Exploring the Social Representations of Social Work in the Sri Lankan Cultural Context: A Qualitative Study

Higashida, Masateru; Ranaweera, Amarawansa; Herath, Chulani

doi:10.3390/su142316197

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 28 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…For example, researchers have explored the experiences of social workers in the Canadian health domain from the SRT standpoint (Negura & Lévesque, 2022). Other researchers have discussed social work in Asian settings (Higashida et al., 2022) and international social work in development contexts as social representations (Higashida, 2023).…”

Section: Research Perspectives and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Process of constructing alternative social work discourses in Asia: A case study of Buddhist social work as social representations

Higashida

2023

Asian Soc Wrk & Pol Rev

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This preliminary study examined the process of constructing alternative discourses on social work. It focused on the exploration of Buddhist social work by researchers and practitioners in Asian countries, including monks and nuns. The present investigation was grounded in the analytical perspective of the social representation theory posited in the domain of social psychology. Books, reports, and any relevant papers written in English were collected as primary data sources (n = 22), and a qualitatively descriptive analysis was conducted on these data. The scrutiny specifically attended to the mechanism of familiarization, which comprises the process of anchoring and objectifying. The study's findings revealed the process of intentionally (re)naming activities and related events that were previously not necessarily described as Buddhist social work. These practices and occurrences were then classified and positioned within a particular cross‐border paradigm. Additionally, some monks, nuns, and other stakeholders became conversant with discussion and research activities related to Buddhist social work. Objectifying actions, such as (re)discovering and reproducing, thus became taken for granted by such functionaries. These findings suggest that cross‐border Buddhist social work discourses were actively constructed through the usage of relevant terms and concepts. In other words, the results of this study indicate that alternative discourse is internationally becoming the familiar form of discussion within the discipline.

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Section: Research Perspectives and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Process of constructing alternative social work discourses in Asia: A case study of Buddhist social work as social representations

Higashida

2023

Asian Soc Wrk & Pol Rev

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An exploration of contextually relevant curricula in international social work education: learning from the experiences of selected Asian countries

Higashida,

Poonpoksin,

Paul

et al. 2023

Discov glob soc

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Current global uncertainties such as increasing socio-economic and political difficulties have amplified the significance of researching the nature of international social work education. This pilot study collaboratively investigated the educational characteristics of international social work curricula in Asia to identify the prevailing conditions related to this discipline. Data were collected in February 2023 at an international academic forum that included presentations delivered by researchers from five Asian countries. An exploratory and qualitative-descriptive analysis was performed to identify the contexts and contents of curricula related to international social work. The study findings elucidated the need to explore curricula that may differ from mainstream syllabi taught in international social work education programmes in Western countries. The findings of this study underscore the importance of dialogic processes and continual collaborative research projects.

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Re-examining international social work theory: “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?”

Higashida

2024

Discov glob soc

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The purpose of this exploratory study is to present a discussion on new developmental perspectives for international social work (ISW) theory. In order to examine the various aspects of this theory, the author first discusses different theoretical social work frameworks. Since some aspects cannot be discussed according to these frameworks, three main perspectives are applied to examine these ISW theoretical assumptions: (1) the roots of ISW; (2) ISW actors, practitioners, and scholars; and (3) the future of ISW. A new ISW definition is then introduced, after which several proposals are presented to revitalize the discussions on future ISW theory that moves beyond the dominant ISW discourses largely based on Western-rooted professional social work, and related aspects such as positionality and language issues. In this regard, using new ISW viewpoints and recognizing the importance of emotional experiences in such perspectives will not only allow academics and practitioners to move forward, but will also help overcome the dichotomies between ISW theory and practice as well as between the West and the rest.

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Exploring the Social Representations of Social Work in the Sri Lankan Cultural Context: A Qualitative Study

Cited by 3 publications

References 28 publications

Process of constructing alternative social work discourses in Asia: A case study of Buddhist social work as social representations

Process of constructing alternative social work discourses in Asia: A case study of Buddhist social work as social representations

An exploration of contextually relevant curricula in international social work education: learning from the experiences of selected Asian countries

Re-examining international social work theory: “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?”

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