por He social diagnosis It is a methodological process of an interpretative nature, which seeks to know, understand, describe and evaluate the needs or social problems in a given context. It is a key procedure in the field of social work and the foundation of development and welfare programs.
The clarification of priorities and the determination of effective intervention strategies can only be achieved after the social diagnosis has been carried out, hence the importance of this descriptive synthesis.
Through this, the distortions and problems of a certain social reality, the available means, the actors, the causes and the latent potentialities can be established, as well as the degree of viability and feasibility to implement corrective actions.
Among the definitions of social diagnosis given by theorists, the construct stands out as a common element. social needwhich can be considered as that indispensable, universal and objective factor for the survival, integrity and reproduction of the human being, regardless of time or place.
In the field of social work, four basic areas are considered within social needs, and they will be the object of study of most diagnoses. These needs are integrity, inclusion, autonomy and identity.
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Phases of social diagnosis
The literature on social diagnosis usually proposes 3 to 4 phases, which are specified below.
Phase 1: Descriptive synthesis
It is a first level of conceptualization through which the precise and explanatory evidence can be selected. This phase transcends mere data collection.
It consists of the selection of information and all those inputs that can explain the situation of social need. Ideally, a description should be carried out sequentially, reflecting how the objective and subjective facts have evolved, in order to understand their possible causes and effects.
Phase 2: Causal analysis
It supposes the second level of conceptualization and tries to find connections between the different variables and the elements that impact the situation, which could explain its why.
In this analysis it is necessary to take into account not only the possible causes and effects, but also the origin, the people involved, the demand and the triggering factors. It aspires to determine the behavior of all these factors and determine if they are independent or dependent variables.
Phase 3: Interpretation and conceptualization of social needs
At this level of conceptualization, the aim is to define existing social needs, interpret them, as well as determine their causes and components.
In this phase, the ideal is to categorize the social need according to the model of the four basic areas (integrity, inclusion, autonomy and identity). In addition, in light of the evidence collected, logical-theoretical relationships must be established with which the social situation can be explained in a detailed and organized manner.
Phase 4: Assessment and forecast of social needs
At this last level of conceptualization, the aim is to anticipate the basic social needs of an individual or social group. Phases 3 and 4 are generally not presented in isolation, but it is important to explain their implications separately.
This phase has a double purpose: the first is to determine the possibilities of change, its consequences, as well as the risk or protective factors. The second, trying to predict how these factors would evolve and what the future social scenario would be like.
Guys
Hellen Harris Perlman (1905–2004), teacher and social worker, as well as one of the quintessential representatives of the Chicago School, proposes three types of social diagnosis:
dynamic diagnosis
This type of diagnosis seeks to define what the problem is, establish possible solutions, together with the means and resources available. Psychological and physical aspects of each case are taken into consideration, in addition to the social ones. It is an approach that requires flexibility, since it is based on the principle that every social situation is constantly changing.
clinical diagnosis
It refers to those diagnostic processes where the individual is analyzed based on an ailment or pathology that they present, always maintaining the social perspective of the problem. It is usually carried out with a multidisciplinary team that can provide care.
Etiological diagnosis
In this type of social diagnosis, events are concatenated and the evolution of the problem from its origin is described. In addition, it seeks to establish some immediate cause-effect relationship and forecast the most useful procedures to address the case.
Indicators
The indicators of a social diagnosis integrate all those aspects that can be measured by means of a scale and that together allow us to conclude if the social situation is adequate, vulnerable or deficient.
The items to be evaluated may vary according to the diagnostic model used by the social worker, as well as depending on the area and the basic need on which they are focusing.
For this reason, the number of indicators may vary. In addition to sociobiographical information, social diagnoses tend to handle 5 key areas (economic, coexistence, personal, health, and social). The most common categories and indicators of each are mentioned below:
Economic
– Economic resources (availability of income, expenditure on basic goods and services, expenditure on non-basic goods).
– Occupational or work situation (activity, duration of the day, stability, conditions, legality).
convivial
– Accommodation or housing (type of housing, supplies, conditions of habitability and equipment, access to basic services, location, owner)
– Relational situation (primary or family networks, secondary networks, coexistence networks, emotional abuse, physical or emotional abandonment, corruption of minors).
– Organization of daily life (food, personal hygiene, distribution of administration tasks, distribution of domestic tasks, care of minors).
Staff
– Social skills (cognitive skills, conflict resolution, adaptation to change, assertiveness, expression of feelings, communication).
– Training, education or training (level of study, schooling, languages, school performance, work experience, ongoing training).
Health
– Mental and physical autonomy (health status, addictions, level of independence, need for treatment).
– Disability and work incapacity.
Social
– Social participation (formal or informal participation, absence of participation, social isolation).
– Social acceptance (discrimination, freedom of rights, prohibition of use and enjoyment by coercion).
Example
If a social worker wants to determine the degree of social acceptance of a person, they will first collect the information through an instrument that they have designed. She selects the evidence and establishes connections between the different variables.
You will probably detect a very deficient level in the categories of economic resources, work, training, housing, social participation and social acceptance. Once the causes of discrimination have been determined, a work plan that specifies objectives, activities, resources and levels of intervention must be carried out with the affected party.
As part of the intervention strategies, group and community participation dynamics could be implemented to address the most affected needs. Actions could also be carried out to sensitize the community, in order to promote a culture of equality.
References
Social diagnosis. (2019, July 20). Wikipedia, The Encyclopedia. Retrieved from wikipedia.org
Muñoz, MM, Barandalla, MFM, Aldalur, AV, Urretxu, Á. A., San Juan, AF and Martín, BL (1996). Manual of indicators for social diagnosis. Official Colleges of Graduates in Social Work and Social Assistants of the Basque Autonomous Community.
Díaz Herráiz, E. and Fernández de Castro, P. (2013). Conceptualization of the diagnosis in Social Work: basic social needs. social work notebooks, 26(2), 431-443.
Aguilar Idáñez, MJ and Ander-Egg, E. (2001). Social diagnosis: Concepts and methodology. Political collection, services and social work (Mexico).
Arteaga Basurto, C., González Montaño, MV (2001). Diagnosis. In Community Development. Recovered from recursos.udgvirtual.udg.mx