Ethical issues in social work research and strategies for an ethically responsible research

Introducción. La investigación es una fuente de conocimiento en Trabajo Social (en adelante, TS), que está condicionada, en su dimensión ética, por el contexto sociopolítico, los valores, principios y ética de la profesión y las peculiaridades de la investigación en TS (en adelante, ITS). Este trabajo pretende contribuir a la reflexión sobre las prácticas investigadoras del TS, identificando las principales cuestiones éticas que se plantean en el proceso de ITS y sus estrategias de abordaje para garantizar una investigación éticamente responsable. Material y Métodos. El trabajo se ha realizado mediante el análisis bibliográfico y la transferencia de la experiencia investigadora del autor. Resultados. Tras de la identificación de las cuestiones éticas que surgen en los procesos de investigación, se hacen explícitas estrategias necesarias para garantizar que la ITS sea éticamente responsable: (1) en las primeras etapas de la investigación (formulación inicial de las preguntas de investigación, protección y selección de los participantes, consentimiento informado, revisión institucional de los proyectos); (2) en su diseño y metodología (uso del engaño, confidencialidad y privacidad, conflictos de intereses y relaciones duales); (3) en los resultados de la investigación (informes de resultados, difusión de resultados, reconocimiento de las contribuciones). Discusión y conclusiones. Las cuestiones éticas en la ITS surgen en la interacción con la ética de la investigación en Ciencias Sociales, y la misión, la ética y los valores del TS. Ambas ofrecen orientaciones de conducta generales, pero existen cuestiones específicas que requieren estrategias específicas de abordaje en diferentes momentos del proceso de investigación.Introduction. Research is a source of knowledge in social work (hereafter named SW), conditioned, in its ethical dimension, by the socio-political context, SW values, principles and ethics and the peculiarities of SW research (hereafter named SWR). This work aims to contribute to the reflection on SWR practices, identifying key ethical issues that arise in the process of SWR and strategies to ensure ethically responsible research. Material and Methods. The work has been conducted using the literature review and the transfer of the research experience of the author. Results. After the identification of ethical issues that arise in the research process, the paper specifies strategies to ensure that SWR is ethically responsible: (1) in the early stages of the investigation (initial formulation of research questions, protection and selection of participants, informed consent, institutional review of projects), (2) in its design and methodology (use of deception, confidentiality and privacy, conflicts of interest and dual relationships), (3) in the results of research (reporting results, dissemination of results, recognition of contributions). Discussion and conclusions. Ethical issues arise in SWR in the interaction with the ethics of social science research, and the mission, ethics and values of SW. Both offer general guidelines for research behavior, but there are specific issues that require specific strategies to address at different times of the research process

Experts by experience and by profession: views of professional practice in Primary Care Social Services

Este artículo se ha desarrollado en el marco de un trabajo de investigación más amplio sobre indicadores de calidad en los Servicios Sociales, cuya finalidad es integrar la perspectiva de profesionales y usuarios sobre la calidad en los Servicios Sociales de Atención Primaria (SSAP). Siguiendo un enfoque cualitativo con finalidad exploratoria, mediante entrevistas en profundidad a usuarios y grupos de discusión con profesionales, los resultados recogen su visión sobre la práctica profesional en estos Servicios y, específicamente, sobre las habilidades, actitudes y cualidades necesarias. El trabajo muestra que, aun con experiencias, posiciones y roles diferentes, ambos comparten una perspectiva sobre la práctica profesional necesaria en estos Servicios, en los que las habilidades de comunicación interpersonal y la predisposición o actitud en la relación son elementos clave. Sobre las cualidades personales hay acuerdo en considerarlas un facilitador de la interacción, pero los profesionales destacan que si no van acompañadas de formación no garantizan un trabajo de calidad. Los hallazgos de este trabajo pueden ser útiles para el diseño y revisión de los procesos de formación y selección de los profesionales.This article has been developed as part of a larger research work on indicators of quality in Social Services, aimed at integrating the perspective of users and professionals on the quality of Primary Care Social Services (PCSS). Following a qualitative approach with exploratory purposes, based on in-depth interviews with users and focus groups with users and focus groups made up of professionals, the results reflect their vision of professional practice in the PCSS and specifically on the skills, attitudes and qualities needed. The work shows that, even with different experience, positions and roles, each have a shared perspective on the professional practice required in the PCSS, in which interpersonal communication skills and the willingness or attitude in the relationship are key elements. Agreement exists that the personal qualities considered are a facilitator for interaction, but the professionals emphasize that if they are not accompanied by training, they do not guarantee quality of professional practice. The findings of this study may be useful for the design and review of the processes of training and recruitment of professionals.El presente trabajo es resultado del proyecto de investigación Indicadores de calidad en los Servicios Sociales (INCASS), (CSO2008-04359/SOCI), financiado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Dirección General de Investigación y Gestión del Plan Nacional de I+D+i). Plan Nacional I+D+i 2008-2011. Investigador principal: Víctor M. Giménez Bertomeu

Silvopastoral management for quality wood production

PosterIn the last decade, hardwood plantations have substantially increased in many Spanish regions. In order to grow trees for high quality timber in short rotations, an intensive management, with high economic and environmental costs. The control of competing herbaceous vegetation is required for avoiding tree-herbage competition and fire risk. Silvopastoral management could allow reducing the economic costs and optimize their environmental functions. This study was carried out in various intensive 15 year old plantations of walnut located in Extremadura (Spain). A comparison of different herbaceous layer control was realized: harrow, brushcutter and grazing on natural grassland combined with different doses of irrigation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the profitability of each technique and their environmental implications. The nutritional and physiological status of trees was analyzed, as well as their growth (diameter increment). In addition, the temporal dynamics of soil moisture profile, available nutrients in the soil and nitrate leaching were studied. The maximum tree growth was observed with harrowing (where the highest available N and Ca in soil were observed) and grazing treatment (where P availability in soil was increased) both combined with the highest level of irrigation (that produced an increment of P and K content in leaves). The lowest tree growth was observed with brushcutting, in spite of this treatment, as horrowing, improved the N leaf level. Moreover, brushcutting affected positively to organic matter content and produced the lowest nitrate leaching in soil (in the first 30 cm depth). Respect to nitrate leaching, the difference among treatments was not significantly below 30 cm deep which reduces environmental hazard. There was no difference in physiological status of trees and soil moisture. Therefore, silvopastoral systems can be compatible with the medium-long term hardwood timber production, with great current and future demand, developing an environmentally efficient production system

Implementation of Service-Learning as a Strategy to Foster Intercultural Coexistence in the Local Community: A Case Study

Service-learning (SL) is a participatory teaching–learning methodology through which students learn certain content while also meeting a number of real social needs in their environment. The implementation of SL in different areas and educational stages has been extensively described. However, its potential as a community and intercultural development strategy at the local level has not been widely studied. Through a documentary analysis, the present work sought to understand the characteristics of socio-educational interventions, which, based on the service-learning methodology, aim at improving coexistence in local communities with a high degree of cultural diversity. A total of 18 projects were included in a community programme implemented in the municipality of Elche (Spain) between 2010 and 2016. They all focused or included the promotion of intercultural coexistence among their objectives. The study design was quantitative, with a descriptive and explanatory, univariate and bivariate analysis using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences 26. The results showed that service-learning can contribute to the improvement of intercultural coexistence. Moreover, a number of SL basic, pedagogical and organisational components are enhanced when integrated into broader community development processes

Effects of silvoarable agroforestry on profitability and environmental indicators

Poste

Resultados principales del análisis de la situación de las prácticas pre-profesionales de los estudiantes de la Diplomatura en Trabajo Social, de las dificultades existentes y de sus causas en la Universidad de Alicante

En el IV Congreso de Escuelas de Trabajo Social, celebrado en 2002 en Alicante, se presentó el diseño de la investigación "Análisis de la situación de las prácticas pre-profesionales de los estudiantes de la Diplomatura en Trabajo Social, de las dificultades existentes y de sus causas", en ese momento en curso en la Escuela de Alicante, con el apoyo económico del Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación (período 2000-2002). El objetivo genérico del proyecto de investigación era conocer, de forma rigurosa, y analizar el proceso de paso y transformación de los conocimientos teóricos en habilidades prácticas de los estudiantes de trabajo Social, mediante la supervisión de campo, así como el estudio de las alternativas posibles de mejora. A partir de un enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo, se investigó la información obtenida de nuestras tres unidades de estudio (los profesionales que supervisan estudiantes, el alumnado y el profesorado) en aspectos tales como las condiciones actuales en que se realiza la supervisión de campo, la representación mental de la supervisión, la metodología y técnicas utilizadas, junto con las limitaciones y dificultades existentes en su desarrollo como instancia pedagógica complementaria de la docencia universitaria. Con esta comunicación, sepretende dar cuenta de los principales resultados obtenidos, en términos de verificación o refutación de las hipótesis formuladas en el proyecto siguiendo una lógica confirmatoria, y de las nueva hipótesis nacidas del contacto con los datos a partir de una lógica exploratoria. Del mismo modo, pretendemos señalar las implicaciones que estos resultados tienen para la práctica y las propuestas de mejora que nacen de ellas.In the IV Congress of Schools of Social Work, celebrated in 2002 in Alicante, we presented a paper about the design of the research project called “Analysis of the situation of the pre-professional practice of the students of the Diploma in Social Work, the existing difficulties and their causes”, then in course in the School of Alicante, with the economic support of the Institute of Sciences of the Education (period 2000-2002). The generic aim of the research project was to know, in a rigorous way, and to analyze the process of transformation of the theoretical knowledge in practical abilities of the students of Social Work, by means of the supervision of the field practice, as well as the study of the possible alternatives of improvement. From a quantitative and qualitative approach, we investigated the obtained data of our three units of study (the supervisors, the students and the teaching staff), in aspects such as the present conditions in that the supervision of field practice occurs, the mental representation of the supervision, the methodology and techniques used by supervisors, along with the existing limitations and difficulties in its development like complementary pedagogical instance of university teaching. This paper give account of the main results of the research, in terms of verification or refutation of the hypotheses formulated in the project following a confirmatory logic, and of the new hypotheses that have been born from the contact with the data, following now an exploratory logic. In the same way, we try to indicate the implications that these results have for the practice and the proposals of improvement that are born of the

Investigar desde el trabajo social: aprendizajes en I+D en el marco del Proyecto ICASS

Este trabajo recoge los principales aprendizajes en investigación y desarrollo generados en el marco del proyecto Indicadores de calidad en los Servicios Sociales (INCASS) (Plan Nacional I+D+i 2008-2011). El artículo se inicia con una referencia introductoria al conocimiento en la acción social y el Trabajo Social y a los rasgos básicos de la investigación en Trabajo Social y sus dificultades. Continúa describiendo las principales características del proyecto INCASS, en tanto que contexto de los aprendizajes generados, para después identificar los principales aspectos a considerar para optar a una convocatoria competitiva de financiación de la investigación. El trabajo concluye con una apuesta por la investigación desde el Trabajo Social para reforzar su identidad, su posición, su práctica profesional y la calidad de los servicios en que se ejerc

Interference of biodegradable plastics in the polypropylene recycling process

[EN] Recycling polymers is common due to the need to reduce the environmental impact of these materials. Polypropylene (PP) is one of the polymers called commodities polymers' and it is commonly used in a wide variety of short-term applications such as food packaging and agricultural products. That is why a large amount of PP residues that can be recycled are generated every year. However, the current increasing introduction of biodegradable polymers in the food packaging industry can negatively affect the properties of recycled PP if those kinds of plastics are disposed with traditional plastics. For this reason, the influence that generates small amounts of biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) in the recycled PP were analyzed in this work. Thus, recycled PP was blended with biodegradables polymers by melt extrusion followed by injection moulding process to simulate the industrial conditions. Then, the obtained materials were evaluated by studding the changes on the thermal and mechanical performance. The results revealed that the vicat softening temperature is negatively affected by the presence of biodegradable polymers in recycled PP. Meanwhile, the melt flow index was negatively affected for PLA and PHB added blends. The mechanical properties were affected when more than 5 wt.% of biodegradable polymers were present. Moreover, structural changes were detected when biodegradable polymers were added to the recycled PP by means of FTIR, because of the characteristic bands of the carbonyl group (between the band 1700-1800 cm(-1)) appeared due to the presence of PLA, PHB or TPS. Thus, low amounts (lower than 5 wt.%) of biodegradable polymers can be introduced in the recycled PP process without affecting the overall performance of the final material intended for several applications, such as food packaging, agricultural films for farming and crop protection.This research was funded by Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura y Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana, grant number APOSTD/2018/209.Samper, M.; Bertomeu, D.; Arrieta, MP.; Ferri, JM.; López-Martínez, J. (2018). Interference of biodegradable plastics in the polypropylene recycling process. Materials. 11(10):1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11101886S1181110Plastics Europe, Plastics—The Facts 2017https://www.plasticseurope.org/application/files/5715/1717/4180/Plastics_the_facts_2017_FINAL_for_website_one_page.pdfAres, A., Bouza, R., Pardo, S. G., Abad, M. J., & Barral, L. (2010). Rheological, Mechanical and Thermal Behaviour of Wood Polymer Composites Based on Recycled Polypropylene. 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The role of scattered trees and habitat diversity for biodiversity of Iberian dehesas

PosterWe studied 10 dehesas of CW Spain (40º 00’-10’ N, 06º 10’-20’ W), mapping every habitat according to a standardized protocol developed by the European BioBio project. We defined 35 habitat types, with 19 habitat types (split in 85 plots) per dehesa, on average. In one randomly selected plot per habitat type diversity of the four taxa, plants, bees, spiders and earthworms, were assessed. In total, 450 plant species (average of 189 per farm and 36 per habitat), 63 bee species (17.6 and 3.2), 130 spider species (43.8 and 7.4), and 17 earthworm species ( 7.8 and 2.5) were recorded. In each taxa, only some species were very abundant, while most of the species were found only in few farms/habitats. A high proportion of species (ca. 40%) were observed only in just one habitat per farm, indicating that farm biodiversity strongly depends on the habitat diversity. The analysis of unique and shared species among habitats revealed that every habitat contribute significantly to farm biodiversity. By contrast, species richness was poorly explained by the presence of scattered trees, whereas the combination of wood pastures and open pastures was a significant predictor. Summarizing, our extensive survey showed that diversity of the four taxa was strongly related to the existence of a wide mosaic of habitats, including non-productive habitats and linear elements, which harbor a disproportionate number of species compared to the low area occupied. Moreover, these habitats harbor a high number of exclusive species. As a next step, the importance of the spatial arrangement of main and non-productive habitats for biodiversity at the farm and landscape levels, need to be checked

Cómo motivar a los estudiantes de secundaria mediante actividades de ciencias atractivas y divertidas

Se presenta una propuesta de formación del profesorado llevada a cabo durante dos cursos académicos (2006/08) con la finalidad de mejorar la motivación e interés de los estudiantes hacia el aprendizaje de las ciencias. Se diseñó e implementó un curso desde la perspectiva de una ciencia comprometida, pero también amena, creativa y divertida, incluyendo actividades interactivas realizadas en colaboración con el Museo de Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, experimentos de laboratorio, textos divulgativos con enfoques CTSA (Ciencia-Tecnología-Sociedad-Ambiente), juguetes científicos, así como el aporte de experiencias provenientes de otros países europeos (Alemania, Francia y Reino Unido). Esta iniciativa, en la que han participado 80 profesores ha sido un instrumento eficaz tanto para la mejora de la motivación como para promover la formación de comunidades de práctica