social marketing approaches is essential for the effective functioning of a sustainable and solidary society.

Unlocking Continuous Improvement in Heart Failure Remote Monitoring: A Participatory Approach to Unveil Value Dimensions and Performance Indicators.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) constitutes a public health concern affecting quality of life, survival, and costs. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) can enhance HF management, involving patients actively and improving follow-up. While current HF RPM assessments emphasise cost-effectiveness analysis, there is a need to consider wider RPM impacts and integrate stakeholders' perspectives into assessments for better comprehensiveness. Methods: We developed a four-stage participatory approach to select value dimensions and indicators for continuous HF RPM assessment: Stage 1 involved building a literature-informed initial list; Stage 2 utilized expert interviews for validation and list expansion; Stage 3 involved a web-Delphi process with Portuguese stakeholders and experts for agreement assessment; and Stage 4 included a conclusive expert interview. Results: A literature review identified fourteen studies on telehealth, RPM, and HF, informing an initial list of four value dimensions (Access, Clinical aspects, Acceptability, and Costs) and 22 indicators. Seven semistructured interviews validated and further adjusted the list to 38 indicators. Subsequently, the web-Delphi process engaged 29 stakeholders, giving their opinions regarding assessment aspects' relevance and proposing additional elements - 1 dimension and 12 indicators. Five value dimensions and 38 indicators (76.0%) reached group agreement for selection, while 12 did not reach an agreement. Upon expert appreciation, 5 dimensions, 43 indicators, and 6 case-mix parameters were considered relevant. Discussion: This comprehensive social approach captured diverse stakeholder perspectives, achieving agreement on pertinent HF RPM monitoring and evaluation indicators. Findings can inform visualization and management tool development, aiding day-to-day RPM evaluation and identification of improvement opportunities.

The old king is dead, long live the algorithmic king – the decline of Facebook and the rise of TikTok – comparative study of algorithmic design of social media platforms

AbstractAlmost 20 years of Facebook (FB) hegemony in the social media have lately been put in jeopardy by the newly arising Chinese platform TikTok (TT), which has taken the market by storm. This comparative study aims to analyse the divergencies in the employment of AI and algorithms in the mechanics of the two social media platforms. The ‘the networked self’ model of FB is contrasted with the ‘algorithmized self’ of TT and the implications of the latest shift in the social media approach, which has skewed from the engagement with other social media users to strict interaction with the AI‐induced algorithm. Additionally, particular elements and reasons for the declining importance and involvement in the FB platform are under scrutiny here to provide an explanation for the participation downturn of the Gen Z generation in the American social media platform. This study has revealed a steady shift from FB to other social media platforms that provide a more personalized experience and the content that is better suited to the needs of contemporary young people. Another issue that is discussed is the changing agency of social media participants, who have been switching from the traditional user model to the creator mode, which allows them to employ their creativity and become immediate producers of video content that challenges traditional approaches to social media.

Income inequality in Eastern Europe: Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia in the twentieth century

This article provides novel estimates of long-term income inequality in Bulgaria and Czech Lands/Czechoslovakia in the twentieth century. Relying on newly-constructed datasets and the social tables approach, we measure inequality between salient social strata. We find that Czechoslovakia was significantly more unequal than Bulgaria before 1945. Inequality converged to similarly low levels under socialism. Decomposition analysis by social classes reveals that different levels of inequality in the first half of the century were principally driven by higher within social-class inequality in Czechoslovakia, owing to a more stratified industrial society; whereas a low dispersion within the dominant agricultural sector held down the within social-class component in Bulgaria. A dramatic fall in total inequality after 1945 was a result of the social revolution that encompassed the virtual disappearance of between social-class inequality and a marked reduction in within social-class inequality. Our findings point to the critical role of institutional and political factors in driving inequality in Eastern Europe throughout the twentieth century.

Strategies to support rural-based schools in teaching and learning during COVID-19: The case of the Maune circuit in the Capricorn North district

With this study we investigated strategies to support rural-based schools in teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted in 6 secondary schools in the Maune circuit, Capricorn North district of the Limpopo province, South Africa. A qualitative research approach using a case study research design was followed in the study. The population consisted of 42 school management teams (SMTs) and school governing bodies (SGBs) in the Maune circuit. Purposive sampling was used to select 18 participants. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. The social realist theory was adopted as theoretical framework using the concepts of structure, culture and agency as theoretical lenses. We found that the Department of Basic Education did not train SMTs and SGBs, which affected teaching and learning. We concluded that due to the unavailability of ICT infrastructure within the Maune circuit, teaching and learning during strict lockdown (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]) were impossible and difficult when learners were rotating attendance. We recommend a shift from a blanket approach to school support to conducting an intensive needs analysis for each school in order to provide appropriate and relevant support. A social realist approach to school support is also recommended, where structure and culture are considered critical attributes for school development. It will be good for policy makers, role players and stakeholders to work together towards a common goal and carry out their agential role in ensuring that the needs of marginalised learners are met in schools.

Demystifying the cultural representations in international high school English textbooks: a social-semiotic approach and teachers’ views

ABSTRACT Albeit cultural content in English textbooks have been much reported, little empirical evidence addresses global or international-distributed English textbooks. To fill this void, the present qualitative content analysis study aims to explore the representation of cultural content in international English textbooks used for Indonesian senior high school students. For another contribution, we also attempt to gain English teachers’ perceptions of cultural content in the textbooks examined through written interviews. Grounded in a social semiotic approach, the findings showcased that the textbooks’ content represents inner-circle countries in the aspect of perspectives, products, persons, and practices. Further, the imbalance in the cultural representation of the outer circle and expanding circle countries indicated that the authors do not sufficiently increase the global cultural awareness of English language learners because other cultural perspectives on varieties of English are not included. The interviews analysis revealed that the cultural contents were short and required improvement.

Catfish Spring Roll Making Training at Yakarim Orphanage, Sidoarjo

Catfish is one of the fish that lives in Indonesian waters and contains a lot of nutrients. With a fairly affordable price, this fish is highly recommended by nutritionists because it contains Omega 3, 6, and 9, which are beneficial for children's intelligence. However, the interest of the residents, especially children, in consuming this fish is very low. This may be due to the many bones and the fishy smell of this fish. Therefore, this training activity was carried out with the aim of increasing people's interest in consuming catfish by processing it into spring rolls. This training activity used a practice-based socialization approach. The result of this study was a new idea for processing catfish into catfish spring rolls.

Strategi Komunikasi Pemerintah Kabupaten Karawang dalam Mensosialisasikan Program Beasiswa Karawang Cerdas

Achieving quality education and raising the Human Development Index (HDI) both depend heavily on education. When compared to other regions of West Java, Karawang Regency often has a low Human Development Index (HDI). As specified in Karawang Regent Regulation Number 45 of 2022 concerning the Karawang Cerdas Program, the Karawang Regency Government subsequently introduced a policy for education expense support in the form of the Karawang Cerdas scholarship program. The program's administration, including socialization, falls under the purview of the People's Welfare Section of the Karawang Regency Regional Secretariat. Finding, evaluating, and summarizing the social welfare communication approach used to promote the Karawang Cerdas Program is the goal of this study.This study is descriptive by design and employs a qualitative method using a qualitative approach. The results of the research demonstrate that the Karawang Cerdas Program is the communicator (who) in the Social Welfare communication strategy, along with Welfare, SKPD, and educational units; the communicants (to whom) are all societal levels; the media (in which channels) are direct media, print, social, and news; and the effect (with what effect) of the high number of registrants and the presence of extortion officers.

Structural Inequalities in Namibia and South Africa: A Critical Social Work Perspective

Namibia and South Africa share land and maritime borders and the interrelated structural challenges of poverty and socio-economic inequalities amidst progressive economic growth that are rooted in their apartheid past and contemporary economic development trajectories. Such inequalities are defined along racial, class, gender and other social locations that either grant privilege, power and access to socio-economic opportunities or result in marginalisation, oppression and resource deprivation. The rationale for this article is linked to the historic call for social work to intensify efforts in promoting social and economic equality. Despite Namibia and South Africa’s geographical proximity and their intertwined histories, there is a dearth of social work studies that offer a comparative critical social work perspective on structural inequalities in these former apartheid strongholds. While social work should actively engage in contesting the structural contradictions of poverty and inequalities amidst abundant resources, the reality is often that of the uncritical acceptance of existing socio-political inequalities, such that the profession’s enunciated commitment to social justice becomes perimetric. Thus, the article argues for the inclusion of critical social work approaches in social work education and practice against a backdrop of ideological divides, political trends and contextual factors that limit social workers’ critical and structural level engagement.

Boosting school staff well‐being and engagement through identity leadership: The mediating role of organizational climate

AbstractOrganizations and their leaders are recognized as key players in staff well‐being and engagement but there is limited longitudinal research with large samples. Moreover, it is not clear how specifically leader behaviour impacts on well‐being. Based on the social identity approach, we argue that school leaders who are capable of crafting and clarifying what it means to be an organizational member while actively representing the groups' interests—an identity leader—will be able to foster a positive school climate. In turn, this positive climate should result in a range of positive outcomes for school staff members, including better well‐being and engagement in their work. Using a longitudinal survey of over 6000 school staff, we found support for our hypothesis: school staff members who perceived their school leaders as being identity leaders perceived a more positive school climate 1 year later, which, in turn, predicted higher levels of well‐being (lower burnout, lower stress and higher self‐esteem) and engagement in school outcomes (higher organizational commitment, team morale and professional development). Overall, these results underline the key role that school identity leaders play in crafting positive working environments and outcomes for staff members.

Tinjauan Kritis Terhadap Misi Penginjilan Paulus Terhadap Dinamika Kontemporer Dan Tantangan Dalam Masyarakat Modern

This research uses a mixed approach to investigate the dynamics of Evangelical Missions in the context of modern society. By combining qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys, social media analysis, and focus groups, this research aims to understand how shifting social values and technology influence approaches to evangelism. Findings will provide a holistic view of the challenges and opportunities in conveying the Gospel message in the contemporary era. Literature studies support the theoretical foundation, while interviews and surveys involve active participation from various community groups. Social media content analysis reveals patterns in messaging, and focuses on providing groups with a platform to hear people's voices. It is hoped that the results of this research can provide a significant contribution to the practical and theoretical understanding of Evangelical Missions in an increasingly complex modern society.

A Federated Social Recommendation Approach with Enhanced Hypergraph Neural Network

In recent years, the development of online social network platforms has led to increased research efforts in social recommendation systems. Unlike traditional recommendation systems, social recommendation systems utilize both user-item interactions and user-user social relations to recommend relevant items, taking into account social homophily and social influence. Graph neural network (GNN) based social recommendation methods have been proposed to model these item interactions and social relations effectively. However, existing GNN-based methods rely on centralized training, which raises privacy concerns and faces challenges in data collection due to regulations and privacy restrictions. Federated learning has emerged as a privacy-preserving alternative. Combining federated learning with GNN-based methods for social recommendation can leverage their respective advantages, but it also introduces new challenges: 1) existing federated recommendation systems often lack the capability to process heterogeneous data, such as user-item interactions and social relations; 2) due to the sparsity of data distributed across different clients, capturing the higher-order relationship information among users becomes challenging and is often overlooked by most federated recommendation systems. To overcome these challenges, we propose a federated social recommendation approach with enhanced hypergraph neural network. We introduce hypergraph graph neural networks (HGNN) to learn user and item embeddings in federated recommendation systems, leveraging the hypergraph structure to address the heterogeneity of data. Based on carefully crafted triangular motifs, we merge user and item nodes to construct hypergraphs on local clients, capturing specific triangular relations. Multiple HGNN channels are used to encode different categories of high-order relations, and an attention mechanism is applied to aggregate the embedded information from these channels. Our experiments on real-world social recommendation datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Extensive experiment results on three publicly available datasets validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЕ ПРИРОДООХРАННОЙ СИСТЕМЫ САРАТОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

When developing a network of specially protected natural areas, it is necessary to adhere to the principle of priority for the preservation of natural and historical-cultural complexes and objects on their territory. Management decisions should be based on a scientifically sound combination of environmental, economic and social approaches, as well as a systematic approach to the organization and functioning of such territories. These principles can be implemented only with a comprehensive perspective on the development of a network of specially protected natural areas, which should be enshrined in the concept of their development. As a result of the conducted research, it is concluded that it is necessary to improve the environmental protection system of the Saratov region so that it meets modern requirements. The main task is to ensure environmental stability in the region.

Social work with encamped refugees: reflections from Tongogara refugee camp in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT In this article, we draw on our joint experiences as social work practitioners and researchers in a rights-restricting practice context, a refugee camp. We reflect on social workers’ roles in navigating the conundrum, that is, advocating against and in some unfortunate instances, perpetuating exclusionary systems. Refugee camps are physical zones designed to disentitle refugees of rights reserved for citizens. Faced with structural restrictions, social workers working with refugees have negotiated for rights with and on behalf of their clients at the center of their practice. We offer accounts of contextual application of anti-oppressive social work approaches for refugee wellbeing and access to rights like shelter, water, food, health, education, livelihoods, nutrition, sanitation, and protection. In the second half of our analysis, we offer a critical analysis of human rights education in Zimbabwean schools of social work given the manifest rights violations in the country’s refugee welfare practice context. We examine the extent to which the pedagogy of human rights and notions of indiscriminate human development, democracy, and justice are infused in curricula to equip aspirant social workers with the requisite skills to transform their practice orientation from social control to the social change function which the practice context demands.

"Connect Local": protocol for the evaluation of a codesigned whole of community approach to promote social connection in older adults.

There is wide acknowledgement in the literature that social connection is protective against loneliness and depression. More robust research, however, is needed to evaluate interventions that promote social connection. This protocol paper outlines the evaluation of a community-wide social connection program, Connect Local, in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia to support people 65 years and older to increase access to local community services/activities; and to ascertain impact on social connection, loneliness, depressive symptoms, physical and mental wellbeing, and use of health services. A Type 1 Hybrid design, including program effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and implementation evaluation of the Connect Local program, will be undertaken. Eighty-eight participants aged ≥65 years with one or more chronic health condition, who are also either experiencing or at risk of loneliness, social isolation and depressive symptoms will be invited to participate in the evaluation. Outcomes, measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months, include loneliness, social isolation, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, goal attainment, wellbeing, quality of life and health care utilisation. A gender and age matched comparator group of 88 individuals will be recruited from outside the intervention local government area. Impact of the intervention on community service providers in the target region will be evaluated using mixed methods, where triangulation will be used to combine the qualitative and quantitative data using a deductive-simultaneous design. Changes in wellbeing and quality of life of community volunteers will also be measured. All groups will be interviewed to ascertain their experience and perceptions of the program. The economic evaluation will use a Social Return on Investment (SROI) approach, to include outcomes at the individual, community, and system levels. Implementation outcomes will consider Reach, Adoption, Feasibility, Acceptability, Appropriateness, Fidelity, and Sustainability of the intervention. This study will provide a better understanding of the impacts of a community-wide social connection approach in older adults, the community and broader system. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=385192; Identifier ACTRN12623000968673.

Understanding emerging schools of social work in Tanzania through the Ubuntu perspective

The article presents a comprehensive assessment of the emerging social work schools in Tanzania through the Ubuntu perspective. Ubuntu formed the basis of educational pedagogy in pre-colonial Tanzania but colonial rule imported Western social work approaches in the 1940s to replace it. The challenges include fragmented training with an influence of inherited colonial structure, outdated curricula, training materials that do not replicate African ecology and cultural values, indigenization of training, and lack of indigenous inputs even as graduates do not fit into the global market. Despite the challenges, emerging social work training schools have rendered several opportunities including social work research and consultancy, the emergence of indigenization of social work, abundance of social work indigenous elites and literature, TESWEP transformed into ASSWOT that advocated and participated in social welfare policies review that contain more African requirements. The paper recommends that key stakeholders should develop a comprehensive social work policy and related legislation to control the quality of training and practice for realization of Ubuntu goals. Also, Ujamaa competence should be restored in the training package while TASWO, and ASSWOT should address the gap between educators and practitioners while speeding up the indigenization of social work education with Ubuntu values.

A social network analysis approach to assess COVID19-related disruption to substance use treatment and informal social interactions among people who use drugs in Scotland.

To assess the extent of Coronavirus-related disruption to health and social care treatment and social interactions among people with lived or living experience of substance use in Scotland, and explore potential reasons for variations in disruption. Cross sectional mixed methods interview, incorporating a social network 'egonet interview' approach asking about whether participants had interactions with a range of substance use, health, social care or third sector organisations, or informal social interactions. Five Alcohol and Drug Partnership Areas in Scotland. 57 (42% women) participants were involved in the study, on average 42 years old. Five-point Likert scale reporting whether interactions with a range of services and people had gotten much better, better, no different (or no change), worse, or much worse since COVID19 and lockdown. Ratings were nested within participants (Individuals provided multiple ratings) and some ratings were also nested within treatment service (services received multiple ratings). The nested structure was accounted for using cross classified ordinal logistic multilevel models. While the overall average suggested only a slight negative change in interactions (mean rating 2.93), there were substantial variations according to type of interaction, and between individuals. Reported change was more often negative for mental health services (Adjusted OR = 0.93 95% CI 0.17,0.90), and positive for pharmacies (3.03 95% CI 1.36, 5.93). The models found between-participant variation of around 10%, and negligible between-service variation of around 1% in ratings. Ratings didn't vary by individual age or gender but there was variation between areas. Substance use treatment service adaptations due to COVID19 lockdown led to both positive and negative service user experiences. Social network methods provide an effective way to describe complex system-wide interaction patterns, and to measure variations at the individual, service, and area level.

Analisis Yuridis Terhadap Penegakan dan Pengaturan Hukum Kejahatan Dunia Maya (Cyebercrime) di Indonesia

The aim of this research is to find out and analyze cybercrime law enforcement in Indonesia. The implementation of this research is normative research. Data analysis is an activity in research in the form of conducting studies or reviewing the results of data processing which is assisted by previously obtained theories. Cyber crime law enforcement in Indonesia can be carried out penal and non-penal. In general, seen from criminal policy (crime prevention policy), criminal law is not a strategic policy tool to prevent and eliminate causal factors or conditions that give rise to crime. We can see the positive criminal law provisions that are criminalized regarding cyber crime in Law Number 19 of 2016, amendments to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions. Meanwhile, non-penal measures are carried out through social methods or approaches such as information, appeals, educational channels, coaching, and also related matters of preventing cyber crime. In realizing law enforcement, law enforcement officers need an active role, namely by being equipped with special skills in handling cyber crime.

Reassessing Soviet industrialization as primitive Soviet accumulation: Social reproduction, collectivization and peasant women's revolts under Stalin

AbstractThis paper adopts a novel Social Reproduction feminist approach to re‐evaluate the Soviet experience of industrialization within the context of global research on primitive accumulation. I analyse the first Five‐Year Plan as a unique process of ‘primitive Soviet accumulation,’ focusing on the Zhenotdel collectivization campaign and the often‐overlooked role of Zhenotdel peasant women delegates [krestyanki delegatki]. The study explores their involvement in peasant women's revolts against collectivization, emphasizing the significance of these events for the Zhenotdel's emancipatory programme in the village. Considering class as a social relation to the conditions of life's reproduction, I demonstrate: (1) how primitive Soviet accumulation reshaped the gendered metabolic relationship between land and labour during the first Five‐Year Plan and (2) yet, the allocation of surplus into the expanded Soviet state apparatus laid the foundation for the distinctive Soviet mother–worker gender contract and social citizenship model.