Gender and physical punishment: the filipino children's experience

This paper reports selected findings from a doctoral dissertation on Filipino children's attitudes towards physical punishment. The findings of this research stem from a survey of 270 grade‐six students in Iloilo, Philippines. The results indicated that the majority (61.1%) had experienced physical punishment at home. The most common punishment children received was pinching (74.5%), followed by beatings (49.7%). The chi‐square analysis revealed that more boys than girls were physically punished (p < 0.05). Mothers were found to be the most frequent users of physical punishment. The prevalence of physical punishment at home may be attributed to Philippine law which ‘allows parents to physically punish their children as may be necessary for the formation of his good character’ as reflected in Article 45 of Presidential Decree No. 603, known as ‘The Child and Youth Welfare Code’ (Article 45, PD 603). The tendency of Filipino parents to punish sons more harshly than their daughters could be explained in relation to how boys and girls are regarded in society. Boys are expected to be tough and brave. By administering harsher discipline, parents may believe they are moulding their sons to be strong and to prepare them to be future pillars of society. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Factors affecting children's disclosure of secrets in an investigatory interview

The present study aimed to identify how children's understanding of the investigatory interview process influenced their disclosure of secrets. Forty‐four 6‐year‐ and 7‐year‐old children participated in the study. Four short stories were read to each child. The stories were about young children who witnessed an event (e.g. witnessing a person stealing a pizza) and were asked to keep the witnessed event secret, then they were interviewed by an authority figure (e.g. security guard) and asked repeatedly about what they had witnessed. After each story, a series of questions were asked that related to factors that might aid the disclosure of the secret. Three main factors were investigated: children's perception of the interviewer's knowledge of the incident; children's perception of the purpose of the interview; and children's understanding of the purpose of asking repeat questions. Results indicated that a child's perception of how much an interviewer appeared to know about a secret, and whether the child was repeatedly asked about the secret do influence a child's disclosure of a secret. However, there was no effect for the purpose of the interview. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Buffalo's old first ward: A photographic study

This paper explores my journey into documentary photography and visual sociology. I will explain some of the events which led me to documentary photography, and eventually to the Old First Ward, a neighborhood in Buffalo I studied and photographed in depth. I wish to emphasize both the difficulty of finding my own “eye” as a photographer as well as the personal relationships which have made this process of self discovery and photographic practice fruitful.     

Integrating post-qualification study into the workplace: The candidates' experience

The PQ framework for qualified social workers has struggled to become consistently established within workplace training and practice organisations across the UK. This is likely to become a focus for change as the Government reviews current structures and attempts to 'modernise the workforce' by encouraging the creation of cultures of post-qualification learning and continuing professional development [PQ/CPD]. This paper argues that the current emphasis upon the rhetoric of 'performance management' needs to be balanced by attention to the realities of integrating operational and professional development demands within socio-cultural contexts. This paper reports and discusses the results of a questionnaire survey into the experiences of registered PQ candidates within a Local Authority SSD. A summary of key results is provided. The discussion identifies a number of themes and strategies for integrating PQ into the workplace. These are based upon a range of attitudinal and practical factors, such as decision-making; supervision; study arrangements; mentoring; and motivation, that cover some of the experiences of candidates. The paper concludes by drawing parallels with similar developments within nursing and recommends that all stakeholders involved in PQ development need to help establish the conditions within practice contexts where social workers can link service and policy initiatives with the requirements for post-qualification study.     

Pathological gambling: The initial screening interview

This paper reviews basic components of the initial screening interview for applicants to treatment programs for pathological gamblers. The therapeutic potential of the interview is seen as primary and the collection of information follows an initial period of unstructured exploration of feelings. Specific information needed in making an admission decision is reviewed including items related to the gambling addiction, to family, employment, health, co-addiction, attitude, and demographics. Some items of information required by the client are reviewed. Criteria for acceptance or rejection are mentioned throughout. The rationale for various items of policy is reviewed briefly in a number of situations.     

Homeless in America: A children's story

Each night across America more than one million children are homeless. They and their parents now account for 38% of America's homeless. They are also the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. The demand for emergency shelter by families with children has increased 50% since 1995 and 15% in the last year alone. Despite the lowest unemployment rate in 30 years and a booming stock market, the number of homeless children today is higher than at any other time since the Great Depression. Throughout the early part of 1999, the Institute for Children and Poverty surveyed almost 2,000 families with more than 4,000 children in 24 locations to assess the state of homeless children across America. This report is their story—a story of constant upheaval, educational struggles, declining health, and violence. It is also a story of opportunity for those with the will and the power to influence policy and create change.     

Explorations into the meaning of social network interview data

This paper is concerned with issues arising in the use of interview-derived social network data. First, are respondents' relationships correctly reported? Data from dyads in which respondents and those they named were both interviewed indicate high agreement on the characteristics of the relationships. Second, which relationships are named and which are not? Data from interviews, supplemented with a long list of individuals, some of whom were spontaneously named and some of whom were also known but not named, indicate that respondents select in terms of frequency, recency, and how well they know the person, but, unexpectedly, not duration. Comparison of men's and women's selections suggests that women more strongly limit their naming to those they know very well.     

Inviting intimacy: The interview as therapeutic opportunity

This paper explores the notions of time and texture --or the interplay of the temporal and cultural dimensions of social life--as the conceptual foundation for the development of longitudinal qualitative (LQ) methodologies. It illustrates the different ways in which time is theorized among both qualitative and quantitative researchers in order to draw out the creative potential offered by LQ methodologies for understanding the dynamics of everyday life. The paper concludes by exploring how LQ methodologies might be used in the context of childhood research and for revisioning the process of 'growing up'.     

A fragmented picture: reflections on the photographic practices of young people

Research on children and youth increasingly features young people's photographs and/or young people as photographers. While this suggests that quite a lot is known about young people's relationships to photographs and camera technologies, this is not the case. Following an overview of studies that engage with young photographers, this article demonstrates why still very little is known about young people's photographic practices – that is, the range of ways and media through which young people take, feature in, and use photographs. The author argues that this gap in knowledge needs to be addressed. Important aspects of childhood, youth and growing up, including identity, belonging and memory, are often experienced and/or expressed in part through photographs and photography.     

In Algeria: Pierre Bourdieu's photographic fieldwork

Today Pierre Bourdieu is well known as one of the most important social scientists of the 20^th century. One of the outstanding qualities of his work has been his innovative combination of different methods and research strategies as well as his analytical skills in interpreting the obtained data (his 'sociological gaze'). In this paper, we attempt to retrace the development of an extraordinary way of doing social research and show the benefit of Bourdieu's visual sociology for his empirical fieldwork and sociological theory. The article particularly stresses the significance of his photographic archive, which has long been ignored within the appreciation of Bourdieu's work. Studying Bourdieu's photography gives access to his œuvre in several new ways: not only can we understand how Bourdieu became an unconventional sociologist practicing his craft in the midst of a colonial war. Bourdieu's visual anthropology also offers an insight into the status nascendi of Bourdieu's sociology in all its elementary forms and contents. Through his photography Boudieu demonstrated the concepts of ' habitat and habitus ', the material and symbolic living conditions of the Algerian population.     

Inside the interview: Clinical considerations in the research interview

The clinical interview is the major therapeutic tool which develops and directs psychological understanding of clients. Concepts and skills already refined by therapists in their clinical work and training can be extrapolated and adapted to do research about sensitive life experiences with a normal population. Transmission of knowledge thus gained expands the social work field in important ways.     

Evidence-based programs in children's services: A critical appraisal

Evidence-based programs (EBPs) are increasingly being implemented in children's services agencies in developed countries. However, this trend is meeting resistance from some researchers, policy makers and practitioners. In this article we appraise the main critiques, focusing on scientific, ideological, cultural, organizational and professional arguments. We contend that some of the resistance stems from misconceptions or an oversimplification of issues, while others represent valid concerns that need to be addressed by proponents of EBPs. We set out implications for the development and evaluation of programs and how they are introduced into service systems, and conclude with broader recommendations for children's services.     

AIDS: A case management approach. The illinois experience

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services provides through their Medical Foster Care Program substitute living arrangements for wards of the state with positive antibody tests, ARC, and AIDS. At present there are ten children (eight in Cook County) that fall into one of these categories. Half (5) of these children are infants under the age of one year. Three (3) are adolescents who were exposed through intravenous drug abuse and/or prostitution. Case illustrations and discussion together with case planning and management techniques are presented for two of the cases: an adolescent with a positive antibody test, and a three-year-old with AIDS. Current trends and future issues for investigation are also presented.     

Factor structure of quality of life: The Lehman interview

This study of 67 chronically mentally ill outpatients with psychotic disorders examined subjective quality of life scores from Lehman's Quality of Life (QOL) interview. Factor analyses identified ‘Affiliative’ and ‘Instrumental’ dimensions which accounted for 67% of the variance in subjective satisfaction ratings. The results suggest a model in which instrumental and affiliative needs comprise significant portions of subjective life satisfaction and that global QOL satisfaction is related more to instrumental than affiliative needs. These findings further clarify the concept of life satisfaction in this population of severely mentally ill individuals and suggest modifications in how quality of life information is evaluated.     

Habermas talking: An interview

Theory and Society -     

Inferring Australian children's sense of community: A critical exploration

Sense of community (SOC) has been found to be a predictor of adult well-being and psychological health. Recent research has begun to explore adolescents' SOC. However, there is a dearth of research on the meaning children attach to their community and the development of their SOC, despite its potential for providing an understanding of important aspects of children's lives. Conversational interviews were conducted in schools with 46 children aged from 9 to 12 years. The results were analysed using an unfolding strategy. The findings indicate that for children, understandings of community focus on the relationships shared with the significant others central to their experience of childhood--family, friends, and neighbours, consistent with Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework. Children also described community in terms of environment, both built and natural. Further exploration of the children's understanding of community yielded insights into the role of activities, interactions, good and bad aspects of community and problem solving in their understanding of community. The implications of the research are discussed in terms of programme planning at the individual and systemic levels. Le sentiment d'appartenance àune communauté est un indicateur qui nous permet de prévoir la santé psychologique et le bien-être chez les adultes. Les chercheurs ont commencé récemment à explorer le sentiment d'appartenance à une communauté par les adolescents. Cependant peu de recherche a étéfaite sur le sens que les enfants donnent àla communauté à laquelle ils appartiennent et au développement de leur esprit communautaire. Ceci est important pour comprendre certains aspects essentiels de la vie des enfants. Nous avons conduit dans quelques écoles des entretiens non dirigés avec 46 enfants âgés de 9 à 12 ans. Les résultats ont été analysés étape par étape. Ils nous ont indiqué que la prise de conscience par les enfants de leur communauté proche dépendait de rapports-clés associés à leur expérience--en famille, avec leurs amis et leurs voisins, selon le modèle écologique de Bronfenbrenner. Les enfants décrivent également leur communauté en faisant des liens avec leur environnement (la nature et les bâtiments). D'autres études sur la manière dont les enfants assimilent la notion de communauté ont aidé à comprendre le rôle jouépar leurs activités, leurs interactions, les aspects positifs et négatifs de la vie de groupe et par la résolution des problèmes. Nous présenterons des applications de cette recherche à l'élaboration de programmes au niveau individuel et systémique.