In the context of sociological interest, the fundamental goal of our research was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organizational culture within elementary schools. The authors ...started from the assumption that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced changes within the organizational culture, negatively affecting the organization of the school’s work as an educational institution. The research was conducted during June and July 2021. A quantitative and qualitative approach was combined using survey methods and semi-structured interviews. An elementary school in the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, was chosen for the case study. The survey was conducted with the teachers at the school, and a semi-structured interview was conducted with the principal and professional associates. The sample included part of employees of the selected school (teachers), i.e., thirty respondents. The research results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the organizational culture of elementary schools and is the cause of numerous changes that are not necessarily negative. Most of the changes occurred within the organization of work and teaching. Changes in forms of work during a pandemic did not have a negative effect on the school collective, and there was no disruption of relationships, working environment, atmosphere, communication, and cooperation within the collective. It is concluded that supportive school culture will be reflected in student achievements and the work of all employees, and will have a wider positive social impact and therefore should be encouraged.
By combining the attributive-taxonomic and process approaches to the profession, resulting from different sociological traditions, the professional elements and the professionalization of school ...principals in Croatia are analysed. The research was conducted by survey method in 2017. The sample was convenient and included 73 principals who participated in the research activities of the Centre of Scientific Excellence for School Effectiveness and Management. Our results suggest that the job of school principals in Croatia cannot be considered a profession yet. There are no fundamental elements that differentiate the profession from an ordinary occupation. More specifically, there is a lack of expertise in the area of educational management and leadership (authority), cooperation with professional associations in defining the professional socialization (autonomy), as well as high social status (attractiveness) as a result of the state of previous elements. Given the contextual specificity, the discussion presents incentives, obstacles and recommendations for further professionalization of school principals in Croatia. The importance of professional education is emphasized, whose design and implementation should involve representatives of principals’ professional associations, as well as decentralization of education system so that theoretical expertise can be developed through the practice. As the trained practitioners focused on a benefit of the educational system stakeholders (altruism), the principals should set the conditions of the profession to make it more attractive for the best candidates.
The paper starts from the role and meaning of sociological theory in the context of research traditions. It begins with a discussion of the positioning of theory within qualitative research ...approaches in the time context of the late 1980sand early 1990s during the so-called of the “postmodern turn “. Given that the aim of the paper is to consider the genesis of research traditions in sociology with an emphasis on ethnographic research traditions, but it is difficult to start the discussion without grasping the essence of sociological theory. When talking about theory and ethnographic research, there are numerous forms of specific theories that ethnographers have, each of which is applicable to specific topics. The inappropriateness of the theory and the specific research topic results in a misunderstanding in relation to the main research questions. Within the work, the order of knowledge is also problematized, which is associated with ethnography on the one hand and postmodernism on the other, as well as a „reflexive” turn. The postmodern sensibility is especially visible within the reflective moment during the writing process. Postmodern ideas therefore first introduce a new level of criticality within ethnographic research and draw attention to certain topics, processes and phenomena that have not been sufficiently discussed within wider social reflection.
This book analyzes educational management in the context of developing effective schools in SouthEastern European countries and situates the discussion within ongoing education debates in EU ...countries. The book revolves around the specific role and practices of school principals, who are positioned as a nexus of educational management in each school. Presenting innovative research in the field of educational management and effectiveness this volume will be invaluable for a range of education specialists. Chapters include: (1) School Effectiveness and Educational Management: Editorial (Nikša Alfirevic, Josip Burušic, Jurica Pavicic, Renata Relja); (2) School Effectiveness: An Overview of Conceptual, Methodological and Empirical Foundations (Josip Burušic, Toni Babarovic, Marija Šakic Velic); (3) School Principals, Environments and Stakeholders: The Blessings and Heresies of Market Organization (Jurica Pavicic, Nikša Alfirevic, Goran Vlašic, Zoran Krupka, Božena Krce Miocic); (4) Schools, Local Communities and Communication: Above and Beyond the Stakeholders (Sanja Stanic, Darko Hren, Ivanka Buzov); (5) Managing the School: Principals as Managers (Dijana Vican, Nikša Alfirevic, Renata Relja); (6) Principals' Educational Leadership (Dijana Vican, Renata Relja, Toni Popovic); (7) School Governance Models and School Boards: Educational and Administrative Aspects (Ina Reic Ercegovac, Morana Koludrovic, Andreja Bubic); (8) The Democratic Context of School Governance: External and Internal Stakeholders' Perspectives (Marita Brcic Kuljiš, Anita Lunic); and (9) School Effectiveness and Educational Management: Toward a New Research and Public-Policy Agenda (Nikša Alfirevic, Josip Burušic, Jurica Pavicic, Renata Relja). Contributors Bios and an index are also included.
Anthony Giddens is one of the most widely published sociologists of the twentieth century. He is one of the most important theorists of the concepts of agency, reflexivity, intimacy, and numerous ...others. This article examines Giddens’ perspective on family, intimacy, and structural changes in close relationships. The article follows the main theses of this author and gives them a new perspective through the main critics and ideas applied in contemporary research. Giddens places the consideration of intimacy and family within the framework of late modernity, which he sees as a radicalization of the consequences of the development of modern society. The transformation of intimacy is an aspect of contemporary human identity that is viewed reflexively. Today’s society is characterized by a high rate of marriage, divorce, and remarriage, and life circumstances are changing more and more frequently. Giddens sees so-called pure relationships as a new form of expression of intimacy and discusses their position in relation to structural elements of contemporary society, risks, democratization, and individual reflexivity. Based on the analysis of Giddens work and his main critics, the article argues that it is necessary to approach the ideal of a pure relationship by working towards openness and confidential communication in intimate relationships.
Broadcast media participate relentlessly in our daily lives, influencing our formation of knowledge and attitudes. Media discourse changes over the years, and the media image itself endures, albeit ...fragmented and not always matching reality. The series Black and White World presented the audience, during its four broadcast seasons, a twentieth-century context, specifically that of the nineteen-eighties, reconstructing fragments of a time through musical creativity, certain actors, and its social context. Within this format, a valuable research source was developed out of efforts to analyze those moments that the authors focused the most on. The goals of our research are focused on analysis of the range of represented topics related to and within the context of the eighties, as well as analysis of the description of certain topics, the way they had settled in the plot, and everyday life. Thus, from the methodological aspect, content analysis commenced. The unit of analysis covered the first season of twelve episodes retrospectively, back to 1980. In addition to content analysis, a survey was conducted with the aim of analyzing acceptance of the series by the audience through an online survey comprising a sample of 143 respondents during July and August 2021; we examined how viewers accepted the series, whether the respondents approached media content critically, whether they expressed the need to conduct research on this topic, and whether the respondents felt ignored when shaping collective memories and perception of the past.
As a measure of social policy, basic income represents monthly benefit
unconditionally delivered by the state to all members of the society on
individual basis, with the aim to secure provision of ...basic egsistential
needs. Although the idea of basic income has long history, the concept
recently became more important, particularly in the EU countries, with
attempts of civic initiatives to raise the issue within the agenda of
European Commission. Having in mind the lack of research in this area,
particularly research on citizens? attitudes towards basic income and
possibitlites to introduce it as a measure of social policy, the research was
implemented with aim to explore some socio-demographic determinants of
attitudes towards basic income and motivation for work. The pilot research
was conducted in 2014 over sample of 247 respondents using Questionnaire of
attitudes towards basic income and Questionnaire on socio-demographic
features of respondents. The research results indicated relatively positive
attitudes of respondents towards basic income, while at the same time the
possibilities to introduce such a measure was estimated in less positive
manner. In regard to the work motivation, majority of respondents expressed
their willingness to continue to work even in the situation in which basic
income would be introduced.
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The paper applies the concept of total institution (E. Goffman) to the specific reality of seafarers. During shipboard service, the mentioned social category has a limited choice of physical space, ...content, and social contacts. Seafarers are required to adapt to the conditions on board and to the authority of the company and of higher-ranking crew members that govern their daily lives. The challenges of working and living at sea result in the trend of increasing numbers of experienced and highly educated seafarers leaving the profession. The study aims to investigate the seafaring conditions among Dalmatian seafarers, as well as their future career projections. It was conducted between June and July 2020 using the method of online survey, which included a snowball sample of 112 respondents. The results indicate a lack of satisfaction in relation to most of the considered aspects of seafaring, except for earnings, including the possibility of promotion and communication with family and friends. While most of the seafarers surveyed consider these conditions sufficient to spend their entire working lives at sea, one in three respondents has no such intention (31.4%). More specifically, 42.6% of the respondents intend to stay at sea only because they believe finding a better job ashore would be difficult, while only a fifth love their job (19.2%). The results highlight the importance of improving the conditions of seafaring in order to preserve high-quality personnel and reinforce the safety culture on board ships. Further sociological research into the topic should provide a basis for mitigating the negative effects of a total institution as an increasingly visible concept within maritime sociology.
This study addresses the everyday life in the city of Split during the tourist season from the perspective of the quality of life (QOL) concept. The research was conducted in June 2020, through an ...online survey distributed among a sample of 328 residents of Split aged 18 and above. A high percentage of respondents earn income from tourism (41.5%). Opinions are divided concerning its overall impact on the quality of life. While economic indicators are seen as positive, the rest are mostly rated negatively. The majority of respondents do not find the existing model of tourism to be sustainable, with their responses independent of earning income within the sector. The locals’ attitudes toward tourists are mostly assessed as friendly (45.1%). However, a significant percentage of respondents also point to indifference (24.7%) or hostility (10%), which can be associated with the work in the tourism industry and the assessment of its negative impacts on the quality of life. The general divisions among respondents within the study, as well as numerous negatively rated QOL elements, indicate the need for planning a more sustainable model of tourism. This includes achieving a greater representation of selective forms of tourism, reducing the dominance of the sector compared to other branches of the economy and increasing the quality of life in Split.
In this paper, the field of sports management is considered through the prism of the sociology of professions. The authors start from the hypothesis that sports management is currently a ...semi-profession due to it missing some of the classical elements highlighted within sociological literature. It is primarily about professional associations that define the rules of conduct, making professions more or less autonomous. Besides, higher education for sports managers is becoming increasingly desirable, but it is still not mandatory, which is a sine qua non of a true professionalization. The possibility of high earnings leads to various affairs that can weaken the reputation of the profession, and diminish the trust of the public in sports managers. For the professionalization of the field, persistence in the development of professional associations, that would bring the codes of ethics and occupational standards is necessary. Establishing quality educational programs requires recognizing the potential of sport-based entrepreneurship, intending to balance market trends and the needs of athletes, audiences, and the community.
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