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Transformation and Quality of Social Services in Slovakia: Implications of Social Role Valorisation Concept
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, October 2018
Pages:
203-210
Received:
10 August 2018
Accepted:
23 August 2018
Published:
28 September 2018
Abstract: The topic of the quality of social services has been officially institutionalised in Slovakia since 2009 as part of the historically first separate act on social services, as well as a part of the general efforts focused on the transformation of social services. Although the quality system is primarily a policy concept, numerous parallels with the concept of the social role valorisation can be observed. The aim of the study is to present selected aspects of recent developments in the implementation of the new quality system in Slovakia based on the research conducted in 2016. These questions were addressed: According to the providers, is more profound transformation of social services in Slovakia necessary? If yes, what should the transformation relate to? What is the providers’ opinion on the importance of the quality system as part of transformation of social services? What changes do the providers expect in their organisations with regards to the implementation of the quality system? As the research findings shown, the absolute majority of respondents (social service providers) considered the transformation of social services for necessary, while adoption of measures at several levels is necessary. Expectations of transformation changes at systemic level (e.g. financing of social services, stabile legislation, equal status of public and non-public providers), at organisational level, as well as the level of professional performance of social services were identified. The emphasis was put particularly on the need for systemic changes in social services, with considerably lower representation of expected changes at the organisational as well as professional levels. Respondents expressed high confidence in the quality of their own services, not being aware of any major reserves. In the discussion, the author appreciates the concept of the social role valorisation for interpreting and explanations of the obtained, sometimes contradictory, research results.
Abstract: The topic of the quality of social services has been officially institutionalised in Slovakia since 2009 as part of the historically first separate act on social services, as well as a part of the general efforts focused on the transformation of social services. Although the quality system is primarily a policy concept, numerous parallels with the ...
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Structural Analysis of the Cooperation Network Among the Tourist Accommodation Actors in Santa Clara City, Cuba
Kenia Alvarez Cepero,
Hallén Boffil López,
Roberto Muñoz González
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, October 2018
Pages:
211-215
Received:
15 June 2018
Accepted:
16 August 2018
Published:
11 October 2018
Abstract: Today’s world is experiencing how the hospitality and travel industry takes off, tourism has become into the revitalizing activity of many emerging economies, and this is the reason for its constant evolution and complexity. The Accommodation Section as the operative base of the hospitality sector has started a development in a series of steps, at the same time that managing it turns even more difficult if the deepest characteristics aren´t studied properly. In Cuba, specifically in Santa Clara City there are problems to carry out an efficient management of the tourist accommodations section, due to the lack of more complex studies showing important structural aspects regarding to the relationships between the accommodation actors. This circumstance leads, necessarily, to set in motion new analytical perspectives of tourist accommodation which go beyond the traditional ones. Taking into consideration the above expressed it is proposed a structural analysis of the relationship networks between the tourist accommodation actors in Santa Clara Municipality, taking as methodological foundation the procedure presented by Alvarez 2015, using quantitative and qualitative techniques, data processing will be made in The UCINET 6 Software for analyzing social networks, using also the Complete Networks Method. The results show difference in interests, low centrality measures, and low density that is why analytical fundaments are proposed in order to improve the existent network.
Abstract: Today’s world is experiencing how the hospitality and travel industry takes off, tourism has become into the revitalizing activity of many emerging economies, and this is the reason for its constant evolution and complexity. The Accommodation Section as the operative base of the hospitality sector has started a development in a series of steps, at ...
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Review on the Development and Evolution of Foreign Sports Competitive Intelligence
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, October 2018
Pages:
216-222
Received:
21 August 2018
Accepted:
4 September 2018
Published:
13 October 2018
Abstract: Using the research methods of historical analysis, expert interview, mathematical statistics and so on, the present research has, based on the review of sports competitive intelligence development in foreign countries, divided into in three evolution stages according to the features in development, namely, pioneer stage, traditional sport intelligence stage, and modern sport intelligence stage. By analyzing the achievements in each stage, it has proposed the developmental trends in future sport competitive intelligence. Along with the rapid development of modern information technology like the Internet, cloud computing, big data, the development of sport competitive intelligence exhibits the trends of diversified service objects, hi-tech methods and means, multidimensional research paradigm, etc. The prospect of sport competitive intelligence can be summarized as the following: continued development of technology will bring more high- tech data acquisition software and equipment to the field; new multivariate statistical model will make sports competitive intelligence work more forward- looking and predictive.
Abstract: Using the research methods of historical analysis, expert interview, mathematical statistics and so on, the present research has, based on the review of sports competitive intelligence development in foreign countries, divided into in three evolution stages according to the features in development, namely, pioneer stage, traditional sport intellige...
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A Reflexive Method for Validating the Results of Qualitative Analysis
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, October 2018
Pages:
223-232
Received:
7 June 2018
Accepted:
5 September 2018
Published:
15 October 2018
Abstract: One of the central arguments of Pierre Bourdieu is that social science researchers should reflect not only on the research object but also on the subject. How to achieve this? This question also relates to the calls for the operationalisation of reflexivity. This study addresses this research question. The aim of this study is to present a method for operationalising reflexivity. The study is an empirical study of an agricultural marketing board in India. The board controls over two hundred market yards of the state. These yards are specialized wholesale commodity markets where the agricultural commodities are traded. The major stakeholders in the trade are farmers, government officers, traders, and private vendors. The board implemented an agricultural marketing information system project that intended to interconnect the yards by modern day information technology. The data for the study are collected in form of semi-structured interviews with these stakeholder groups. The study uses a qualitative methodology based on the constant comparison method. Using this method a set of constructs is identified. These constructs are scrutinised through the lenses of reflexivity. Finally, a framework is presented that can guide the operationalisation of reflexivity. The five step framework compares the empirical data from the field with the data about the researcher. The framework helps in establishing the validity of research results as the same research methods are applied to both the research phenomenon as well as the researcher. The paper contributes to the discussion on the operationalisation of reflexivity.
Abstract: One of the central arguments of Pierre Bourdieu is that social science researchers should reflect not only on the research object but also on the subject. How to achieve this? This question also relates to the calls for the operationalisation of reflexivity. This study addresses this research question. The aim of this study is to present a method f...
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The Point of Counting: Mapping the Internet Based Sex Industry
Teela Sanders,
Rosie Campbell,
Stewart Cunningham,
Jane Pitcher,
Jane Scoular
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 5, October 2018
Pages:
233-241
Received:
25 August 2018
Accepted:
26 September 2018
Published:
22 October 2018
Abstract: Study Aim: This paper tries to grapple with some of the questions about counting numbers in the sex industry as an adjunct to a much larger sociological study of the ways in which digital technology has changed the commercial sex industry. The project sets out to reflect on the ethics of counting online and what this means to the sex work community. Method: The data is provided by the largest online adult services advertising platform in the UK which is compared to our own counts of sex worker profiles on that same platform to illustrate some of the challenges related to counting the sex industry. Result: The data comparisons show that using front facing public profiles of adult sex workers is not an accurate measure of the size of the sex industry, and whilst the information can be used for some purposes it must be used with caution. The findings point to the need for researchers and others involved in mapping sex worker populations to reflect carefully on ethical issues and the impact of mapping on sex workers. Conclusion: It is suggested that the usefulness of counting profiles on adult websites should be approached with caution both as a researcher analyst and also as someone who uses or requests this form of quantification. With over 40% differences between outward facing and active profiles the margins for error are high.
Abstract: Study Aim: This paper tries to grapple with some of the questions about counting numbers in the sex industry as an adjunct to a much larger sociological study of the ways in which digital technology has changed the commercial sex industry. The project sets out to reflect on the ethics of counting online and what this means to the sex work community...
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