Constructivist Paradigm Research Articles

Spirituality and Transcendental meditation practitioners’ experiences in South Africa and Ghana

ABSTRACT Spirituality involves being in harmony with the cosmos or nature and a willingness to engage in good works for the sake of mankind; for instance, love for one another, care for the environment, and the production and protection of the common good for society. Spirituality could also be defined as the connectedness with nature or the cosmos, seeing beyond the circumstances of one’s limitation and the suffering one encounters (transcendence) and understanding one purpose and meaning of one existence. In an African context, spirituality is experienced by many people as being in touch with one’s spirit which is an indication of integration of the body with the spirit and without this spiritual aspect of the essence of oneself, it becomes natural to see and feel problem. When one is permanently established on the platform of the Transcendental Being, life is lived in eternal freedom and enjoyment of blissfulness throughout the day. In this vein, the self silently witnesses daily activity. This is the essence of TM practice where practitioners experience spiritual upliftment. Though much research has been done on TM globally, the spiritual lived experiences of the practitioners have not been adequately explored, especially in South Africa and Ghana. Therefore, the study sought to explore the spiritual lived experiences of TM practitioners in South Africa and Ghana. The study adopted the constructivist paradigm through the lens of phenomenology. In all, 28 participants took part in the study − 14 participants from South Africa and another 14 from Ghana. Open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data for the study. Husserl’s transcendental phenomenological data analysis was used to analyze and synthesize the descriptions of the spiritual lived experiences of the TM practitioners. The results suggest that TM act as a catalyst for the spiritual growth of the participants from both countries and that they experienced spiritual upliftment with the practice of TM. However, two participants both females were of the view that TM has nothing to do with their spirituality. It is the recommendation of this study that people who seek a spiritual path to discover their purpose and meaning in life explore this technique although there are other paths toward spiritual enlightenment. For instance, Christian’s contemplations player and Sufism.

Food Communication to Strengthen Cultural Identity: A Case Study on Saparan Bekakak Traditions in Indonesia

Food has a crucial role in human culture and social interaction. Food is vital in various traditional ceremonies and rituals, especially in Javanese culture. Saparan Bekakak is a Javanese tradition that uses food or offerings as a ritual symbol. Food communication is a field of study that studies how food functions as a medium of communication in social and cultural contexts. This study explores the food communication model in strengthening the cultural identity of Saparan Bekakak as a noble tradition of the Indonesian nation. This research uses a constructivist paradigm with a qualitative research design for the type of case study. The subjects in this study consisted of nine participants, including community leaders (kamituwo, dukuh, bekakak bride makers, cooks, and offerings), local communities, and visitors to the Saparan Bekakak traditional ceremony. The data collection techniques in this study consist of interviews, observations, and documentation. Data analysis in the study consists of several steps (i.e., data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn) as well as source triangulation and triangulation techniques to ensure the validity of the research data. This study finds a food communication model that strengthens the cultural identity of Saparan Bekakak as a noble tradition of the Indonesian nation. Food in the tradition of saparan bekakak is interpreted as a form of gratitude blessings, a medium of communication with ancestors for safety, cultural enlightenment, and strengthening solidarity/togetherness. There are variations and shifts in the meaning of food in the Saparan Bekakak tradition, encouraging the negotiation of meaning, which catalyses the renewal and strengthening of identity. Culture. This research's implications or theoretical impact are in the form of theoretical contributions about food communication that can construct and strengthen cultural identity and practically in the form of food communication models that can be applied to enhance cultural identity, especially in the Saparan Bekakak tradition.

Professional identity formation of medical students in relation to older persons’ healthcare: exploring the views of older persons living in the Netherlands – a qualitative study

ObjectivesGiven the growing population of older persons, medical students need to develop an appropriate professional identity to comply with older persons’ healthcare needs. In this study, we explored the needs...

Bridging the Skills Gap: Integrating Mobile Learning in Adult Basic Education and Training for Enhanced Employability in South Africa

South Africa experiences high levels of unemployment, and, among other reasons, this is perpetuated by a lack of skills development and training for adult learners in the Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) sector. To alleviate poverty and unemployment, adult learners need skills development and training to use mobile devices to learn conveniently. Mobile learning (m-learning) is a form of distance learning and a subset of e-learning and flexible learning. It has significance for the development of individual adult learners and countries. Consequently, this research study aimed to explore the effectiveness of skills development for adult learners in the ABET sector in South Africa and was supported by the theoretical framework of Andragogy. It also used the constructivist paradigm, followed by the qualitative research approach, and data collection methods included focus group interviews. The research findings indicate that skills development and training are desired in the ABET sector and that m-learning could be of greater use as an alternative approach to teaching and learning for adult learners. Based on the findings, the authors recommend integrating practical skills development into ABET programs and expanding mobile learning initiatives for effective mobile learning.

Meaning Construction of Celebrities Popularity as a Political Commodity in Millenial Generation

This research uses a qualitative research and constructivist paradigm. Data collection technique using in-depth interviews with representatives of millennial political activists in Indonesia from PSI (Partai Solidaritas Indonesia). Research result shows meaning of politics according to PSI millennial generation politicians includes: life, self-awareness, basic obligations, benefiting people many, power, interests, collective work, policies binding, bringing change, bringing prosperity. The political meaning of these components are the internalization of those whoever been in apolitical thinking. There is further scrutiny regarding the progress of Indonesian celebrity politicians, who are considered to only be based on the aspect of being close to millennials but not touching conscience, people's beliefs and ethical principles. The involvement of millennial politicians is in practical politics including a form of self-actualization by participating fighting for anti-corruption and anti-intolerance, with enthusiasm Bhinneka Tunggal Ika includes: transparency, honesty, never giving up, breaking old standards, and competing skillfully so that you can showing pride in politics. Millennial politicians tried to attend with a new political spirit and style as a breakthrough and antithesis from baby boomer. On the other hand, society has not been fully touched by political literacy so it does not attach much importance to the vision and mission and background of politicians.

A dual-recognition strategy based on pH-responsive molecularly imprinted membrane for highly selective capture of catecholamines: From construction to practical application

BackgroundCatecholamines (CAs) are involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes in the body and are progressively being used as important biomarkers for a variety of diseases. It is of great significance for accurate quantification of CAs to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, the separation of CAs from complex biological matrices is still a great challenge due to the trace levels of CAs and the limited selectivity of existing pretreatment methods. ResultsIn this work, a dual-recognition imprinted membrane (BA-MIM) was developed to utilize the synergistic action of pH-responsive boron affinity and molecular imprinted cavities for highly selective capture and release of CAs. The prepared BA-MIM possessed remarkable adsorption capacity (maximum capacity, 43.3 mg g−1), desirable surface hydrophilicity (46.2°), superior selectivity (IF = 6.2, α = 14.3), as well as favorable reusability (number of cycles, 6 times). On this basis, an integrated analytical method based on BA-MIM extraction combined with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was innovatively developed to highly selective separation, enrichment, and detection of CAs in rat brain tissue. Under the optimum conditions, a low quantitation limits (0.05–0.10 ng mL−1), wide linear range (10–1000 ng mL−1), good linearity (r2 > 0.99), and satisfactory recoveries (88.5%–98.5 %) were obtained for CAs. The proven method was further applied to kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome (KYDS) group rat model, revealed the intrinsic connection between kidney disease and catecholamine metabolism. SignificanceThis work provides an excellent reference paradigm for the effective construction of dual-recognition functional membrane material to the high-selective analysis of trace targets in complex matrices. Additionally, this integrated analytical strategy demonstrates its efficiency, sustainability, versatility, and convenience, showing remarkable prospect in a variety of applications for biological sample analysis.

Experience as a physician attending to traffic accident victims in hospitals in Managua, Nicaragua

Introduction: Every 23 seconds a person dies from a traffic accident in the world, that is about 3756 deaths per day, with the consequent impact on relatives and health personnel. Doctors are part of the health team that is on the front line of care. Although this is part of their daily work, their feelings and emotions are deeply affected. There is a deficit of research of this type carried out by doctors.Methodology: Qualitative study, under the constructivist paradigm with a phenomenological approach. The objective was; explore the lived experience of doctors who treat victims of traffic accidents. The sample was intentional with five participating physicians . The phenomenological interview was used as an information collection technique and analyses were carried out according to Van Manen.Results: From the analysis, 15 codes were obtained inductively, which gave rise to 6 sub-themes: Impacts of Tragedies; Communication of bad news; Becoming of emotion; Coping; Narratives that endure and Resignation that in turn made up the 3 central themes: Body Lived in the impact, Time Lived in the here and after and Human Relations lived: between narratives and resignation.Conclusion: The study reveals that doctors are indirect victims of adverse events in the face of damage to the patient and their family in the face of a traffic accident. Constant monitoring of their psychological and emotional well-being, training communication strategies and improving patient-centered curricular programs are recommended. Extending the study to other specialties would enrich this understanding..

Barriers and facilitators to screening for intimate partner violence at a level 1 trauma center

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem that is associated with substantial health sequelae, including traumatic injury. Surgical professional societies recommend universal intimate partner violence screening in patients presenting after trauma, but this recommendation is not uniformly implemented. We designed and implemented a quality improvement project at our institution in July 2020 to enhance intimate partner violence screening. Although screening rates improved, they remained suboptimal. Therefore, we sought to examine barriers and facilitators to intimate partner violence screening from trauma clinicians’ perspectives. Study DesignWe conducted a qualitative study using in-depth, semistructured interviews to understand the perspectives and experiences of trauma clinicians conducting intimate partner violence screening. A constructivist paradigm informed our study whereby our data collection approaches aimed to understand intimate partner violence screening from the perspectives of those tasked with implementing screening within real-world clinical settings. We used thematic analysis to analyze our data and generate themes related to barriers and facilitators to screening. ResultsWe conducted interviews with 12 resident physicians and 2 advance practice providers. We identified 6 themes, 3 reflecting facilitator themes as (1) standardized education and workflow, (2) benefits of interdisciplinary teamwork, and (3) context of screening, and 3 reflecting barrier themes as (1) lack of time, (2) language misinterpretation, and (3) perceived inappropriateness of universal screening. ConclusionTrauma clinicians described multiple facilitators and barriers to screening for intimate partner violence following traumatic injury, some of which were unique to the trauma setting. Projects seeking to achieve universal screening following traumatic injury may benefit from accounting for these factors when designing interventions.

Human Resource Development Planning Oriented Towards Character Building in Santri: A Case Study in Soppeng District's Islamic Boarding Schools

This research aims to know and discover human resource development planning oriented towards building students' character. This research is a case study or field research using qualitative methods with a constructivist paradigm. This research was carried out at 6 Islamic boarding schools in Soppeng district. The research results show that planning for human resource development in the character education program for the six Islamic boarding schools in Soppeng Regency was carried out carefully by involving various parties, such as Islamic boarding school leaders, teaching staff and parents of students. The character education program considers religious values, students' needs, and current developments. However, several Islamic boarding schools still have teaching staff who have yet to participate in workshops on Character education. As a suggestion in this research, Islamic boarding school leaders always carry out good planning in human resource management development, incorporate character values into the moral development process in Islamic boarding schools, and encourage teaching staff to participate in workshops or training related to character education.

Politik Pencitraan Partai PDIP Jawa Barat terhadap Ganjar Pranowo dalam Menghadapi Pilpres 2024

This research investigates the political image strategy adopted by the West Java Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) towards a potential figure, Ganjar Pranowo, in facing the 2024 Presidential Election. Based on a constructivist paradigm with a qualitative approach, this research uses a case study method with a focus on data triangulation. Involving in-depth interviews, content analysis and participant observation, the research aims to explore the political dynamics of imagery and its impact on public perception. The results of content analysis highlight political communication strategies, development of popular economic discourse, use of social media, and image construction through political advertising. The findings show the need to increase strategic integration with local values, the effectiveness of social media, and the concretization of community economic programs. While providing an in-depth look at the political image of the West Java PDIP, this research also presents insights that can contribute to the understanding of political strategy at the local and national level.

Juridical Analysis of Indonesian Parliamentary Ethical Committee: Analyzing Supervision Function within Indonesian Parliament

This research was made under the basis that the role of the People's Representative Council (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat/DPR) the Republic of Indonesia supervision that fell to the Parliamentary Ethical Committee (Mahkamah Kehormatan Dewan/MKD) has not yet been fair and how to ensure that the Ethical Implementation in Indonesian Parliament can be done properly in a constructivism paradigm where the type of research method used is normative juridical and the specifications of this research have a descriptive-analytical nature with the approach used by the author being a statutory approach. The research results found that the supervision by the DPR of the Republic of Indonesia Honorary Court has not yet been fair was because most of Ethical Committee Member were fellow DPR Member causing the political interests of the respective political parties does not want their members to be sanctioned, even at the cost of not upholding the DPR ethics. Therefore, to improve the system for handling cases and supervision, the DPR Honorary Body, researchers found several solutions that can be implemented based on comparisons with Ethics Committees in the Parliaments of other countries. First, strengthening the independence of the Ethical Committee through external, non-partisan selection processes would mitigate political influence. Clearer ethical codes with enforceable penalties are crucial, ensuring accountability for violations. Legal protections to shield Ethical Committee decisions from political pressures are also proposed. Expanding Ethical Committee authority and sanctions, alongside mandatory public reporting, would enhance transparency and compliance. These reforms aim to address current challenges and elevate ethical standards within the Indonesian Parliament effectively.

Exploring the Practices and Challenges of E-leadership: A study of Public Schools of Larkana Sindh, Pakistan

The major aim of the present study was to explore the perceptions of public educational institutions’ leaders regarding the practices of e-leadership and their challenges in integrating the e-leadership. In addition, the study utilized the qualitative design of research that suits the epistemological and ontological stances of researcher. Further, the study is constructivist paradigm thus, it used semi-structured interviews for gathering data, and thematic analysis for analyzing the data. However, the findings disclosed five major themes. The themes are technology execution, e-communication, continuous professional development, data-driven decision, and collaboration and innovation. E-communication and execution of technology were effective for enhancing the performance of administrative. While, collaboration and continuous professional development were significant for enhancing the involvement of parents, community and building strong connection with stakeholder, increasing the awareness of growing technological tools for instructors and educators. However, it was also unveiled that these all the practices are possible when there is not any obstacle in front, but study showed numerous challenges that hinder the process of e-leadership implementation. The challenges like poor technology-based infrastructure and less funding for renovation of technical tools. Nonetheless, the study recommended that stakeholders should support public schools in terms of providing appropriate technical infrastructure, sanctioning funds for enhancing e-leadership, increasing collaboration among different public school, and arranging training programs for instructors and educators for improving the e-leadership at public sector educational institutions of Larkana Sindh, Pakistan.

HIV self-management perceptions and experiences of students at one university in South Africa.

The public health concern posed by HIV in South Africa is significant, particularly among young adults aged 15-34 years. Within this age range, university students present a unique demographic, concurrently managing their HIV condition and academic pursuits, thus raising concerns about HIV management within university environments. Research into the experiences of South African university students living with HIV is relatively sparse. The study aimed to explore the HIV self-management perceptions and experiences of South African university students. The study employed a qualitative research approach grounded in the constructivist paradigm. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight (8) students living with HIV at a university in the Western Cape area in 2021. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. All ethical principles were adhered to, and trustworthiness was ensured. Findings revealed that students utilised various strategies to manage their HIV condition, inclusive of maintaining a positive mindset, and adopting a healthy diet. They encountered obstacles such as experiencing HIV-related stigma, which frequently resulted in elevated stress levels. The potential role of peer support groups was also underscored, with students expressing a desire to participate in such groups to maintain their mental health. Living with HIV is a challenging experience for university students, but self-management of the condition makes life easier for them.Contribution:These findings contribute to the understanding of HIV self-management perceptions and experiences of university students, and can inform the development of a comprehensive supportive structure that addresses their needs.

The Influence Of Rock N' Roll Culture On The Koes Brothers' Song "Poor Clown" (Roland Barthes Semiotics Study)

The song is titled “Poor Clown " which is the work of the phenomenal Band in Indonesia Koes Bersaudara. This song became the first rock n ' roll song that excited the old order. This song made them forced to be put in prison in the Glodok area of West Jakarta. This happened because the Indonesian government at that time strongly condemned everything that smelled Westernized because it was considered capable of eroding the culture and noble values of the nation. The purpose of this study was to find out how much influence rock n’ roll was in the song titled “Poor Clown” through the theory of semiotics from Roland Bathes. The method used is qualitative research with qualitative interpretative approach. This research uses constructivist paradigm. This study belongs to the class of subjective-constructivism because this research is based on the views and thoughts of the author personally.. The results of this study is true, the song titled “Poor Clown” by the Koes brothers became a satire for the president in the era of the Old Order, Sukarno, which was studied through the semiotics theory of Roland Barthes.

Prabowo Gibran's Local Language Campaign On The Tiktok Account Fillixpratama

This research analyzes the impact of the local language campaign conducted by Prabowo Gibran through the TikTok account @fillixpratama25, which demonstrates adaptation to digital trends and the preferences of young voters. Unlike previous studies that focused on political image and campaign strategies in other contexts, this research offers a new approach by emphasizing the use of local language on TikTok. The methodology used is a qualitative approach with a constructivist paradigm, utilizing field research methods. Data was collected through direct observation, document analysis, and interviews with relevant stakeholders. Critical discourse analysis by Teun A. van Dijk was used to understand how local language in this campaign builds or undermines social dominance and reflects power structures. The results of the study indicate that the use of local language and a relaxed communication style create emotional closeness with the audience, increase political awareness among young voters, and leverage the viral potential of TikTok to expand the reach of political messages. This campaign combines media ecology theory and social media campaign theory, highlighting how new media transforms the political communication environment and enables more direct interaction between politicians and the public. The conclusion shows that adaptive strategies in using social media with relevant local languages can strengthen the connection between candidates and voters, increase political awareness, and open new opportunities in political communication in the digital era.

Analysis of Sarcasm Language Use on Instagram Social Media (Case Study of Students from the Faculty of Social Sciences UINSU)

This article aims to examine the dynamics of sarcasm language use by students of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra (UINSU) in their interactions on Instagram social media. The urgency of this research arises from the observation that sarcasm, although often used as a communication tool, frequently leads to misinterpretations and interpersonal conflicts in the digital context that lacks non-verbal cues. This study adopts a qualitative case study approach with a constructivist paradigm, using thematic analysis techniques to interpret data obtained through in-depth interviews and observation of social media activities. Data validity testing was conducted through source triangulation to ensure the reliability of the findings. The research results indicate that students have significantly varied understandings of sarcasm, which is often misinterpreted as serious communication, leading to undesired emotional reactions. In the segment "Social Cognition: Student Poll on Sarcastic Comments on Instagram," it was found that although students could identify sarcasm, emotional reactions to sarcasm varied, indicating a need for higher digital literacy to effectively manage and process information in social interactions. The discussion in this article emphasizes that sarcasm on social media, while being a dynamic expression tool, requires deep contextual understanding to avoid misinterpretation. Therefore, enhancing media literacy is crucial to help students understand communication nuances and reduce the risk of misunderstandings in digital interactions. This study highlights the importance of effective digital literacy education, which not only enhances students' communication skills but also prepares them to navigate the complex and often ambiguous digital ecosystem.

Exploring causes of bullying among grade eight and nine learners in a South African education district

Bullying is a social phenomenon that has become a complex problem worldwide due to the complications that arise from its persistence among school-going adolescents. This study explored the causes of bullying among grades 8 and 9 in one secondary school in Amatole East District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This qualitative study employed constructivist paradigm and a case study design. It utilised interviews to elicit data from 15 purposefully sampled participants. This study was informed by Travis Hirschi's 1968 Social Control Theory, and I used Braun and Clark's thematic analysis steps to analyse and interpret the data. The study found that bullying is triggered by jealousy and envy among learners, inadequate school furniture, family environment, physical attributes, lack of moral education, lack of sexual orientation education, and age differences among learners. Therefore, the study concluded that in order to detect the causes of bullying among grade 8 and 9 learners, teachers must apply Social Control Theory in the school environment by establishing consistent and supportive teacher-learner relationships to easily identify learners' behavioural changes and promote support, peer relationships, and unity among learners. This will reduce internal motivation that leads them to initiate bullying and violate other learners' rights. Additionally, the findings of this study will enable school stakeholders to develop intervention strategies, including disciplinary measures for learners, providing sexual orientation education, and involving parents in their efforts to manage bullying among grades 8 and 9 learners.

“Somewhere along the line, your mask isn’t going to be fitting right”: institutional racism in Black narratives of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation across the practice continuum

BackgroundOver two decades of research about traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation emphasized the persistence of racial health disparities in functional outcomes that disproportionately impact Black populations without naming or addressing racism as the root problem. Further, the experiences of Black people with TBI have yet to be documented and accounted for in scientific scholarship from the perspectives of Black persons in Canada.PurposeThis study intended to examine the rehabilitation narratives of Black TBI survivors, family caregivers, and rehabilitation providers and use critical race theory as a conceptual framework to understand how anti-Black racism manifests in those experiences.MethodsThrough critical narrative inquiry informed by a critical constructivist paradigm and a critical race theory lens, in-depth narrative interviewing were conducted with seven survivors, three family caregivers, and four rehabilitation providers. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis within and across groups of participants to conceptualize themes and sub-themes.FindingsThemes captured how racism becomes institutionalized in TBI rehabilitation: (1) the institutional construction of deficient Black bodies, (2) the institutional construction of rehabilitation access, (3) the institutional investment in resisting and approximating whiteness in rehabilitation practice, and (4) the institutional construction of deficient Black futures.ConclusionStudy findings point to the dire need to ensure rehabilitation programs, services, and the delivery of care are not determined based on inequitable practices, racial biases and assumptions about Black people, which determine who deserves to get into rehabilitation and have opportunities to be supported in working towards living a full and meaningful life.

Digital Literacy In Detecting Hoaxes In Instagram Media (Analysis Study Of Communication Science Students, State Islamic University Of North Sumatra)

Abstract This article explores the urgency of digital literacy in detecting hoaxes on social media, especially Instagram, among students of Communication Sciences of the State Islamic University of North Sumatra (UINSU). This research identifies crucial problems in the spread of false information or hoaxes that have the potential to divide society and damage information integrity. This study uses a qualitative methodology, this research adopts an ethnographic approach and a constructive paradigm to gain a deep understanding of how students perceive and respond to the information they find on social media. The location of this study is Campus 4 Tuntungan UINSU, and the resource persons were selected through purposive sampling based on their experience and activeness in using Instagram as well as their involvement in digital literacy issues. Primary data sources are obtained from in-depth interviews and participatory observations, while secondary data sources include relevant document studies. The data analysis technique used is the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana analytical model which includes data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn. The validity test of the data was carried out through source triangulation. The results of the study show that even though students have access to digital literacy tools, there is still a tendency to trust and spread unverified content. The conclusion of the study emphasizes that digital literacy is not only important as a tool to verify information and avoid the spread of hoaxes, but also as a means to increase critical awareness of media content.

Digital Marketing Strategy to Increase Brand Awareness of PT Global Service Indonesia

The ability to understand consumer behaviour in the digital age is a very important strategy to achieve competitive advantage. Digital marketing or marketing that uses electronic devices or the internet, provides opportunities for consumers to find information about what positions they are interested in, and obtain testimonials from other consumers about their experiences after following the employee recruitment process. The purpose of this paper is to explain the digital marketing strategy of PT Global Service Indonesia to increase brand awareness, with a special focus on the role and contribution of MSIB interns in the process. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of various digital marketing tactics implemented, challenges, and obstacles faced in their implementation. The method used in this paper is qualitative data analysis based on the constructivist paradigm. Results show that there was a significant increase in the followers and interest of job seekers from April to June 2024.