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The prevalence & increase, specially in recent years, of diverse problems (social, economic environmental) particularly in Latin America have led various sectors to question globalization as a convenient model for the development of these countries. In this article we present & analyse, in general terms, some notions, characteristics & implications of globalization, from two antagonistic versions: The first of them refers to the notion of globalization from the point of view of its creators & adepts, while the second one is based on the version ellaborated by its oponents. In this regard, we present some similarities between the first version with the dominant paradigm in science & between the second one with emergent paradigms. Thus, in the first version globalization is understood as the unique, universal, undeniable & irreversible reality, whereas in the second one various constructions regarding globalization, which signify this phenomenon as culturally & historically constructed & hence dynamic, are formulated. This second version serves us as base for analysing the impact of globalization on economically deprived communities in our continent & simultaneously for illustrating the potentialities of these communities, empowered through the contributions of community social psychology, for resisting unfavourable effects of globalization upon them.

Aktuelle emanzipatorische oder konstruktivistische Ansätze in der Psychologie stimmen – ebenso wie Ansätze partizipativer Handlungsforschung oder kritische ethnographische Studien – darin überein, daß sie die Beziehung zwischen Forschenden und Beforschten als weitgehend symmetrisch, dialogisch, kooperativ und respektvoll erachten, und daß sie davon ausgehen, daß die beidseitige Subjektivität im Forschungsprozeß bedeutsam und zu akzeptieren ist. Obwohl diese Art der Beziehungswahrnehmung und -definition eine Epistemologie nahelegt, die sich notwendig von der in traditionellen Untersuchungsdesigns vorherrschenden unterscheidet, scheint es zweifelhaft, ob und inwieweit dieser neue Modus auch in die Praxis qualitativer Forschung Eingang gefunden hat. Deshalb werden in dem vorliegenden Beitrag – ausgehend von einem Überblick über theoretische Arbeiten – verschiedene empirische Untersuchungen (und auch die eigene Forschungserfahrung) hinzugezogen, und es wird die Umsetzung dieser theoretischen Grundannahmen diskutiert. Vor diesem Hintergrund wird die aktuelle Beschreibung bzw. Fassung der Forschenden-Beforschten-Interaktion in Frage gestellt und eine Revision entweder der theoretischen Grundannahmen oder der Forschungspraxis gefordert.

This article analyzes the processes and stages through which individual actions undertaken to fulfill housing needs are transformed into collective actions when a group of individuals becomes aware of the scope and implications of its organization and participation in this endeavor and problematizes what it had assumed was "natural" about living in poverty. The author describes the stages of transforming an urban slum into an organized community, a process that includes the construction, improvement, and consolidation of people's dwellings; the provision of infrastructure, utilities, and facilities; and the evolution of social relations and the development of a sense of community that leads its members to seek collective solutions to their problems, demand respect for citizen's rights, and design strategies to fight for their achievement. These stages are based on information obtained from in-depth interviews with a sample composed of men and women residing in a Venezuelan barrio.

This article presents findings of a research carried out in a barrio of Caracas, which aimed at determining the meaning assigned to the houses by their inhabitants. In-depth interviews were conducted with male and female members of the barrio. Results show that the dwelling unit is not conceived separately from its surroundings and neighbors, and its meanings have varied along its transformation from a precarious shack into a consolidated brick house. Three stages corresponding to the building process were identified-initial construction, improvement, and consolidation-each corresponding to the conceptualization of the dwelling as rancho, house, and home, respectively. In addition, the transformation of houses-as a process parallel to both the consolidation of the barrio and the development of a sense of community among its members-grants the house special environmental, psychological, and social meanings and creates great concern in regard to the politics aimed at eradicating rancho neighborhoods.

Environmental problems that our planet currently faces are causing concern. In response, a number of development models have been proposed, seeking to ensure the continuity of life and the availability of the resources needed for survival. Among these models is that of sustainable development. The authors'participation in the City-Identity-Sustainability Project contributed some ideas about this model's implementation in the Venezuelan context. The study was conducted in two urban communities. The results suggest that the community space in both communities is a basic core of social interaction in the inhabitants'lives, generating informal networks that provide a foundation for the development and cohesion of an urban social identity. Results also suggest that there is a lack of information regarding the conservation of natural resources. The authors conclude that it is necessary to formulate awarenessraising strategies regarding the environment in the community context as a favorable place for the model's viability.

PurposeThis paper aims to reflect on the work of Virginia E. Schein and her paper "The functions of work‐related group participation for poor women in developing countries: an exploratory look."Design/methodology/approachProfessor Schein traveled to Nicaragua, to lower‐income settings, where she observed and recorded the experiences of women working in self‐organized groups, and used those observations to argue to the profession generally that self‐organized groups of women, however marginal the work itself, can be instrumental in developing the key sense of agency, and self‐efficacy. These are basic capabilities; the stuff of the Millennium Development Goals.FindingsFor this special issue, therefore, the authors have made Schein's 2003 study a focal point. To set the context they asked Dr Schein to reiterate the rationale for the research, and provide a brief overview of the original observations. To help expand the debate on gender, work and poverty reduction, the authors have asked noted colleagues to provide a series of Commentaries on the original article.Originality/valueWomen, especially those raising children alone, are among the poorest of the poor in developing and more developed economies. Research that is applicable and relevant to their work‐related concerns can and should be a larger part of worldwide efforts to reduce poverty. Organizational psychology has much to contribute to those long‐overdue efforts.

In diesem Beitrag berichten wir über das iberoamerikanische Symposium "Health Policy and Programs Evaluative Research for Social Change", das vom 1.-3. November 2006 in Guadalajara (Mexiko) veranstaltet wurde. Teilnehmende kamen aus acht Ländern und gehörten Universitäten, Gesundheitsorganisationen oder NGOs an. Die wichtigsten, in den Vorträgen und Diskussionen behandelten Themen betrafen die Relevanz von qualitativer und Evaluationsforschung und von universitärer Lehre für soziale Wandlungsprozesse, ethische Herausforderungen sowie Möglichkeiten, die Ergebnisse aus qualitativer Forschung für unterschiedliche Gruppen (Nutzer und Nutzerinnen, politische Entscheidungsträger[innen], Professionelle und die interessierte Öffentlichkeit insgesamt) zugänglich zu machen. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0802194 ; This is a report of the "Health Policy and Programs Evaluative Research for Social Change" Ibero-American Symposium held in Guadalajara, Mexico November 1-3, 2006. Attendees represented eight countries, and were associated with NGO's and academic and health services organizations. The most important themes included in the debates were the meaning of qualitative and evaluative health research for social change, the challenges of teaching for change, ethical challenges, and possibilities for making the findings of qualitative research available to different groups or stakeholders (users, policy makers, professionals, and the population as a whole). URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0802194 ; Este reporte ofrece una descripción del Simposio Iberoamericano "Investigación evaluativa de políticas y programas de salud orientada al cambio social" realizado en Guadalajara, México, del 1 al 3 de noviembre del 2006. Participaron representantes de 8 países pertenecientes a ONG's, instituciones académicas y de la salud. Los ejes temáticos dominantes en los debates fueron el significado de la investigación y evaluación cualitativa en salud orientada a la transformación social; los retos de una enseñanza preocupada por el cambio; desafíos ...

In diesem Beitrag berichten wir über das iberoamerikanische Symposium "Health Policy and Programs Evaluative Research for Social Change", das vom 1.-3. November 2006 in Guadalajara (Mexiko) veranstaltet wurde. Teilnehmende kamen aus acht Ländern und gehörten Universitäten, Gesundheitsorganisationen oder NGOs an. Die wichtigsten, in den Vorträgen und Diskussionen behandelten Themen betrafen die Relevanz von qualitativer und Evaluationsforschung und von universitärer Lehre für soziale Wandlungsprozesse, ethische Herausforderungen sowie Möglichkeiten, die Ergebnisse aus qualitativer Forschung für unterschiedliche Gruppen (Nutzer und Nutzerinnen, politische Entscheidungsträger[innen], Professionelle und die interessierte Öffentlichkeit insgesamt) zugänglich zu machen.