BTU overview
Faculty 4
Chair of Social work Prof. Dr. Daniela Cornelia Stix

Call for Papers #2

#BlickVomTellerrand.

The reference disciplines of Social Work and their perspectives on digitalisation

Edited by: Daniela Cornelia Stix, Julius Späte, Cordula Endter, Karsten Krauskopf

We cordially invite you to submit contributions for an anthology that initiates an interdisciplinary discussion at the interfaces of genuine approaches of Social Work, its related disciplines and the advancing digitalisation.

The anthology will be the second publication of the Digitalisation Research Network Northeast and aims to focus more on the perspectives of the related disciplines of Social Work on digitalisation by "looking beyond the horizon".

#multiperspective

Digitalisation, as a complex phenomenon of our time, permeates all aspects of social life and is having a profound impact on our society. In order to make these effects understandable, manageable and resolvable for Social Work, we would like to give space to different perspectives with this anthology, which focuses on the examination of digitalisation phenomena. The different perspectives of the related disciplines of Social Work can contribute to understanding how Social Work must position itself in a digitalised world in order to successfully overcome the new challenges.

In this respect, the "view from the edge of the plate" stands metaphorically for the various disciplines that look at the phenomena of digitalisation in the context of Social Work from the edge of the plate.

The following questions can be considered as suggestions.

  • How can multi-perspective approaches contribute to understanding the complex interactions between digitalisation and challenges such as inequalities/disadvantages, gender, ethnicity and other social dimensions? What implications does this have for Social Work?
  • What critical perspectives of the related disciplines exist with regard to the integration of technologies in social work practice fields and how can potential risks be addressed?
  • What role do the reference disciplines of Social Work play in the development and implementation of digital solutions for social problems?

#trans- and interdisciplinary

As a scientific discipline and practice-oriented profession, Social Work is not isolated from other disciplines, but also draws on findings from other disciplines for its canon of knowledge. The reference disciplines therefore provide Social Work practice and training with knowledge that goes beyond their own scientific concepts and theories, so that conceptual points of reference, methodological approaches and professional competences can be developed. This provides a second level of meaning for "thinking outside the box": Social Work, which looks beyond its own disciplinary horizons in order to enrich its own professional and theoretical development from the knowledge of its reference disciplines.

The following questions can serve as inspiration:

  • How can Social Work concepts and theories enrich their reference disciplines in their further development with regard to digitalisation?
  • How can inter- and transdisciplinary approaches contribute to a deeper understanding of the impact of digitalisation on Social Work?
  • How do theories of related sciences on the phenomenon of digitalisation influence Social Work?

#multiprofessional

A discussion between social work and its related disciplines as well as a joint critical examination of the opportunities and risks of digitalisation in the context of social work offers the opportunity to develop innovative approaches in order to do justice to the changed social framework conditions of social work and to adapt organisational structures. If the various related disciplines enter into an open dialogue with each other and with social work, a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between digitalisation and social work can be achieved. This is because the different bodies of knowledge of the reference disciplines can be pooled and made fruitful for social work, so that new perspectives can develop that enrich the discipline and profession of social work.

The "view from the edge of the plate" thus has a third figurative function, in which the related disciplines look beyond their disciplinary boundaries in order to develop symbioses for the further disciplinary development of Social Work.

The following questions provide orientation.

  • Which new digital methods and technologies are already being used in other professions and how can these innovations be utilised for the discipline and profession of Social Work?
  • To what extent do the methods and techniques developed in the related sciences have an influence on Social Work practice?
  • What specific effects does digitalisation have on the individual reference disciplines of Social Work and how do these influence the concepts and methods in Social Work?

Submissions

We welcome contributions that make it clear where and how "thinking outside the box" is enriching for Social Work in the context of digitalisation and what challenges arise. The contributions can include theoretical and methodological considerations, offer well-founded practical insights or be based on empirical findings.

Please upload your abstract (300-500 words) together with a short author biography and a correspondence email address in the form of a document in pdf format to the following cloud folder (Filedrop) by 6 May 2024 at the latest.A response will be sent within approx. 20 days.

You should upload your complete contributions of between 30,000 and max. 35,000 characters (including spaces and bibliography) to the cloud by 30 September 2024 at the latest. A quality-assuring peer review process will then take place for the contributions (see timetable).

The anthology will be published both in print and open access and is expected to be published by Socialnet Verlag. We look forward to your contributions and to a fruitful discussion about the related disciplines of Social Work and their perspectives in the age of digitalisation.