New Trends of Thought in Response to Post-Pandemic Work Precariousness Among Second-Generation Romanian Citizens in Spain

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is an original piece of research in a topic we do not hear often about. 

The author(s) had better make some alterations in order to make this manuscript fit for publication. First of all, they need to offer some research evidence in order to back up certain claims such as (ll 172-173) "They are Romanians and do not know their own language. They speak Spanish without an accent but they are not Spanish". Such issues of language and identity are crucial in the understanding of 2nd generation immigrants and should not be glossed over.

The methodology section presents some problems. The author(s) need to provide details about the total of recorded minutes of interviews.  A separate and detailed section on Data Analysis also needs to be provided. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

There are several problems with Engish, including grammar and syntax. For example in ll 266-268 we have a repetition of "to complete the fieldwork". The manuscript needs to be rigorously edited and proofread. 

Author Response

Reviewer 1

Thank you very much for your kind message and for your help to improve my paper.

I have carefully re-read the entire paper and corrected it. I agree with your comments on identity and language. Although they are not the subject of this article, I have added a relevant reflection in the part of the text to which you refer and I have highlighted the fact that second-generation Romanian immigrants are in fact heading towards a mixed identity. That is why this research is so necessary, as it opens up avenues towards several topics related to second-generation immigrants, one of which is identity.

I have also highlighted the aspects linked to identity in the existing literature in Spain (and worldwide) in the theoretical framework section. Please see page 3 in this respect.

I have corrected the methodology section in accordance with the suggestions made, in addition to including a data analysis section.

I have provided a separate and detailed section on Data Analysis

With regard to English, I thank you for your observations. A native proof-reader has been engaged to check the entire text and ensure there are no repetitions or errors.

Thank you very much for your essential support.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

- The overall grammar could be improved. There are some errors and many statements could be written more concise.

- There were 65 interviews conducted. Is this accurate because it is a lot for a research paper.

- Ethical Concerns, there were photographs of participants. One of the fundamental aspects of ethical research is to protect participants identity and promote confidentially.

- The discussion was rather superficial and provided minimal discussion between what is known and what was found.

- The conclusion did not make any new contributions to knowledge except saying that "giving a voice" which is not much.  

 

Author Response

Reviewer 2

Thank you very much for your kind message and for your help to improve my paper.

- The overall grammar could be improved. There are some errors and many statements could be written more concise.

With regard to English grammar, I thank you for your observations. A native proof-reader has been engaged to check the entire text and ensure there are no errors, and statements are written more concise.

- There were 65 interviews conducted. Is this accurate because it is a lot for a research paper.

You are right; this is a large number. However, I conducted all the interviews for a research project and I took advantage of the resulting wealth of information to develop my paper accordingly.

- Ethical Concerns, there were photographs of participants. One of the fundamental aspects of ethical research is to protect participants identity and promote confidentially.

This is correct, but the article nonetheless complies with ethical standards. As you can see, each image is marked “with (her/his approval)” because each interviewee offered me the relevant photo and gave permission for it to be used.

Furthermore, in the methodology section, I have added “The respondents provided the images used in this research and gave permission for their use” (page 12).

In addition, in the same section I have included that “My fieldwork was ethically approved by the Spanish Council Scientific Research Committee, in the context of a project that I coordinate”. (page 11)

The discussion was rather superficial and provided minimal discussion between what is known and what was found.

- The conclusion did not make any new contributions to knowledge except saying that "giving a voice" which is not much. 

I have linked the discussion with the conclusions, because I consider that they appropriately answer the research questions posed when proposing the article. I have made changes to the section and I hope you agree with the improvements.

Thank you very much for your kind feedback and time, help and support regarding my paper.

 

 

 

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors The author states that he conducted 65 interviews. I recommend presenting the results of these interviews in detail, without necessarily referring to individual responses and persons. Thus, the "results" part must be revised. The conclusions are briefly presented and should be developed.

Author Response

Thank you very much for your review. I agree with your point of view in general terms. However, I tend to provide examples so that I can make better use of all the interviews and give a real, unfiltered voice to the young people involved. This is because the methodology is qualitative. I would argue that by reading the text we can see that it has included all the interviewees.

Y have developed and considerably improved the conclusions. I have made changes to the section and I hope you agree with the improvements.

Thank you very much for your essential support.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper deals with a very topical and rarely researched issue, namely the situation of 2nd generation Romanian workers in Spain in the post-pandemic period. The research questions formulated are professionally sound and the author answers them in this study. The literature review is thorough and detailed, and relevant sources are cited by the author.

The methodology of the study is in-depth interviewing, which fits well with the chosen research questions.  In total, 65 interviews were conducted by the author. It would be worthwhile to know the circumstances of how the author selected the interview subjects. What percentage of the total Romanian population living in Spain do the interviewees represent. The results of the interviews were presented in a professionally understandable way. I consider the use of verbatim quotations to be a good solution; this is an accepted method in sociology. The results of the study are consistent with the purpose of the study. 

Author Response

Thank you very much for your kind commentaries and observations about my research.

In line with your recommendation, I have included an explanation of how I found the sample to interview young people. (page 11). Since this is qualitative research, it is impossible to know the percentage of Romanians living in Spain that the interviewees represent. However, in section 4, I have highlighted the second generation of Romanians in the context of the Spanish labour market, as well as the number of Romanian graduates and postgraduates and those who obtained a PhD during the pandemic (with data provided by the Romanian Embassy in Spain).

Thank you very much for your essential support.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thank you for the amendments.

Whilst you stated that participants gave permission to use their photographs, I have never encountered a published academic journal with photographs of participants (I stand to be corrected). Participants could become vulnerable or at risk for participation, views/ comments hence why it is important to always protect their identity.

You mentioned that you had ethical approval, it is standard practice to include the reference number as evidence of approval.

Author Response

Dear Revieewer:

Thank you so much for your kind. I understand your commentary.

 However, it is true. The respondents provide me their approval. They send me their photos. 

They did not feel vulnerable, they wanted to participate and illustrate their work, their achievements, it was an exciting field work for me, and for them. That is why this change of attitude that they have in relation to other generations of Romanian citizens is interesting. Because of them, this work is original and adds novelty. 
Thank you very much foryour  understanding!!!

Thank you so much for everything!