Walter Colesso

University of Padova Italy

Relational Competence Ecomap (RC-Ecomap)

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Padova, 10th of December, 2009

RC-Ecomap: Presentation

1. This paper represents an innovative proposal for the use of an ecomap which utilizes models and dimensions derived by Relational Competence Theory (L’Abate, 1993) and allows the analyses of data through log-linear models and classical testing at different levels obtaining indexes and parameters justified by statistical significance.

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Ecomap is an Ecological Map

2. (a) Since Lewin (1935) conceptions of psychological settings and/or modalities for studying the relationship between behavior and environment have multiplied to constitute the Ecological Paradigm.

(b) This Paradigm is a conceptual orientation, a perspective resulting from the synthesis of contributions by many authors: Kelly (1966, 1990), Conoley & Haynes (1992),Seidman (1988, 1990), Bronfenbrenner (1979), Foa and Foa (1974).

(c) The ecological paradigm suggested the use of an EcoMap as a tool for assessing individuals, couples, and families (Hartman, 1995).

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Ecomap is an assessment tool

3. (a) The EcoMap monitors elements of human ecology that represent our intimate relationships and the social systems created by individuals willing to interact more effectively with both the physical and the social environment they live and work in.

(b) Several editions of the EcoMap have been proposed (Calix, 2004; Early, Carpenter-Aeby, Aeby, & Boyd, 2007; Hodge, 2000; Ray & Street, 2005; Smith, Todd, & Beem, 2000) according to different objectives and observational levels.

All these contributions remain within the exclusive range of qualitative evaluations by graphical representation.

No convergent uniformity has been reached.

(c) The Disadvantages of the EcoMap (Calix, 2004):

- inadequate or inexact terminology that makes it difficult

to determine the exact nature of the relationships.

- no data about its reliability and validity;

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An Ecomap Model4/2

EcoMap and Social Network Analysis

4. (a) Carrà Mittini (2008) defines the EcoMap as an ego-centered Social Network representation.

According to this prespective, it can be analyzed by Social Network methods:

- Sociogram rapresentation;

- Property Network Indices(Centrality, Density, Betweenness, Reciprocity,

Degree, Average Path Length)

(b) Disvantages of this prespective: Marin & Wellman (2009) criticize that: “Social network analyses is neither a theory nor a methodology. Rather, it is a perspective or a paradigm. Unlike a theory, social network analysis provides a way of looking at a problem, but it does not predict what we will see (p. 17).”

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Ecomap: the new proposal (RC-Ecomap)

5. The lack of an agreed upon the theoretical base for the conceptualization of settings, contexts and relational exchanges makes it complex to determine the dimensions of a social network, facilitating the diffusion/proliferation of methodologies not always sustained by a sufficient theoretical clarity (Prezza & Principiato, 2002).

6. Our new proposal allows to:

I. Identify an acceptable/exaustive conceptual framework within Enviromental Relational Theory;

II. Operazionalize constructs as emerged by EcoMap informations and justify by the literature.

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RC-Ecomap: Relational Enviromental Theory

6.1 Relational Competence Theory (L’Abate, 1995, 2000, 2005) proposes precisely operazionalized models for:

- (I) Settings: objective (Model3) and subjective (Model1);

- (II) Resources and Modalities (Model7);

- (III) Priorities (Model12).

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Creation of RC-Ecomap

6.2 Specifically the RC-Ecomap uses the following

constructs derived from Relational Competence Theory

(L’Abate, 1995, 2000, 2005) :

(I) settings: home, work, survival, and enjoyment;

(II) relationships evaluated within each setting according to the

dimensions of frequency and quality.

(III) contents

Resouces: money, goods, services, information, importance, intimacy.

Modalies: Being (importance + intimacy), Doing (information +

services), Having (goods + money).

Constructs: Power (Doing + Having), Presence (Being)

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RC-Ecomap: How to use it

7. RC-Ecomap includes three phases:

(I) recording the subject’s answers;

(II) elaborating the data with:

- idiographic analysis (log-linear models)

- nomotethic analysis (classical testing)

(III) graphically representing the subject relational network

for diagnosis and/or intervention.

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RC-Ecomap: recording answer10

7.1 The data collected refer to the subject’s

relationships and commitments in given contexts: work,

family, survival, and enjoyment.

RC-Ecomap: inserting data11

7.2 The answered

obtained are

recorded in a

Basic Data Table

(excel sheet).

A first evaluation

allows clinical

questions and the

reading of select

indices to then be

placed in cross

tables for Log-

linear analysis.

7.3 Here an example of Log-linear analysis results obtained with a Log-linear programm based on an Excel sheet created by Sanchez (2007): It is easy and fast to use.

John (55 y.o.) has been married to Mary (58 y.o.) since 1979.

They have two daughters (27 and 22 y.o.).

John has been having an extra-marital affair since 2007.

12RC-Ecomap: idiographic analysis by Log-linear models

7.4Log-linear parameters are here graphically represented for the Rc-Ecomap

Such representation is a useful diagnostic and clinical tools.

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RC-Ecomap: graphic representation of data (2 Ecomaps)

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RC-Ecomap: graphic representation of data (1 RC-Ecomap)

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RC-Ecomap: graphic representation of data (4 RC-Ecomaps)

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Figura 5. F RC-Ecomap

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potere negoziato

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Ecomap: nomothetic analysis.

7.5 The RC-Ecomap Indices obtained from the Basic Data Table can be considered as discrete variables of weighted measures: They can then be processed by classical testing.

However, we decided to use non parametric statistics for both the nature of the weighted scores and precaution.

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RC-Ecomap: Conclusions

8. The RC-Ecomap Contextual indices (general and/or specific) allow to evaluate variables till today now difficult to quantify and analyze.

Therefore, the RC-EcoMap appears to be an assessment tool:

- theory-related:

- flexible in its application and usable

- qualitative and quantitative (i.e. idiographic and nomothetic)

Sanchez program (2007) will be shortly completed with the an evaluation of the effect sizes. The work is in progress!!

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RC-Ecomap: Publications

• Colesso, W., & Cusinato, M. (2009). Relational Competence Ecomap (RC-

Ecomap). Paper presentato al 10th European Conference on Psychological

Assessment. Ghent, Belgium, 16-19 settembre. In J.R.J. Fontaine e M.

Schittekate, Book of Abstracts of the 10th European Conference on

Psychological Assessment, (p. 67). Ghent University.

• Cusinato, M., & Colesso, W. (2009). Ecomappa di competenza relazionale

(RC-Ecomap). Uno strumento per l’assessment delle relazioni significative.

Counseling. Accepted for pubblication.

• Colesso, W, & Cusinato, M. (2009). Studio delle relazioni significative con RC-

Ecomap nella ricerca psicosociale. Psicologia Sociale. Accepted for

submitting.

• L’Abate, L., Cusinato, M., Maino, E., Colesso, W., & Scilletta, C. (2010).

Relational Competence Theory: research and Mental Health Applications. New

York: Springer. In press.

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RC-Ecomap: a collaboration with Sevilla University19

• La familia de el joven terapeuta

- 1 Consentimientos informado.

- 1 Ecomapa.

- 1 Cuestionarios de estilos parentales.

- 1Cuestionario de datos del genograma.

Para otra persona de la misma edad, sexo y nivel de formación

(que no sea estudiante de psicología).

1- Consentimiento informado.

1- Ecomapa.

1- Cuestionario de estilos parentales.

RC-Ecomap

Thank You

walter.colesso@unipd.it

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