Perspectives on narrative methods in social work research

Larsson S, Sjöblom Y. Perspectives on narrative methods in social work research Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 272–280 © 2009 The Author, Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. The narrative turn has entered many different academic disciplines and is now also emerging in social work. This article focuses on a discussion of the possibilities and limitations of doing narrative research in social work, including a scrutiny of definitions and of a number of theoretical and methodological arguments often used by some of the leading narrative researchers.     

Spirituality and child welfare reunification: a narrative analysis of successful outcomes

When children are removed from their families because of maltreatment, the child welfare system seeks reunification whenever possible. Despite the importance of this goal, little is known about families who are able to achieve and maintain successful reunification. This qualitative study conducted in‐depth interviews with 15 families who completed their child welfare case plans, were reunited with their children and remained together for at least 1 year post‐reunification. Narrative analysis using a combination of thematic and structural coding was completed to examine the strengths and process families discussed related to their successful child welfare outcomes. This paper discusses one of those strengths, spirituality, in greater depth. Specifically, 12 participants situated the strength of spirituality within their stories as an important narrative element they perceived as critical, leading to important changes. Findings highlight the benefits some families receive from their spiritual beliefs, practices and faith communities when working towards reunification, suggesting child welfare practitioners be prepared to identify and honour this family strength.     

Preliminary support for the use of narrative exposure therapy in a child protection context: Collective case-study narratives

The present paper attempts to provide preliminary support for the use of narrative exposure therapy (NET) in a child protection context. The prevalence of violence, abuse and neglect (VAN) within New South Wales is outlined as well as the current perspectives in trauma definition and symptomology, and the prevalence of trauma symptomology among birthparents and young people within child protection services. NET is introduced including its theoretical background, methodology, applications and research. Four applications of NET within a child protection context are presented, including lifelines and narrative excerpts. Specific themes presented included experiences of physical abuse, domestic and family violence, parental drug use, suicidal ideation and child removal. Statistical analysis including reliable change, clinical and statistical significance of pre- and post-PCL-5 outcomes measures are presented to infer preliminary support for NET within a child protection context. Limitations and future considerations for future research are discussed.     

Story-building and narrative in social workers' case-talk: A model of social work sensemaking

Despite the importance of decision-making in child and family social work, how social workers make sense of information in undertaking assessments and making decisions has received limited attention. Drawing on an ethnographic study of four child and family social work teams across two English local authorities, this article demonstrates how social workers make sense of the lives of children and families through a story-building process. Data comprise interviews with social workers and supervisors (n = 22), recordings of one-to-one supervision (n = 17) and observations of everyday case-talk (n = 21). A model of social work sensemaking is offered, consisting of three stages: (1) initial formulations, (2) developing the narrative and (3) adopted account. Across these stages, social workers engage in different forms of sensemaking activity, such as case framing, testing and weighing information, and generating hypotheses. Collegial and supervisory case-talk provide opportunities for social workers to scrutinize their developing narratives; however, some forms of case-talk can limit or shortcut sensemaking. This model has applications for practitioners and organizations as a tool to promote reflection on how social workers make sense of their cases. Further recommendations include social workers having access to formal and informal reflective spaces where sensemaking case-talk can take place.     

Applying narrative analysis to the process of confirming or disregarding cases of suspected sexual abuse

This article analyses discourse about sexual abuse at a detention home for young women. At the centre of attention is staff members’ struggle with the process of confirming or disregarding cases of alleged sexual abuse. The determining factor for establishing an act as sexual abuse was whether or not the act involved a person who was defined as a victim. A core issue in the process was an evaluation of the credibility of the alleged abused girl and the degree of consent. The unintended result was that many of the girls’ narratives were never confirmed. The article argues that there is no objective ‘given’ regarding the definition of sexual abuse. To be involved in the process of understanding and establishing an act as sexual abuse means being involved in a process of social definition. To be able to handle such involvement constitutes a fundamental professional issue in social work. Adopting a narrative approach to the process of confirming or disregarding cases of suspected sexual abuse shifts the focus from developing categories of social problems and work on the basis of them to developing ways of listening to young people and allowing their narratives to provide a point of departure.     

Children’s narrative story stem responses: Contributions of executive functioning and language proficiency to relationship representations

Story stem narrative tasks provide insight into young children's inner experiences. Little research has investigated how developmental capacities impact narrative content and process. This study evaluates the influence of executive functioning (EF) and language ability on children's narratives. Data were gathered from 210 low‐income children. EF and language ability were assessed at age 4 and EF was assessed at age 6 via direct examination, cognitive‐motor tasks, and examiner ratings. Children's responses to eight story stems were gathered at age 6; three latent narrative variables were constructed (Prosocial, Aggressive/Conflict, and Avoidance/Danger), and Narrative Coherence was rated. Results of longitudinal path analyses in structural equation modeling demonstrated age 4 EF significantly predicted all narrative outcomes. Language ability independently predicted Prosocial and Narrative Coherence, and had an influence on Aggression/Conflict when modeled with EF. Age 6 EF mediated the relationship between age 4 EF and narrative outcomes. Findings provide insight into developmental abilities that influence on children's narrative responses to challenging interpersonal scenarios. Future research should study parent–child relations, EF, and language abilities simultaneously.     

Mother–Child Conversations of Emotionally Salient Events: Exploring the Functions of Emotional Reminiscing in European-American and Chinese Families

This study explores the functional variations in mother–child conversations of emotionally salient events in European‐American and Chinese families. Thirty Chinese and 31 European‐American 3‐year‐old children and their mothers participated. Mothers were asked to discuss with their children at home two specific one‐point‐in‐time events in which they both participated. One event was extremely positive to the child, one extremely stressful. American mothers initiated more interactive and elaborative conversations that focused on the child's roles and predilections in the story, and they employed a ‘cognitive approach’ to emotional regulation by providing explanations for the cause of children's feeling states. Chinese mothers took a directive role in posing and repeating memory questions and focusing on social interaction, and they used a ‘behavioral approach’ to emotional regulation by emphasizing discipline and proper conduct to their children. Findings are discussed in light of cultural influences on the functions of emotional reminiscing for self and relationship construction and emotional regulation.     

市场转型理论与社会整合

市场转型理论并没有直接言说社会整合议题,它的主题是社会与 分层。其主要的观点是,从计划再分配体制向市场体制的转型,将同时 出现产权私有化、精英权力转移和利益群体重组。因而环绕它的争论 集中在三个问题上:谁占有产权?谁控制管理?谁获得较多报酬?对 这些问题的回答直接涉及整合机制的变动问题,可以概括地说是产权 关系的整合、权力支配关系的整合和利益群体的整合(以下简称产权整 合、权力整合和利益整合)。我将着重评述关于产权整合和权力整合的     

三种社会整合方式之比较

社会整合方式对于一个社会的发展起着十分重要的作用。中国传统的社会整合方式与西方、与日本的社会整合方式一个很大的区别 ,就在于其缺乏中介意识。因此 ,我们不仅要解决好结构层面的问题 ,进行制度、规范创新 ,强化新的制度安排 ,探索社会有序运行的机制 ;还要解决好文化层面的问题 ,进行文化创新与社会心理变革 ,完成价值体系的重建 ,树立新的道德观念和伦理规范。     

强调心理时间的叙事时间模式--从叙事时间范畴看郁达夫的小说

郁达夫小说的叙事时间,突破了中国传统小说的注重物理时间的叙事时间模式,以心理时间态势展示出来,时间被充分主观化,是一种偏重心理时间的叙事时间模式.这种强调心理、情绪的叙事时间模式呈现出叙事时序的错位、时长的被压缩和重复等.郁达夫小说的多维叙事时间模式,提高了小说叙事的自由度,增大了小说叙事内容的密度,使人物的精神状态、心理现实及作品的内在意蕴都得到了最大限度的发挥.     

论青年文化的"偏离"与整合

青年是人类社会中最活跃的群体。青年文化是整个人类文化的一部分。由于青年文化具有边缘性、超前性等特点 ,对社会主流文化存在着“偏离”行为 ,但也包含着积极的意义。因此 ,社会主流文化应对青年文化进行吸纳和整合 ,使其朝着有利于社会进步的方向健康发展。     

公共物品的生产与社区整合机制

在《黄河边的中国》一书中,曹锦清(2000:114、624-626)教授讨论 了改革以后农村地区一种颇为典型的现象:人民公社时期调集千万名 劳动力建成的水利系统,由于分田单干的小生产方式及农户的自私短 见,却是屡修屡毁。曹由此感慨再三:中国村落农民,历来善分不善合     

论科学与人文的融合及可持续发展文化建设

“科学”与“人文”是人类文化的两种形态,它们的关系表现为“分立”与“融合”。科学与人文的融合,既是历史发展的趋势又是现实的要求。可持续发展文化融合了科学与人文的内涵,蕴含着丰富的“人文主义”色彩,营造了“科技人性化”的文化氛围,是科学与人文融合的文化向度。这就要求以科学发展观为指导推进可持续发展文化建设。     

The Inequality Effect of Urbanization and Social Integration

On the basis of the China Social Survey (CSS2011) and related urban statistics, this article conducts an analysis of the “unequal” effects of urbanization and of problems in rural migrants’ social integration with urban residents in the course of their urbanization. We found that although the increased rate of population urbanization did not produce a significant difference between “rural migrants” and “city people” in terms of income, migrants fare considerably worse than city people with regard to social security, cultural life, psychological acceptance and status identification. This kind of inequality transforms the original urban/rural dual structure into a new dichotomy that divides urban dwellers into the migrant population and residents with urban household registration, thereby impeding social integration. This finding will help us understand the causes of the social barriers in current urbanization and may provide theoretical and empirical reference material for “new-type urbanization,” particularly as it relates to the transformation of the rural migrant population into urban citizens.     

史前宗教信仰与道德观念的一体化

原始伦理道德作为人类最初的道德意识与行为准则 ,与原始宗教有着千丝万缕的联系 ,是一种一而二、二而一的关系。不论是原始宗教的崇拜对象以及崇拜形式、宗教仪式 ,还是原始道德的内容及其形式、传承 ,都清晰地显示出了这一特点。     

城乡医疗保障制度一体化研究

公平和正义是社会保障制度价值的核心理念,也是衡量一个国家或地区社会保障制度能否充分和真正发挥作用的重要衡量因素。在新医改背景下,"人人公平享有健康保障"成为医疗保障制度建设进程中的一个重要目标,而推动城乡医疗保障制度一体化,进而实现三项医保制度整合衔接是实现这一目标的途径。下一步要重点完善社会医疗保障制度的运行环境;努力保障流动参保人员的就医权益,完善基本医疗保险关系转移接续;整合经办资源,强化管理体制统一化;确定合理的筹资补偿机制,强化财政补贴机制。     

现代性的主题分化与社会学研究范式整合

自1839年孔德提出“社会学”一词以来,社会学作为一门学科已经历了160多年的历史,这段历史既是社会学从萌芽走向成熟的过程,也是社会学不断表露危机并在理论建构中克服危机的过程。时至今日,现实世界的日新月异与社会学理论多元纷呈的局面使得社会学既朝气蓬勃,又范式林立而欠缺统一。社会学究竟应以何种面貌出现的问题,也就成了众多学者所关注的课题。笔者以为,追本溯源,在对社会学的催生婆———现代性的思考中,似乎可以汲取一些对此课题有益的启示。一、范式孕育:元现代性及其主题分化有关现代性问题的提出与讨论是随着现代社会的发展而…     

Eurasian Integration,Its Prospects and Possibilities

The article describes various considerations in relation to the past, present, and future of the Eurasian integration process.