scholarly journals The ‘weak pupil’ as a social representation: (re)production in dialogue between compulsory school teachers in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese Friberg
Keyword(s):  
Social Representations ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Social Representations Theory ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Compulsory Schools ◽  
Educational Field

AbstractAttributing negative categories such as ‘weak’ to pupils is a common practice in Sweden and a known phenomenon worldwide. While there has been a substantial amount of research on different expressions of ‘deviance’ in the educational arena, the research on how teachers communicate about pupils as ‘weak’ is scarce. In this study, teachers’ communication about pupils as ‘weak’ is examined in dialogues produced in focus group discussions by 29 teachers in six different Swedish compulsory schools. Through the lens of social representations theory and a dialogical perspective, this study suggests that ‘weak pupil’ as a social representation can be characterized by a range of different and sometimes contradicting themes and mainly two themata: normal/deviant and nature/nurture. The results show that ‘weak pupil’ is used as a multifaceted communicative resource to describe pupils who do not perform according to schools’ expectations. In contrast to several previous studies, the use of ‘weak pupil’ is partially challenged by participants who, to some extent, place perceived problems within the educational institution instead of the individual pupil. The study has implications for the understanding of how perceptions of normality might be perceived and collectively (re)produced in communication about pupils as well as for future research using social representations theory within the educational field.

scholarly journals Demands and tasks of intercultural school development: Group discussions with experts about intercultural school development

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Syring ◽  
Teresa Tillmann ◽  
Nicole Sacher ◽  
Sabine Weiß ◽  
Ewald Kiel
Keyword(s):  
Educational Institution ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
School Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

The present study is aimed at identifying demands and tasks that are considered important by experts in the field of interculturalism for the successful development of schools. Although different theoretical models about intercultural school development, incorporating various conditions and dimensions, have already been suggested, gaps in research on the specific content of various administrative levels of school as an educational institution can still be identified. In order to fill those gaps, we conducted group discussions with small groups of experts in the field of interculturalism. Experts were matched into three groups so that each represents a high level of diversity regarding their particular expertise. Results from the discussions were investigated by applying content analysis. Based on the revealed findings, five fields of action can be established that are essential for the process of intercultural school development. The revealed areas covered a variety of factors, ranging from individual reflection to developmental processes of a school as an organization. In the present study, those facets are interpreted as conditions under which successful intercultural school development processes can be established. While most content areas can be mapped to the existing theoretical models, they add further information with regard to the content of the theoretical dimensions. This is particularly the case at the individual level. Resulting practical implications are explained and further discussed on the basis of inevitable future research.

Serge Moscovici's "Réflexions sur la popularité des conspiracy mentalities"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Klein
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
French Revolution ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
The People ◽  
Social Representation Theory ◽  
The Masses

This is a pdf of the original typed manuscript of a lecture made in 2006. An annotated English translation will be published by the International Review of Social Psychology. I this text, Moscovici seeks to update his earlier work on the “conspiracy mentality” (1987) by considering the relationships between social representations and conspiracy mentality. Innovation in this field, Moscovici argues, will require a much thorough description and understanding of what conspiracy theories are, what rhetoric they use and what functions they fulfill. Specifically, Moscovici considers conspiracies as a form of counterfactual history implying a more desirable world (in which the conspiracy did not take place) and suggests that social representation theory should tackle this phenomenon. He explicitly links conspiracy theories to works of fiction and suggests that common principles might explain their popularity. Historically, he argues, conspiracism was born twice: First, in the middle ages, when their primary function was to exclude and destroy what was considered as heresy; and second, after the French revolution, to delegitimize the Enlightenment, which was attributed to a small coterie of reactionaries rather than to the will of the people. Moscovici then considers four aspects (“thematas”) of conspiracy mentality: 1/ the prohibition of knowledge; 2/ the duality between the majority (the masses, prohibited to know) and “enlightened” minorities; 3/ the search for a common origin, a “ur phenomenon” that connects historical events and provides a continuity to History (he notes that such a tendency is also present in social psychological theorizing); and 4/ the valorization of tradition as a bulwark against modernity. Some of Moscovici’s insights in this talk have since been borne out by contemporary research on the psychology of conspiracy theories, but many others still remain fascinating potential avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Social representations of polydrug use in a Finnish newspaper 1990–2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Savonen ◽  
Pekka Hakkarainen ◽  
Kati Kataja ◽  
Inari Sakki ◽  
Christoffer Tigerstedt
Keyword(s):  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Media Representations ◽  
Polydrug Use ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Representations Theory ◽  
Socially Relevant

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the social representations of polydrug use in the Finnish mainstream media. Social representations are shared ways of talking about socially relevant issues and have ramifications on both individual and socio-political levels. Design/methodology/approach The social representations theory and the “What’s the problem represented to be?” analysis provided the theoretical framework. In total, 405 newspaper articles were used as data and analysed by content analysis and thematic analysis. The key tenets of the social representations theory, anchoring, objectifying and naturalisation, were used in data analysis. Findings The study found that polydrug use was written about differently in articles over the study period from 1990 to 2016. Three social representations were introduced: first, polydrug use as a concept was used to refer to the co-use of alcohol and medical drugs. This was seen as a problem for young people, which could easily lead to illicit drug use. Second, illicit drugs were included in the definitions of polydrug use, which made the social representation more serious than before. The typical polydrug user was portrayed as a person who was addicted to substances, could not quite control his/her use and was a threat to others in society. Third, the concepts were naturalised as parts of common language and even used as prototypes and metaphors. Originality/value The study provides a look at how the phenomenon of polydrug use is conceptualised in everyday language as previous research has concentrated on its scientific definitions. It also adds to the research of media representations of different substances.

scholarly journals Between Retributive and Restorative Compulsory School Teachers’ Discipline Activities

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-121
Author(s):  
Katja Jeznik ◽  
Robi Kroflič ◽  
Metka Kuhar
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Character Education ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Discussion Groups ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Formal Framework ◽  
Compulsory Schools

In Slovenia, compulsory schools have, since 2009, been obliged to define their own concept of moral and character education under the formal framework of the Primary School Act. Disciplinary measures in schools are underpinned by two main punishment theories: the more traditional retributive responses to undesired conduct, and the more recent restorative approach. The present study explores the views of 109 teachers from 13 compulsory schools regarding disciplinary measures through the prism of this paradigmatic divide. A qualitative analysis of group discussions in which teachers evaluated the disciplinary measures at each of the 13 schools will be presented. Only three discussion groups were predominantly restorative oriented. Given the proven negative effects of retribution-oriented disciplinary measures, the findings are not encouraging. We conclude that schools need a clearer disciplinary framework with systematic acquisition of knowledge and practical experience in the field of educational and discipline strategies, and that teachers must continuously reflect on their own disciplinary practices.

scholarly journals A Teoria das Representações Sociais e sua Inter-Relação Entre Sujeito e Objeto

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (5-esp.) ◽  
pp. 684-692
Author(s):  
Márcia Kaster Portelinha ◽  
Camila Almeida ◽  
Caroline Vasconcellos Lopes ◽  
Natalia Rosiely Costa Vargas
Keyword(s):  
Category Theory ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Scientific Paper ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Boolean Operator ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Second Category ◽  
Method Analysis ◽  
Theory Of Social Representations

Conhecer o que vem sendo descrito sobre a Teoria das Representações Sociais e sua inter-relação entre sujeito e objeto foi objetivo desta pesquisa de Revisão Integrativa.  As buscas foram realizadas no mês de julho de 2019. O operador booleano and foi utilizado entre os termos saúde, sustentabilidade e teoria das Representações Sociais, Nos Idiomas Português E Inglês, Sendo Consultadas As Bases Lilacs, Medline/PubMed e PAHO e Google acadêmico. Os filtros foram: ser publicado nos últimos cinco anos, ter como frase exata/citação “Serge Moscovici” e ser artigo científico original. A análise dos dados decorreu do método Análise de conteúdo, resultando em três categorias: “Teoria das Representações Sociais”, que trouxe possibilidades de interpretar conhecimentos, relacionamentos e experiências atreladas ao individual e ao coletivo. A segunda categoria “Teoria das Representações Sociais e os universos: Consensual e Reificado” retrata os entrelaces e afastamentos do olhar empírico e do científico. A última categoria “Teoria das Representações Sociais e os processos: Ancoragem e Objetivação” demonstra como são organizados os pensamentos que vão formar as representações sociais, sendo considerados mecanismos que alicerçam a Teoria. Conclui-se que a Teoria das Representações Sociais não apresenta limites de utilização por temática, ela é abrangente e pode revelar grandes achados e mostrar formas de interpretar coisas iguais com olhares e descrições diferentes. No campo da saúde e da sustentabilidade esta teoria é uma ferramenta para interpretar concepções, atitudes e comportamentos de indivíduos e de grupos.   Palavras-chave: Saúde. Sustentabilidade. Teoria das Representações Sociais.     Abstract The aim of this research of Integrated Review was to know what has been described about the Theories of Social Representations and its inter-relation between subject and object. The researches were conducted during July 2019. The Boolean operator and was used among the terms health, sustainability and theory of social representations, in the English and Portuguese languages, being consulted in the Lilacs, Medline/PubMed and PAHO and Academic Google databases. The filters were: had been published in the last five years, having as exact/citation sentence “Serge Moscovici” and being an original scientific paper. The analysis of data was originated from the method Analysis of content, resulting in three categories: “The Theories of Social representation” which brought possibilities of interpreting knowledge, relationships and experiences related to the individual and the collectivity. The second category: “Theory of Social Representations and the universes: Consensual and Reified” which describes the interlaces and distances of empiric and scientific view. The last category: “Theory of Social Representations and the processes: Anchorage and Objectivation” which demonstrates how thoughts are organized which are responsible for making the social representations, being considered the base mechanisms of the Theory. It is concluded that the Theory of Social Representations do not present limits of utilization by themes, it is vast and can reveal big results and show ways of interpreting equal things with views and different descriptions. In the field of health and sustainability, this theory is a tool to interpret conceptions, attitudes and behaviors of individuals and groups.   Keywords: Health. Sustainability. The Social Representation’s Theory.

scholarly journals Meanings and dimensions of cancer by sick people - a structural analysis of social representations

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Wakiuchi ◽  
Denize Cristina de Oliveira ◽  
Sonia Silva Marcon ◽  
Magda Lúcia Felix de Oliveira ◽  
Catarina Aparecida Sales
Keyword(s):  
Social Care ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Malignant Neoplasm ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Central Nucleus ◽  
Chemotherapy Treatment ◽  
Sick People ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Objective: To describe the contents and structure of the social representation of cancer. Method: A qualitative study based on the Theory of Social Representations, carried out in a High Complexity Care Unit in Oncology. Data collection included a socio-occupational and clinical characterization questionnaire and free evocations form from 100 cancer patients in chemotherapy treatment and in-depth interviews with 29 of them. The analysis was performed using EVOC software. Results: One hundred (100) patients participated in the study. The social representation of cancer has the words normal, difficult disease, death and fear in its central nucleus. The apparent ambivalence between the continuity of life and its finitude as structuring meanings of this representation enables establishing an inferential hypothesis that relates normal disease to the possibility of treatment, control and cure of cancer, while the fear of death remains in the representational field linked to the disease, which has a difficult treatment to cope with. Conclusion: The social representations of cancer based on the presented interrelationships provide reflections which may contribute to increasing the individual and social care of patients with malignant neoplasm and their family in health services.

scholarly journals Group-based educational intervention for advance care planning in primary care: a quasi-experimental study in Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuji Tsuda ◽  
Mary R. Janevic ◽  
Kota Shikano ◽  
Tomoko Matsui ◽  
Tsukasa Tsuda
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Advance Directive ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Planning Group

Background: Older adults who have health conditions with good prognoses typically fall outside the scope of efforts encouraging advance care planning. We developed group and individual versions of an advance care planning program for use in primary care. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental trial in a rural family clinic in Japan. Medically stable patients aged ≥65 years were invited to watch an educational video on advance care planning, followed by an individual (n=46) or group-based (n=63) discussion. Advance directive completion was tracked over four months. Participants completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires and reported occurrence of family discussions about advance care planning and attitudes toward advance care planning. Group discussions were recorded and thematically analyzed to identify barriers and facilitators to engaging in advance care planning. Results: Advance directive completion rates were high for both intervention versions but did not significantly differ between arms (85.7% vs. 80.4%, p=0.45). Only one-fifth of patients in both arms discussed advance care planning with their family after the intervention (20.7% and 21.7%, p=0.89). Patients in the group arm rated their experience slightly higher than those in the individual arm (4.2 and 3.9 out of 5, p=0.023). Qualitative analysis of group discussions revealed that patients were affected by their perceptions of societal norms that prioritize family consensus over patient autonomy; however, these perceptions influenced advance care planning behaviors in inconsistent ways. Conclusions: Group-based advance care planning intervention among medically stable older patients is as effective as an individually-focused discussion in promoting advance directive completion. Future research is needed on ways to enhance patients’ ability to discuss advance care planning with their family members.

scholarly journals Understanding Common Sense Themes of Intellectual  and Creative Work: the Social Representation of Intellectual Property

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Joel Wiramu Pauling
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Creative Work ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Representations Theory ◽  
Vested Interests

<p>This thesis examines the construction of Intellectual Property discourses using the social Psychological theoretical framework of Social Representations theory (Moscovici, 1984), and explores the various themes which emerge around the treatment of knowledge, ideas and creative work from both historical and contemporary perspectives. The first two chapters introduce Social Representations theory and the methodology of Thematic Analysis. Study one presents a historical account and literature review on the general themes of knowledge, intellectual and creative endeavours, and how various cultures and social powers have approached these concepts throughout history. It includes an overview of current technological and social changes around the same themes, the challenges these changes may have on existing social representations, and the groups that have vested interests in particular representations. The idea that existing dominant representations cannot adequately incorporate new representations arising from users and adopters utilising the new medium of the 'network' as a social-cultural tool is also introduced. Study two examines similar topics through analysis of public submissions to the New Zealand Patent act review. In this study, individual submissions are analysed in detail using a thematic analysis-like process, incorporating this into a Social representations framework designed to extend and test the representations observed in study one. Evidence of a dominant industrial representation involving market economic treatment of knowledge centred on a physical resource conceptual anchor was observed. Conflicting social representations held by other groups included representations of a collectivist common good centred on innovation and rights themes. Evidence that significant re-representation of the property conception away from a physical good anchor by various groups was found. Social, cultural, and economic consequences of these competing representations effect on societies are considered.</p>

What power? Social representations of ICTs’ appropriation for community empowerment in Latin American social movements

Semiotica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (223) ◽  
pp. 177-197
Author(s):  
Lázaro M. Bacallao-Pino
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThe article analyzes the social representations of ICTs’ appropriation for community empowerment by social movements. The study includes two recent Latin American student social movements: the Mexican #YoSoy132 and the Chilean student movement. Discourse analysis was used to examine interviews with participants in these social movements as well as other texts associated with their episodes of collective action. The discourse analysis was focused on four main dimensions of the social representations of ICTs’ appropriation: (1) the interrelationships between the technological and the socio-political and cultural dimensions; (2) the tension between a visibility-centered and an articulating-focused use of ICTs; (3) the tension between the individual and the collective dimensions; and (4) the articulation between ICTs-based collective action and offline one. The findings indicate that the online/offline and the visibility/articulation tensions are relevant dimensions, in an articulated way, of the social representation of ICTs’ appropriation for collective empowerment. The results also indicate that the sociopolitical goals of the social movements are a central mediation for the process of configuration of the social representation, as it is proved by the importance of the individual/collective tension for the process.

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