Revisando el uso de grupos focalizados en la investigación social

Las reflexiones metodológicas sobre grupos focalizados (GF) de este artículo tienen como punto de partida una investigación con sectores medios del Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires. El estudio de referencia aborda los discursos y prácticas de cuidado de la salud en el escenario contemporáneo caracterizado por la diversificación de especialistas, la creciente cobertura mediática de recomendaciones sobre la vida sana y el bienestar, la implementación de políticas públicas de promoción de la salud, y el crecimiento de la industria de productos y servicios vinculados con la temática. El objetivo del artículo es reflexionar, a partir de nuestra experiencia de investigación, sobre dos aspectos que han recibido especial atención en la literatura metodológica más reciente: los criterios para componer los grupos y sus consecuencias para la dinámica de las conversaciones grupales, y las estrategias para dar cuenta de la interacción grupal en el análisis de los datos. En este último eje exploramos el potencial de los GF para observar el trabajo identitario vinculado con el cuidado de la salud. Enmarcamos nuestro estudio y las decisiones metodológicas tomadas en los debates actuales sobre la variedad de usos de los GF.

'You Never Truly Feel at Home': Students' Perceptions of their Multilingualism and its Role in their Identity Construction : - A Study Performed in a Suburb Located in a Socially Vulnerable Area

A relevant subject in our globalized world concerns the relationship between language and identity, specifically amongst migrant youngsters’ experience of group belonging. This study therefore focused on how adolescents born to foreign parents in Sweden, perceived their multilingualism as part of their identity formation. I also aimed to include how socio-economic aspects could affect the process of identity construction. Thus, the investigation was performed with seventh grade students at a primary school located in the Stockholm suburb Bredäng. The methods consisted of a questionnaire, which was completed by the entire class and a group interview where six students participated. The results revealed that students adapted their language use based on the context, but Swedish was used most habitually. The informants viewed their multilingualism as beneficial but yet fully aware of the linguistic ideologies functioning in society. By combining their minority and majority language, the students were left with different ethnic identities and had diverse interpretations of what it meant to be Swedish. Even though all of them perceived themselves to have multiple ethnic identities, this was not solely seen positively. The issue of belonging was raised and the students claimed to be outcasts everywhere. However, the results differed depending on whether the students were born in Sweden or not. Also, most of them struggled with the process of assumed and ascribed identities, since they perceived themselves to be Swedish but experienced that society valued them as immigrants. Lastly, the study revealed that there were connections between their multilingualism and social mobility as the relationship towards the motherland was highly prioritized even with low levels of economic capital. 

Políticas académicas y reconocimiento social en universitarios de Educación Física de la UNLP : El diseño de la investigación

Este trabajo se propone socializar e intercambiar con la comunidad académica de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) la construcción del proyecto de tesis de maestría. Dicho proyecto busca comprender la construcción del reconocimiento social de un grupo de universitarios de Educación Física (EF) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) a partir de su participación en políticas académicas entre 1992 y 2004. La investigación se focaliza en las prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad vinculadas a la legitimación de su campo disciplinar y su carrera en la FaHCE, en un período histórico particularmente intenso en cuanto al diseño y desarrollo de políticas académicas ligadas a la revisión curricular, la formación académica y la producción científica. El trabajo se plantea analizar, desde la perspectiva de los actores, las formas de apropiación y resignificación actual de esas políticas, prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad con relación a la configuración identitaria de la EF como disciplina académica. El enfoque teórico y metodológico de la investigación localiza a los actores objeto de estudio a partir de su participación en una compleja y cambiante trama de relaciones y prácticas sociales diversas (disciplinares, corporativas, profesionales, políticas y personales). Asimismo, se indagan los sentidos que construyeron en cuanto al reconocimiento social logrado en el presente, tanto de su campo disciplinar como carrera en la FaHCE-UNLP

Políticas académicas y reconocimiento social en universitarios de Educación Física de la UNLP : El diseño de la investigación

Este trabajo se propone socializar e intercambiar con la comunidad académica de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) la construcción del proyecto de tesis de maestría. Dicho proyecto busca comprender la construcción del reconocimiento social de un grupo de universitarios de Educación Física (EF) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) a partir de su participación en políticas académicas entre 1992 y 2004. La investigación se focaliza en las prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad vinculadas a la legitimación de su campo disciplinar y su carrera en la FaHCE, en un período histórico particularmente intenso en cuanto al diseño y desarrollo de políticas académicas ligadas a la revisión curricular, la formación académica y la producción científica. El trabajo se plantea analizar, desde la perspectiva de los actores, las formas de apropiación y resignificación actual de esas políticas, prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad con relación a la configuración identitaria de la EF como disciplina académica. El enfoque teórico y metodológico de la investigación localiza a los actores objeto de estudio a partir de su participación en una compleja y cambiante trama de relaciones y prácticas sociales diversas (disciplinares, corporativas, profesionales, políticas y personales). Asimismo, se indagan los sentidos que construyeron en cuanto al reconocimiento social logrado en el presente, tanto de su campo disciplinar como carrera en la FaHCE-UNLP

Políticas académicas y reconocimiento social en universitarios de Educación Física de la UNLP : El diseño de la investigación

Este trabajo se propone socializar e intercambiar con la comunidad académica de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) la construcción del proyecto de tesis de maestría. Dicho proyecto busca comprender la construcción del reconocimiento social de un grupo de universitarios de Educación Física (EF) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) a partir de su participación en políticas académicas entre 1992 y 2004. La investigación se focaliza en las prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad vinculadas a la legitimación de su campo disciplinar y su carrera en la FaHCE, en un período histórico particularmente intenso en cuanto al diseño y desarrollo de políticas académicas ligadas a la revisión curricular, la formación académica y la producción científica. El trabajo se plantea analizar, desde la perspectiva de los actores, las formas de apropiación y resignificación actual de esas políticas, prácticas, estrategias y formas de sociabilidad con relación a la configuración identitaria de la EF como disciplina académica. El enfoque teórico y metodológico de la investigación localiza a los actores objeto de estudio a partir de su participación en una compleja y cambiante trama de relaciones y prácticas sociales diversas (disciplinares, corporativas, profesionales, políticas y personales). Asimismo, se indagan los sentidos que construyeron en cuanto al reconocimiento social logrado en el presente, tanto de su campo disciplinar como carrera en la FaHCE-UNLP

Interrogation of Gender Identity: Aesthetic Consumption of Korean Television Dramas by Young Women in China

Given the popularity of Korean television dramas among various age groups in other countries, one would expect to see a similar pattern of consumption across different ages in China. Instead, we see high levels of consumption of Korean dramas by a very specific demographic. Why do young Chinese females consume Korean dramas at such high levels? I argue that young Chinese women’s heavy consumption of Korean dramas that portray a particular aesthetic of self and familial resolution may be explained by a need to redress contemporary psychological issues related to gendered self-identity. I posit that the identity formation processes of this particular demographic has been shaped by changes in family dynamics that stem from social and political restructuring in the 1980s, particularly the one-child policy. Thus, this thesis explores how the consumption of Korean dramas by young females in China may be understood as an implicit interrogation of gendered identity.

Cherbourg's Chinatown: creating an identity of place on an Australian Aboriginal settlement

This is the story of an extraordinary Aboriginal woman, Princy Carlo, and the identity of place she and her descendants fashioned within the confines of the Aboriginal settlement of Cherbourg (formerly Barambah), during the early twentieth century. The patch of Cherbourg that came to be known as 'Chinatown' has to date attracted cursory reference in historical commentary on the south-eastern Queensland Aboriginal settlement. Yet, hidden beneath what may appear as an inconsequential historical detail lies a fascinating illustration of the negotiation of place identity within a frame of triangulated group relations (Aboriginal-Chinese-White) in what remained, in essence, a colonial society. Incorporating primary written sources and oral accounts from descendants the study analyses the forging of the Chinatown identity of place through a process of 'spatial othering', eliciting features unique to this indigenous identity-construct. The study provides an insight into Aboriginal connection and kinship with land following forced removal to a government settlement, and contributes to the historical records of the Cherbourg Aboriginal community and the Eidsvold district in Queensland, Australia. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

'The bloke with a stroke' - Alick Wickham, the 'crawl' and social memory

Solomon Islander swimmer Alick Wickham is a celebrated figure in Australian, Solomon Islander and international sport history. His iconic status is inextricably linked to the myth that he introduced the crawl stroke, commonly known as freestyle, to Australia and hence the wider world. The focus of this paper is not the mythic qualities of Wickham's contribution to the crawl stroke, but rather how this myth has been enmeshed in a range of discourses. Through the lens of postcolonialism and by focusing on the creation of social memory - in literature, postage stamps and documentaries Wickham's contribution to the crawl stroke has been represented in three dominant ways: as a racial discourse centring on the social construction of the 'nimble savage', as part of Australian nationalism in terms of the nation's contribution to world swimming, and as a discernible dimension in the construction of Solomon Islander identity after independence.

Locating cosmopolitanism - Between humanist ideal and grounded social category

The emerging interdisciplinary body of cosmopolitanism research has established a promising field of theoretical endeavour by bringing into focus questions concerning globalization, nationalism, population movements, cultural values and identity. Yet, despite its potential importance, what characterizes recent cosmopolitanism research is an idealist sentiment that considerably marginalizes the significance of the structures of nation-state and citizenship, while leaving unspecified the empirical sociological dimensions of cosmopolitanism itself. Our critique aims at making cosmopolitanism a more productive analytical tool. We argue for a cosmopolitanism that consists of conceptually and empirically identifiable values and outlooks. While there has been some progress made in this direction in the recent literature on cosmopolitanism, most writing still considers cosmopolitanism as something so delicate that it cannot be measured. Furthermore, in order to appreciate the full currency of the concept, we argue that researchers must not only agree on some common determinants of cosmopolitanism and cosmopolitan dispositions, but also ground their analyses of cosmopolitanism in the context of enduring nation-state structures.

Early practical experience and the social responsiveness of clinical education: Systematic review

Objectives To find how early experience in clinical and community settings (early experience) affects medical education, and identify strengths and limitations of the available evidence. Design A systematic review rating, by consensus, the strength and importance of outcomes reported in the decade 1992-2001. Data sources Bibliographical databases and journals were searched for publications on the topic, reviewed under the auspices of the recently formed Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) collaboration. Selection of studies All empirical studies (verifiable, observational data) were included, whatever their design, method, or language of publication. Results Early experience was most commonly provided in community settings, aiming to recruit primary care practitioners for underserved populations. It increased the popularity of primary care residencies, albeit among self selected students. It fostered self awareness and empathic attitudes towards ill people, boosted students' confidence, motivated them, gave them satisfaction, and helped them develop a professional identity. By helping develop interpersonal skills, it made entering clerkships a less stressful experience. Early experience helped students learn about professional roles and responsibilities, healthcare systems, and health needs of a population. It made biomedical, behavioural, and social sciences more relevant and easier to learn. It motivated and rewarded teachers and patients and enriched curriculums. In some countries,junior students provided preventive health care directly to underserved populations. Conclusion Early experience helps medical students learn, helps them develop appropriate attitudes towards their studies and future practice, and orientates medical curriculums towards society's needs. Experimental evidence of its benefit is unlikely to be forthcoming and yet more medical schools are likely to provide it. Effort could usefully be concentrated on evaluating the methods and outcomes of early experience provided within non-experimental research designs, and using that evaluation to improve the quality of curriculums.

'You can criticize because you care': Identity attachment, constructiveness, and the intergroup sensitivity effect

Criticism of one's group (e.g. nation, gender, or organization) is typically received in a less defensive way when it stems from another ingroup member than when it stems from an outsider (the intergroup sensitivity effect). We present two experiments demonstrating that this effect is driven not by group membership per se, but by the extent to which critics are perceived to be psychologically invested in the group they are criticizing. In Experiment 1 (N = 117), Australian participants were exposed to criticisms of their country from either other Australians (ingroup critics) or non-Australians (outgroup critics). Furthermore, the ingroup critics were described as having either strong or weak attachment to their Australian identity. Ingroup critics were only received more positively than outgroup critics when they appeared to have a psychological investment in the group. In Experiment 2 (N = 96) we show how outgroup critics (Asian-Australians) can overcome defensiveness among Anglo-Australians by locating themselves within a shared, superordinate identity (Australian). Implications for communication within and between groups are discussed.

'Putting up your Dukes': Statues, social memory and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku

Public statues that commemorate the lives and achievements of athletes are pervasive and influential forms of social memory in Western societies. Despite this important nexus between cultural practice and history making, there is a relative void of critical studies of statuary dedicated to athletes. This article will attempt to contribute to a broader understanding in this area by considering a bronze statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian Olympian, swimmer and surfer, at Waikīkī, Hawaii. This prominent monument demonstrates the processes of remembering and forgetting that are integral to acts of social memory. In this case, Kahanamoku's identity as a surfer is foregrounded over his legacy as a swimmer. The distillation and use of Kahanamoku's memory in this representation is enmeshed in deeper cultural forces about Hawaii's identity. Competing meanings of the statue's symbolism indicate its role as a 'hollow icon', and illustrate the way that apparently static objects representing the sporting past are in fact objects of the present.

An examination of the effects of print media exposure and contact on subjective social reality and acculturation attitudes

This study draws upon cultivation theory, acculturation theory, and works on intergroup relations to examine the effects of print media exposure and contact on subjective social reality and acculturation attitudes of Chinese immigrants in Australia. Data was gathered via a survey administered to 265 respondents with Chinese origin. Results indicate that exposure to mainstream newspapers is only positively related to one indicator of subjective reality, namely, outgroup perception whereas exposure to ethnic newspapers was not significantly related to any of the indicators of subjective reality. Acculturation attitudes, on the other hand, are more closely related to group perception and contact but not closely associated with exposure to print media. These findings have again challenged the direct effect assumption of cultivation theory, paved the ground for combining mediated communication variables with interpersonal communication variables in acculturation research and suggested policy implications for interethnic coexistence. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.