Masaryk University Faculty of Social Studies Department of Social Policy and Social Work
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Masaryk University Faculty of Social Studies Department of Social Policy and Social Work DOCTORAL THESIS Brno 2018 Marija Wazi Mgr. Marija Wazi Impact of international self-development training on social functioning and participation of disadvantaged youth: perspectives of young people and practitioners Doctoral Thesis Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Pavel Navrátil, Ph.D. Brno 2018 2 Preface I declare that this text was my own work and does not involve plagiarism or teamwork other than that authorized in the general terms above or that authorized for any particular piece of work. Marija Wazi April, 2018 3 Contents Obsah Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 11 1 Disadvantaged youth in 21st century ...................................................................................... 18 1.1. Defining youth in a postmodern context ................................................................... 18 1.1.1. Identity in postmodern society ........................................................................... 20 1.1.2. Context of social work ....................................................................................... 22 1.1.3. Youth confronted by new challenges ................................................................. 23 1.1.4. Young people in Europe in contexts of education, labour-market and citizenship 25 1.2. Understanding disadvantage, disaffection and fewer opportunities ............................. 28 1.2.1. Disadvantaged youth and young people with fewer opportunities .................... 28 1.2.2. Disaffection and motivation hand in hand ......................................................... 31 2 Social work with youth at international level ......................................................................... 34 2.1. Youth work beginnings ................................................................................................. 34 2.2. Social work practice with young people ....................................................................... 37 2.2.1. Different approaches and types of working with youth ......................................... 37 2.2.2. Positive youth development and social work aspects ............................................ 38 2.3. Re-shaping of citizenship and youth work ................................................................... 40 2.4. International programs with disadvantaged youth in European context ....................... 43 3 Self – development method in social work .............................................................................. 47 3.1. Self-development in social work: a field to explore ..................................................... 47 3.1.1. Different variations of ‘self” .................................................................................. 48 3.1.2. Development through experiential learning........................................................... 50 3.1.3. Supporting well-being through self-development ................................................. 51 3.2. Self-development training: key characteristics, benefits and risks ............................... 53 3.2.2. Life competences and the contribution of non-formal method .............................. 56 4 3.2.3. Opportunity for a ‘turning point” ........................................................................... 57 3.3. Reflection in learning from experience: self-development perspective ....................... 58 3.3.1. Critical reflection in social work with young people in self-development trainings .......................................................................................................................................... 59 3.3.2. Critical reflection by Knott & Scragg and its connection to Synergy trainings .... 61 3.4. Self-development training at international level ........................................................... 62 3.5. Synergy network: opportunities for young people........................................................ 63 3.5.1. Olde Vechte Foundation and International Synergy Network ............................... 64 3.5.2. Connecting methods and values to life situation of participants ........................... 65 4 Social functioning ...................................................................................................................... 70 4.1. Social functioning: between capacities and expectations ............................................. 70 4.2. Positive functioning in terms of ‘congruence’ by Virginia Satir .................................. 71 4.3. Assessing social functioning: selected elements........................................................... 72 4.4. Young people´s needs and relationships ....................................................................... 74 5 Participation of youth ............................................................................................................... 77 5.1. Participation in what and how? ..................................................................................... 77 5.1.1. Different faces of participation .............................................................................. 78 5.1.2. Resources and conditions for participation ............................................................ 80 5.1.3. Models and forms of participation ......................................................................... 81 5.1.4. Participation: tensions between theory and practice .............................................. 84 5.2. Young people and their active participation in society ................................................. 85 5.2.1 Significance of empowerment ................................................................................ 86 5.2.2. Domains, barriers and outcomes of empowerment................................................ 88 5.2.1. Changes in 21st century: ICT and cyber-participation ........................................... 90 5.2.2. Role of self-perception and motivation .................................................................. 91 6 Understanding impact .............................................................................................................. 95 6.1. Variations of impact ...................................................................................................... 95 6.2. Exploring impact ........................................................................................................... 95 6.2.1 Kirkpatrick´s four levels ......................................................................................... 96 5 6.2.2. Benett´s hierarchy .................................................................................................. 96 6 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 98 6.1. Choosing research strategy and techniques ............................................................... 98 6.1.1. Interpretive qualitative study ............................................................................. 98 6.1.2. Used techniques and the process of data collection ........................................... 99 6.1.3. Advantages and disadvantages of on-line research ......................................... 102 6.2. Research sampling................................................................................................... 103 Table 1. Basic demographic data and information about the interviews with participants ........................................................................................................................................ 104 Table 2. Basic demographic data and information about the interviews with trainers .. 105 6.3. Operationalisation ................................................................................................... 106 6.4. Data analysis ........................................................................................................... 107 6.5. Validity .................................................................................................................... 108 6.6. Reflections on limitations of the research ............................................................... 109 6.7. Ethical context ......................................................................................................... 109 6.7.1. Informed consent, confidentiality and anonymity ........................................... 109 6.7.2. Other ethical dimensions.................................................................................. 110 6.8. My position of a researcher ..................................................................................... 111 6.9. Reflection on the Research Context ........................................................................ 113 6.9.1. Creating rapport and keeping contact with participants .................................. 113 6.9.2. Where research took place ............................................................................... 114 6.9.3. Presence of other people .................................................................................. 114 6.9.4. Incentives ......................................................................................................... 115