Card-sorting Activity Research Articles

Community Preferences for Allied Health Services in Residential Aged Care.

Exploring health consumer preferences in care is an essential foundational, and ongoing activity, when designing and delivering models of care. We undertook a study to explore: (i) what allied health (AH) services are most important to health consumers and (ii) how health consumers expect to access these services in residential aged care (RAC) to determine consumer priorities in future AH models of care in RAC. A mixed method study was conducted with aged care residents and community members (friends or family of residents/people who believe they may use RAC services). The study comprised two focus-group activities where participants were asked to (1) rank the AH services most important to them and then (2) categorise how they would prefer to access each AH service. Focus group members used card sort methods (Q-methodology) to aid prioritisation, categorisation and discussion. Card sorting data were analysed using inverted factor analysis and descriptive statistics. Qualitative focus group data were deductively coded using a coding structure created by the research team informed by quantitative results. Data were collected from 16 participants who formed five focus groups in a community forum. The analysis revealed three factors, that represented shared meaning amongst groups of participants (viewpoints) regarding prioritisation of AH services: 'Prioritising urgent needs', 'Prioritising long-term healthy habits and lifestyle', and 'Prioritising social well-being'. Data from the card sort activity, which related to 'how health consumers expect to access AH services', were also categorised into three categories: 'It is always provided', 'A professional will assess my need' and 'I or my family will ask for this service if I need it'. Participants wanted most AH services to be provided regularly, with some such as 'Exercise and rehabilitation' and 'Meaningful activity' to be provided up to one hour every day. Consumers value a range of AH services and have an expectation that these will be provided in RAC on a regular basis. To ensure consumers make informed preferences regarding the future of services in RAC, health systems need to trial innovative AH models of care and embed consumer evaluation.

Using Card Sorting Activity as a Strategy for Evaluating Students’ Learning of Computational Thinking Concepts

This study investigated the effectiveness of the ‘Match it’ card sorting activity for evaluating the prospective teachers’ knowledge and understanding of computational thinking (CT) concepts. 146 primary prospective teachers were asked to sort 26 scenarios and words alongside nine images under five main computational concepts: algorithmic thinking, abstraction, decomposition, patterns & generalisation, and evaluation. The study found that the card sorting activity, as a method for assessment was useful, however, the issues around the design and the content of the current card sorting activity were reported by students which suggests that further revisions should be made to improve the effectiveness of the tool.

Ready, Set, Sort! A User-Guide to Card Sorts for Community-Engaged Empirical Bioethics.

We demonstrate the fruitfulness of using card sort activities as an engagement method by detailing community consultation for ethical, legal, and social implications of sociogenomics. Readers are provided with a user-guide for card sort engagement through: (1) an overview of the card sort activity and its merits for engagement, (2) detailed methods of sorting for values-elicitation and prioritization goals, and (3) strategies to design this approach for other participatory research designs. Our intent is to add to meaningful exchanges between community engaged researchers and empirical bioethicists.

A Qualitative Analysis of Shared Values and Motivation for Change Expressed by Sexual Minority Men in Relationships: Use of the Personal Values Card Sort Activity During Motivational Interviewing Sessions Addressing Drug Use and Sexual Health.

The development of tailored interventions that address drug use and sexual risk taking among sexual minority men (SMM) in relationships has garnered increasing interest over the past 20years. Motivational interviewing (MI) has demonstrated promise in both individual and couples-based applications. The Personal Values Card Sort activity is commonly employed in these interventions; however, relatively little is known about the content of client responses evoked by this intervention task. This study examined how SMM in relationships characterize their values; how their relationship partners influence value attainment; and how they situated drug use and sexual risk taking in the context of their values and primary relationships. A qualitative analysis of intervention transcripts from sessions with 47 SMM aged 18 to 34 was conducted. All respondents were HIV negative and indicated recent (past 30days) drug use and sexual risk behavior. Participants' high priority values reflected a focus on clarifying personal identity and interpersonal relationships. Values manifested as realized, aspirational, or transformed. Participants described their partners as supporting goal attainment and as a companion with whom they cope with goal-related stressors. Consistent with interdependence theory, participants' responses indicated consideration of their partner and relationship when these aligned with and supported goal-attainment. Conversely, when partners were described as a barrier to realizing their values, participants characterized their relationship as being of lower quality. Implications of this content for the activation of motivation for health behavior are discussed with specific emphasis on applications with SMM in relationships.

Construction of a Science Teacher's Topic-Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge in the Gifted Class

This study examines a science teacher's pedagogical content knowledge during instruction on the topics work and energy, simple machines, and friction force in a gifted class. The research adopts a single case study approach, employing qualitative methods. The participant is a middle school science teacher, and data collection tools include interviews, observations, card-sorting activities, and lesson plans. The main findings of the study are: (1) gifted students required additional science practice beyond the scope of the traditional curriculum, (2) the participating teacher encountered challenges when designing and implementing enrichment activities, (3) the characteristics of gifted students positively influenced the development of the teacher's pedagogical content knowledge, and (4) the presence of gifted students prompted a shift in the teacher's science teaching orientation from traditional methods to reform-based practices. Teachers need to have additional knowledge bases or Pedagogical Content Knowledge components. Notably, the research underscores the relevance of the knowledge of enrichment curriculum and knowledge of characteristics of gifted students in the training of science teachers, along with the crucial role of STO in the education of gifted students, especially in the context of teaching physics. These findings offer significant implications for the curriculum designed for gifted students, particularly concerning the teaching and learning of physics topics.

The Influence of Historically Marginalized Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of STEM on their Academic and Career Choices

Research has shown that university students approach STEM fields with preconceived notions that has the ability to influence their future STEM trajectories. Several scholarly investigations have explored pedagogical methodologies that not only recognize but actively validate the varied proficiencies that these pupils possess. This nested mixed methods study contributes to this work. Data sources included a survey, a card sorting activity, and student written reflections. By employing a thematic data analysis framework, the results indicated that students held the following perceptions of STEM: (1) STEM is task-oriented; (2) STEM is bound together by external ties; and (3) STEM is both optimistic and cognizant of the journey ahead. These results highlight the correlation between the perceptions and experiences of marginalized students in STEM. The study's implications suggest that to address the obstacles presented by external factors that hinder the acknowledgment of underrepresented students in STEM fields, policymakers, and academic institutions should take proactive steps to establish mitigation strategies.

University Students, Social Media, and Purposeful Use

University students are frequent users of networked environments, such as social media, in their everyday lives. Although often associated with socialization and entertainment, their social media use is multifaceted, reaching across other life activities and contexts. This exploratory, qualitative study draws upon interviews with 25 university students in the United States, considering how they use social media across learning and professional contexts, and how they view their role in this setting. During the interviews, students participated in a card sort activity that presented them with 41 potential social media tasks they might engage in as well as two different ways of categorizing social media tasks.Findings showed that students use some social media tools, like Instagram, widely across contexts, while other tools are relegated to specialized use or contexts, largely driven by task. Instructors set the tone for using certain other tools, like X (formerly known as Twitter) or Diigo (a social bookmarking tool), whereas other tools are used to access resources but not to interact, like Pinterest and YouTube. Most students reported using social media to interact with others, but only within well-defined networks comprised of friends and classmates. Interactions with these individuals were focused on supporting friendship and accomplishing learning or extracurricular tasks, respectively. Beyond that, students reported a passive role on social media, consuming rather than producing content and leaving limited traces of their presence in the public sphere, with the exception of situations when students were leaders in extracurricular groups or using social media for their jobs. In those instances, the most common uses were related to posting event and promotional information. After engaging with the social media tasks and activity categories presented in the card sort, students offered two types of reflections. One group reflected on the limited nature of their personal social media use, whereas the other group indicated that there was a range of social media tasks and uses that they had not previously considered. The small group of students who did not offer any sort of post-activity reflection indicated that they had small networks with limited activities by design, and lacked interest in thinking further about them. These findings have implications for higher education institutions, where students might be offered learning, extracurricular, and career support opportunities to help them develop both awareness and skills related to common networked knowledge activities and corresponding digital skills.

From inside the head to putting it on the table – supporting reflexive decision-making for unpaid female carers considering higher education

ABSTRACT When unpaid female carers consider whether to pursue higher education (HE), they frequently experience decision-making uncertainties which stem from the structural and cultural challenges associated with their roles as carers. Reflexivity is a critical part of decision-making, as it empowers individuals to mediate between the present and future within the structural and cultural conditions which impact and guide their actions. To investigate the reflexive deliberation processes unpaid female carers engage in as part of their HE decision-making processes, this study analysed data from an in-depth, qualitative Australian study with 15 unpaid female carers who were considering higher education. Dialogic processes including narrative interviews and a card sort activity made visible the array of mental activities involved in reflexive decision-making by carers. Considering the more and less productive types of reflexive inner conversations which had been identified enabled participants to reflexively adjust the efficacy of some of their decision-making processes. This study contributes to the reflective and career counselling literature by theorising the cognitively and emotionally complex personal and structural demands of HE decision-making. By conceptualising reflexive decision-making anew, unpaid female carers and HE institutions can better identify and address the structural and cultural conditions which may be influencing their HE decision-making.

‘I don’t know the hierarchy’

The provision of online resources for tertiary student literacy development outside of students’ curricular contexts is problematic because engagement with centralised support provisions is low. As part of a Library team focused on student literacy development across our university, we have conducted multiple rounds of user experience (UX) testing with our students to design a set of resources in a course within our learning management system that all students can access. Our most recent UX employed usability testing, card sorting, and low-fi wire framing activities to identify how students experience our resources. Findings indicate that students are confused by enforced groupings of literacy development content and that they expect our resources to be accessible with the rest of their assessment information. Implications for design include balancing student expectations of immediate access to relevant literacy development resources with the constraints of having a small team who can design this content.

User-Centered Design of a Machine Learning Dashboard for Prediction of Postoperative Complications.

Machine learning models can help anesthesiology clinicians assess patients and make clinical and operational decisions, but well-designed human-computer interfaces are necessary for machine learning model predictions to result in clinician actions that help patients. Therefore, the goal of this study was to apply a user-centered design framework to create a user interface for displaying machine learning model predictions of postoperative complications to anesthesiology clinicians. Twenty-five anesthesiology clinicians (attending anesthesiologists, resident physicians, and certified registered nurse anesthetists) participated in a 3-phase study that included (phase 1) semistructured focus group interviews and a card sorting activity to characterize user workflows and needs; (phase 2) simulated patient evaluation incorporating a low-fidelity static prototype display interface followed by a semistructured interview; and (phase 3) simulated patient evaluation with concurrent think-aloud incorporating a high-fidelity prototype display interface in the electronic health record. In each phase, data analysis included open coding of session transcripts and thematic analysis. During the needs assessment phase (phase 1), participants voiced that (a) identifying preventable risk related to modifiable risk factors is more important than nonpreventable risk, (b) comprehensive patient evaluation follows a systematic approach that relies heavily on the electronic health record, and (c) an easy-to-use display interface should have a simple layout that uses color and graphs to minimize time and energy spent reading it. When performing simulations using the low-fidelity prototype (phase 2), participants reported that (a) the machine learning predictions helped them to evaluate patient risk, (b) additional information about how to act on the risk estimate would be useful, and (c) correctable problems related to textual content existed. When performing simulations using the high-fidelity prototype (phase 3), usability problems predominantly related to the presentation of information and functionality. Despite the usability problems, participants rated the system highly on the System Usability Scale (mean score, 82.5; standard deviation, 10.5). Incorporating user needs and preferences into the design of a machine learning dashboard results in a display interface that clinicians rate as highly usable. Because the system demonstrates usability, evaluation of the effects of implementation on both process and clinical outcomes is warranted.

Pathways to diagnosis: The lived experiences of obtaining a dementia diagnosis among care partners

AbstractBackgroundAchieving a timely diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) has been challenging, and racial/ethnic minority older adults often have delays in their ADRD diagnoses despite having a higher disease prevalence. This qualitative study engaged care‐partners of patients to identify key barriers that they have experienced during their ADRD diagnosis process, ascertain their recommendations for addressing these barriers, and assess racial differences in the diagnosis process.MethodWe purposively sampled 11 Black and 10 White care‐partners (n = 21) of persons who were diagnosed with ADRD within the past two years. We conducted semi‐structured interviews to gather details and to identify the barriers/facilitators that they experienced. To prompt discussion, we asked participants to complete a card sort activity identifying occurrence and order of common events in the diagnosis pathway. We applied content analysis guided by life course theory to identify themes and to explore differences in diagnosis pathways between Black and White participants.ResultOverall, about 70% of care‐partners were female, age 60 (on average), and 57% were adult children of persons with ADRD. Less than 30% of Black care‐partners reported having adequate knowledge about ADRD, whereas the proportion was 60% among their White counterparts. Most often, early signs of ADRD were first noticed by care‐partners. However, some considered these signs as part of the normal aging process. Care‐partners reported visiting multiple providers along the process, and some visits were related to other conditions. Some care‐partners noted that the involvement of other family members was a barrier to the ADRD diagnosis. Most care‐partners described the diagnosis process as difficult and devastating, and Black care‐partners discussed experiencing unmet needs along the process more frequently than White care partners. Some care‐partners suggested having a navigator that can walk them through the process would be helpful. They also shared that the navigator should be able to tailor services based on the needs, as each family’s situation is different.ConclusionThis study highlights the unmet needs experienced by care partners along the diagnosis process of ADRD. Black and White differences were also identified. More person‐centered care coordination programs are needed to promote early identification of ADRD.

Examining subjective understandings of autistic burnout using Q methodology: A study protocol.

Early research indicates that autistic burnout is a chronic, debilitating condition experienced by many autistic people across the lifespan that can have severe consequences for their mental health, wellbeing, and quality of life. To date, studies have focused on the lived experiences of autistic adults, and findings suggest that a lack of support, understanding, and acceptance by others can contribute to the risk of autistic burnout. The study outlined in this protocol will investigate how autistic people with and without experience of autistic burnout, their families, friends, healthcare professionals and non-autistic people understand the construct of autistic burnout to identify commonalities and gaps in knowledge. Q methodology will be used to investigate participants' subjective understandings of autistic burnout. Q methodology is a mixed-methods design that is well-suited to exploratory research and can elucidate a holistic and comprehensive representation of multiple perspectives about a topic. Participants will complete a card sorting activity to rank how strongly they agree or disagree with a set of statements about autistic burnout and participate in a semi-structured interview to discuss their responses. A first-order factor analysis will be conducted for each participant group, followed by second-order factor analysis to compare the groups' viewpoints. The interview data will provide additional insights into the factors. Q methodology has not previously been used to examine autistic and non-autistic people's perspectives about autistic burnout. Projected study outcomes include enhanced understanding of the characteristics, risks, and protective factors of autistic burnout. The findings will have practical implications for improving detection of autistic burnout and identifying strategies to support autistic adults with prevention and recovery. The results may also inform the development of a screening protocol and identify potential avenues for future research.

Don't Follow the Smoke-Listening to the Tobacco Experiences and Attitudes of Urban Aboriginal Adolescents in the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health (SEARCH).

Preventing smoking among young Aboriginal people is important for reducing health inequities. Multiple factors were associated with adolescent smoking in the SEARCH baseline survey (2009-12) and discussed in a follow-up qualitative study that aimed to inform prevention programs. Twelve yarning circles were facilitated by Aboriginal research staff at two NSW sites in 2019 with 32 existing SEARCH participants aged 12-28 (17 female, 15 male). Open discussion around tobacco was followed by a card sorting activity, prioritising risk and protective factors and program ideas. The age of initiation varied by generation. Older participants had established smoking in their early adolescence, whereas the current younger teens had little exposure. Some smoking commenced around high school (from Year 7), and social smoking increased at age 18. Mental and physical health, smoke-free spaces and strong connections to family, community and culture promoted non-smoking. The key themes were (1) drawing strength from culture and community; (2) how the smoking environment shapes attitudes and intentions; (3) non-smoking as a sign of good physical, social and emotional wellbeing; and (4) the importance of individual empowerment and engagement for being smoke-free. Programs promoting good mental health and strengthening cultural and community connections were identified as a priority for prevention.

Student reflections on the curriculum and citizenship education using card sorting in group settings

This reflective paper aims to illustrate how card sorting activities can be used as an educational tool to capture group perspectives, prompt reflection and endorse citizenship skills such as discussion, critical thinking, group collaboration and decision-making. For this illustration, the paper presents the results of a pilot study in which students in a higher education context conducted two different card sorting activities. In addition, the reflections and lessons learned from the case study together with literature about Diamond Ranking and Q methodology's sorting technique, are presented to highlight the potential of card sorting as a multipurpose educational tool in higher education settings. In the final section, the author reflexively contemplates future research opportunities to enhance the body of literature on card sorting activities, based on the Q methodology's sorting technique, as an educational tool.

Older adults experiencing polypharmacy preferred to continue their non-prescription products during a card sorting activity.

To explore the extent to which adults 65-years and older who reported taking 10 or more non-prescription products were interested in deprescribing. During an online semi-structured interview, participants were asked to imagine their primary care provider raised the idea of deprescribing. Participants sorted each prescription and non-prescription medication into a category: continue, stop or lower (deprescribe), or unsure. Findings were summarized using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Participants (n = 15) were interested in deprescribing 6% of the non-prescription medications (n = 12/207). Older adults were resistant to deprescribing non-prescription products.

Library Website Redesign in the Time of COVID

In November 2019, Binghamton University Libraries initiated a website redesign project. Our goal was to create a user-centered, data-informed website with refreshed content and upgraded functionality. Originally, our redesign plan included in-person card-sorting activities, focus groups, and usability studies, but when the Libraries went remote in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to quickly reassess and adapt our processes and workflows. In this article, we will discuss how we completed this significant project remotely by relying on effective project management, communication, teamwork, and flexibility.

Autopolyploidy & Allopolyploidy Card Sort

Biological terms describing abnormal numbers of chromosomes, such as polyploidy, eupolyploidy, aneuploidy, autopolyploidy, and allopolyploidy, can be confusing to students. A card-sorting activity designed to expose high school students to these key terms used in the evolution and genetics units of biology classes allows them to visualize these concepts. Students work with classmates to organize key terms with matching definitions and diagrams. The activity will solidify students’ knowledge and understanding about different chromosomal abnormalities that can result from nondisjunction occurring in meiosis or from mating with different species, which may lead to sympatric speciation. The culmination of the activity includes students using their inquiry-based skills to investigate mystery plant and animal cards and determining if they are autopolyploid or allopolyploid organisms.

Research priorities relating to communication and swallowing for people with learning disabilities across the lifespan

PurposeThis research priority setting partnership (PSP) aims to collaboratively identify the “top ten” research priorities relating to communication and swallowing for children and adults with learning disabilities, across the lifespan in the UK, using a modified James Lind Alliance approach.Design/methodology/approachA steering group and reference group were established to oversee the PSP. A survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) resulted in 157 research suggestions. These were further developed into 95 research questions through a multi-stakeholder workshop. Questions were prioritised via an online card-sort activity completed by SLTs, health-care or education professionals and carers. Research questions were analysed thematically. Ten adults with learning disabilities were supported to assign ratings to themes reflecting their prioritisation. The top ten research priorities were identified by combining results from these activities.FindingsThe top ten research priorities related to intervention, outcome measurement and service delivery around communication and dysphagia.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first UK-wide research PSP on learning disabilities and speech and language therapy across the lifespan. It uses a novel approach to incorporate the preferences of people with learning disabilities in the prioritisation.

Volunteering for a better future: A pilot Sustainability Ambassadors Training Program

ObjectiveOlder adults are an untapped resource for leading sustainability change. This study assessed a pilot study of a Sustainability Ambassadors Training Program for older adults.MethodsThe pilot training program was conducted with a sample of 14 older adults over a single day, with some follow‐up activities for participants at home. Activities included completing a sustainable action card‐sorting activity measuring an individual's ability to make sustainable changes within their lives. A brief researcher‐devised empowerment scale was administered pre‐ and postworkshop.ResultsQuantitative data revealed that sustainability empowerment increased from pre‐ to post‐training sessions and was related to the number of sustainability actions participants thought were achievable.ConclusionsThe data suggest that such a brief training workshop can both yield personal change and potentially provide opportunities for a peer network to facilitate change within communities.

Older adults’ willingness to consider deprescribing when experiencing hyperpolypharmacy

BackgroundOlder adults experiencing hyperpolypharmacy (use of 10 or more medications) are at an increased risk of cognitive impairment and functional decline. Deprescribing, where medications are stopped or tapered, is one strategy to mitigate risks. ObjectivesThe primary objective of our study was to use a card sorting activity to explore how older adults experiencing hyperpolypharmacy make hypothetical deprescribing decisions. MethodsWe recruited participants using our institutional research recruitment website between February and November 2020. Participant spoke with a research assistant to create a medication list and then completed an interview using card sorting activity to demonstrate how they would make hypothetical decisions about continuing or deprescribing their medications. Data from the card sorting activities and interviews were organized via Excel (Microsoft Corporation). We used the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Medication Therapy Problems Categories Framework to analyze participant’s reasons for considering deprescribing. The study was deemed exempt by the institutional review board. ResultsAmong the 26 participants, 14 (54%) identified as female, 19 (73%) were white, and 24 (92%) reported good or very good health. Participants reported a total of 405 medications (average 16, range 10-30). A total of 19 participants (73%) were interested in deprescribing 94 medications (23%), including stopping 68 medications (72%) and lowering the dose or frequency of 26 medications (28%). Common rationales for wanting to stop a medication included perceived lack of indication (n = 30, 32%), adherence (general preference to not take the medication) (n = 20, 21%), lack of effectiveness (n = 17, 18%), and concerns about safety (n = 14, 15%). We were unable to categorize 13 rationales (14%). ConclusionMost older adults experiencing hyperpolypharmacy were willing to consider deprescribing at least one medication. Future research is needed to identify whether a card sorting medication reflection activity can be used to provoke conversations about deprescribing between patients and primary care providers.