Good Intercultural Practices in Social Services Projects

• Published in: Journal of social service research 2010-07, Vol.36 (4), p.321
• Main Authors: Vázquez-Aguado, Octavio, Fernández-Santiago, Miriam, Fernández-Borrero, Manuela A, Vaz-Garcaía, Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Culture; Empathy; Intervention; Research methodology; Social services
• ISSN: 0148-8376; 1540-7314

This article reflects part of the results obtained from a wider research project aimed at the elaboration of a "Map of Good Intercultural Practices" in several areas of social intervention in Andalusia, Spain. It also reports the results obtained from the analysis portion related to the participating projects within the social services. Intercultural assessment was conducted at the level of institutional intervention through a 32-item questionnaire that was sent to 139 intercultural project-leading institutions measuring intercultural sensitivity. A definition of the fundamental concepts of "interculturality" and "good practice" is given to support the foundations of "good intercultural practice" (GIP). Such definitions help in the design and validation of a GIP Scale that was used in the analysis of 60 social services projects with an intercultural component. The results obtained underline the relevance of aspects such as intercultural empathy and show significant differences between the social services and other intervention sectors. Future research is proposed that studies GIP scale in other intervention sectors such as the private and public sector. Also, the transferability of the instruments and methodology used makes it possible that the research presented in this article is conducted in other geographical areas. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]