A Cross-Country Comparison of Public Relations Practices Employing Critical Theories and Mixed Methods

Author(s): Sorin Nastasia / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2011

This study analyzes the configurations of public relations practices in France and in Romania, and the connections between such configurations and U.S.-based models of public relations, through critical theoretical lens, and with the aid of mixed research methods. The study has employed a content analysis of website materials and a thematic analysis of interviews. In the quantitative component, the websites of 50 firms in France and 50 firms in Romania –25 nationally-based firms and 25 headquarters/affiliates of international firms for each country – were content analyzed. In the qualitative component, 20 practitioners from public relations firms in France and 20 practitioners from public relations firms in Romania were interviewed. Overall, data collected through thematic analysis of interviews support data gathered through content analysis of websites. Regarding public relations activities, headquarters/affiliates of international public relations firms in France and in Romania, as well as nationally-based firms in Romania, share two main features: they are heavily influenced by U.S.-based public relations practices; yet they are associated with lower public relations models. By contrast, nationally-based firms in France carry out a different form of public relations, more independent from U.S.-based theories and practices and in the same time more connected to higher models of communication.

Mjerenje agresivnoga i prosocijalnoga ponašanja školske djece: usporedba procjena različitih procjenjivača

Author(s): Gordana Keresteš / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

The aim of this study was to compare five measures of aggressive and prosocial behavior of school children. Data were collected from elementary school children in grades 5th to 8th, their parents, classmates, and homeroom teachers. All five measures of aggression (self-ratings, peer ratings, home-room teachers' ratings, mother ratings, and father ratings) correlated significantly. Self-ratings of prosocial behavior correlated significantly only with father ratings, while the other four measures of prosocial behavior were in significant intercorrelations. All the correlations were somewhat higher for aggressive in comparison with prosocial behavior. Analyses of the concordance between different informants in identifying the most and the least aggressive and prosocial children roughly confirmed the results of the correlational analyses. However, besides self- -ratings, peer ratings also showed poorer concordance with other measures. As expected, and in accordance with numerous previous research findings, boys were rated as more aggressive than girls, and girls as more prosocial than boys by all five informants.

Oblikovanje bilježaka i sustavi citiranja u stručnom ili znanstvenom tekstu

Author(s): Tomislav Murati / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

The paper presents a survey of creating notes, commenting on the application and comparing the use of three accepted methods for correctly quoting and creating references throughout a professional or scientific text. These are, according to the international norm for the form, content and structure of bibliographic references (ISO 690-1987): the method of running notes, method of numeric references and method of first element and date. The opinion is given that each of the methods has its optimal professional and scientific environment, in whose discourse it best fulfills its functions.

Neka moralno-etička pitanja u životu pripadnika eklezijalnih pokreta

Author(s): Stipe Tadić,Vine Mihaljević / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

From the empirical research conducted in 2001 among members of new Catholic lay movements 5 questions were extracted regarding their moral-ethical attitudes. With the assistance of several methods the authors tried to determine whether and how much their attitudes on premarital sexual relations, contraception, abortion, marital infidelity and non- -dissolution of marriage differ from official ecclesiastical attitudes on these issues and whether there are significant differences in the answers of examinees with regard to two demographic characteristics – sexual affiliation and origin. The research indicated great agreement with the attitudes of the Catholic Church, especially in questions concerning the non-dissolution of marriage and intentional termination of pregnancy. A somewhat smaller percentage of examinees was in accord with the moral-theological determinants of the Catholic Church with regard to marital infidelity, while the highest degree of permissiveness appeared in attitudes on premarital sexual relations and the justification of use of contraception. However, even in these last two questions the percentage of ecclesiastically coordinated answers is over 70%. From the aspect of two demographic characteristics significant differences have not been found in either of the cases, except in the case of non-dissolution of marriage overlapping with sexual affiliation of examinees, where women are reported to have readily justified divorce in exceptional cases in a higher percentage.

Tipologija naselja i stambenih tvorevina za povremenu uporabu

Author(s): Ivan Rogić-Nehajev / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

In the text the author gives a typology of housing developments and housing units characterised by temporary residence, and analyses the social and environmental consequences of building practices. The typology is based on the degree of influence that second homes have on the structure of housing developments. In this sense the transformation of the development depends on the share of housing units for occasional use in the overall housing facility. The result of such transformations is evident also in the dynamics of the mutual relationship between the two main parties concerned: the community of the permanent (local) population and temporary population (translocal community). The second part of the paper deals with the morphological distribution of building types and complexes, among housing units for temporary living. If the matter is examined from the point of view of a social-environmental perspective, the consequences in the environment can be defined as "building pollution", in other words as active barbarisation of housing developments and landscapes.

Marital Partners' Income as a Determinant of Marriage Quality

Author(s): Mira Čudina-Obradović,Josip Obradović / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

A theoretical mediation model of the influence of marital partners' income on marriage quality was constructed. The model consists of 3 independent and 5 dependent variables. Seven variables are measurement variables and one variable represents latent structure. The model was verified for husbands and for wives separately, among 340 dual full-time employed couples. The sample is representative of Zagreb and Zagreb metropolitan area on the variable husband's education. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to verify the model. After several modifications of the model, the ÷2 and fitting indices revealed a very good match between the data and the model. According to the obtained results, marital partners' income influences marriage quality as experienced by the husband and wife.

Utjecaj migracija obitelji maloljetnih delinkvenata na objektivne uvjete života obitelji

Author(s): Marijana Majdak / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

The aim of the paper was to examine whether there is a difference in juvenile delinquents who migrated under objective living conditions as opposed to those who did not participate in migration. Some researches show that objective living conditions in families of juvenile delinquents such as education of parents, employment, economic status of family etc. are worse than the conditions in families of non-delinquents, and can thus present a risk to the occurrence of delinquent behaviour. Data obtained in this research on a sample of 458 juvenile perpetrators of criminal acts indicate that there are statistically significant differences between juvenile delinquents who migrated and those who did not in most variables dealing with the objective living conditions in the family. This result indicates that migrations can be observed as risk-causing influences on objective living conditions in the family and thus have an indirect impact on the occurrence of behaviour disorders, antisocial, deviant and delinquent behaviour. Minors coming from migrant families as well as their families need specific assistance in the receiving society in order to help them adapt to the new environment and healthy living and development.

Zašto imati drugu kuću? Analiza motivacije na primjeru vlasnika kuća za odmor na hrvatskoj obali

Author(s): Geran – Marko Miletić,Anka Mišetić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

The paper analyses major motivations for purchasing second homes on the Croatian coast, based on a sample of second home owners. According to literature, some reasons for purchasing second homes are emphasized. The most important motive is to provide place for both relaxation and escape from the pressures of everyday urban life. Besides, there are economic motives and also motivation for reconnecting with the place of one's roots. Second home owners are divided into three groups: (1) owners who built a house, (2) owners who bought a house and (3) owners who inherited a family house. The paper analysed the first and second groups, because they represent a specific process of decision-making which is different from the one involved in the third group. The results confirmed the major tendencies of this phenomenon in Croatia as part of a broader process of forming new lifestyles in contemporary society.

Odnos spram kuće za odmor u Hrvatskoj u strategiji urbanizacije 1945. – 2005.

Author(s): Ivan Rogić-Nehajev / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

In the paper the author analyses the attitude towards "second homes" in urbanisation models in Croatia in the period from 1945 to 1990. The period mentioned is mostly characterised by the model of socialist urbanisation, and a number of spatial processes after 1990 kept their continuity. The time preceding 1990 was analysed in three stages, and today its features define the contemporary situation even more strongly than processes dating from the period after 1990. These are in the first place: the perception of the "indestructibility" of territorial, environmental and ambiental values; building practices independent of / in accordance with spatial-planning documents; structural connection between building and the deterioration of developmental capabilities of local communities; the "second home" as a generalised form of resistance to the roughness of industrialisation/urbanisation, and the role of "second home" as a specific form of tourist industry entrepreneurship.

Neka sociodemografska obilježja stanovništva obalnih naselja

Author(s): Roko Mišetić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

characteristics of the population living on the Croatian coast: the number of inhabitants, their age-structure, and levels of education as the main indicators of the demographic and general developmental potential of coastal towns. The towns included in the analysis are those that include in their territory the coastal line, and are grouped according to three criteria: geographic position, relationship mainland-island and functional importance. The analysis of population density of the coastal area has shown that its concentration is on the mainland, which can also be divided into nucleal and peripheral areas of population. The age structure of the inhabitants living on the Croatian coast has indicated the process of ageing as a general characteristic, especially prevalent on the islands, the settlements on the coast being, however, in a more advantageous position than in other areas of Croatia. With regard to the level of education completed, the mainland coastal settlements are again better off than the coastal settlements on the islands, but the overall

Stavovi lokalne javnosti o nekim socijalno-ekologijskim posljedicama izgradnje stanova za odmor na otoku Viru

Author(s): Geran – Marko Miletić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

Empirical data used in this paper were collected within the research project "Spatial, economic and social aspects of building second homes on the Adriatic coast" conducted during autumn 2004 by the Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar. One of the observed places was Vir and the reason why we took it as the subject of this study was not unintentional. There has not been any discussion in Croatia about illegal building connected with tourism development without mentioning the case of Vir, which has become a synonym for all the unpleasant socio-spatial changes produced by unplanned second homes development. Therefore, with Vir in the background the aims of this paper were to explore residents' satisfaction, perception of costs and benefits from second home development and general attitudes about second home development. The results show that the host community finds the consequences of mass building of second homes unthreatening and there is no serious opposition to island development based on second homes and residential tourism. In other words, residents consider second home development mostly compatible with their personal and community interests.

Nacionalni ponos i otvorenost prema europskim integracijama

Author(s): Stanko Rihtar,Vesna Lamza Posavec,Ivana Ferić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

In the paper the authors investigated the hypothesis that the greater or lesser openness of the public towards the accession of Croatia to the European Union, is among other, connected with the level of national pride. The data were gathered within an extensive research project of public opinion conducted in December 2002. Openness to European integrations was defined as the degree of desirability of Croatia's entering important European associations and institutions. Identification of the degree of national pride was based on the application of two scales, the first of which measured the "general national pride", as an expression of general national values, while the other was used to determine the evaluation of specific achievements of the country on the cultural-historical and economic-political levels. Although, generally speaking, a great majority of the citizens interviewed at the time of the research were very supportive of Croatian accession to the European Union, on both applied scales, and also expressed a relatively high degree of national pride, the results indicate that, on the level of general national values, persons who show a high degree of national identification are a little less inclined towards the accession process than persons expressing a lesser degree of "general national pride", while a more

Sadržaj "Društvena istraživanja - Časopis za opća društvena pitanja" 01-02/2006

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

Koncept povezanosti s mjestom i sekundarno stanovanje

Author(s): Anka Mišetić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 81+82/2006

The paper analyses the concept of place attachment in the context of second home. Contemporary society is characterised by structural changes in the field of work and leisure, resulting in increasing mobility and travelling. Place attachment is analysed in comparison with current social issues such as globalisation, mobility, leisure, tourism, social sustainable planning. Changes within the process of territorialisation, especially in the forming of residential strategies have been emphasized in the paper. The bipolar model of residential strategies is transformed to multiple homes. The research was conducted on a sample of residential home owners on the Croatian Adriatic coast (N=400). The results show a high degree of attachment to second home, as well as a high level of identification with place. Based on this, the results indicate a tendency of changing the concept from second house to second home.

Co nowego widać (i dlaczego warto się temu przyglądać)? Uwagi o socjologii wizualnej

Author(s): Maciej Frąckowiak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2011

The starting point is Douglas Harp’s reconstruction of problem areas and research instruments of visual sociology. It provides the context for critical analysis of the way this area of research is thought of, which dominates and impedes its further development. By analyzing the deployment of image in sociological narrative, the function of visual technology in the transformations of research practices as well as theoretical grounding of these research, the author strives to identify the main problems responsible for the current state of affairs in the discipline and the chances of remedy. A change of the method of conceptualizing photography in sociology is advocated, in order to give up its comprehension in terms of representation and move towards understanding it as a social practice. By adopting this assumption, apart from indicating the evaluation of methodological, theoretical and ethical background of visual research, it is also possible to outline the plan to expand its current problem area.

Społeczność polskich pionierów Internetu i jej dokonania. 20 lat Internetu w Polsce

Author(s): Marta Juza / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2011

The article describes the beginnings of the Internet in Poland and the history of Polish Internet pioneers, which means people who create technical background of the Net in Poland. The process of formation of their community is depicted in the article. Commercialization and popularization of the Internet had a remarkable impact on that community. On the one hand, the community spirit as well as elitism emerged. On the other hand, the pioneers’ attitudes towards these processes varied greatly. The influence of the Internet pioneers on technological and social essence of the Internet in Poland is also discussed in the article, which changed from initially crucial meaning to contemporary marginalization.

Zwrot w polskiej religijności (recenzja z: Józef Baniak (red.) Laikat i duchowieństwo w Kościele katolickim w Polsce. Problem dialogu i współistnienia

Author(s): Stanisław Obirek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2011

review form book: Laikat i duchowieństwo w Kościele katolickim w Polsce. Problem dialogu i współistnienia [Laypeople and Clergy in the Catholic Church in Poland. The Problem of Dialogue and Coexistence] by Józef Baniak ed.

Magdalena Sokołowska – inspiracje i kontynuacje (recenzja z: Włodzimierz Piątkowski (red.) Socjologia z medycyną. W kręgu myśli naukowej Magdaleny Sok

Author(s): Justyna Iwona Klingemann / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2011

review from book: Socjologia z medycyną. W kręgu myśli naukowej Magdaleny Sokołowskiej [Sociology with Medicine. In the Circle of Scientific Ideas of Magdalena Sokołowska] by Włodzimierz Piątkowski ed.

Wieloznaczność demokracji jako dylemat (recenzja z: David Held Modele demokracji)

Author(s): Marcin Zgiep / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2011

review from book: Modele demokracji [Models of Democracy] by David Held

Pamięć i tożsamość. Przemiany współczesnych tożsamości Romów w kontekście doświadczenia zagłady

Author(s): Sławomir Kapralski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2011

The author divides the existing standpoints regarding Romani identities into substantive, relational and those referring to historical process. According to the first standpoint Roma are a people who possess a particular cultural essence which defines its identity. According to the second approach, Romani identities are constructed in relation to the other – in particular to the non-Romani world. The third perspective emphasizes identity as a process of building the links between the past, the present and the anticipated future of a group. According to the author, each of these approaches presents an important aspect of Romani identity, a full depiction of which thus requires taking into account all the three perspectives. Based on the interviews conducted with mid-rank Romani activists, the author argues that the memory of the Romani suffering during WWII has weakened the substantive aspect of Romani identities, lead to the contradictory processes in the frame of relational identity (assimilation and isolationism), but, most of all, it contributed to the development of the historical approach to Romani identity, supported by the Romani political organizations and their ambitions for the Roma to achieve a status of a nation in its own right.