Revisiting longitudinal qualitative studies in social work: considerations for design and methodological insights.

This paper undertakes an analysis and discussion of the methodological challenges and insights derived from three longitudinal qualitative studies, all conducted in Chile during the COVID-19 pandemic and subject to comprehensive theoretical-methodological reflection processes centred on their respective designs. This analysis makes a significant contribution to interdisciplinary discussions within social research, with a particular emphasis on longitudinal trajectories. First, we present a comparative analysis of three studies in social work, utilising Saldaña's questions addressing changes and learning in longitudinal studies. The first study explores the labour trajectories of researchers, the second focuses on the educational trajectories of students, and the last examines therapeutic alliance trajectories between social workers and families within the child protection system. Following this, we delve into the methodological decisions made by the research group during the execution of these longitudinal studies. This encompasses an examination of participant involvement, temporal definitions of the adopted designs, and the most suitable methodological tools for analysing change processes over time. The outcomes of this comparative analysis reveal the distinctive characteristics of the three longitudinal studies, providing insights into how the time dimension is explored within them. We highlight key criteria essential for consideration in longitudinal qualitative research, particularly regarding participants and methodology. In conclusion, we advocate for an expanded reflection within the realm of longitudinal qualitative methodology, encompassing aspects such as design choices, approaches to data analysis, integration of technology in information processing, and strategies for maintaining participant engagement.

Pequeños/as grandes investigadores: niñeces creando conocimiento sobre el compromiso escolar en Chile / Little big researchers: children creating knowledge about school engagement in Chile / Pequenos grandes pesquisadores: crianças criando conhecimento sobre engajamento escolar no Chile

(analítico) A más de 30 años de la Convención de los Derechos del Niño y reconocido su derecho a participar, las investigaciones siguen siendo predominantemente sobre los niños/as y no con ellos/as. Este estudio busca avanzar hacia la incorporación de niños/as como productores de conocimientos en sus escuelas. Es un estudio cualitativo longitudinal donde 64 niños/as asumieron un rol de co-investigadores del compromiso escolar mediante talleres con una metodología de investigación-acción participativa, entrevistas y análisis que ellos/as realizaron. Se relevan distintas percepciones sobre los subtipos de compromiso escolar y factores contextuales asociados que enriquecen el análisis adulto y la importancia de complementar los datos cuantitativos en las escuelas con las voces de las infancias, en tanto agentes de cambio. Se concluye sobre cómo incluir su participación en investigación más significativamente.

(analytical) More than 30 years after the Convention on the Rights of the Child recognized their right to participate, research continues to be predominantly about children but not carried out with them. This study seeks to contribute to the incorporation of children as producers of knowledge in their schools. It is a longitudinal qualitative study in which 64 children assumed the role of co-researchers on the topic of school engagement. This was achieved through workshops that used a participatory action research methodology, interviews and analysis undertaken by the children themselves. The study identified different perceptions about the subtypes of school engagement and associated contextual factors that enrich adult analysis, as well as the importance of complementing quantitative data collected in schools with the voices of children, who in this process act as agents of change. The authors conclude the article with identifying how to achieve more meaningful child participation in research studies.

(analítico) Mais de 30 anos após a Convenção sobre os Direitos da Criança e o direito de participação reconhecido, a pesquisa continua sendo predominantemente sobre crianças e não com elas. Este estudo busca caminhar para a incorporação das crianças como produtoras de conhecimento em suas escolas. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo longitudinal onde 64 crianças assumiram o papel de co-investigadoras do compromisso escolar através de oficinas com metodologia de pesquisaação participativa, entrevistas e análises que realizaram. Revelamse diferentes perceções sobre os subtipos de envolvimento escolar e fatores contextuais associados que enriquecem a análise dos adultos e a importância de complementar os dados quantitativos nas escolas com as vozes das crianças, enquanto agentes de mudança.

Researching with Qualitative Methodologies in the Time of Coronavirus: Clues and Challenges.

In late 2020 and the first semester of 2021, in Santiago de Chile, five women researchers who work with qualitative methodologies, based on their reflections on how the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on their doctoral research or their role as thesis advisors, conducted a reflective exploration of the conditions and challenges for qualitative research amid a global crisis. In this context, they convene once per week to explore how other researchers conduct and document their research processes, based on a purposive and thorough bibliographic exploration of qualitative studies on the pandemic and remote methods published in qualitative research journals. During these meetings, they reflect on and analyze the impacts and challenges of research in today's world, identifying possibilities and challenges in the methodological and ethical domains. Thus, they organize the present paper around two axes: one on the effects of the pandemic on academic and research practices, in general terms, and another on the specific methodological challenges facing qualitative research during the pandemic. These challenges are largely caused by difficulties in accessing and recruiting participants; the conditions of participation, influenced by vulnerabilities or barriers that constitute factors of inequality; the data production strategies and methodologies used in virtual contexts; ethical considerations; and the effects of the pandemic context on quality and rigor criteria. The article concludes with reflections and questions on the meanings, underlying logic, and practices of qualitative research, which are interrogated and re-signified in light of the COVID-19 pandemic while also illuminating research in post-pandemic settings.

Implementation of a web-based system to measure, monitor, and promote school engagement strategies. A Chilean experience.

This paper presents the implementation and usability of a technology-based web system and the available evidence on educational engagement's predictive capacity to influence students' educational trajectories in Chilean schools. The web-based system was developed through collaborative work between universities, the information technology team, school communities, and stakeholders (government institutions). It is an online system composed of six steps whose axis is centered on a decision-making space between teachers-students-parents (School Engagement Board) tasked with applying online and scientifically validated school engagement and contextual factors measurement instruments, checking specific report results for each actor involved in the system (teacher, School Engagement Board coordinator, school) as well as reviewing promotion strategies relevant to the school context and managing the implementation of strategies supported by the management datasheets that the model offers to schools. The objective of this paper is to present the usability of the system through a case study of the implementation in Chilean public schools. In order to discuss about what elements should be incorporated to adjust and improve the usability of the system and to guarantee its effective implementation, the paper describes those aspects that have favored and/or hindered the use of this educational technological platform in the Chilean case. The results show that there have been more difficulties related to management aspects than IT aspects, which indicates that these conditions are critical for implementation, even when system for evaluation, monitoring and strategies for the promotion of student engagement and contextual factors (SIESE) is designed for stand-alone use. Although there are aspects to be improved, such as extending its use to other browsers, improving the intervention guidelines and other systems functionalities, this web-based system has been considered by the educational communities as a simple, useful, and intuitive platform. The paper concludes on the importance of having this type of platform in Chile and other Latin American countries, for its contribution to school management -being helpful for day-to-day educational practice- due to the different technical facilitators.

Adaptation and psychometric properties of the school engagement and contextual factors questionnaires for Covid-19 and post Covid-19 context.

School engagement has been demonstrated to be a relevant aspect in promoting students' successful trajectories, a commitment that in its turn is influenced by contextual factors (family, teachers, and peers). Having instruments to measure these constructs allows decisions to be made to improve student retention, especially relevant in the context of uncertainty caused by covid-19. The aim of the study was to adapt and analyze the psychometric properties of questionnaires used to measure school engagement and contextual factors in the context of the pandemic with elementary school students in Chile. After adaptation of the instruments, through expert evaluation and focus groups with students, they were administered to 579 students in seventh and eighth grade (mean age = 12.79, 52% were boys), and to 334 students in fifth and sixth grade (mean age = 11.35, 38% were boys) in Chile. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the two versions of the school engagement measurement instrument had an adequate fit with the original model of three correlated factors, cognitive, affective, and behavioral commitment. Similarly, these two versions of the instrument measuring the contextual factors had a good fit with the original model of three correlated factors, family, teachers, and peers. In addition, both versions of both questionnaires presented appropriate levels of internal consistency.

School engagement profiles in Chilean secondary students.

School engagement is considered a key variable in promoting educational trajectories. Previous research shows that maintaining high levels of school engagement is fundamental, given its association with multiple academic results and lower-risk behaviors. This article aims to show how school engagement profiles (based on the behavioral, affective, and cognitive subdimensions) relate to academic achievement (math and language), contextual factors (family, teachers, and peer support), and gender. This study involved 527 students enrolled in the 1st year of secondary education in public schools in Chile. All students came from vulnerable schools. Our study used cluster analysis to identify students' profiles. We identified the existence of three different profiles of school engagement (high, medium, and low) considering the three subdimensions of school engagement (behavioral, affective and cognitive). Secondly, ANOVA analysis showed differences in language and math academic achievement scores between the profiles, where higher engagement students showed higher academic performance in language and math. These findings are consistent with previous studies showing that contextual factors strongly influence school engagement and better behavioral engagement in female than male students. It will discuss the pertinence of person-centered approaches focusing on combinations of variables within students rather than taking each variable as the focal point when analyzing goals. These techniques are a favorable methodological alternative to investigate why some students have better results than others instead of just ranking students by their performance. It will conclude with some future lines of research and practical implications.