Dimensiones políticas de una epidemia: el caso de la gripe A (H1N1) en la prensa escrita de Argentina

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Abstract

El objetivo de este estudio se orienta a comprender las representaciones sociales que expresan los periódicos, en torno a la epidemia de gripe A (H1N1) en Argentina para el año 2009, a través del análisis cuali-cuantitativo de dos dimensiones fundamentales: la forma en que se construye el "objeto" epidemia y las fuentes de información de las noticias. A partir de ello, es posible identificar que en la forma de nombrar y construir la epidemia subyace cierta decisión política de eliminar la responsabilidad que cabe a un modo de producción pecuaria riesgosa, responsabilizando al individuo que incurre en conductas de riesgo. El análisis muestra la vigencia de la hegemonía biomédica en las recomendaciones de representantes políticos, especialmente a nivel internacional, lo que contribuye a la farmacologización de una epidemia, posicionamiento que reproduce la población en sus reclamos. El comportamiento de la prensa ante la epidemia, no responde a eventos vinculados a la epidemiología del virus, sino que publica la mayor parte de noticias ante eventos asociados a la política local.

Translated abstract

The current study addresses social representations of the influenza A (H1N1) epidemic in Argentina in 2009, in the country's mainstream newspapers. The methodology was twofold, qualitative and quantitative, with an analysis of two dimensions: the construction of the epidemic as an "object" (designation and characterization) and the sources of information in the news stories, seeking to identify the social actors involved in each case. The results show that designating the epidemic as "H1N1" rather than "swine flu" was a conscious political decision to exempt a hazardous form of livestock production from its role in the disease, while focusing responsibility on individual patients. The study addresses the relations between recommendations by policy spokespersons (especially at the international level), the pharmaceuticalization of the epidemic, shifting of the population's demands to validate biomedical hegemony, and local press coverage of the epidemic.

Translated abstract

O presente estudo tem como objetivo compreender as representações sociais sobre a epidemia de influenza A (H1N1), na Argentina em 2009, nos jornais de maior circulação no país. A metodologia foi qualitativa e quantitativa com base na análise de duas dimensões: a forma em que se constrói o "objeto" epidemia (designação e caracterização dos mesmos) e as fontes de informação das notícias, procurando identificar em cada caso os atores sociais envolvidos. Os resultados mostram que na nomeação da epidemia fica a decisão política de eliminar a responsabilidade de um modo de produção de gado de risco, culpando o indivíduo. Observa-se que as recomendações dos representantes políticos, especialmente no nível internacional e promovida a farmacologização da epidemia, a reprodução do posicionamento da população em suas reivindicações que demonstra a validade da hegemonia biomédica e, finalmente, o comportamento da imprensa para a epidemia concentra-se em puramente ligado aos acontecimentos políticos locais.

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The Discovery of Grounded Theory

Barney G. Glaser, Anselm L. Strauss (1967)

Most writing on sociological method has been concerned with how accurate facts can be obtained and how theory can thereby be more rigorously tested. In The Discovery of Grounded Theory, Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss address the equally Important enterprise of how the discovery of theory from data--systematically obtained and analyzed in social research--can be furthered. The discovery of theory from data--grounded theory--is a major task confronting sociology, for such a theory fits empirical situations, and is understandable to sociologists and laymen alike. Most important, it provides relevant predictions, explanations, interpretations, and applications.In Part I of the book, Generation Theory by Comparative Analysis, the authors present a strategy whereby sociologists can facilitate the discovery of grounded theory, both substantive and formal. This strategy involves the systematic choice and study of several comparison groups. In Part II, The Flexible Use of Data, the generation of theory from qualitative, especially documentary, and quantitative data Is considered. In Part III, Implications of Grounded Theory, Glaser and Strauss examine the credibility of grounded theory.The Discovery of Grounded Theory is directed toward improving social scientists' capacity for generating theory that will be relevant to their research. While aimed primarily at sociologists, it will be useful to anyone Interested In studying social phenomena--political, educational, economic, industrial-- especially If their studies are based on qualitative data.