1,720,957 research outputs found
UNVEILING THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE: SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS' KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS OF ADOLESCENT SEXTING IN GAUTENG SCHOOLS, SOUTH AFRICA
Full text linkIn today's digitally interconnected world, adolescent sexting is a critical concern for school social workers. The study aimed to explore the knowledge and perceptions of school social workers regarding adolescent sexting in Gauteng and their actions in response to it. A qualitative approach was adopted utilising a phenomenological research design supported with elements of explorative, descriptive and contextual elements to highlight the multifaceted nature of sexting, which is influenced by societal dynamics, emotional needs and evolving family structures. Non-probability sampling techniques, including purposive and snowball sampling, were utilised to select 36 participants, representing diverse perspectives in the school social work profession. Data collection involved face-to-face and virtual semi-structured interviews, guided by a structured interview guide. Data analysis followed the methodological framework outlined by Tesch in Creswell, encompassing eight steps to systematically analyse interview transcripts. Sexting behaviours were examined through the lens of ecological systems and social learning theories, with an emphasis on the need for comprehensive interventions. Recommendations include targeted training programmes, collaboration with experts, integration into school policies, educational seminars for parents and continuous professional development for social workers. This research provides nuanced insights to support evidence-based interventions as well as to safeguard adolescent wellbeing in the digital age
Retensiestrategieë as teenvoeter vir vroeë beroepsverlating onder maatskaplike werkers
Full text linkThe serious shortage of social workers (nationally) caused by their exodus from the profession at an alarming rate and the resultant classification of social work as a "scare skill" served as motivation for this research project into retention strategies to retain social workers for the profession.
A qualitative research approach and an explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 15 purposely selected participants in the geographically defined boundaries of the Northern Free State and Gauteng. Tesch's (in Creswell, 1994) and Guba's models (in Krefting, 1991) aided the processes of data collection and verification, respectively. The research findings uncovered: general and specific reasons for the social workers' exodus, feelings and emotional reactions of social workers subsequent to the early exodus from the profession, and retention proposals to retain social workers. Based on the findings, recommendation directed to practice, education, policy and further research, were made.M.Diac. (Social Work)Social Wor
Influence of Behaviour of Youth with Mental Health Challenges in a Secure Care Facility on Staff Members and Fellow Residents
No full textWhen the youth, regardless of their mental status or age, face mental health challenges and engage in criminal activities, they are placed in child and youth care centres (CYCC) in a secure care programme across the country. Unfortunately, these secure care facilities lack proper systems to meet the needs and ensure the safety of mentally ill youth. There is evidence that the rate of mental health disorders is higher among youth in the juvenile justice system than in the general population, and these CYCCs are not adequately equipped to address the challenges presented by mentally ill youth. This article presents a greater understanding of the views and perceptions of staff members and fellow residents (peer counsellors) working with youth with mental health challenges in six provinces, namely: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape. In this qualitative study, a total of twelve participants were interviewed through semi-structured interviews. These participants, who make up the multidisciplinary team at the facilities, include social workers, psychologists, child and youth care workers, occupational therapists, nurses, educators, and instructors. The findings highlight a significant gap in knowledge about mental health challenges among youth, which can result in the mismanagement of those affected. This research offers valuable insights into the behaviours of these young individuals, enhancing our understanding of their experiences. Understanding their views and perceptions provides vital information to develop social work practices on these grounds. This study resulted in the development of guidelines for the behaviour management and care of youth living with mental health challenges. The findings and recommendations will be implemented in state-run CYCCs, as confirmed by the national Department of Social Development
PERCEIVED CHALLENGES SOCIAL WORKERS EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDING DEINSTITUTIONALISED SERVICES TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE USERS
Full text linkMental, physical and social health are vital, interdependent strands of life for all individuals. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world mental health and mental disorders are not regarded with the same importance as physical health, and are consequently largely ignored or neglected. This article aims to understand the challenges encountered by social workers in mental health care. The phenomenological design, supported by the exploratory, descriptive, contextual and case study designs, was utilised to answer the research question. Ten purposely selected social workers were interviewed by using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis following Tesch’s model was applied. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured. Ethical principles were adhered to. The findings of this study indicated that most social workers in mental healthcare are not adequately trained and, similarly, social workers bear the burden of educating mental health care users, their families and the community at large on mental health. Authorities and policymakers need to craft customised, effective and efficient care for mental health care users
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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