What kind of (digital) citizen?

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 342-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie K. Heath
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Educational Technology ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Digital Citizenship ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Constant Comparative Analysis

Purpose Public schools in a democracy should educate young people to develop the knowledge and dispositions of citizenship in order to foster a more inclusive society and ensure the continuation of the democratic republic. Conceptualizations of citizenship must be clearly framed in order to support civic engagement, in particular, civic engagement for social justice. Rarely do educational technology scholars or educators interrogate the International Society for Technology in Education definition of digital citizenship. Educational technologists should connect notions of civic engagement and conceptions of digital citizenship. Instead, the field continues to engage in research, policy and practice which disconnects these ideas. This suggests that a gap exists between educational technologists’ conceptualizations of citizenship and the larger implications of citizenship within a democracy. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a between-study analysis of the literature to answer: How does the field of educational technology discuss and research digital citizenship? The data were coded using constant comparative analysis. The study adopted a theoretical framework grounded in Westheimer and Kahne’s (2004) What Kind of Citizen, and Krutka and Carpenter’s (2016) digital approach to citizenship. Findings The findings suggest that educational technologists’ uncritical usage of the term digital citizenship limits the authors’ field’s ability to contribute to a fundamental purpose of public schooling in a democracy – to develop citizens. Further, it hampers imagining opportunities to use educational technology to develop pedagogies of engaged citizenship for social justice. Originality/value Reframing the conception of digital citizenship as active civic engagement for social justice pushes scholarship, and its attendant implications for practice, in a proactive direction aimed at dismantling oppression.

Social justice for sex workers as a ‘politics of doing’: Research, policy and practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-279
Author(s):  
Sharron FitzGerald ◽  
Maggie O’Neill ◽  
Gillian Wylie
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Red Light ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Sexual Offences ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
The Republic

The Republic of Ireland is a good case study to highlight the problems associated with uncritical appeals to criminal law as the only appropriate tool to tackle demand and protect sex workers from harm. In 2017, the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act came into force in the Republic of Ireland (hereafter Ireland) making it a criminal offence to purchase sex in the jurisdiction. Ireland’s decision to introduce Swedish-style laws followed a protracted public campaign instigated in 2009 by the Irish and radical feminist inspired neo-abolitionist organisation, Turn off the Red Light. In this article, we confront and de-centre the Turn off the Red Light campaign’s hegemonic narrative that the criminal rather than social justice responses provide a more effective vehicle for sex workers’ empowerment. Undertaking our intervention in Irish feminist prostitution politics as a ‘politics of doing’ social justice through our separate and combined research, we extend our analysis by invoking Nancy Fraser and Barbara Hudson’s theoretical work on social and restorative justice. We wish to develop a theoretical framework that can serve as a roadmap for restorative social justice – the process of achieving rights, recognition and redistribution through relational, reflective and discursive interventions in sex work research, policy and practice. We argue that by ‘thinking’ sex workers’ positionality in social relations differently, the ‘doings’ of restorative social justice for sex workers can begin or take place.

scholarly journals English in the multilingual classroom: implications for research, policy and practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janina Brutt-Griffler
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Global Knowledge ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Research ◽  
High Level

Purpose The shift in the function of English as a medium of instruction together with its use in knowledge construction and dissemination among scholars continue to fuel the global demand for high-level proficiency in the language. These components of the global knowledge economy mean that the ability of nations to produce multilinguals with advanced English proficiency alongside their mastery of other languages has become a key to global competitiveness. That need is helping to drive one of the greatest language learning experiments the world has ever known. It carries significant implications for new research agendas and teacher preparation in applied linguistics. Design/methodology/approach Evidence-based decision-making, whether it pertains to language policy decisions, instructional practices, teacher professional development or curricula/program building, needs to be based on a rigorous and systematically pursued program of research and assessment. Findings This paper seeks to advance these objectives by identifying new research foci that underscore a student-centered approach. Originality/value It introduces a new theoretical construct – multilingual proficiency – to underscore the knowledge that the learner develops in the process of language learning that makes for the surest route to the desired high levels of language proficiency. The paper highlights the advantages of a student-centered approach that focuses on multilingual proficiency for teachers and explores the concomitant conclusions for teacher development.

Considering Context: An Integrative Concept for Promoting Outcomes in the Intellectual Disability Field

2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karrie A. Shogren
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Consensus Definition ◽  
Individuals With Disabilities ◽  
Diagnosis And Classification ◽  
Integrative Concept ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract In light of the rapid evolution of research, policy, and practice in the intellectual disability (ID) field resulting from shifts in our conceptualization of disability and in frameworks for the diagnosis and classification of ID, systematic consideration of the multiple, interrelated contextual factors that impact research, policy, and practice are necessary to achieve valued outcomes for individuals with disabilities, their families, and society. The purpose of this article is to introduce a recently developed consensus definition of context and elaborate on application of this definition to research, practice, and policy in the ID field, with a specific focus on how context may be able to serve as an integrative concept to support the attainment of valued outcomes in the disability field for individuals with disabilities, their families, and society.

From research, through policy and politics to practice: learning from experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 35-46
Author(s):  
Emma Davies ◽  
Elizabeth Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Learning From Experience ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Difficult Terrain ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The aim of this paper is on what the authors learnt from negotiating the difficult terrain linking, or separating, research from policy advice and the political process. Design/methodology/approach – This paper outlines two case studies from New Zealand to examine what confounds and what bridges gaps between research, policy, politics and practice. The case studies were predicated on the belief that interagency and cross-sectoral actions were necessary to align actions and achieve good outcomes in social policy. Findings – Interagency processes are not the Holy Grail. More attention needs to be paid to the impact of the context in which researchers, public servants and politicians operate and of the research and policy-making processes within their organisations. Politics within and between organisations and politics on the national stage must also be understood if the gap between research, policy and practice is to be narrowed and successfully navigated. Originality/value – These are original case studies. Researchers often bemoan the failure of their findings to influence policy and practice; policy makers complain that researchers are unaware of “real world” timeframes and policy concerns, and politicians grow impatient with advice that takes little heed of political imperatives. Therefore, these case studies will be of particular interest to students and practitioners of social policy and researchers who wish to see their findings influence policy.

Commentary on a “unified approach to behaviours that challenge”: against consensus – why we need a new field of challenging behaviour studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-172
Author(s):  
Stacy Clifford Simplican
Keyword(s):  
Research Policy ◽  
Challenging Behaviour ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
Direct Support ◽  
Positive Behaviour Support ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper challenges the value of consensus within the field of learning disability. In this commentary, the author argues that consensus threatens to silence multiple viewpoints, hides how power operates and stifles creativity. Design/methodology/approach The author focuses on two articles within this special issue to suggest that the consensus celebrated is more about a set of shared values, rather than a set of shared practices. This should make us question the depth of the field’s consensus. Findings The presumption that multiple paradigms can be “unified” actually hides how power operates to resolve disagreements among positive behaviour support, active support and human rights approaches. A similar erasure occurs in the language of “capable environments,” which the author argues obscures the role of individuals, relationships and organizational cultures in impacting quality of life. Research limitations/implications We need to create and build a new interdisciplinary field of challenging behaviour studies that is willing to embrace conflict and disagreement in research, policy and practice. Practical implications The author believes that this approach is more likely to empower people, including people with learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges, family members, and direct support workers because it is more likely to recognize their experiences and expertise. Originality/value A new multidisciplinary field of challenging behaviour studies may encourage more theoretical diversity that makes us challenge the value of consensus and embrace creativity.

Parenting while grieving: the impact of baby loss

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 168-175
Author(s):  
Hedy Cleaver ◽  
Wendy Rose ◽  
Elizabeth Young ◽  
Rebecca Veitch
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Living Children ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of pregnancy or baby loss on families, and their ability to access suitable support. Miscarriage and stillbirth are not rare events and losing a baby can have an overwhelming and long-term impact on parents and on existing and subsequent children.Design/methodology/approachThis paper provides an overview of current relevant research, policy and practice.FindingsMuch research and service provision focuses on pregnancy or baby loss for parents without living children. This is predicated on the widely held assumption that existing children provide a protective factor mitigating the loss and going on to have another child is the best antidote to grief. Research does not substantiate this but highlights the difficulties parents experience when coping with pregnancy or baby loss alongside the needs of looking after existing children.Originality/valueThe identification of a “hidden” group of parents and children whose mental health and wellbeing is at risk without the provision of services. A tailored approach to the needs of the family is called for, including greater collaboration between statutory and third sector organisations.

Researching Bears Ears: reference practice for civic engagement

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-61
Author(s):  
Amy Brunvand
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Land Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Working Through ◽  
Citizen Activism ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Reference Librarians ◽  
Civic Dialogue ◽  
Government Planning

Purpose The purpose of this study is to describe practical, generalizable competencies for reference librarians to promote civic engagement and social justice while assisting with politicized queries. Design/methodology/approach Working through an example of tension between land development and protection of an indigenous sacred place illustrates reference strategies that model an ideally inclusive community dialogue. Findings To promote civic engagement, librarians have a role to teach basic civics and to help identify opportunities for public comments and other “leverage points” in a system. An information trail for civic engagement is generated though an interaction between government planning, industry lobbying and citizen activism; it is supported by online and gray literature sources that typically fall outside of typical library collections and databases. A way to grapple with contentious and distorting political claims is to model ideal stakeholder inclusivity, a strategy that also helps to bring marginalized voices into the civic dialogue. Sources from the humanities express cultural and spiritual considerations that are absent from typical political discourse. Research limitations/implications Strategies are based on experience as a staff writer for a community magazine. Practical implications Specific strategies and competencies promote civic engagement during the time period allowed by a typical extended reference dialogue. Social implications An overly sunny view of community problem-solving glosses over some messy realities. To promote civic engagement, librarians must develop competencies to help citizens grapple with marginalization and distorting claims. Originality/value Calls to promote civic engagement and social justice in libraries require librarians to develop new competencies. Working through a case study illustrates specific knowledge and reference practices that support strong democracy.

scholarly journals […] you feel there’s nowhere left to go: the barriers to support among women who experience substance use and domestic abuse in the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Fox
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Problematic Substance Use ◽  
Problematic Substance ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Domestic abuse victimisation is a common experience among women with problematic substance use, but support provision for both issues is siloed within the UK. Research on the topic focuses on practitioner responses, dominating women’s voices within research, policy and practice. As such, knowledge about women’s experiences of help-seeking is missing. This study therefore aims to fill a gap in knowledge by exploring the lived experiences of supporting seeking among women impacted by domestic abuse and substance use. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women who had a history of co-occurring problematic substance use and domestic abuse. Influenced by interpretive phenomenological analysis and feminist research praxis, the study explored how women with dual needs navigated support and help seeking and the barriers they faced. Findings The women reported the biggest barrier was the disconnect between substance use and domestic abuse support, including a gap in the communication of information. This resulted in them having to choose which of their needs to seek support for. None of the women received support for their combined experiences, and most of the women never received support for their domestic abuse experiences alone. Originality/value This is the first piece of research from the UK to explore, in-depth, women’s journey through support for their co-occurring substance use and domestic abuse victimisation. Previous research has not consulted with women to understand how they navigate the complex support systems available. This paper is, therefore, important, because it demonstrates the journeys to services these women take and the barriers they have to overcome.

A Meta-Theoretical Framework for Understanding Educational Disparities Affecting Black Youth in the United States: Implications for Social Work

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-206
Author(s):  
Stephanie C. Boddie ◽  
Eric Kyere ◽  
A. Christson Adedoyin
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Black Youth ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Educational Disparities ◽  
Modern Capitalism

BackgroundBlack youth are disproportionately disadvantaged in nearly every indicator of academic performance.ObjectiveThis analysis seeks to understand the role of racism in the genesis of educational disparities affecting Black youth.MethodsDrawing from structural functionalism, modern capitalism, and critical race theory, we provide a meta-theoretical framework to explore the underpinnings of racial disparities that disadvantage Black youth in U.S. public schools.FindingsThis meta-theoretical framework suggests a critical need to examine the history of racism as well as the social, political, and economic structure of the U.S. to understand the educational disparities affecting Black youth.ConclusionSocial work professionals can use this meta-theoretical framework to inform research, policy, and practice addressing educational disparities and ultimately create more equitable, fair, and just school environments.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document