Collective Organization Research Articles

Burnout among special education teachers: exploring the interplay between individual and contextual factors

ABSTRACT Special education teachers are among the professional figures in the educational sector who risk high levels of burnout. This study explores which variables among individual factors (i.e. socio-demographics, personal self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy) and contextual factors (i.e. collective self-efficacy and work organisation) can predict burnout among special education teachers. Participants included 3171 Italian special education teachers in primary, middle and high schools. They filled out the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Perceived Personal and Collective Self-efficacy in the School Context Scale, the Intrapersonal Technology Integration Scale, and a questionnaire developed specifically to investigate socio-biographical characteristics and teaching organisation. A multivariate LASSO regression model was used to select the most significant predictors. The results identified multiple variables associated with burnout, both among individual factors (e.g. gender, self-efficacy) and contextual ones (e.g. lack of shared involvement in the Individualized Education Program). These results provide new perspectives for planning interventions for special education teachers taking into consideration both their individual characteristics and the context they work in. Limitations of the study and possible further research are discussed.

A Frente pela Vida e a atualização do Movimento da Reforma Sanitária Brasileira

ABSTRACT This paper examined the Front for Life (Frente pela Vida, FpV), a movement of organised civil society in the health field, which sought to achieve political impact in response to the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of the Bolsonaro administration. Information was obtained through a document review of FpV publications, participant observation in meetings, demonstrations, livestreams and events in which the front participated or organised, as well as interviews of participants in its operating group. The analytical categories used were origin, trajectory, movements, management, the relationship between the FpV and the health sector reform movement, sustainability, challenges and the FpV’s prospects. The results showed that the FpV has led a large policy network of individual and collective subjects, scientific entities and organisations representing various segments of civil society to update the health sector movement and expand its social support base. Its trajectory has involved mainly technical, scientific and political action in multiple areas, working with the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branches of government, as well as civil society. In conclusion, the FpV has proved to be an important social movement pressing the State to defend life and the universal right to health and to expand and strengthen Brazil’s Unified Health System, the SUS.

Prospects for the Integration of China and the CSTO

Modern challenges, packages of European and American sanctions, and a special military operation in Ukraine have contributed to Russia’s reorientation to the East, not only in trade, economic and energy terms. The issue of military-political cooperation, in particular, between the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the People’s Republic of China has acquired particular relevance. The coherence of their actions both in the direction of “CSTO + 1” and “CSTO + Shanghai Cooperation Organization” contributed to the development of interaction, a new round in the development of the CSTO, although some of its participants declare the possibility of leaving the Treaty (Armenia). But there are also countries that are ready to take a more active part in its work (Syria, North Korea). At the same time, none of the CSTO countries sent their military contingents to support the Russian army in the Northern Military District.The Central Asian region occupies a special place in the system of relations between the CSTO and China: for example, the peacekeeping operation of the CSTO countries in Kazakhstan in January 2022 attracted the close attention of the Chinese authorities, which once again demonstrated their interest in regional stability. In the context of American pressure on China, its authorities have repeatedly spoken positively about jointly countering such challenges as terrorism, separatism and extremism (“three evils”).The purpose of this work is to assess the prospects for cooperation in the field of countering the “three evils”. To achieve this goal, the authors use the comparative analysis method and SWOT assessment. The authors come to the concluson that since the CSTO countries and China face similar challenges, there is a possibility of situational involvement of China in the military operations of the CSTO. Therefore, a broader consideration of the “linkage” between the CSTO and the SCO is required.

‘Just One Day of Unstructured Autonomous Time’: Samuel A. Moore Supporting Editorial Labour for Ethical Publishing within the University

Universities have traditionally supported the distribution of critical and cultural theory through departmental and centre publishing (e.g. Working Papers in Cultural Studies) and the establishment of university presses. However, over recent decades publishing has been increasingly outsourced to commercial providers, buttressed by volunteer academic labour extracted for profit by the publishing industry. At the same time, faced with ongoing casualisation and ever-increasing workloads, the labour required for academic publishing is severely undervalued by the university and in a permanent state of crisis. In this article we put forward a radical proposal for universities to provide scholars dedicated time to support publishing as part of their academic service work. We intervene strongly into discourses that approach the publishing labour crisis by arguing for calculative solutions in the form of payment or credit. Instead, this article explores reorienting the labour underpinning academic publishing within the university itself by positioning it as an integral part of scholarly research and what it means to be a researcher. We make this argument through an in-depth engagement with debates on academic citizenship on the value of service work and discourses on academic labour derived from within critical university studies. We further support our argument by drawing on discussions on labour and open access (OA) publishing, referencing various alternative models currently being developed that, based on scholar-led, library-led and ‘new’ university press publishing, are experimenting with innovative ways to value and perform labour relations as part of community-controlled collective organisations. As universities are increasingly financially and infrastructurally supporting such initiatives, particularly with recourse to library budgets, we explore how this in many ways has left labour issues for publishing as a service performed as part of an academic’s workload unaltered. We therefore argue for the urgent need to reconfigure how universities view the labour behind academic publishing, to support more ethical engagements and relations with publishing, bring knowledge production back under the control of academic communities, and to support greater academic autonomy within universities.

From securitisation to martialisation: Logistics of humanitarian protection in Brazil’s Amazon

The association between logistics and militarised humanitarianism is expanding as a strategy for managing migrants' productive and reproductive lives. In Brazil, despite a progressive humanitarian visa policy, the national army remains responsible for the logistics of a severely underfunded humanitarian operation in Brazil’s Amazon. This study, based on participatory action research with 300 migrants, introduces the notion of martialisation to show political and socioeconomic dimensions that are juxtaposed in the military logistics of humanitarian zones and subsequently experienced as a dominant structuring process of exploitation. These are securitization of migration linked to at once the deepening of market liberalism and the normalisation of military intervention within productive and reproductive processes. Findings show that the military leadership in Brazil’s humanitarian response reveals a multi-scalar phenomenon of military rule that contributes to sustaining the repressive labour regime in Brazil’s Amazon. It articulates the structures of labour subordination with the micromanagement of reproductive measures by which migrants are controlled, exploited, and dispossessed of their rights. The conclusion makes the case for the collective organization of migrants in pursuit of transformative action.

Are agroecological cooperative supermarkets an alternative for scaling sustainable food?

The paper attempts to investigate the capacity of agroecological cooperative supermarkets in Spain to promote scaling of food products by means of a double perspective. We first employ a vertical scaling approach to analyze the issues affecting the governance and collective organization of the Cooperative Supermarket Network (CSN), set up in May 2022 and comprising eleven Spanish supermarkets. Secondly, we employ a perspective of horizontal scaling to investigate the potential for increased numbers of members, as well as the geographic and sociodemographic variables at play which limit the abovementioned scaling: to this end we use the case study of the cooperative supermarket La Osa, opened in Madrid in December 2020. We adopt a methodology based on participatory action research throughout the years 2022 and 2023, in which the research team was involved in the real processes of creation and development of the CSN or of La Osa. The study confirms the hypothesis that agroecological cooperative supermarkets constitute a formula for efficient retail distribution for scaling sustainable food in Spain. As opposed to the first-generation options for responsible consumption, these supermarkets appear to contribute to generating significant economies of scale and scope. In terms of vertical scaling, joint provision of services, as well as the gaining of political influence in society, constitute the main advantages in relation to the functioning of the CSN. While the recruitment of new members has heretofore been considered a priority in horizontal scaling, particular emphasis should also be placed on loyalty strategies targeting existing members.

LITERACY IN A MULTIGRADE CLASS IN A RURAL SCHOOL

This paper shows results of a study carried out with a multigrade class in a rural school and focuses on a literacy teacher’s pedagogical work organization. The discussion emphasizes how the teacher – by means of a planning structure – develops activities considering heterogeneity as a factor that contributes to both teaching and learning processes. Data were collected of participatory observation and video and audio recordings which were transcribed and subject to the Content Analysis (Bardin, 2016). Results showed a permanent structure of connected pedagogical activities by means of students’ collective and individual organization in order to ensure that they learn how to read and write inclusively. Data trigger reflections upon the relevance of systematic pedagogical proposals as a possibility of structuring the literacy process while respecting heterogeneity of learning processes.

International collaboration in public governance: assessing the role of collective initiatives and organisations

In the context of increasing globalization, rapid technological change, and the spread of complex issues such as transnational terrorism, climate change, mass migration due to armed conflicts, and the consequences of pandemics, international cooperation becomes a necessity. Public administration can no longer operate in isolation from global events and challenges, and understanding the role of international organizations and joint projects in shaping and implementing policies becomes critically important. Addressing complex problems requires joint efforts and resources, making the topic of international cooperation in governance relevant and necessary for research. The paper analysed various aspects of the role of international organizations and joint projects in policy formation, strategy development, and solving complex problems. Special attention is paid to cooperation mechanisms that strengthen institutional ties between countries and promote interaction in areas such as economics, politics, social affairs, and ecology. Additionally, by examining specific programmes, projects, and initiatives, the article highlights the importance of international cooperation as a tool for achieving common goals and addressing global challenges. Thus, international cooperation in public administration is not only relevant but also necessary for effectively responding to contemporary challenges and achieving common goals on a global scale. In turn, international organizations and joint projects facilitate coordination among different states, which helps avoid duplication of efforts and maximise the efficient use of resources. They also contribute to strengthening international relations and building trust between countries, promoting stability and peace in the world.

Managing circular ecosystems in imperfect contexts – the case of extractive fishing in the Brazilian Amazon region

Purpose This study aims to answer the question of how to structure a circular ecosystem for extractive fishing in the Amazon region. It explores possibilities for implementing a circular ecosystem management model in an imperfect market with low technological availability, high informality and limited public assistance. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative approach was adopted for this paper, with a case study on extractive fishing in the state of Amazonas. Data was collected through 35 interviews and direct observation of the processes of collecting, storing and transporting fish on two routes: Tapauá-Manaus and Manacapuru-Manaus. Findings Through the data collected, it was possible to observe the importance of an orchestrating agent – such as an association or even a public authority – for the establishment and development of a circular ecosystem for extractive fishing in the region. Research limitations/implications The paper makes theoretical contributions by presenting how a circular ecosystem management model could be implemented for an imperfect market in the Global South, as well as contributing to the literature on how the circular economy contributes to mitigate the threat to biodiversity posed by the linear economy. Practical implications It contributes to the management practice of structuring circular ecosystems. Social implications The role of public authorities and the collective organization of fishermen as orchestrators connecting the network of actors that develop the extractive fishing ecosystem is fundamental, guaranteeing effective social participation in solving local problems. Originality/value The idea of circular ecosystems was applied to imperfect contexts, with high informality, weak institutions and bioeconomy, topics still little explored in the literature.

Preservation and Literacy Transmission of Xinyang Folk Songs by Fu Dakun in Henan, China

The study focuses on the preservation and literacy transmission of Xinyang Folk Songs by Fu Dakun in Henan, China. Fu Dakun, a well-known figure in the field of Xinyang Folk Songs, has played an important role in preserving this cultural heritage. His father and grandfather guided his education, performance, and training from when he was born in 1949 until 1965. His commitment to preserving Xinyang Folk Songs persisted even as he worked as a farmer from 1980 to 1990. In 1990, he formed a folk song-singing ensemble to ensure these songs were passed down to future generations. Fu Dakun’s intense training enabled him to master conventional voice techniques while establishing his unique style. With over 50 years of practical experience, he broadened the repertoire of Xinyang Folk Songs while retaining their traditional spirit. He received distinguished titles and honors for his significant contribution to the organization of folk song collections. Fu Dakun’s dedication to training new generations of folk singers strengthens his contribution to preserving Xinyang Folk Songs. The paper also addresses the broader context of cultural preservation, highlighting the significance of government policies in promoting such projects.

Discussion on the recruitment strategy for apheresis platelet donors in Chongqing during a public health emergency.

This study aimed to analyze the population characteristics of apheresis platelet donors in Chongqing Province and provide a scientific basis for the development of precise and efficient recruitment strategies. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of regular platelet donors in preparation for public health emergencies. This study involved 53,089 blood donors who donated apheresis platelets to the Chongqing Blood Center from 2020 to 2022. Data regarding age, sex, blood type, education level, occupation, and frequency of blood donation were collected and analyzed to identify factors influencing platelet donation. Between 2020 and 2022, the majority of apheresis platelet donors in Chongqing were aged 25-35 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.6:1. The ABO blood group distribution was O > A > B > AB. The apheresis platelet donors mainly consisted of college students, and the donors who had donated only once accounted for the greatest proportion. Based on the population characteristics of apheresis platelet donors in Chongqing, blood collection and supply organizations must refine emergency blood collection and supply plans during public health emergencies. This study underscores the importance of developing precise and efficient recruitment strategies for apheresis platelet donors and expanding the pool of regular apheresis platelet donors. These measures are essential to ensure the timely, safe, and effective use of clinical blood resources during public health emergencies.

Patterns of collective organization associated with positive and negative momentum experiences in football

Purpose: Momentum experiences in sport competition are known to be associated with performance-related behavioural changes. In addition to effort exertion, interpersonal synchronization in small team sports has been identified as a behavioural correlate of momentum experiences. However, there is a lack of research on collective organization related to momentum in larger team sports. The present study aimed to identify and compare patterns of collective organization in football according to positive and negative momentum experiences in the form of gradual and significant score variations. Method(s): We analysed expert coaches' video-based descriptions of the collective organization of high level football teams that experienced positive and negative momentum phases during international matches. Results: The main results show that positive momentum phases were associated with forward-located and compact team block, as well as with players' runs more often directed towards the opposing goal. Negative momentum phases were associated with backward-located and stretched team block, as well as with frequent backward runs and block-disconnected individual actions. Conclusion(s): These initial findings regarding the relationships between momentum experiences and collective organization in team sports pave the way for the training of skills for early detection of momentum phases and skills for reacting appropriately to their onset.

Emergency Swarm: A Digital Fabrication Collective for Post-disaster Scenarios

Earthquakes in Turkey serve as unfortunate reminders etched in collective memory. Despite years of preparation by governmental and civil organizations for the devastating impacts of earthquakes, organizational challenges persist in the post-disaster. Disasters like the February 6 earthquakes, for which we directed all available resources post-disaster, often exceed the capacity of existing organizations. To address such limitations in the future, the integration of digital fabrication tools and artificial intelligence supported organization of civil collectives emerges as a potential game-changer in disaster management. Within this framework, the paper delves into open-source architectural approaches, placing digital fabrication tools at the forefront, and explores their application in emergency scenarios. The culmination of this research proposes the formation of a collective named Emergency Swarm, managed by artificial intelligence bots through the Discord network. The paper details the flow of data within this network and outlines how stakeholders will interact. The conclusion sparks a discussion on the future directions and applications of this innovative network, contemplating its potential to revolutionize disaster response strategies and enhance the resilience of communities in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Copyright Content User Licensing Model for Collective Management Organizations in Uganda

Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) negotiate and collect royalties for intellectual works on behalf of its owners. These royalties fund Collective Management Organizations (CMO) activities, with portions going to copyright holders and the government (VAT). Higher education institutions make substantial contributions to copyright as makers and users of copyrighted works. CMOs attempt to collect royalties from these creators in order to preserve their confidence. Throughout the royalty collection process, Collective Management Organizations (CMO) engage with and gather a large amount of user data. This paper suggests a copyright user licensing approach to help Ugandan CMOs manage their licensing operations. The model includes gathering user information, determining requirements, and granting licenses. Data security in the central database is a major concern. Object-oriented programming (OOAD) is used to develop a trial system for user evaluation. The project involved collaboration with CMO staff, copyright users, and IP practitioners across several African countries. Feedback was gathered through interviews, focus groups, and user testing of a system prototype. The tested prototype was assessed for user-friendliness, navigation ease, consistency, usability, task completion time, and information access speed. The study concludes that a copyright user licensing model can improve licensing processes for CMOs and reduce copyright infringement. It further suggests that this model can be adapted for use by other licensing firms and organizations. Keywords: Collective Management Organization (CMO), Copyright user licensing, Copyright royalties, Higher education institutions, IP, Data security, OOAD, Copyright infringement Journal Reference Format: Lyada E , Egho-Promise E. I.,John,K.A. & Mustapha, A.B. (2024): Copyright Content User Licensing Model for Collective management Organizations in Uganda. Advances in Multidisciplinary Research Journal. Vol. 2.No. 4, Pp1-16. Vol. 10. No. 1. Pp 17-40 www.isteams.net/aimsjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/BHI/V10N1P2

Overcoming alliance dilemmas in the collective security treaty organization: signaling for reputation amid strategic ambiguity

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) bills itself as an alliance. It is seen as Russia’s hedge to NATO, yet it often acts in an inconsistent manner vis-a-vis its members when they face crisis situations. These situations are complicated by the fact that the alliance engages in a policy of strategic ambiguity without making a firm commitment to either side of a dispute. Since Russia often acts as a security guarantor on a bilateral level for these states, staying in the alliance may become counterproductive. In order to prevent defection of its members and assuage their fears of abandonment, while maintaining this unofficial policy of strategic ambiguity, and thus help the alliance patron, Russia, avoid entanglement, reassurances are needed. These reassurances come in the form of sunk costs, specifically joint annual military exercise, and the 2022 intervention in Kazakhstan. These sunk costs by the CSTO enhance its reputation for reliability, while maintaining its policy of strategic ambiguity. They reassure its members, assuaging their fear of abandonment, and keeping them invested in the alliance. This will be shown through the use of process tracing in a case study that examines an internal alliance dilemma with two of the organization’s members.

Life course studies – conceptual and methodological approaches and solution

Studies of the life course address the fundamental issue of social sciences – understanding the social change, its directions, reasons and perspectives, the interaction of micro- and macro levels of social reality. Studies of life course developed independently in different social sciences and scientific traditions cover a broad range of topics, issues and methodological approaches. These variety of studies were grouped into few major research frameworks: psychological within the studies of personality development; longitudinal sociological focused on life course of different cohorts and comparative studies of generations, social groups, countries and regions; domain-based – studies of trajectories in different life domains; demographic studying the timing of life events; studies of stability and transformation of values and biographical research. The multiple methodological approaches to study the life course are suggested to group in two main categories – concurrent and retrospective which differ by the time distance between the occurrence of an event and the reporting about the event. Concurrent approach is characterized by relatively high reliability of the measurement, but low flexibility in selecting research indicators, long time for the organization of data collection and large financial investments. Retrospective approach provides high flexibility in organization and design of the survey, allows free selection of indicators to test research hypotheses, but the reliability of the data is hampered by the memory errors and context effect. None of these approaches alone can satisfy the needs and requirements of studying the life course and collecting dynamic multi-level data. The possible solution is to design and test the multimodal approach combining the advantages of different research methods and mitigating their drawbacks. The new long-term longitudinal project “Life course, values and expectations of the generation of 1990s” (G90) included the test of an autobiographical method of data collection for random samples of the general population in quantitative design. The testing revealed high sensitivity of the method to the format (handwritten, printed or oral), high differentiation between respondents in completeness of information and the selection of events included in the autobiography. Supplementing autobiographies by in-depth interviews increased the data standardization, completeness and comparability. The drawbacks of this method found during the survey are high demand for resources for data analysis, individual approach to each autobiography, low respondents’ cooperation in highly demanding tasks, and ethical issues. The future of the life course studies can be found in the convergence of different research frameworks, multidisciplinary research projects, and the application of mixed-model integrated methodology.

The Game Industry’s Cataclysmic Layoffs: Where Do We Go from Here?

The games industry has been seeing unparalleled mass layoffs since 2022. Cheap debt, the COVID-19 bubble, investor imprudence, and executive extravagance have produced an unsustainable boom and investment spree that has flowed into today’s disastrous bust. For workers in the games industry, collective organization is a difficult but necessary response to ensure a healthier and more resilient future for all.

Attitudes of Labor Migrants from Central Asia to International Integration Organizations in the Post-Soviet Space

The article presents the results of a sociological empirical study that was conducted from May to August in 2023. Its purpose was to study the attitudes of labor migrants in Russia towards various international integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The objects of the study were workers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, working in Moscow and the Moscow region. The choice of these countries is not accidental, as they are the main migration donors to the Russian Federation in Central Asia. The uniqueness of the research results lies in the fact that despite the certain “popularity” of such an empirical object as “labor migrants.” The analyzed subject has not yet been sufficiently developed theoretically and empirically. Particular attention is paid to the political preferences and migration attitudes of labor migrants. The issue of awareness of foreign workers of the activities of international integration and military-political associations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), European Union (EU), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and also the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is examined. The paper also presents the respondents’ assessment of the role of these associations in the development of international processes. Separately, the article examines the relationship between Russia and migrant-sending countries. Based on the results of the study, the authors conclude that respondents have a positive attitude towards integration associations in which Russia plays a key role. Moreover, the socio-political attitudes of foreign workers are characterized by a high degree of loyalty to the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Migrants overwhelmingly support international cooperation between their countries and Russia and share the foreign policy position of the Russian Federation. In conclusion, labor migrants from Central Asia can be considered as a resource and capital of the influence of Russian “soft power.”

Mediation and Representation Relations in the Exercise of Copyright and Related Rights by Non-Profit Organizations

Relevance. The article analyzes contractual and other legal grounds, using which collective management organizations and other non-profit organizations can perform the functions of intermediaries and representatives of authors and other right holders in order to ensure the lawful use of copyright and related rights objects in modern conditions.The purpose of the research is to develop theoretical provisions necessary for the development of legal regulation of the activities of non-profit organizations related to the implementation of copyright and related rights.Objectives: to identify the peculiarities of legal regulation of mediation and representation relations arising from the participation of non-profit organizations in the implementation of copyright and related rights; to identify the problems associated with such legal regulation, to develop proposals aimed at their elimination.Methodology. The author used dialectical-materialistic method, methods of analysis and synthesis, formallegal method.The results of the research are of theoretical and applied nature and are aimed at improving the quality of legal regulation of civil legal relations.Conclusions. The conclusions made in the article are of a discussion nature, aimed at continuing research on the development of legal regulation of the activities of non-profit organizations related to the implementation and protection of copyright and related rights, including the expansion of the range of non-profit organizations able to participate in the implementation and protection of rights to the results of intellectual activity, as well as to simplify their obtaining the powers necessary for the implementation of such activities.

Associative linking for collaborative thinking: Self-organization of content in online Q&A communities via user-generated links.

Virtual collaborative Q&A communities generate shared knowledge through the interaction of people and content. This knowledge is often fragmented, and its value as a collective, collaboratively formed product, is largely overlooked. Inspired by work on individual mental semantic networks, the current study explores the networks formed by user-added associative links as reflecting an aspect of self-organization within the communities' collaborative knowledge sharing. Using eight Q&A topic-centered discussions from the Stack Exchange platform, it investigated how associative links form internal structures within the networks. Network analysis tools were used to derive topological indicator metrics of complex structures from associatively-linked networks. Similar metrics extracted from 1000 simulated randomly linked networks of comparable sizes and growth patterns were used to generate estimated sampling distributions through bootstrap resampling, and 99% confidence intervals were constructed for each metric. The discussion-network indicators were compared against these. Results showed that participant-added associative links largely led to networks that were more clustered, integrated, and included posts with more connections than those that would be expected in random networks of similar size and growth pattern. The differences were observed to increase over time. Also, the largest connected subgraphs within the discussion networks were found to be modular. Limited qualitative observations have also pointed to the impacts of external content-related events on the network structures. The findings strengthen the notion that the networks emerging from associative link sharing resemble other information networks that are characterized by internal structures suggesting self-organization, laying the ground for further exploration of collaborative linking as a form of collective knowledge organization. It underscores the importance of recognizing and leveraging this latent mechanism in both theory and practice.