Academic Social Science Research Articles

Everybody hurts: a survey on mental health in academia

Abstract The impacts of the pandemic were multiple: health, social, economic, political, on quality of life and well-being. The aim of this project is to attempt to study the mental health status, the problems of which are constantly increasing, of Italian academic social scientists experiencing difficulties during the pandemic period, as they play a relevant role within society, trying to construct an index identifying their level of malaise using exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression.

Illegitimate Tasks in Academia: A Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Social Science Academics

The concept of “illegitimate tasks” (ILT) refers to tasks assigned to employees that fall outside their professional role definitions and are perceived as unnecessary or unreasonable. ILT has gained attention as a stress-inducing factor affecting employees’ well-being and sense of self, distinguishing it from other occupational stress sources. This study explores how social science academics in Türkiye perceive and experience ILT, their coping mechanisms, and the individual and organizational implications. A phenomenological study was conducted with 40 academics from various levels and institutions through semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Findings reveal that most participants view their profession as encompassing lecturing and research, with irrational tasks being more frequent than unnecessary ones. Research assistants and assistant professors bear the heaviest burden of such tasks. ILT causes were categorized into two groups: those related to human resource capacity and those stemming from organizational processes. ILT results in relational issues (deteriorating relationships, reduced tolerance), physiological effects (sleep problems, fatigue), psychological impacts (anger, worthlessness, depressive moods), and work-related consequences (role conflict, diminished reputation, reduced commitment). Addressing ILT requires supervisors to offer social support through clear communication, define job roles at the institutional level, and ensure fair task distribution. This study contributes to the ILT literature by examining its antecedents, effects, and mitigation strategies in academia.

Research on Authentic Leadership in Türkiye: A Descriptive Content Analysis Study

This research aims to determine the trends in the studies on authentic leadership carried out between 2010 and 2022 in Türkiye. Descriptive content analysis, one of the systematic review types, was applied in the research. As a result of the reviews made based on the research criteria, 144 studies were obtained. The “Authentic Leadership Publication Classification Form” developed by the researcher was utilised as the data collection tool. Data was analysed using frequencies, percentages, tables and figures (graphs). As a result of the research, it was determined that the studies on authentic leadership were mainly single-author articles and written by male researchers. It was observed that theses on authentic leadership were mostly written at Hacettepe University and İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, while the articles were mostly published in the Journal of Academic Social Sciences and the Journal of Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences. It was determined that the highest number of studies on authentic leadership were carried out in 2019, the number of studies published in the Turkish language and the field of business administration was higher, and the most studied topics along with authentic leadership were psychological capital, organisational commitment, innovation, organisational citizenship and job satisfaction, respectively. It was also identified that the quantitative method and relational screening model were frequently applied in the research and that the participants mainly consisted of the employees of the companies and enterprises. The sampling method was not mentioned in most of the research, but the studies specifying the sampling method mostly benefited from the random and convenience sampling methods. Moreover, it was noticed that the studies were mostly conducted with varying numbers of participants, ranging from 201 to 300, using surveys and scales as the data collection tools and SPSS as the statistical software.

A social researcher researching social researchers – Lessons from feminist epistemologies

Qualitative research literature discusses how power shapes the interview process and the resulting data and explores the epistemic basis for interview research theoretically. However, processes of negotiating epistemic authority in the interview situation, and in data analysis, are investigated less frequently. This paper draws on 34 interviews with social science academics interested in gender, feminist and queer studies in four English universities to reflect on the epistemological challenges of researching social researchers about their work. Through this, it contributes to explorations of how, in qualitative interviewing and data analysis, we can combine a critical reading of interview data with a commitment to respondents’ accounts of their realities. I argue that Black, anti-colonial, queer, feminist epistemological approaches can be well suited to navigate this challenge. I advocate for an epistemic reflexivity that acknowledges the fluidity of speaker positions while taking structural power relations, and their effects on epistemology, seriously.

Optimizing Quality Classroom Engagement and Thinking and Rethinking Processes in Social Studies Courses through a Wait-time Model (WTM)

The purpose of this study is to find out how the wait-time provided by professors to the students’ influence their classroom engagement as well as their ability to think and re-think, both in the online and offline set-ups. The problem with wait-time during discussions is that it can hinder the flow of conversation and impede effective communication. One of the problems that confront students is the prolonged pauses or delays in responses that may lead to disengagement, loss of momentum, and decreased overall efficiency in exchanging ideas or information. This delay can be caused by various factors such as technical issues, hesitation in responses, or inadequate facilitation, all of which can contribute to a less productive and engaging discussion. This study used social-observation descriptive design, a form of scientific research. The samples were selected through purposive sampling, include three (3) classes from Bachelor of Secondary Education, majoring in Social Studies totaling 95 respondents and 5 social-science faculty members from the College of Teacher Education, City University of Muntinlupa, Philippines. The Survey on the Average Teacher’s Wait-time Tool and Classroom Discussion through a Wait-time Tool, constructed by the researchers, observation, and interviews were used to gather data from the samples. The study found out that the Average Wait-Time on "Creating Questions" has the longest average wait-time at 2 minutes and 11 while "Remembering Questions" have the shortest wait-time at 41 seconds. There is a strong positive correlation between the average length of wait-time and active classroom engagement. Longer wait-times result in more engaged students, whether in online or face-to-face classes. And the correlation between Wait-Time and Thinking and Rethinking reveals that there is a moderately negative correlation which suggests that the length of wait-time and the thinking and rethinking process have an inverse relationship. Extended wait-times may lead to reduced cognitive activity, indicating a need for balance. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing wait-time in educational practices to facilitate meaningful engagement and cognitive processing. Balancing the duration of wait-time is essential to harness its benefits effectively. The authors concluded that through quality wait-time, students would be able to further enhance their analytical, critical, and higher order thinking skills.

Democratizing social scientists’ impact on federal policy: Using the evidence act to help government and ourselves

It is common for social scientists to discuss the implications of our research for policy. However, what actions can we take to inform policy in more immediate and impactful ways, regardless of our existing institutional affiliations or personal connections? Focusing on federal policy, I suggest that the answer requires understanding a basic coordination problem. On the government side, the Foundations of Evidence-based Policymaking Act (2018) requires that large federal agencies pose, communicate, and answer research questions related to their effects on people and communities. This advancement has opened the black box of federal agency policy priorities, but it has not addressed capacity challenges: These agencies often do not have the financial resources or staff to answer the research questions they pose. On the higher education side, we have more than 150,000 academic social scientists who are knowledge producers and educators by training and vocation. However, especially among those in disciplinary departments, or those without existing institutional or personal connections to federal agencies, we often feel locked out of federal policymaking processes. In this article, I define the coordination problem and offer concrete actions that the academic and federal government communities can take to address it. I also offer leading examples of how academics and universities are making public policy impact possible in multiple governmental spheres. I conclude by arguing that both higher education institutions and all levels of government can do more to help academic social scientists put our knowledge to work in service of the public good.

A NEW POSSIBILITY TO WRTIE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY: THE PRECENCE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE FACULTY MEMBERS IN SOCIAL NETWORKS

The issue of writing should be considered as a historical situation that has made it possible to produce and record knowledge and information. The position of writing is dependent on the tools that enable ideas to transform into the materiality of the writing. Therefore, with the change of writing tools, the possibilities of creating ideas and producing knowledge, along with publishing tools, have also changed. Therefore, the main goal of the article is to clarify the function of and the sharing of writing in the digital situation by the social science faculty members. For the social science professor, the position of writing is the most important and main position of knowledge production for a social scientist. The position of writing about the community for the community in social networks, what new positions has it activated? To answer this question, an in-depth interview was conducted with 6 social scientists who are faculty members, and the data were coded in MAXQD software. Based on the obtained results, the position of writing in social networks has led to rapid writing in the face of the rhythm of the movement of forces shaping the space-time of the current situation and creating an imagination of it. The rapid writing is to generate information and create propositional knowledge about the issues of the present time. The rapid writing is related to the contemporary living characteristic of the social scientist, where knowledge and information flows affect each other.

EXPLORING THE ROLE OF DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE MALAYSIA IN ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTIVE WELFARE

This research investigates the role of the Malaysian Social Welfare Department in optimizing productive welfare programs, focusing on poverty alleviation, and enhancing the lives of the B40 group. The study encompasses a qualitative exploration, engaging senior officials from the department and experts in social sciences, primarily through in-depth interviews. The pivotal concern of poverty has led to the establishment of welfare programs in Malaysia, with key objectives revolving around improving cooperation among stakeholders and addressing capacity-building challenges within the department. This study's significance lies in pinpointing weaknesses in welfare program implementation and aims to refine policies and coordination among relevant agencies. The research employs variables such as inter-agency cooperation, capacity building, monitoring mechanisms, community involvement, and policy influence, as derived from a comprehensive literature review on welfare and social development. The study utilized a qualitative research methodology, particularly Basic Qualitative Inquiry, focusing on the Malaysian Social Welfare Department. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with five participants, including senior department officials and esteemed academics in social sciences. Thematic analysis was employed for data analysis, exploring core themes emerging from the interviews. Findings emphasized the pivotal role of comprehensive monitoring and structured collaboration among stakeholders. The discussions underscored the importance of tailored staff training, policy review, insights from foreign models, and community engagement as critical elements for improving welfare programs. In conclusion, the study offers a comprehensive overview of the Malaysian Social Welfare Department's role in welfare programs, proposing a Productive Welfare Improvement Model (MPKP) and synthesizing the findings. MPKP encompasses monitoring, collaboration, staff capacity building, policy review, insights from foreign models, policy influence, and community engagement. Aligned with the 2 Years Exit Program (2YEP), MPKP promises to strengthen welfare initiatives and drive poverty alleviation, thereby contributing to a brighter future for all Malaysians.

Developing and Evaluating an Online Professional Development Model on Academic Writing Conventions and Norms in English

This study aimed to determine non-native speakers of English academics’ knowledge and awareness of conventions and norms of academic writing (AW), to develop an online professional development model addressing all disciplines, and to evaluate the effect of this model on their AW performances with their views on the model. The study was based on the mixed methods evaluation design. The participants were nine academics in educational and social sciences at a state university in Turkey. An online professional development model encompassing eight themes related to AW was developed. Data were collected through pre- and post-tutorial semi-structured interviews and writing tasks. Textual and content analyses were used for the qualitative data, and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was performed for quantitative analysis. The results showed that before the tutoring, the participants acknowledged various difficulties regarding AW conventions and norms. The data after the online asynchronous tutoring showed that explicit instruction increased the participants’ knowledge and awareness, and the proposed model contributed to their writing performances, and promoted their AW skills. However, participants’ hedging use was found limited to modal verbs use. Paraphrasing tasks also showed significant differences between before and after tutoring writing tasks. Participants highlighted the importance of long-term implementational writing instruction.

‘Routine Infrastructuring’: How Social Scientists Appropriate Resources to Deposit Qualitative Data to ICPSR and Implications for FAIR and CARE

ABSTRACTThis study develops a grounded theory of how social scientists facilitate qualitative data deposit and the impacts on making data FAIR and CARE. Drawing from 15 semi‐structured interviews with U.S. academic social science faculty who deposited data to ICPSR, I take a resource‐centric perspective to address the need for theorizing scientists' use of resources to bridge the gap between underspecified, heterogeneous data practices and repository requirements. The two primary contributions of the study are: First, the identification of three types of resources that social science faculty use to structure data deposit routines, namely: 1) bottom‐up, 2) top‐down, and 3) borrowed resources. Second, I import a theory from crisis informatics, ‘routine infrastructuring,’ to explain how social scientists deposit data to ICPSR. Results reveal that the resources social scientists use function as ostensive routines. I argue routine infrastructuring is not only a way to enact routines but also creates routines. Findings also show ‘in‐house’ resources have a mix of beneficial and negative impacts for data FAIR‐ and CARE‐ness. This study advances the small but growing body of literature that examines routine dynamics in research groups from a resource‐centric perspective to explain qualitative data deposit to research data repositories.

Social science as social action to address inequalities

AbstractIn its most recent report, the Academy of the Social Sciences Australia (ASSA, 2021: 10) identified social inequality as a “grand challenge” for the social sciences, arguing that social scientists have a pivotal role to play in “understanding, addressing and guiding us towards a narrowing of a two‐tier society.” Nevertheless, the social sciences continue to be regularly positioned as “soft” and esoteric in relation to the natural sciences, while also sustaining disproportionate funding cuts. In this article, we—a multidisciplinary group of social science researchers forming part of the Inequalities and Social Action Research Cluster based at The University of Queensland (Australia)—draw on the existing literature and our diverse experiences to reflexively consider how academic social scientists might play the active role that ASSA foresees to address social inequalities into the future. This includes by countering the inherent imperialism of the Western academy itself. We explore the roles, barriers and tensions that social scientists face and conclude by offering a framework of key strategies to improve the translational impacts of social science research for addressing social inequalities.

The Last 20 Years of Empirical Research on Government Utilization of Academic Social Science Research: A State-of-the-Art Literature Review

We organize and critique the last 20 years of empirical research on policy utilization of academic social science, offering eight recommendations for future research: (1) improvement in utilization measures; (2) greater alignment on constructs of interest; (3) greater address of different national contexts; 4) study of mechanisms connecting academic research to policymakers; (5) incorporation of knowledge on information search; (6) attention to differences between utilization of policy, social, and physical science in different sectors; (7) evaluative inquiry on the effects of research utilization; and (8) investigation of the value of research in addressing different classes of societal problems.

Research on China Academic Social Sciences and Humanities Library (Third Edition)

Research on China Academic Social Sciences and Humanities Library (Third Edition)

Understanding the Psyche of the Contemporary Dominant group Malay Malaysian- Thesilently discomfiting and ‘Pulsating’ Ramifications Impacting them and the ‘Other’

Malaysia, as a formerly colonised nation, is seen as a political entity not totally free from the centrifugal forces that tend to emerge and undo the social bonds that are attempted to be forged by the powers that be, and by the diverse communities themselves. These are in the form of socio-economic programmes, the New Economic Model, ‘Masyarakat Madani’ (Civil Society Malaysia -equality is its primary pillar), development plans, and so on generally said to be for the benefit of all Malaysians. Malaysians, particularly the minorities and the natives of the land, yearn to belong to the nation. This, the above groups want to not only be talked about, but seen to be done in the form of equitable governmental largesse. This is viewed presently as still very much skewed towards the majority group which is constitutionally endowed with special rights. The sense of beleaguerment, and being in doctrinated irrationally that they are intellectually incapable, and intermixed with a fear of loss of their rightful benefits in the country, which eventually has endowed on them the title-‘sons of the soil’, continue to seemingly prevail in their mental psyche. This has seemingly taken them on the trajectory to want to be regarded as the nation’s favoured group, to then egatively-impacting-on-nation-building sense of discrimination and disgruntlement ‘lived’ with by the ‘Other’– the minority communities. Writings of social science academics and analyses on the socio-political scenario of the country were the focus of the research methodology employed. It was concluded from the data studied that in all urgency, a further in-depth values-based and holistic ‘Education’ system was the key means of bringing about positive changes to the seemingly debilitating psychological traits of the dominant group mainly, and importantly, fulfilling the needs of ALL citizens proactively and for the nation going forward, without any element of qualificationor reservations.

Emphasis on Family Vitality in GNH: A Study in Bangladesh Perspective

The article critically analyses how family value in Bangladesh is ignored for keeping its sole focus on gaining economic growth and reveals the relevance of the Bhutanese philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) that suggests keeping a balance between development and value. In so doing, both qualitative and quantitative methodologies have been applied to collect the relevant data. A survey on twenty-five scholarly participants- teachers from universities and colleges, PhD and Mphil researchers, lawyers– has been conducted with structured questionnaires substantiated by qualitative interview of seven Social Science faculty members – five from Dhaka University and two from two different private Universities of Bangladesh- with semi- structured questionnaires. Moreover, a robust content analysis of the relevant secondary data i.e., books, articles, newspaper reports, have also been analyzed carefully to ensure the reliability and validity of the collected data. This study argues that Bhutan has been a glaring example of how both spiritual and material advancement can be ensured simultaneously that starts flourishing from a harmonious family relationship. And the study findings can be beneficial for the concerned policy makers of Bangladesh to adopt more effective and time-worthy policies to protect the country’s declined social values in line with economic growth taking insights from Bhutan’s GNH in different degrees.

Science under Fire: Challenges to Scientific Authority in Modern America

Science under Fire: Challenges to Scientific Authority in Modern America

Megacity Growth, City System and Urban Strategy

Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental StudiesOnline Ready Open AccessErratum: Megacity Growth, City System and Urban Strategyis erratum ofMegacity Growth, City System and Urban StrategyChengri DING, Xiao HE, and Yongming ZHUChengri DINGUrban Studies and Planning Program, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USASchool of Public Administration, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan Province, P. R. China, Xiao HESchool of Management Engineering, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, P. R. China, and Yongming ZHUSchool of Management Engineering, Zhengzhou University, No. 100, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, P. R. Chinahttps://doi.org/10.1142/S2345748122920014Cited by:0 PreviousNext AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsRecommend to Library ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail [Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies, Vol. 10, No. 1 (2022) 2250005, DOI: 10.1142/S2345748122500051] Remember to check out the Most Cited Articles! Be inspired by these Popular Science books!Includes all-time bestsellers and new titles FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsRelated articlesMegacity Growth, City System and Urban Strategy6 Jul 2022Chinese Journal of Urban and Environmental Studies Recommended Online Ready Metrics History Received 14 April 2023 Accepted 14 April 2023 Published: April 27, 2023 Information© Social Sciences Academic Press (China)This is an Open Access article published by World Scientific Publishing Company. It is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (CC BY-NC) License which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited and is used for non-commercial purposes.PDF download

Communication Process to Promote Public Participation in Anti-Corruption of People in Muang Chiang Mai District

This research was a mixed-method research. The objectives were to study the situation, condition, problems, and communication process in promoting participation in anti-corruption of people in Muang District, Chiang Mai Province. The result was synthesized into a body of knowledge and a guide book, which was assessed the standard as the last step. The population and data sample were 400 people in Mueang Chiang Mai District, which were randomly randomized (Accidental Sampling) from 16 sub-districts aged between 18-80 years with the validity of the sample size at +95% and the errors at +5. The three-part questionnaire was used to collect the data. The second data group was the content analysis presented in 2017 of Chiang Mai News, Thai News, Rob Wiang Chiang Mai radio program, WE TV news, and Chiang Mai Mai Kong radio program. The media content was selected with multi-stage randomization, while the data collection tool was coding sheets. The third data sample group was the interview of 21 people who were directors, editors and journalists from the local mass media, local independent media, a group of academics in mass media, law and social sciences, the leader of public sectors, the community leaders, and officers in the Chiang Mai Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (ONACC) and Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). The semi-structured interview was conducted as the data collection tools. The data were analyzed for frequency, percentage, and standard deviation. The research results revealed that people in Mueang Chiang Mai District were the middle class with urban lifestyle with slight involvement with local and the lower classes which had a rural lifestyle. The middle-aged and older were groups that had highly engagement with communities. The media usage and participation behaviors of Mueang Chiang Mai District residents found that most of them use Facebook, LINE, and Instagram. They participated with liking and sharing through social media, only 10.5 percent of them had ever participated in the social movement. The results of the anti-corruption participation found that local media did not attach importance to presenting corruption news for fear of harm, while some had mutual benefits with local politicians. For the anti-corruption agencies such as the NACC and PACC emphasis, it was placed on the corruption combat training of local civil servants and officials. By this, the guideline suggested that the communication process should be divided into two groups: the middle class should use online media to communicate, and the lower-class should apply meetings, community media, and affordable online media as the tool, while the community leaders were the mainstay of communication. The anti-corruption organizations must primarily support the formation of groups with budget, knowledge, and safety. An important aspect of participation is the safety of members and whistleblowers including avoiding conflicts igniting in the community. The communication strategy must provide knowledge and consequences of corruption, the inequality that leads to corruption, protection laws, and safety.

Guest Editors’ Introduction: Opening Conversations that Matter in Public Music Studies

Guest Editors’ Introduction: Opening Conversations that Matter in Public Music Studies

The rise of machine learning in the academic social sciences

The rise of machine learning in the academic social sciences