Comparative Case Research Articles

Social Enterprise Transformation and Its Effects on Socio-economic Development: A Comparative Case Study of Developed and Developing Countries

Social Enterprise Transformation and Its Effects on Socio-economic Development: A Comparative Case Study of Developed and Developing Countries

Far-right extremist narratives in Canadian and Swedish COVID-19 protests: a comparative case study of the Freedom Movement and Freedom Convoy

ABSTRACT This comparative case study of the Freedom Movement in Sweden and the Freedom Convoy in Canada provides insights into the processes of transnationalization involved in the (re)production of far-right narratives around the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on the online media of these protest movements we explore the extent to which the political and cultural context shaped far-right meta narratives and more universal concerns around the pandemic. The study finds significant similarities in how protest narratives in the two countries were constructed and appropriated to intersect with far-right extremism and anti-establishment ideas but also that these narratives were repurposed to make sense in two national contexts characterized by stark differences in the level of restrictions imposed and curtailment of civic rights. Unpacking the local/global intricacies of these narratives helps us understand the ubiquity of contemporary anti-government and anti-establishment discourse propelled by the far-right but also its malleability and flexibility in terms of how it is made to fit different political contexts and scenarios across liberal democracies.

Typologizing Digital Nomad Visas: Comparing Policy Rationales from Tourism to Wealth Accumulation to Immigration

This article presents a comparative case study of the “Digital Nomad Visas” (DNVs) of Croatia, Thailand and Spain. Analysing common themes for these visas, the article identifies varying policy rationales that have guided their development, naming these the tourism, wealth accumulation and immigration rationales. The article then introduces a two-scale typology of DNVs centred around the dimensions of civic attachment and temporality. The findings illustrate the evolving nature of DNVs from ad hoc pandemic responses to strategic tools for socio-economic development and draw attention to the visas’ role in the broader context of global mobilities and labour market transformations.

Rights amidst commercial gentrification: a comparative case study of Latinx business zones in Chicago and Santa Ana

ABSTRACT Gentrification in commercial districts of Latinx communities is raising debates among local stakeholders about how to best pursue revitalization. Through a comparative case study, we examine these debates in the context of the Right to the City and gentefication. How do stakeholders in two Latinx commercial districts envision revitalization projects amidst ongoing gentrification? We analyze the perspectives and policies of non-profit staff, business- and commercial property owners, in Puerto Rico Town Chicago and La Cuatro in Downtown Santa Ana. Our research highlights conflicting views on prioritizing community wellness versus profit motives and the relationship between economic success and cultural preservation.

The Pilot Creation of Sustainable Stall Design to Promote Temporary Pottery Market in the Baan Muang Kung Community

Although local intellectual property products have received support from both the government and private sectors, including increasing consumer interest in craft products, the residents of the Muang Kung community, Chiang Mai province, who produce handmade clay pottery with unique and distinctive shaping techniques and intricate patterns, still lack a market space to accommodate their products. Therefore, it is necessary to study the sustainable market format to help promote community products appropriately and stimulate tourism in this area. This research aims to achieve the following objectives (1) Study sustainable market pattern design principles suitable for community markets (2) Explore the potential capabilities and the local community’s requirements in market (3) Propose sustainable market design guideline to promote community products. This research primarily explores the sustainability value of a sustainable market within the field of retail design, employing qualitative research methods such as interviews, observational note-taking, photography, and comparative case study analysis. The on-site survey to determine the project's feasibility involved convening a community meeting with 50 residents to discuss findings. The outcomes of this gathering were then used in designing the temporary market. The findings present design guidelines that illustrate how markets continue to play important socio-economic roles in local communities, serving as key components that can be transformed to promote sustainable development. The proposed design practice guidelines encompass considerations such as site layout, the application of sustainable design principles, including the thoughtful selection of sustainable materials, the incorporation of flexible design, and the creation of participatory area experiences to attract people.

EXPRESS: U.S. Public Sector Supplier Diversity: an Intersectional Invisibility Perspective

Motivated by a desire to understand who benefits from public-sector supplier diversity, and why, we conducted a comparative case study across six U.S. state-level supplier diversity programs. We collected/analyzed qualitative data via semi-structured interviews with high-level state leaders and collected spending data via 2017–2021 semiannual/annual reports. We found that businesses owned by White women benefit more from supplier diversity programs than those owned by ethnic minorities (Blacks, Hispanics, Indigenous, and Asians). Adopting an intersectional invisibility perspective, we conduct within- and cross-case analyses of the collected data, we highlight key themes and make several recommendations for how public-sector supplier diversity programs can systemically address disparities and improve their performance. We also offer recommendations for future research into this ecosystem.

Planning the metropolitan region in the era of governance: three Latin American cases

ABSTRACT Although there is a large body of literature examining metropolitan regions, it is difficult to find specific literature on metropolitan planning, especially in Latin America. Few studies overlook the enormous diversity of institutional frameworks in a region that is often considered a homogeneous territory, failing to highlight many planning innovations. This paper aims to investigate the particularity of metropolitan planning in Latin America through a comparative case study of its three largest agglomerations: Greater Buenos Aires, the Valley of Mexico, and the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. This analysis focuses on the instrumental, institutional, and procedural dimensions of planning.

Comparative study: perceptions of multiple education stakeholders on children with disabilities and goals of special education in Oman and the Philippines

PurposeThis comparative study explored the perceptions of educational stakeholders in Oman and the Philippines concerning children with disabilities and the goals of special education. Stakeholders' perspectives can influence their professional behaviours and attitudes, which, in turn, can profoundly impact children with disabilities who already face numerous challenges. Hence, comprehending the viewpoints of these stakeholders is vital for fostering socially just education for individuals with disabilities.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a qualitative comparative case study approach with a horizontal comparison strategy, and both convenience and purposeful sampling techniques were used for participant selection. The study involved 53 participants from both countries, including policymakers, teacher educators, in-service teachers and student teachers from general and special education domains. Data were gathered through individual interviews and themes were subsequently discerned via data analysis.FindingsDespite the different cultural and historical contexts and distinct roles of stakeholders in both countries, the results indicate more parallels than disparities in their perceptions. The primary congruence underscored in this research was imperative to critically assess the language and ideology surrounding the goals of special education, such as mainstreaming and normalisation.Originality/valueAlthough numerous studies have probed the perceptions of various educational stakeholders concerning children with disabilities and educational goals, there is limited research that encompasses the perspectives of the seven distinct stakeholder groups. The consistency of language usage across both countries and among all stakeholders underscores the need for a rigorous cross-country examination involving all educational participants.

"Listen with your ears and eyes and heart and your minds and your soul": Implications for decolonising consultation and occupational therapy from case studies on "Closing the Gap" policy implementation.

Including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities through consultation has been a key feature of policy implementation throughout the Australian Government's "Closing the Gap" (CTG) strategy. However, consultation often reinforces power imbalances between government and local community and can undervalue or marginalise Indigenous knowledge and leadership. Occupational therapy has a short history of examining colonial power structures within the profession, but there has been limited progress to decolonise consultation and practice. Drawing on decolonising research methodology and positioned at the interface of knowledge, comparative case studies were used to understand policy implementation in two regions. In Shepparton, Victoria, CTG policy was implemented predominately through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, and in Southern Adelaide, South Australia, CTG policy was implemented through mainstream state government and non-government providers in the absence of a local Aboriginal-controlled organisation. Findings were examined critically to identify implications for occupational therapy. Our case studies showed that policy stakeholders perceived consultation to be tokenistic and partnerships were viewed differently by Aboriginal and non-Indigenous participants. Participants identified the need to move beyond a rhetoric of "working with" Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to promote Aboriginal leadership and really listen to community so that policy can respond to local need. The findings of this research show that Aboriginal-controlled services are best positioned to conduct and respond to community consultation. A decolonising approach to consultation would shift the status quo in policy implementation in ways that realign power away from colonial structures towards collaboration with Indigenous leadership and the promotion of Aboriginal-controlled services. There are lessons for occupational therapy from this research on policy implementation on authentic, decolonised consultation as a key feature of policy implementation. Shifting power imbalances through prioritising Indigenous leadership and honouring what is shared can drive change in CTG policy implementation processes and outcomes.

Qualitative and quantitative reservoir characterisation using seismic inversion based on global optimization: A comparative case study

Qualitative and quantitative reservoir characterisation using seismic inversion based on global optimization: A comparative case study

Intersectionality, BRCA Genetic Testing, and Intrafamilial Communication of Risk: A Qualitative Study.

Significant health disparities exist in relation to pathogenic variants in BRCA1/2. This study aimed to better understand the barriers and facilitators to BRCA1/2 genetic testing and intrafamilial communication of risk in racially and ethnically diverse individuals. We conducted qualitative interviews with non-Hispanic White (n = 11) and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) individuals (n = 14) who underwent testing for pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants. We employed template analysis, case study analysis, and comparative case study analysis to examine healthcare experiences related to genetic testing as well as intrafamilial communication of risk. Applying an intersectional lens, we sought to inform more person-centered approaches to precision healthcare and help dismantle disparities in genomic healthcare. Template analysis revealed salient factors at the individual (psychosocial well-being), interpersonal/familial, and healthcare system levels. A two-part case study analysis provided insights into how race/ethnicity, cultural norms, and socioeconomic status interact with systemic and structural inequities to compound disparities. These findings underscore the need for person-centered, tailored, and culturally sensitive approaches to understanding and addressing the complexities surrounding testing and the communication of BRCA risk. Applying an intersectional lens can inform more person-centered approaches to precision healthcare and may help to surmount existing disparities.

The Nexus Between Sources of Workers’ Power in the Garment Manufacturing Industries of Lesotho and Eswatini

AbstractWorkers in the garment manufacturing industry are often subjected to violations of their rights and are exposed to low wages and difficult working conditions. In response to the exposure of these violations in the media, major fashion brands and retailers subject their suppliers to labour codes of conduct. Despite these codes of conduct being largely ineffective, this comparative case study of garment manufacturers operating from Lesotho and Eswatini illustrates that such codes provide workers and trade unions with access to bargaining leverage that they would otherwise not have. A framework with a synthesis of potential sources of workers’ power is developed and related to global production networks, collective mobilisation, the nature of the state, as well as national and transnational scales of organising. Based on historical case studies of the two countries, this paper illustrates how unions in the two countries followed different approaches to using this source of power in relation to other sources of power. These approaches were shaped by their contexts and strategic choices. Theoretically, it is argued that sources of workers’ power are analytically distinct, but are relational and operate best when seen as mutually reinforcing. The term ‘power resource nexus’ is used to frame this potential mutual reinforcement of sources of power.

Low expectations within conservative wing of discourse coalition for innovation and technoscience: integrating vanguard visions to therapeutic consent

Drawing on the sociology of expectations, this paper inquires what objects, promises, and audiences are invoked in two examples of biotechnology discourse on organoids, MCELS (Multicellular Engineered Living Systems) in the USA and REBIRTH (From REgenerative BIology to Reconstructive THerapy) in Germany, and how that affects therapeutic consent. Therapeutic consent discussion in the literature has been focusing on singular discourse on the objects of biotechnology. This paper focuses on making of organoids embedded in two very large research projects of biotechnology in two comparative cases to fill the gap between cultures of imaginations and discourses. The paper claims that (a) both projects are connected through shared objects within vanguard visions joined through a discourse coalition. The discourse coalitions that are making them further can be connected at the object level both by the low expectations and the techno-scientific imaginaries that are more relevant to public imagination by nested frameworks of vanguard visions and sociotechnical imaginaries. This connection is necessary for the object to be considered within the research and development of the object, whereas when the research programme is finished and the object itself is delivered, the low expectation and the calibration thereafter is dependent on this network (b) When the object [organoid] itself is a research object and a part of a discourse coalition is and an applied healthcare object at the same time, lowering of expectations and recalibration of the higher expectations are necessary for debates around consent as enabling conditions of consent in the very first place.

Precision of a new SS-OCT biometer to measure anterior segment parameters and agreement with 3 instruments with different measurement principles.

To evaluate the repeatability of a new swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT)-based biometer to measure anterior segment parameters and to assess the agreement with 3 other imaging devices based on different measurement principles. Unit of Eye and Vision, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Prospective, comparative case series. 3 consecutive measurements were obtained in unoperated eyes with the Eyestar900 (SS-OCT), Lenstar 900, MS-39, and Sirius. The following anterior segment parameters were evaluated: central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal diameter (CD), aqueous depth (AQD), and corneal power metrics. The repeatability limit (Rlim), coefficient of variation (CoV), and a repeated measures Bland-Altman analysis were performed. 74 eyes of 74 participants were measured. The Rlims for CCT, CD, and AQD were lower than 10 μm, 0.3 mm, and 0.10 mm for all devices, respectively. The corresponding CoVs for these parameters never exceeded 1.2%. The Rlim for the corneal power metrics never exceeded 0.60 diopter (D) for any of the instruments. Lenstar showed the best agreement with the MS-39 to measure CCT, CD, and AQD (limit of agreement interval, LoA: 15.54 μm, 0.55 mm, and 0.16 mm, respectively). The mean difference for keratometry parameters was lower than 0.3 D for all device comparisons, and the LoA interval ranged between 0.52 D and 1.21 D. The repeatability for measuring anterior segment parameters was good, and the agreement among all the instruments was good for CD and AQD measurements. However, for CCT and keratometer parameters, the instruments cannot be used interchangeably due to large LoA interval.

DOES N-ACETYLCYSTEINE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING AN ALTITUDE TRAINING CAMP ENABLE TRAINING QUALITY AND SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES? A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY

INTRODUCTION & AIMS Elite athletes regularly incorporate training at altitude into their programs to enhance performance. However, the additional stress of exposure to a hypoxic environment needs to be carefully managed by coaches and sport scientists. Supplementation with antioxidants, such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may support the athlete’s immune system to cope with this stress. Preliminary evidence also suggests NAC may further promote haematological adaptations to hypoxia. Combined, the potential health and adaptive benefits of NAC warrant further investigation. Conducting ecologically valid and scientifically robust research in an elite sporting setting can be challenging due to small sample sizes, an inability to experimentally manipulate training, and the inherent complexity of the training environment. To account for these challenges, a comparative case study approach was used. METHODS Thirteen swimmers completed a three-week ‘Live-High, Train-High’ camp in Flagstaff, USA (elevation 2,100m). Beginning four days prior to the camp commencing, swimmers where randomly assigned in matched groups to consume NAC (1,200mg per day; n = 6) or a placebo supplement (n = 7) for 14 days. With each athlete defined as a case, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis was used to examine the configurational effects of attributes (i.e., antioxidant support, sufficient ferritin, maintained body mass) previously associated with successful altitude training camps on physiological and performance outcomes. RESULTS NAC was not a solely sufficient or necessary attribute for increased haemoglobin mass. Higher consistency in haemoglobin mass was observed with high training quality. NAC and high training quality contributed to performance improvements. CONCLUSION Swimmer responses were highly individual with successful physiological and performance outcomes achieved by some, irrespective of having attributes that can impair adaptation to altitude training. Subjective training quality provided important contextual information. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis is a novel approach in sports science to evaluate the interrelationship of attributes that can impact performance.

Ten-year follow-up of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens with central port design in patients with low and normal vault.

To assess the clinical outcomes and postoperative complications of the implantable collamer lens (ICL) with a central port throughout 10 years of follow-up in patients with low and normal vault. Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Institute, Oviedo, Spain. Retrospective and comparative case series. This study included eyes that underwent a V4c ICL implantation with 10 years of follow-up. The eyes were divided into 2 groups according to the vault at 1 year postoperatively: vault <250 μm and between 250 μm and 800 μm. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), endothelial cell density (ECD), vault, complications, and secondary surgeries were analyzed. 37 and 90 eyes were enrolled in the low and normal-vault groups, respectively. No differences in UDVA, CDVA, and refraction were found between the groups over 10 years of follow-up. No cases developed ICL-induced anterior subcapsular opacity over the follow-up period. 2 (5.4%) and 8 (8.9%) eyes in the low and normal-vault groups, respectively, required ICL exchange. 1 (2.8%) and 2 (2.2%) eyes in the low and normal-vault groups, respectively, required excimer laser to correct residual refractive error. The IOP remained stable throughout the 10-year follow-up. The loss in ECD from that preoperatively to 10 years postoperatively was 3.8% and 4.5% in the low and normal-vault groups, respectively ( P = .4). No pigment dispersion glaucoma or other vision-threatening complications were reported. This study shows good long-term outcomes of the V4c ICL, supporting that the central hole provides safety to the procedure and prevents the potential risk associated with low vault.

Roundtable: Four Nations

Abstract Nations have long since preoccupied historians. Histories of how nations came to be, how they persisted, and how nations were unmade are innumerable. As a political unit of analysis, the nation has fascinated and divided. On the one hand, histories of the nation have traced the origins of particular nation states, analysing how a large body of people becomes united within a geographic territory through a shared language, a shared identity, and a shared culture. On the other hand, such histories have been criticized for reifying the nation-state, stressing the majority over the minority, and ultimately for obfuscating differences. The nation as a structure can indeed serve the needs of the ruling establishment to create a governing society. How then, can historians retain the nation as a unit of analysis without for example valorizing England in histories of the UK? Why is it so often that in histories of Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are mentioned as a comparable case and not the focus itself? Is it possible to ensure that histories of the British Isles reject and refuse implicit hierarchies that routinely prioritize one nation over other nations? Fundamentally, is it even worthwhile to study the nation instead of, for example, focusing on specific gendered groups, or ethnic communities or labour movements for instance? By focusing on thematic experiences rather than the nation-state can historians avoid inadvertently reproducing structural inequality in twenty-first-century Britain?

Promoting knowledge recommendation in innovative engineering design: a BERT-GAT-based patent representation learning approach

Since innovation in complex product design hinges on thorough engineering knowledge application, high-quality patent recommendations foster innovation in engineering design. However, many patent knowledge recommendation studies perform patent analysis without comprehensive exploration and proper organisation of knowledge, causing a superficial understanding of patents and returning arbitrary results. To mitigate this issue, a deep learning-based approach for patent representation learning and knowledge recommendation is proposed. First, a four-dimensional patent knowledge model is defined to formalise the patent attributes that critically affect the engineering design outcomes, namely patents’ domain(D), function(F), technology(T) and citation(C). Second, to exploit patent knowledge from their content and citation relationships, a representation learning approach integrating Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers(BERT) and Graph Attention Network(GAT) is introduced. Thereafter a patent knowledge space is established in which each patent is characterised by the function, technology, and citation embeddings. Third, a knowledge requirement space is also constructed by vectorising a designer’s search query via BERT model and linking it to a requirement-representing patent based on similarity. Finally, a recommender prototype is developed and showcased by the knowledge recommendation in sealing structure design tasks. Comparative experiments and application cases validate the effectiveness of our method in patent representation learning and knowledge recommendation.

Analyzing the Influence of Risk Models and Investor Risk-Aversion Disparity on Portfolio Selection in Community Solar Projects: A Comparative Case Study

This study examines the impact of risk models and investors’ risk aversion on the selection of community solar portfolios. Various risk models to account for the volatility in the electrical power output of community solar, namely variance (Var), SemiVariance (SemiVar), mean absolute deviation (MAD), and conditional value at risk (CVaR), were considered. A statistical model based on modern portfolio theory was employed to simulate investors’ risk aversion in the context of community solar portfolio selection. The results of this study showed that the choice of risk model that aligns with investors’ risk-aversion level plays a key role in realizing more return and safeguarding against volatility in power generation. In particular, the findings of this research revealed that the CVaR model provides higher returns at the cost of greater volatility in power generation compared to other risk models. In contrast, the MAD model offered a better tradeoff between risk and return, which can appeal more to risk-averse investors. Based on the simulation results, a new approach was proposed for optimizing the portfolio selection process for investors with divergent risk-aversion levels by averaging the utility functions of investors and identifying the most probable outcome.

Factors Determining Private Agricultural Investment: A Comparative Case Study of Two States of India

The study endeavours to examine the pattern and determinants of agricultural investment in two states of India viz., Haryana and Odisha. The existing literature points out that public investment in agriculture is one among the strongest determinants of private investment and output in agriculture. Accordingly, emphasis has been laid to accelerate the rate of public investment. The present study using primary data in two diverse regions of India is an attempt in that direction. Data from 150 households from both states have been collected using proportionate stratified random sampling method. The study finds that private farm investment as well as output are relatively lower in Odisha, being an agriculturally lagged region. It is further seen that private investment in agriculture has been significantly influenced by canal irrigation, institutional credit, and land size in Odisha. While in Haryana, farmer’s education, land size and institutional credit positively and significantly affected private farm investment. Capital use in agriculture turned out to be positive and significant variables influencing agricultural productivity in both regions. The study thus recommends to ensure public policies on the aspects of irrigation infrastructure, research and extension, improvement rural infrastructure etc. in stimulating private investment and agricultural output. Public investment in agriculture on these components would bridge inter-regional inequalities and ensure inclusiveness as it promotes employment opportunities and sustainable growth in agriculture. In the context of Odisha, being a poorer state, these policies could serve as important tools of poverty alleviation.