Tamara Bueno Doral, María Lara and Noelia García‐Castillo
In the past months, the authors have experienced an exceptional global situation that especially affects the most vulnerable population. This paper aims to analyse the needs…
Abstract
Purpose
In the past months, the authors have experienced an exceptional global situation that especially affects the most vulnerable population. This paper aims to analyse the needs, strengths and good practices of the organisations that have continued to study with the migrant population during the health crisis. The main objective was to determine how the health, social and communication crisis has affected the management of the organisation itself, the communications with its direct beneficiaries, the communications with the rest of society, as well as the perception that organisations specialised in migration have about how media has communicated the information of COVID-19 and migrant population.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have circulated a questionnaire with open questions that covered the four dimensions previously mentioned.
Findings
The results show the analysis of the answers of 11 of the most important national and international organisations in the field of migration and refuge that operate in Spain.
Originality/value
Key issues have emerged related not only to the principal management concerns, internal digital communication, the adaptability of external communication and the major effort required to provide information about migration but also to innovative good practices. That other third sector organisations focussed on migration will be able to apply in the future and in other geographic areas.
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Andrew A. Adams, Kiyoshi Murata and Ana María Lara Palma
This paper aims to present the baseline English survey used in the other papers in this special issue.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the baseline English survey used in the other papers in this special issue.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey includes yes/no, Likert scale and free text responses, which were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.
Findings
Respondents to the survey expressed divergent views of whether they would emulate Snowden, even though most in all countries believed he had helped rather than harmed society.
Originality/value
This is the only such broad survey on attitudes to Snowden of which the authors are aware.
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Cristina Faba-Pérez and Lara María Infante-Fernández
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the type of content disseminated by school libraries through social media and what topics are the most commonly used, to discover if, in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the type of content disseminated by school libraries through social media and what topics are the most commonly used, to discover if, in addition to topics concerning libraries, information with a wide social scope is also disseminated.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews the use of social media as well as the implementation of a content analysis on the most used 2.0 platforms, to locate which content is the most relevant in the school libraries of public secondary schools in Extremadura.
Findings
In the Extremadura region of Spain, the results of the 752 publications posted during the period 2014-2017 by the libraries of the 86 public secondary schools on six selected social media platforms generated a total of 4 categories and 14 subcategories, and point to a predominance of topics related to encouraging and promoting reading and writing, and to the library’s support function for both the classroom and the school. However, shortcomings are detected in content related to social aspects of special interest, such as bullying or education in equality.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper lies in the fact that although there are some works on the analysis of the content of the social web of libraries in general, especially university libraries, the same does not apply to the evaluation of social media in school libraries, and much less about the analysis of social media content in these types of libraries.
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Andrew A. Adams, Mario Arias-Oliva, Ana María Lara Palma and Kiyoshi Murata
This study aims to analyse the impacts of Edward Snowden’s revelations in Spain focusing on issues of privacy and state surveillance. This research takes into consideration the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyse the impacts of Edward Snowden’s revelations in Spain focusing on issues of privacy and state surveillance. This research takes into consideration the Spanish context from a multidimensional perspective: social, cultural, legal and political.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews the Spanish privacy and state surveillance situation. Responses to a questionnaire were collected from 207 university students studying at Universitat Rovira i Virgili or Burgos University. The quantitative responses to the survey were statistically analysed as well as qualitative considerations of free-text answers.
Findings
The survey outcomes demonstrate that a majority of respondents are aware of Snowden’s revelations, but only a few have even considered taking serious actions to improve their online privacy. One of the most relevant findings is that Spanish citizens find it acceptable to lose privacy and be subject to state surveillance if that provides a benefit in security.
Practical implications
The research points out the importance of privacy in a multicultural environment. A sensitised society is a keystone for the healthy and balanced development of state surveillance policy and practice.
Social implications
Training programmes are a critical dimension to ensure awareness across society regarding privacy and digital technologies. Suitable educational policies and curricula at all levels should be fostered.
Originality/value
Privacy and state surveillance based on information and communication technologies is an emerging research topic with important consequences for social values and ethics. This study provides an overview of Spanish higher education students’ attitudes in these areas.
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Kiyoshi Murata, Andrew A. Adams and Ana María Lara Palma
This paper aims to introduce a cross-cultural study of the views and implications of Snowden’s revelations about NSA/GCHQ surveillance practices, undertaken through surveys…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to introduce a cross-cultural study of the views and implications of Snowden’s revelations about NSA/GCHQ surveillance practices, undertaken through surveys administered in eight countries. The aims and academic and social significance are explained, and justification is offered for the methods used.
Design/methodology/approach
Pilot surveys were deployed in two countries, following which revised versions were deployed in eight countries (including expanded collection in the original pilot countries). Quantitative analysis of suitable answer sets (Yes/No; Likert scales) and quantitative analysis (interpretation of free text answers) were performed.
Findings
Through the pilot survey studies conducted in Japan and Spain, the academic significance and meaningfulness, as well as social significance of the project, were confirmed.
Practical implications
The results of the cross-cultural study are expected to contribute not only to the advance of surveillance study but also to the enhancement of ordinary, non-technical people’s awareness of state surveillance and their proactive approach to protecting their own rights and dignity from covert intrusion by government agencies.
Originality/value
This paper clarifies the importance and methodologies of investigating the social impact of Snowden’s revelations on youngsters’ attitudes toward privacy and state surveillance in a cross-cultural analysis framework. Although a few other studies have assessed the impact of Snowden’s revelations, these have mostly focussed on the USA, so this is the only study to date considering that impact on a broad international scale, using highly similar surveys to ensure comparability.
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Andrew A. Adams, Kiyoshi Murata, Yasunori Fukuta, Yohko Orito and Ana María Lara Palma
A survey of the attitudes of students in eight countries towards the revelations of mass surveillance by the US’ NSA and the UK’s GCHQ has been described in an introductory paper…
Abstract
Purpose
A survey of the attitudes of students in eight countries towards the revelations of mass surveillance by the US’ NSA and the UK’s GCHQ has been described in an introductory paper and seven country-specific papers (The People’s Republic of China and Taiwan are combined in a single paper). This paper aims to present a comparison of the results from these countries and draws conclusions about the similarities and differences noted.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was deployed in Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, The People’s Republic of China, Spain, Sweden and Taiwan. The original survey was in English, translated into German, Japanese and Chinese for relevant countries. The survey consists of a combination of Likert scale, Yes/no and free-text responses. The results are quantitatively analysed using appropriate statistical tools and the qualitative answers are interpreted (including, where appropriate, consolidated into quantitative results).
Findings
There are significant differences between respondents in the countries surveyed with respect to their general privacy attitudes and their willingness to follow Snowden’s lead, even where they believe his actions served the public good.
Research limitations/implications
Owing to resource limitations, only university students were surveyed. In some countries (Germany and New Zealand), the relatively small number of respondents limits the ability to make meaningful statistical comparisons between respondents from those countries and from elsewhere on some issues.
Practical implications
Snowden’s actions are generally seen as laudable and having had positive results, among the respondents surveyed. Such results should give pause to governments seeking to expand mass surveillance by government entities.
Originality/value
There have been few surveys regarding attitudes to Snowden’s revelations, despite the significant press attention and political actions that have flowed from it. The context of attitudes to both the actions he revealed and the act of revelation itself is useful in constructing political and philosophical arguments about the balance between surveillance activity for state security and the privacy of individual citizens.
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Marilu Fernandez-Haddad and Maria Isabel Huerta-Carvajal
Based on the assumptions of the social ecological theory (SET), this study aims to identify the factors that influence water consumption by the schoolchildren segment in urban…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on the assumptions of the social ecological theory (SET), this study aims to identify the factors that influence water consumption by the schoolchildren segment in urban communities in Mexico, to further develop a community-based social marketing intervention.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was formative research, quantitative and qualitative in nature, consisting of a survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews. It was conducted in public and private elementary schools in central Mexico (five states), during 2023.
Findings
It was identified that parents are aware of the benefits of drinking water for their children’s health. However, various factors in the sociocultural environment, perceptions, customs and habits were noted as barriers to water consumption. Consequently, children’s behaviors are influenced by their family context as the strongest environment. Likewise, the school environment and the social environment are identified as other influential factors. Each system acts as a motivator or barrier in the child’s behavior, creating and supporting consumption behaviors learned from an early age.
Originality/value
Interventions on water consumption should target the most influential SET systems; the microsystem and the mesosystem, achieving the participation and co-responsibility of stakeholders in changing the environment and thus behavior.