1,720,978 research outputs found
Assessing the Quality of Life of the Families Raising Children with Autism as a Tool for Social Work
Full text linkАналіз наукових розвідок останнього десятиліття вказує на актуальне місце проблеми якості життя індивіда в контексті соціальних змін. Важливе місце відведено вивченню нового конструкту «якість життя сім'ї». Вперше цей термін запропоновано в контексті дослідження оцінки якості життя сімей крізь лінзи інвалідності окремого її члена, зокрема дитини з аутизмом. І якщо теоретичні концепти якості життя сім'ї, що виховує дитину з розладом спектру аутизму, є узгодженими, то методологія оцінки якості життя різниться своїми механізмами та інструментарієм. В дослідженні розглянуто підходи щодо формування методології оцінки якості життя сім'ї, як-от HQOFL та основний інструментарій, які використовували дослідники в своїх наукових працях. Здійснено аналіз методів діагностики, якою послуговується сучасна соціальна робота при наданні оцінки життєдіяльності родини, що виховує дитину з аутизмом, виявлено специфіку механізму формування методології, основану на цілях та конкретній меті оцінки якості життя. Авторкою дослідження запропоновано поділ методу оцінки якості життя сім'ї на основні, які досліджують власне сам конструкт якості життя сім'ї (FQOL, FQOLS, WHOQOL-BREF, FFCS), та допоміжні або «цільові» інструменти, які можуть бути об’єктивними та суб’єктивними, та вимірюють факторів, які безпосередньо чи опосередковано впливають на оцінку якості життя, як-от ступінь РСА, соціально-демографічні показники, стресостійкість, особистісна оцінка сімейної кризи, інвентаризація сімейних ресурсів, функціональність родини (ASSQ, SDQ, PSSA, CARS, SF-12, SF-36, FCOPE, PSI-SF, PSSA, FCOPE, WCC-R, FIRM). Також запропоновано новий інструмент оцінки якості життя сім'ї, що виховує дитину з розладом спектру аутизму, адаптований до українських реалій.The analysis of scientific research of the last decade points to the actual place of the question of an individual’s quality of life in the context of social change. An important place is given to the study of the new construct “the quality of life of a family”. This term was first proposed in the context of research into assessing the quality of life of families through the lens of disability of one individual member, including a child with autism. And if the theoretical concepts of the quality of life of a family raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder are consistent, then the methodology for assessing the quality of life differs in its mechanisms and tools. The study examines approaches to formulating the methodology of assessment of the family’s quality of life, such as the HQOFL, and the main tools used by researchers in their scientific work. The analysis of diagnostic methods, used by modern social work in providing an assessment of the quality of life of a family, raising a child with autism has been carried out, the specific mechanism of forming a methodology based on the aims and specific purpose of assessment of the quality of life has been identified. The author of the study suggests dividing the method of assessing family’s quality of life into basic ones that explore the very construct of family quality of life (FQOL, FQOLS, WHOQOL-BREF, FFCS), and auxiliary or “targeted” tools that can be objective and subjective, and measure factors that directly or indirectly affect the quality of life assessment, such as PCA grade, socio-demographic indicators, stress, personal crisis assessment, family inventory, family functionality (ASSQ, SDQ, PSSA, CARS, SF-12, SF-36, FCOPE, PSI-SF, PSSA, FCOPE, WCC-R, FIRM). A new tool for assessing the quality of life of a family raising a child with autism spectrum disorder, adapted to Ukrainian realities, is also proposed
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
“It was a Shock to the Whole Family”: Challenges of Ukrainian Families Raising a Child with Autism
Full text link Based on the family-centered approach and a consumer perspective this research examines the overall level of satisfaction with educational and social services of the families raising children with autism or autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Lviv (Ukraine) and the challenges in interactions of such families with services. The survey (90 parents who are social work clients) and individual semi-structured interviews (30 parents) were used.
The findings indicate the respondents’ evaluation of the services they receive and inclusive education could not be qualified as favorable. Key challenges identified within the study are: problems of staff preparedness and lack of information about services; personal feelings of emotional burnout; unrealistic expectations from services; social stigma related to autism and social isolation of parents raising a child with ASD.
It is important for social workers to consider the need to collaboratively create the so-called social routers for families raising children with developmental disabilities during the early stages of family work. Verified information may reduce the parents’ stress and consolidate their efforts, help to avoid dubious treatments that are detrimental to the child’s health and are a significant financial burden to the family
“Does Change Last?”: Evaluating the Strengths-Based Intervention for Families Raising Children with Autism
No full textThe study evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention for families raising children with autism aimed to improve the family’s quality of life, strengthen its capacity, and expand rights and opportunities. The experimental intervention was implemented at the Educational and Rehabilitation Center for Children with Autism “Trust” (Lviv, Ukraine). It had one experimental group (30 people) and two control groups (60 people). The effectiveness and duration of the intervention effects were assessed using a before/after study design with the same questionnaire. Findings from the survey evidence the effectiveness of the intervention, in particular, for expanding the family’s capabilities, its capacity, improving relationships in family subsystems, increasing parental competence, and improving well-being. Limitations of the intervention 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
Navigating Wartime Realities: Adaptation and Resilience in Ukrainian Social Work Education
Full text linkThis paper explores how Ukraine’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in social work have demonstrated resilience amidst the ongoing armed conflict. The war has significantly impacted the educational landscape, posing challenges to institutional operations, teaching methodologies, and the preparation of future social workers. The objective of this study is to explore the key factors contributing to both organizational and academic adaptability, thus ensuring that social work education remains relevant and effective in addressing the evolving needs of a wartime society.
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a desk review with 12 semi-structured interviews with academic staff from departments and institutes offering programs in ‘Social Work’ and ‘Social Pedagogy’. The study examines how universities have adapted their curricula, teaching strategies, and assessment methods, while also highlighting the role of international cooperation and community-based initiatives.
The results reveal that Ukrainian HEIs have demonstrated significant resilience, utilizing cognitive and behavioral strategies to adapt to the war’s challenges. This includes the shift to online and hybrid learning, the use of makeshift classrooms, and the integration of new community-focused missions. Despite these adaptive efforts, the findings also highlight concerns about the long-term sustainability of these changes, particularly in maintaining educational quality and meeting the needs of vulnerable populations. International partnerships have been crucial in supporting these efforts, although disparities between institutions in accessing such resources remain.
This study underscores the importance of resilience in educational systems during crises and offers valuable insights for other higher education institutions facing similar challenges. It calls for a holistic approach to education, one that balances immediate adaptations with long-term strategic planning so that to ensure the continued relevance and quality of social work education in times of conflict
Piloting a Strengths-Based Intervention to Enhance the Quality of Life of Families Raising Children With Autism
No full textA strengths-based perspective puts the resources of individuals, families, communities, and their environments, rather than their deficit needs, problems and pathologies, at the center of the social work helping process.
This research was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention developed on the basis of an approach based on the strengths of families raising children with autism in improving the family life quality, strengthening its capacity, expanding their rights and possibilities, and enhancing resilience.
The experimental intervention was carried out at the Educational and Rehabilitation Center for Children with Autism “Dovira” (Lviv, Ukraine) and consisted of 12 group meetings. It had one experimental group (30 people) and two control groups (60 people).
The results of pre- and post-intervention surveys demonstrate the encouraging evidences of the effectiveness of the strength-based intervention program in social work with families raising children with autism, which indicates the possibility of its application in the family social work practice, in particular with families raising children with autism and other developmental disorders
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
- …
