Research Concepts Research Articles

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT IN THE STRUCTURE OF PERFORMANCE THINKING

The article examines the specifics of the processes of musical thinking and the formation of this concept in musical communication and philosophical research. The relationship and interaction of emotional-imaginative and logical components of musical intelligence, aesthetics and intonation are analyzed, and the operating mechanisms of musical thinking are considered.

Organizational trust breaches among nurses and aides: A qualitative study.

Healthcare worker retention and burnout are confounding issues. Trust among workers and their employer, that is, organization, is an important yet underexplored concept in research. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore organizational actions and systems that promote or denigrate trust among registered nurses and patient care aides (aides). The study uses the Model of Psychological Contract as a theoretical framework. Focus groups were conducted to explore the concept of organizational trust and the consequences of broken trust. Registered nurses (RNs) (n=6) and aides (n=6) participated in the study. Six focus groups (three RN and three aide) were conducted, with two participants per group. Focus groups were conducted online. The study's methods were reviewed by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board. Among RNs and aides, a sense of trust and feeling valued were important to their sense of relationship with their employers. Trust was breached when resources were scarce, employees did not feel validated and listened to, and problems were not addressed. RNs and aides described feeling devalued when compensation practices were unjust or inequitable, they had limited autonomy, and the employer created an organizational climate where business needs superceded human caring. Consequences of trust breach included burnout, dejection, and feelings of non-belonging. Tangible organizational resources (compensation and staffing) and intangible resources (value, respect, autonomy) are important to RNs and aides alike. Inability to provide these resources diminishes trust and even causes a sense of betrayal. Future research can explore the concepts of organizational justice and interventions to restore lost trust and improve healthcare worker well-being. This is one of only a few identified studies to explore organizational factors and well-being among aides and more research among this healthcare worker population is warranted.

‘Don't just magically assume you're going to get better as a therapist as time goes on’: An exploration of the use of deliberate practice

AbstractPurposeDeliberate practice (DP) is an emerging concept in counselling and psychotherapy research that can be used to effectively help practitioners develop a host of therapy skills and processes. However, to date, no studies have examined its use in naturalistic settings with professionally qualified practitioners.MethodsA qualitative descriptive approach using content analysis was employed with a purposive sample of international practitioners who were using DP in naturalistic settings. The sample consisted of therapists (N = 6) from five different countries, identifying as male (N = 5) and female (N = 1).ResultsSix categories were developed from qualitative interviews: (1) motivation for engaging in DP; (2) the impact of definition and operationalisation; (3) what to practice; (4) how to practice DP; (5) use of supports to develop DP; and (6) the emotional impact of DP. Deliberate practice is still in its infancy, and its definition may not translate into psychotherapy without modification. Participants described using DP to develop a host of psychotherapy skills and processes, and found support structures such as supervision and peers as helpful in the DP process. However, DP was also described as challenging to practice and it can cause those engaging in it to feel vulnerable and distressed. Implications are discussed for practice and future research.ConclusionDeliberate practice is an emerging method used by practitioners to improve their skill acquisition. However, a lack of consensus on its key features may limit the extent of its dissemination and utility to practitioners in naturalistic settings. Further research should seek to provide a definition of DP more consistent with the practice of psychotherapy, and how to operationalise DP using methods that are inclusive for all practitioners whilst acknowledging the potential impact it can have on their sense of self.

Deep Learning in Dental Radiographic Imaging

Deep learning algorithms are becoming more prevalent in dental research because they are utilized in everyday activities. However, dental researchers and clinicians find it challenging to interpret deep learning studies. This review aimed to provide an overview of the general concept of deep learning and current deep learning research in dental radiographic image analysis. In addition, the process of implementing deep learning research is described. Deep-learning-based algorithmic models perform well in classification, object detection, and segmentation tasks, making it possible to automatically diagnose oral lesions and anatomical structures. The deep learning model can enhance the decision-making process for researchers and clinicians. This review may be useful to dental researchers who are currently evaluating and assessing deep learning studies in the field of dentistry.

Using semantic iterative keyword sampling for polyonymous concepts in interlingual educational research by example of ‘formative evaluation’ in German

ABSTRACT This paper details the methodology originally used for a cross-sector literature review of formative evaluation in Germany. The study involved an online keyword search using academic databases and Google Search to uncover documents containing and meaningfully discussing formative evaluation as well as alternative forms of this term in German that matched a predefined conceptualization, a process termed here ‘semantic iterative keyword sampling’ (SIKS). Formative evaluation was recognized from the outset as a polyonym (defined as each of at least four different terms having the same meaning) in German, but the search revealed that German authors use no fewer than 47 terms to refer to this concept – far more than expected. Formative evaluation appears to be a polyonymous concept even in English. This demonstrates the utility of a more comprehensive and structured approach to online keyword searches for lexically flexible concepts. Educational researchers studying other polyonymous concepts may find SIKS to be useful for collecting more data within not only the target context but also other disciplinary and linguistic domains.

Electrochemical performance enhanced by solvent infiltration strategy to increase micro-mesopores within wood tracheid walls

The utilization of wood-derived carbon thick electrodes has demonstrated remarkable structural advantages in the realm of electrochemical energy storage and catalysis. Its exceptional structural stability, mechanical strength, and well-organized pore structure position it as a promising material for self-supporting electrodes. The multi-scale cross-linking of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose within the wood tracheid wall establishes a convenient prerequisite for structural modification. However, the significance of dynamic nanopores on wood tracheid walls in enhancing the microporous/mesoporous structure of wood-derived carbon electrodes has been overlooked due to the focus on operability of microscale array pores and wood decomposition processes. Here, we employ a straightforward, highly efficient, and environmentally sustainable solvent infiltration strategy to enhance the nanopore content within the wood tracheid wall, ultimately resulting in a significant enhancement of the microporous/mesoporous composition within the wood-derived electrode. The charge storage capacity of wood-derived carbon electrode is doubled through the implementation of a solvent permeation modification strategy, while its abundant micro/mesoporous structure also endows it with significant potential in the field of electrocatalysis. Therefore, this thermal and solvent permeation modification strategy is anticipated to supplant the conventional acid-base etching method and offer a novel research concept for the advancement of wood-based carbon electrodes with abundant pore structure and exceptional electrochemical properties.

Dissecting muscle synergies in the task space

The muscle synergy is a guiding concept in motor control research that relies on the general notion of muscles ‘working together’ towards task performance. However, although the synergy concept has provided valuable insights into motor coordination, muscle interactions have not been fully characterised with respect to task performance. Here, we address this research gap by proposing a novel perspective to the muscle synergy that assigns specific functional roles to muscle couplings by characterising their task-relevance. Our novel perspective provides nuance to the muscle synergy concept, demonstrating how muscular interactions can ‘work together’ in different ways: (1) irrespective of the task at hand but also (2) redundantly or (3) complementarily towards common task-goals. To establish this perspective, we leverage information- and network-theory and dimensionality reduction methods to include discrete and continuous task parameters directly during muscle synergy extraction. Specifically, we introduce co-information as a measure of the task-relevance of muscle interactions and use it to categorise such interactions as task-irrelevant (present across tasks), redundant (shared task information), or synergistic (different task information). To demonstrate these types of interactions in real data, we firstly apply the framework in a simple way, revealing its added functional and physiological relevance with respect to current approaches. We then apply the framework to large-scale datasets and extract generalizable and scale-invariant representations consisting of subnetworks of synchronised muscle couplings and distinct temporal patterns. The representations effectively capture the functional interplay between task end-goals and biomechanical affordances and the concurrent processing of functionally similar and complementary task information. The proposed framework unifies the capabilities of current approaches in capturing distinct motor features while providing novel insights and research opportunities through a nuanced perspective to the muscle synergy.

Dissecting muscle synergies in the task space.

The muscle synergy is a guiding concept in motor control research that relies on the general notion of muscles 'working together' towards task performance. However, although the synergy concept has provided valuable insights into motor coordination, muscle interactions have not been fully characterised with respect to task performance. Here, we address this research gap by proposing a novel perspective to the muscle synergy that assigns specific functional roles to muscle couplings by characterising their task-relevance. Our novel perspective provides nuance to the muscle synergy concept, demonstrating how muscular interactions can 'work together' in different ways: (1) irrespective of the task at hand but also (2) redundantly or (3) complementarily towards common task-goals. To establish this perspective, we leverage information- and network-theory and dimensionality reduction methods to include discrete and continuous task parameters directly during muscle synergy extraction. Specifically, we introduce co-information as a measure of the task-relevance of muscle interactions and use it to categorise such interactions as task-irrelevant (present across tasks), redundant (shared task information), or synergistic (different task information). To demonstrate these types of interactions in real data, we firstly apply the framework in a simple way, revealing its added functional and physiological relevance with respect to current approaches. We then apply the framework to large-scale datasets and extract generalizable and scale-invariant representations consisting of subnetworks of synchronised muscle couplings and distinct temporal patterns. The representations effectively capture the functional interplay between task end-goals and biomechanical affordances and the concurrent processing of functionally similar and complementary task information. The proposed framework unifies the capabilities of current approaches in capturing distinct motor features while providing novel insights and research opportunities through a nuanced perspective to the muscle synergy.

Development and validation of the “Instructional Leadership Behaviors Scale”: The Turkish urban sample

BackgroundThe worldwide interest in the instructional leadership behaviors of school administrators has led to the prevalent use of the concept in domestic research. The increasing number of domestic research on instructional leadership research is a challenge but also an opportunity for the fields of educational leadership and management. ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and validate the “Instructional Leadership Behaviors Scale” (ILBS) to describe the instructional leadership behaviors of school administrators in Turkey. MethodsThe data were collected online from 1100 teachers working in public schools in Turkey for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and reliability analyses. ResultsThe analyses showed that ILBS comprised 28 items and two factors: “instructional management” and “professional development.” The ILBS was a valid and reliable instrument developed according to teachers’ opinions. ConclusionIt is expected that ILBS would be a reliable instrument sensitive to the domestic and legal aspects of “instructional management” and “professional development” in the instructional leadership behaviors of school administrators in Turkey.

Practical wisdom in the workplace: conceptualization, instrument development, and predictive power

PurposeThe purpose of this Real Impact Research Article is to empirically explore one of the most controversial and elusive concepts in knowledge management research – practical wisdom. It develops a 10-dimensional practical wisdom construct and tests it within the nomological network of counterproductive and productive knowledge behavior.Design/methodology/approachA survey instrument was created based on the extant literature. A model was developed and tested by means of Partial Least Squares with data obtained from 200 experienced employees recruited from CloudResearch Connect crowdsourcing platform.FindingsPractical wisdom is a multidimensional construct that may be operationalized and measured like other well-established knowledge management concepts. Practical wisdom guides employee counterproductive and productive knowledge behavior: it suppresses knowledge sabotage and knowledge hiding (whether general, evasive, playing dumb, rationalized or bullying) and promotes knowledge sharing. While all proposed dimensions contribute to employee practical wisdom, particularly salient are subject matter expertise, moral purpose in decision-making, self-reflection in the workplace and external reflection in the workplace. Unexpectedly, practical wisdom facilitates knowledge hoarding instead of reducing it.Practical implicationsManagers should realize that possessing practical wisdom is not limited to a group of select, high-level executives. Organizations may administer the practical wisdom questionnaire presented in this study to their workers to identify those who score the lowest, and invest in employee training programs that focus on the development of those attributes pertaining to the practical wisdom dimensions.Originality/valueThe concept of practical wisdom is a controversial topic that has both detractors and supporters. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first large-scale empirical study of practical wisdom in the knowledge management domain.

Eğitim Yönetimi Perspektifinden Bütünleştirici Araştırma Kavramlarının İncelenmesi

In this study, it is aimed to examine the integrative research concepts from the educational management perspective. There are various issues that need to be taken into account in the development, identification and use of concepts. The first of these is the collection of research and findings made by education, medicine, statistics and similar positive sciences on the relevant subject. Because, according to the findings of positive science research, it can be determined whether there are similar behaviors in people. For example, the concept of ethology is based on biology and is a concept that is also used in sociology and psychology. The second step necessary in creating a concept is to correctly identify the wishes, needs and future plans of society and people in the research field in question. Thus, common concepts that have not been defined by any scientist can be created. For this reason, serious scientific studies should be carried out primarily after determining the concepts and limitations used in their fields. Thus, by building a common area, the area can be developed and its continuity can be ensured. Thirdly, concept development requires interdisciplinary work because human and social science is not independent of other sciences. Dec. On the contrary, they are all complementary and supportive of each other. Therefore, concepts should be produced by taking into account different branches of science. Another point that should be considered in the concept production is the historical aspect of the research subject and the research that has been done before on the same subject. In addition, the concept and terminology to be developed should be clear and understandable. When we look at it in the context of integrative research concepts, we see that people talk about scientific topics in everyday life whether they want to or not. For example, the weather is one of the most talked about topics. However, it is a matter of curiosity whether the expressions used during these conversations really coincide with science, whether what is said is understood correctly and whether it is fully conveyed. In this sense, whether scientific concepts are used correctly is also a separate field of study. Scientists or practitioners may not always understand concepts correctly. They can assign different meanings to a concept according to their individual or social acceptance, knowledge, habits and experiences and use it in this direction. Key Words: Educational Management, Concept, Integrative Research

What is governance? Projects, objects and analytics in education

ABSTRACT The term ‘governance’ is one of the most widely applied concepts in education policy and research. Yet its meaning has changed over space and time both analytically and normatively. This history is a complicated one marked by both shifts and continuations in the politics of language and the development of unique intellectual histories and conceptual and empirical turns in the field of education. In this paper we systematically delineate the different meanings ascribed to governance within education with a focus on its polyvalence as a political project, empirical object and research analytic. Specifically, we highlight the various complementarities and tensions flowing from this rich and evolving language. We conclude by calling for more education researchers to reflect on this complicated history and attendant language as part of their framings and interpretations of governance.

Structural equation model of information technology acceptance, e-service quality, and trust affecting consumer’s decision to use telepharmacy in the health region 12, Thailand

The objectives of this research were to study the components, relationships, and influences of factors affecting consumer’s decision to use telepharmacy in the health region 12, Thailand, and to develop a structural equation model of information technology acceptance, e-service quality, and trust affecting consumer’s decision to use telepharmacy in the health region 12, Thailand with the mixed methods research. The samples of qualitative research by in-depth interviews were drawn from key informants including pharmacists, technology experts, and consumers in the study area, totaling 24 persons. The population used in the research were persons aged 18 years and over in the health region 12 of Thailand, with a sample size of 420 persons, using a non-probability random sampling method. Data were collected by interviews and quantitative questionnaires. The statistics used for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The qualitative research results found that the components and relationship of various factors. The results obtained from the empirical data were consistent with the hypothesized model synthesized from the literature review. Related theories and research that were appropriate for generating a quantitative research concept. For the quantitative research result, it was found that the structural equation model developed was harmoniously consistent with the empirical data. The index values passed all acceptance criteria were 2/df = 0.287, CFI = 1.000, GFI = 1.000, AGFI = 0.989, RMSEA = 0.000, and RMR = 0.001, factors affecting consumer’s decision to use telepharmacy in the health region 12, Thailand through descending order of importance were trust, information technology acceptance, and e-service quality.

مفهوم الجملة في الدراسات الأسلوبية

تناول البحث مفهوم الجملة في الدراسات الأسلوبية ، وأصل هذا المفهوم عند النحويين القدامى والمحدثين وعند اللغويين واللسانيين (اللغويين المحدثين) الذين هم سبب رئيس لظهور الأسلوبية، وقد حاولنا فيه بيان الاختلاف في المفاهيم بين الغرب والعرب، وقد قسم البحث بعد الخاتمة على ثلاثة مباحث: الأول: مفهوم الجملة وتأليفها عند النحويين، والثاني: مفهوم الجملة وتأليفها عند اللغويين واللسانيين، والثالث مفهوم الجملة وتأليفها عند الأسلوبيين، ثم الخاتمة وأهم النتائج التي توصلت إليها خلال البحث.

Miles apart but close at heart?

Abstract With more people living physically separated from beloved ones, technologies which support relatedness over distance can play an important role for wellbeing. For this purpose, these so-called relatedness technologies use different strategies such as awareness of the other’s activities, simulating physical proximity, or joint action. It appears that only few research concepts turn into commercial concepts or are actually adopted in everyday life. Also, published concepts often show a lack of theoretical foundations and systematic exploration of relevant factors for acceptance and user experience. The present research aims to provide a better theoretical basis for the research and development of relatedness technologies by combining theory from psychology and HCI with empirical insights from four focus groups (n = 21). As a result, we present a UX factors-checklist consisting of motivators, hygiene factors, and meta topics that can be used when designing and evaluating relatedness technologies in order to ensure actual use and a positive user experience and highlight next research steps.

Inventors emerging in-school and out-of-school: six iterations of educational design to promote equitable student engagement

Invention education is an emerging field that shows promise for fostering equitable student engagement, especially related to disciplines of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), in both classroom and informal learning. A central concept for practitioners, researchers, and evaluators, student engagement connects with academic, socioemotional, career, and civic success. Nonetheless, more work is needed to ensure more equitable approaches to educational design for student engagement, especially with youth of one or more minoritized identity markers (e.g., Black, Brown, or Indigenous youth; female or non-binary youth; youth from lower socioeconomic statuses; etc.). This Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy article describes six iterations of educational designs for invention education with grades 6–8 classes and camps. Three of the iterations revised the same curriculum for grade 7 classes (N ~ 160 students/year), and the other three iterations involved similar yet distinct curricula for grades 6–8 camps (N ~ 25 students/year). Taking a cultural psychology approach to design-based research, we conducted a phenomenological mixed-methods study for convergence. That is, we iteratively refined educational designs within given microcultures, and we sought to better understand participants’ lived experiences. We share evidence of high affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement, within and between both individual and social levels, alongside development of self-efficacy with respect to ability beliefs and anxiety management. With a few exceptions, our findings suggest equitable participation of youth. These findings we connect with educational design considerations, including individual vs. social supports, explicit attention to youths’ hobbies and peer-inventors, and formative assessment that broadens response scales and gradations of challenge. Our work supports a more nuanced and socially-situated six-dimensional framework for student engagement, expanding upon commonly-used three-and four-dimensional models. We conclude with local and transferrable implications, towards the main goal of fostering equitable student engagement in science and engineering through invention education.

Comprehensive Overview of Controlled Fabrication of Multifunctional Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots and Exploring Applications.

In recent years, carbon dots (CDs) have garnered increasing attention due to their simple preparation methods, versatile performances, and wide-ranging applications. CDs can manifest various optical, physical, and chemical properties including quantum yield (QY), emission wavelength (Em), solid-state fluorescence (SSF), room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP), material-specific responsivity, pH sensitivity, anti-oxidation and oxidation, and biocompatibility. These properties can be effectively regulated through precise control of the CD preparation process, rendering them suitable for diverse applications. However, the lack of consideration given to the precise control of each feature of CDs during the preparation process poses a challenge in obtaining the requisite features for various applications. This paper is to analyze existing research and present novel concepts and ideas for creating CDs with different distinct features and applications. The synthesis methods of CDs are discussed in the first section, followed by a comprehensive overview of the important properties of CDs and the modification strategy. Subsequently, the application of CDs and their requisite properties are reviewed. Finally, the paper outlines the current challenges in controlling CDs properties and their applications, discusses potential solutions, and offers suggestions for future research.

Towards a Feminist Research Ethics of Care: Reflections, Lessons, and Methodological Considerations for Doing Research During a Pandemic

Conducting feminist research during the global COVID-19 pandemic has evoked a renewed interest in the concept of care within our research team. The purpose of this paper is to provide concrete examples of how feminist ethics of care changed the initial and ongoing design of a community-engaged research project in Ontario, Canada. Drawing from examples and lessons learned, we focus on various adjustments to our methodological decision-making that intentionally honoured and prioritized our responsibilities to community partners, research participants, broader communities impacted by research, and the research team. By illustrating the methodological and ethical implications of these decisions, we argue that attending to these responsibilities prioritized both feminist research ethics and feminist ethics of care. As a result, we propose moving towards a conceptualization of a feminist research ethics of care, and discuss the value of this concept for researchers studying social justice.

The blessing and curse of "no strings attached": An automated literature analysis of psychological health and non-attachmental work in the digitalization era.

Amidst tremendous changes in the worlds of work in light of digitalization, non-attachmental work designs, where individuals gain income without being bound by a fixed administrative attachment to an employer, hold promises of self-actualization along with threats of insecurity. Today's technology boom and the consequent flexibility and uncertainty it brings into workers' lives may translate into inspiring growth opportunities or overloading pressure, contingent upon mental health and wellbeing impacts. This paper first provides a conceptualization of the non-attachmental work designs of the 21st century, before proceeding to an extensive mapping of literature at their intersection with psychological health. This involves a machine-learning-driven review of 1094 scientific articles using topic modeling, combined with in-depth manual content analyses and inductive-deductive cycles of pattern discovery and category building. The resulting scholarly blueprint reveals several tendencies, including a prevalence of positive psychology concepts in research on work designs with high levels of autonomy and control, contrasted with narratives of disempowerment in service- and task-based work. We note that some psychological health issues are researched with respect to specific work designs but not others, for instance neurodiversity and the role of gender in ownership-based work, self-image and digital addiction in content-based work, and ratings-induced anxiety in platform-mediated task-based work. We also find a heavy representation of 'heroic' entrepreneurs, quantitative methods, and western contexts in addition to a surprising dearth of analyses on the roles of policy and technological interventions. The results are positioned to guide academics, decision-makers, technologists, and workers in the pursuit of healthier work designs for a more sustainable future.

Ethics and Integrity in Research: Why Bridging the Gap Between Ethics and Integrity Matters

Ethics and integrity should be intertwined within the concept of Responsible Research. Integrity Officers should also be Ethics Officers, enforcing compliance with rules and norms, but also raising awareness on the meaning of ethics in researchers’ daily work. Paul Ricoeur’s definition of Ethics – “the aim of living a good life with and for others in just institutions” (Ricoeur in Oneself as Another. University of Chicago Press, 1994) –, points out the relational dimension of Ethics that matters to all the stakeholders in scientific research. The dialogical interaction between Ethics and Integrity can help to prevent researchers from assuming self-regulation as the only possible path to be followed. In this paper, the challenges and the opportunities posed by this approach will be outlined and discussed, mainly, the challenges of building trust bottom up, while setting up restrictions to comply with rules and norms top down. Concerning the opportunities, the focus will be on making better science and building a solid network among the various stakeholders of the research system.