Qualitative Geographic Information Systems (GIS): An untapped research approach for social work

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Gis Technology ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Introductory Overview ◽  
History Of

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a digital technology that integrates hardware and software to analyze, store, and map spatial data. GIS allows users to visualize (i.e., map) geographic aspects of data including locations or spatial concentrations of phenomena of interest. Though public health and other social work related fields have embraced the use of GIS technology in research, social work lags behind. Recent technological advancements in the field of GIS have transformed what was once prohibitively expensive, “experts only” desktop software into a viable method for researchers with little prior GIS knowledge. Further, humanist and participatory geographers have developed critical, non-quantitative GIS approaches that bring to light new opportunities relevant to social workers. These tools could have particular utility for qualitative social workers because they can help us better understand the environmental context in which our clients reside and give credence to their assessments of strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for intervention. This article provides an introductory overview of the history of GIS in social work research and describes opportunities to use spatially informed approaches in qualitative social work research using a case study of a participatory photo mapping research study.

Geographic Information Science

Geography ◽  
2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Schuurman ◽  
Jonathan Cinnamon
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Geographic Information Science ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Gis Technology ◽  
Knowledge Domains ◽  
New Science ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The University

Geographic information systems (GIS) are the collection of software, hardware, outputs, personnel, and practices that together facilitate the analysis and mapping of geographic entities and phenomena. The field of geographic information science (GIScience) broadly explores the theory and concepts underpinning GIS and related geospatial technologies such as remote sensing and the Global Positioning System (GPS). The technological history of GIS began in the 1960s with the first rudimentary systems developed primarily for storing land information and for basic visualized outputs of geographic entities. As the technology progressed and permeated throughout the private sector, government, and academia—especially during the latter half of the 1980s and early 1990s—a growing cadre of scholars began to examine theoretical, conceptual, and intellectual questions related to the technology, in the process creating a new science of geographic information. Michael Goodchild, a geography professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, made the first description of this area of inquiry during the 1990 Spatial Data Handling conference. Goodchild subsequently published what became an agenda-setting paper in 1992 (Goodchild 1992, cited under General Overviews) outlining a justification for this focus, which was both influential and widely accepted. GIScience draws on numerous knowledge domains, including computer science, visualization, information technology, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science to create a theoretical basis for GIS. As a relatively new field of intellectual inquiry, GIScience has developed a body of knowledge with remarkable breadth and depth. GIScientists explore diverse issues including spatial data acquisition and quality, representation and visualization; the development of database and operational standards; scale, spatial analysis/statistics, and geocomputation; and the relationship between GIS technology and society. The topic areas chosen for this article largely reflect the consensus of the GIScience academy regarding the core themes of inquiry in this field, as discussed in the General Overviews section. Further, references to current trajectories and future directions for GIScience are scattered throughout this article.

Exploring Social Work

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Bell
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Anthropological Perspective ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Social Work Values ◽  
Social Work Practitioners ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Work Education

This unique study of social work provides a bold and challenging view of the subject from an anthropological perspective. Combining research and personal reflection, the book explores cultural and symbolic representations of social work, evolving identities of social work practitioners and the ways in which they and society now view one another. The book provides a history of social work and asks how we address the taken-for-granted nature of social work. The influences of the state, social policy, and public perceptions (including users of social work services) on social work are explored. It focuses on issues relating to social work education and training in the UK and, comparatively, in a few other countries, and explores views of social workers and social work students about socialisation into the profession. It looks at issues of identity for social workers and explores social work values. The book goes on to explore what social workers say about relationships and partnerships, and how they explain the significance of these concepts to social work, and moves on to consider policies and strategies underpinning social work research and evidence-based or evidence-informed practice. Further investiagtion is given to organisation, symbols and 'cultural representation', before the book concludes by reflecting on why social work and social workers continue to be relevant to society on local, national, and international levels.

scholarly journals Emotional intelligence as a part of critical reflection in social work practice and research

2021 ◽  
pp. 147332502110247
Author(s):  
Mari D Herland
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Emotional Aspects

Social workers often experience higher levels of burnout compared with other healthcare professionals. The capacity to manage one’s own emotional reactions efficiently, frequently in complex care settings, is central to the role of social workers. This article highlights the complexity of emotions in social work research and practice by exploring the perspective of emotional intelligence. The article is both theoretical and empirical, based on reflections from a qualitative longitudinal study interviewing fathers with behavioural and criminal backgrounds, all in their 40 s. The analysis contains an exploration of the researcher position that illuminates the reflective, emotional aspects that took place within this interview process. Three overall themes emerged – first: Recognising emotional complexity; second: Reflecting on emotional themes; and third: Exploring my own prejudices and preconceptions. The findings apply to both theoretical and practical social work, addressing the need to understand emotions as a central part of critical reflection and reflexivity. The argument is that emotions have the potential to expand awareness of one’s own preconceptions, related to normative societal views. This form of analytical awareness entails identifying and paying attention to one’s own, sometimes embodied, emotional triggers.

Calling Social Work to the Movement for Educational Justice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annahita Ball
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Educational Justice ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Conditions For Learning ◽  
History Of

Abstract The persistent and systemic inequities within the U.S. public education system have grave implications for children’s and youth’s outcomes, yet these inequities go far beyond academics. Marginalized and vulnerable students experience injustices across the educational system, including disproportionality in school discipline, unequal access to advanced courses, and poor conditions for learning. Social work has a solid history of addressing issues that intersect across families, schools, and communities, but the profession has had little engagement in the recent educational justice movement. As educational scholars advance a movement to address educational inequities, it will be increasingly important for social work researchers to provide valuable insight into the multiple components that make up youth development and support positive well-being for all individuals within a democratic society. This article encourages social work researchers to extend lines of inquiry that investigate educational justice issues by situating social work practice and research within educational justice and suggesting an agenda for future social work research that will advance equity for all students.

scholarly journals SPATIAL DATA: FROM CARTOGRAPHY TO GEODATABASE

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 142-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugo FALCHI
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Significant Acceleration ◽  
Management And Development ◽  
The Status ◽  
History Of ◽  
Essential Knowledge

The final goal of this paper was to fix a brief summary on the status of geographic information in Italy due to the technological steps and national regulations. The acquisition, processing and sharing of spatial data has experienced a significant acceleration thanks to the development of computer technology and the acknowledgment of the need for standardization and homogenization of information held by pub­lic authorities and individuals. The spatial data represents the essential knowledge in the management and development of a territory both in terms of planning for safety and environmental prevention. In Italy there is an enormous heritage of spatial information which is historically affected by a problem of consistency and uniformity, in order to make it often contradictory in its use by the public decision-maker and private par­ties. The recent history of geographic information is characterized by a significant effort aimed at optimiz­ing this decisive technical and cultural heritage allowing the use of it to all citizens in a logic of sharing and re-use and may finally represent a common good available to all.

scholarly journals Creating a Story Map Using Geographic Information Systems to Explore Geomorphology and History of Methana Peninsula

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varvara Antoniou ◽  
Lemonia Ragia ◽  
Paraskevi Nomikou ◽  
Pavlina Bardouli ◽  
Danai Lampridou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Volcanic Area ◽  
Narrative Texts ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Story Mapping ◽  
Story Map ◽  
Mapping Technology ◽  
History Of

Story maps are used as an interactive tool for communication and information dissemination. A web-based application using story mapping technology is presented to explore the Methana peninsula. This volcanic area is characterized by specific volcanic geoforms, unique flora and rich history. The story map combines maps, narrative texts and multimedia content. The spatial data produce thematic maps created by a Geographic Information System on geological data, historical monuments, biodiversity and hiking paths. The purpose is to highlight the distinguishing characteristics of the Methana peninsula, to enable users to interact with maps, texts and images and to inform professional and non-professional users about the particular aspects of volcanic areas.

Social Workers in Capital Defense Practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 46-60
Author(s):  
Brian Kammer
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Capital Punishment ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Judicial Decision ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
History Of ◽  
Death Sentencing

This chapter focuses on how social workers are uniquely suited to the essential task of crafting mitigating social histories for capital defendants that can penetrate the fog of misconceptions, disinformation, and demonization/dehumanization endemic to the capital punishment process. Rooted in traditions of antiracism and community education, welfare, and empowerment, whose fundamental aspirations have been to identify and remedy systemic impediments to human welfare and to encourage human mutuality, the 150-year history of American social work places it in natural opposition to capital punishment. Mitigating narratives created by social workers recover defendants’ humanity and empower judicial decision-makers to act mercifully. Decades of social worker participation in capital defense have seen a sharp decline in death sentencing.

Narrative resistance in social work research and practice: Counter-storying in the pursuit of social justice

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne McKenzie-Mohr ◽  
Michelle N Lafrance
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Master Narratives ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Counter Narratives ◽  
Practical Guidance

In this article, we propose ‘narrative resistance’ as a potent and useful concept for both social work research and practice. A concept that attends to power and oppression, narrative resistance provides a platform for tangible applications to support people’s efforts to resist harmful storyings of their lives. The aim of this article is to provide practical guidance for how social workers can attend to and support people’s acts of narrative resistance. This is achieved by introducing the functions of narrative in people’s lives and its inextricable links to power; discussing ‘master narratives’ and their potential for harm; and exploring narrative resistance by articulating the role of ‘counter narratives’ as a means to ‘talk back’ to injurious master narratives. The remainder of the article outlines considerations, skills and tools required to enhance counter-storying efforts in the service of emancipatory change. We spotlight examples of narrative resistance in the literature to illustrate the pragmatic mobilization of this work.

Asian Americans: Japanese

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoosun Park
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
The United States ◽  
Japanese American ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
History Of

This overview of the Japanese American community includes a brief history of the community in the United States, an overview of some distinct characteristics of the community, and a review of current literature highlighting the particular issues of the community salient to social work research and intervention.

Mixed Methods Research

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daphne C. Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Data Integration ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Single Study

Mixed methods research integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods into a single study to produce a more inclusive and expansive understanding of a topic. This article defines mixed methods in social work research, and discusses design notation, language, popular mixed methods designs, and data integration. Using mixed methods provides an opportunity for social workers to take advantage of the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative approaches and to offset their weaknesses. It is important that social workers engaged in mixed methods research maximize the interpretation of their findings and articulate the advantages of using mixed methods over qualitative or quantitative methods alone. Given the unique features of the profession, it is imperative that social workers carve out a distinctive mixed methods niche for social work researchers and practitioners.

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