David R. Hodge

RANKING DISCIPLINARY JOURNALS WITH THE GOOGLE SCHOLAR H-INDEX: A NEW TOOL FOR CONSTRUCTING CASES FOR TENURE, PROMOTION, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL DECISIONS

Given the importance of journal rankings to tenure, promotion, and other professionaldecisions, this study examines a new method for ranking social workjournals. The Google Scholar h-index correlated highly with the current goldstandard for measuring journal quality, Thomson Institute for Scientific Information(ISI) impact factors, but provided data for more than 4 times as manydisciplinary journals. Eighty disciplinary periodicals are identified and rankedusing the Google Scholar h-index. The vast majority of these were ranked higherthan the lowest ranked social work journal indexed by Thomson ISI.Although the results hold salience for many professional stakeholders, theymay be of particular interest to faculty who publish in disciplinary journals notindexed by Thomson ISI. The Google Scholar h-index provides faculty with anadditional tool to document the quality of the venues in which they publish.

SPIRITUALITY, RELIGION, AND THE INTERRELATIONSHIP: A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE STUDY

How do people define spirituality and religion and what, if any, relationship do they see between the 2 constructs? In this study, we answer these questions using a qualitative methodology with a nationally representative sample of graduate-level social work students affiliated with the National Association of Social Workers (N=303). A relatively diverse array of definitions for both spirituality and religion emerged. Most respondents believed some form of relationship existed between spirituality and religion. A significant minority, however, reported that no or a minimal relationship existed between the 2 concepts. We conclude by discussing the implications of these findings.

POSTMODERNISM AND SPIRITUALITY: SOME PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHING CONTENT ON SPIRITUALITY

The integration of spirituality content into curricula has accelerated dramatically during the past decade. Despite this trend, little discussion has appeared in the literature about the instructional methods best suited to teach spirituality. Adopting a new approach referred to as pedagogical pluralism, the authors suggest that some aspects of spirituality content are best taught using pedagogical strategies drawn from modernism, whereas other aspects are most congruent with postmodern strategies. Indeed, the authors propose that the epistemological assumptions that inform postmodernism and common understandings of spirituality are highly congruent. Consequently, significant components of spirituality content may be best taught using nontraditional postmodern pedagogical strategies that may strike some readers as controversial, or even radical.

Religious coping and acculturation stress among Hindu Bhutanese: A study of newly-resettled refugees in the United States:

After years in Nepali refugee camps, over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees are being resettled around the world by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This study examines the relationship between religious coping and acculturation stress among newly-resettled Hindu Bhutanese refugees in the United States (US), the projected home of most Bhutanese refugees.

Spirituality and religion: intertwined protective factors for substance use among urban American Indian youth.

Background and objective: This article explores the aspects of spirituality and religious involvement that may be the protective factors against substance use among urban American Indian (AI) youth. Methods: Data come from AI youth (N = 123) in five urban middle schools in a southwestern metropolis. Results: Ordinary least squares regression analyses indicated that following Christian beliefs and belonging to the Native American Church were associated with lower levels of substance use. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Following AI traditional spiritual beliefs was associated with antidrug attitudes, norms, and expectancies. Having a sense of belonging to traditions from both AI cultures and Christianity may foster integration of the two worlds in which urban AI youth live.

MOVING TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT? A MULTI-SAMPLE EXPLORATION OF RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS FAITH TRADITIONS

This multi-sample study of master of social work students from various faith traditions (N=391) explores the extent to which religious discrimination is perceived to exist as a problem in social work education programs. No difference in perceptions emerged between religiously affiliated and non-affiliated respondents. Evangelical Christians generally reported higher levels of discrimination than theologically liberal and mainline Christians. The confirmation of the second hypothesis suggests that professional attention may be needed to ensure compliance with the professions ethical and educational standards, while the failure of the first hypothesis suggests that progress toward a more inclusive educational environment may be occurring.

Latino Alzheimer's disease caregivers and depression: using the stress coping model to examine the effects of spirituality and religion.

This study used stress coping theory to examine the effects of spirituality and religion on depression among a sample of Latino family members caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the United States. Participants consisted of 209 Latino caregivers (CGs) drawn from baseline data from the Resource for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregivers Health (REACH) II clinical trial. The findings indicate that church attendance moderates the relationship between subjective forms of stress and depression in tandem with exhibiting direct effects on depression. Consistent with the central role religion plays in Latino culture, the results imply that religious involvement may play an important role in mitigating depression through indirect and direct pathways.

Incorporating Spirituality Into Substance Abuse Counseling: Examining the Perspectives of Service Recipients and Providers

ABSTRACT Spirituality represents an important internal and external strength that can support clients when facing a variety of problems including substance misuse and addiction. Spirituality is commonly included in peer-run mutual aid support groups for addiction, while incorporating a clients spiritual preference is less common in professional substance abuse counseling. Considering the potential benefits of this practice, this research study conducted focus groups with both service recipients and providers to understand how to best integrate spiritual preferences into counseling for alcohol and substance abuse. The findings offer a set of suggestions that emerged from these group discussions regarding the importance of respecting client autonomy while also encouraging and challenging clients to consider new coping strategies. Recipients and providers felt this tension between respecting and challenging can be managed through increased training and education regarding how to remain culturally responsive to ones spiritual beliefs. Implications for practice are discussed.

Utilizing Spiritual Ecograms with Native American Families and Children to Promote Cultural Competence in Family Therapy

This study signifies an initial step at giving family therapists an important assessment tool as they seek to increase cultural competence with Native American families and children. To determine the relevancy and consistency of utilizing a spiritual ecogram assessment tool with Native Americans, 50 Native American participants, with extensive experience with this population, reviewed, rated, and gave feedback on its use. Although some limitations were noted, results showed that spiritual ecograms were moderately consistent with Native American culture and, if used properly, can help family therapists develop culturally appropriate interventions with Native American families and children.

Conducting spiritual assessments with native Americans: Enhancing cultural competency in social work practice courses

Developing competency in diversity and assessment are key educational priorities. With Native American clients a spiritual assessment is typically required because spirituality is often instrumental to health and wellness in Native cultures. In keeping with the movement toward competency-based education, this qualitative study sought to answer the question: How can future social workers conduct spiritual assessments with Native American clients in an effective, culturally competent manner? Analysis yielded a number of practice-oriented insights that can be grouped into 4 categories: the importance of spiritual assessment, preassessment considerations, the process of conducting the assessment, and areas of potential value conflict. The implications of the results are discussed as they intersect social work education and practice courses in particular.