Recognizing Diversity and Group Processes in International, Collaborative Research Work: A Case Study

The myth that most if not all senior researchers who have national prominence can 'successfully' manage international research is alive and well in the academy today. Many researchers believe that research management and consultancy is acquired through a process of trial and error and demands little contemplation or training. The purpose of this paper is to break these myths and to establish various benchmarks for good research management, particularly on an international level. The guiding assumption of the paper is that as research becomes more global, high-quality research management is a necessary resource, which demands sensitivity to diversity as well as an awareness of group processes. This means those issues such as language, race, ethnicity, gender, disability and group work should not only inform our research findings but also guide our research practice in international collaborative settings. Throughout this paper, I use a case study of a large EU-funded project as a way of illustrating key themes.     

Social Work Student Interest in Nursing Home Employment: A North American Study

Nursing homes (NHs) are a primary setting for gerontological social work; yet, little is known about social workers' career interest relative to this setting. This article reports the findings of an online survey of social work students (177 US and 91 Canadian) that sought to identify personal characteristics and beliefs that influence NH employment intentions. Students who were enrolled in bachelors programs, lacked previous practice experience, and had already had a NH field placement or wanted this experience were more likely to express employment intent. The implications of these findings for social work education and research are discussed.     

Social Action,the Group and Society

There is a longstanding commitment to social action in Group Work. This can be traced back to the work of Jane Addams and Grace Coyle and many others with whom they worked and shared ideas. However, as we follow the history of Group Work we find a shift in the meaning of social action. The role of groups in society has changed from that of instrument for social change to that of training ground for democracy. The more recent writing of Lee, Breton, Lewis and others suggests the possibility of restoring the centrality of groups to social action in the context of new social realities and contemporary thinking about society and the state.     

从实证视角理解个案研究:三阶段考察渠文的方法创新

本文尝试对话渠敬东“迈向社会全体的个案研究”一文：一方面通过实证视角，就渠文进行爬梳与理解，盼激发更多跨界对话；另一方面针对方法应用，自该文提炼策略与建议，盼有助催生具体的研究策略。基于上述目的，本文将“从个案到全体”的历程划分为三个阶段：选择个案、研究个案、推论个案，藉以条理渠文丰富多彩的方法论述。讨论过程中就渠文提示的个案研究途径与传统实证和诠释路径并列对照，帮助说明渠文创新所在。在总的方向上，本文与渠文一致，一方面力图论证个案研究的价值，尝试勾勒出规范、系统的个案方法；另一方面尝试通过个案研究对话，使实证阵营能够理解、欣赏诠释阵营的研究思路与丰厚内涵。     

Advancing Stages of Group Development Theory: The Case of Institutionalized Older Persons

ABSTRACT

Using content analysis to analyze process recordings, the developmental patterns of two groups of older institutionalized persons are presented. The similarities to and differences from the stages of group development described by Bennis and Shepard; Garland, Jones, and Kolodny; and Schiller are discussed. Findings suggest that vulnerability to institutional power and the resultant dependence on the social worker were critical variables influencing how the groups developed over time. Differential principles for applying stages of group development theory to practice are offered.     

A Different Kind of Holding Environment: A Case Study of Group Work with Pediatric Staff

ABSTRACT

This paper reports a nearly two-year intervention with staff at a major urban pediatric facility. The authors worked as trainers and consultants for two groups–the Emergency Department (ED) and Chronic Care units (CC). Following two days of training about grief and loss, highlighting skill building for work with traumatized and grieving children and parents, the consultants worked to develop teams which could provide a Winnicottian holding environment for staff. The efficacy of this staff training is analyzed and support needs of staff members are identified. Findings include varied willingness to make use of group support. Chronic care participants are more likely to express willingness to engage in on-going support for one another, while ED staff members seem to prefer structured, educational training and episodic support. The holding environment of the processing groups must be adapted to fit the needs of the medical sub-culture.     

城镇化背景下的家庭农业与乡土社会——对内蒙赤峰市农业经营形式的案例研究

本文要讨论的问题是,在农业青壮年劳动力大量外出,只有老人和妇女留守农村的情况下,中国农业将如何转型,农业生产的规模化服务将如何实现?农业生产技术的改进与生产要素的市场化无疑会促进农业生产服务的规模化,而规模化服务并不以土地的集中和小农经济的消亡为前提。乡土社会网络降低了农业规模化服务过程中的组织成本,在农村乡土社会面貌不变的情况下实现了农业生产服务的规模化,从而建立了一种“新型农业经营体系”。     

丝绸之路经济带下的产业分布、人口聚集与地区差异——以新疆为例

新疆是"丝路中国段"建设的核心区。文章基于重心理论,采用空间分析方法,选取经济社会发展与人口密度9个指标,分析新疆地州经济发展与人口空间分布演变规律,借助GIS软件演示新疆经济社会与人口在2002~2012年的偏离趋势,使得匹配性视角揭示新疆地州区域差异可视化。与传统衡量区域差异的观点相左,提出就业率基准下新疆地州区域差异的测度。     

TRIOS: A Psychological Theory of the African Legacy in American Culture

TRIOS is comprised of attitudes, beliefs and values about time, rhythm, improvisation, orality and spirituality. It is proposed that TRIOS represents the cultural foundation of an African legacy for African Americans and provides a means of coping with slavery and various forms of racism over time. TRIOS is a model for the dual processes of self-protective and self-enhancing motivations for targets who must live in a universal context of racism. TRIOS is described as a context-dependent theory of being-in-the-world, as opposed to doing-in-the-world. Evidence for the origins of TRIOS elements in African and Caribbean culture is presented. A scale to measure TRIOS is described and evidence for racial/ethnic differences shows that African Americans score higher than other racial/ethnic groups. The implications of TRIOS for psychological well-being of African Americans and a wide array of future research questions are discussed.     

Conflict of Interest Policies and Industry Relationships of Guideline Development Group Members: A Cross-Sectional Study of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Depression

Because of increased attention to the issue of trustworthiness of clinical practice guidelines, it may be that both transparency and management of industry associations of guideline development groups (GDGs) have improved. The purpose of the present study was to assess a) the disclosure requirements of GDGs in a cross-section of guidelines for major depression; and, b) the extent and type of conflicts of panel members. Treatment guidelines for major depression were identified and searched for conflict of interest policies and disclosure statements. Multi-modal screens for undeclared conflicts were also conducted. Fourteen guidelines with a total of 172 panel members were included in the analysis. Eleven of the 14 guidelines (78%) had a stated conflict of interest policy or disclosure statement, although the policies varied widely. Most (57%) of the guidelines were developed by panels that had members with industry financial ties to drug companies that manufacture antidepressant medication. However, only a minority of total panel members (18%) had such conflicts of interest. Drug company speakers bureau participation was the most common type of conflict. Although some progress has been made, organizations that develop guidelines should continue to work toward greater transparency and minimization of financial conflicts of interest.