Construction Research Research Articles

The positive impact of sports participation on life skills’ development: a qualitative study with medical students

We aimed to explore life skills development among medical student-athletes who participated in a university basketball team. We conducted qualitative constructivist research based on the life skills approach. Medical students from the college basketball team were interviewed in-depth. Using inductive thematic analysis, two independent researchers generated codes and themes. Methodological integrity and self-reflection process were carefully followed. Our analyses revealed that the medical students involved as athletes in college basketball were likely to perceive life skills development to contribute to their future medical careers. Several life skills were mentioned, such as time management, leadership, teamwork, learning improvement and mental performance. The coach was the one mentioned as the essential agent in developing life skills. This study highlighted how a rational and responsible commitment to sports could contribute to developing life skills that might be transferable to a future medical career.

“Stop Beating the Dead Primordial Horse”: Actual Agendas in the Constructivist Research of Ethnicity

The article describes the current state of affairs in the contemporary constructivist research of ethnicity. While emerging within anthropology in the 1960’s under the influence of sociological constructivist theories, this approach has been developing in a dialogue with “primordialism” and “essentialism”, the ways of thinking which were, to a large degree, conceptualized by constructivists themselves. It has been, however, become clearer that this dialogue is no longer productive, and constructivists faced the necessity to re-establish the very agenda of the constructivist research of ethnicity. Two projects were undertaken in the 2000-2010’s, and are associated with the names of Andreas Wimmer and Kanchan Chandra. The theoretical languages created within these projects, however, were not optimal in terms of their descriptive power. The second part of the article describes a new research program as suggested by the author, within which an alternative theoretical language is proposed, and much attention is paid to the meanings of ethnic categories as well as the social consequences of these meanings. Descriptive and analytical capabilities of the language are demonstrated from two examples taken from the empirical research of the author. The closing part of the article describes the shortcomings of the approach created, as well as the directions for further developments.

Constructivist Grounded Theory or Interpretive Phenomenology? Methodological Choices Within Specific Study Contexts

Constructivist research methodologies are useful in discerning meanings of experience to subsequently inform and improve healthcare practice. For researchers who philosophically align with the constructivist paradigm, numerous methodologies are available from which to choose to address research questions. However, it can be challenging for researchers, especially novice ones, to choose the most appropriate methodology that aligns with the current state of knowledge of the identified topic, proposed research question, and the study purpose. To reduce the confusion faced by health researchers when choosing an appropriate methodology for a specific study, this paper compares two popular qualitative health research approaches: constructivist grounded theory and interpretive phenomenology. Philosophical underpinnings and the epistemological and ontological evolution of each methodology are explored with similarities and differences highlighted. Manifestation of the philosophical foundations of constructivist grounded theory and interpretive phenomenology are described in relation to data collection, analysis, and the research findings. To illustrate distinctions of each approach and support researchers in the navigation of methodological decision-making, a specific healthcare study context is presented: the rural family members’ experiences of a relative’s interhospital transfer for advanced critical care services. This study context is increasingly being recognized as an important area of healthcare research and practice. However, gaps in knowledge persist, specifically in relation to the experiences of rural family members when a critically ill relative requires an interhospital transfer to a distant urban center for advanced critical care services. Improved understanding of such experiences is necessary to inform the care provided to rural family members, potentially mitigating short and long-term negative consequences for these individuals. Within this example, the importance of the research purpose and research question within a specific study context is underscored as central to appropriate methodological decision-making.

EXPERIENCES OF MICROCREDIT BENEFICIARIES: A STUDY OF RURAL WOMEN IN DISTRICT SHEIKHUPURA, PAKISTAN

Based on the constructivist epistemological point and qualitative research design, the present study attempts to explore the experiences of rural women about microcredit programs. The population of this study comprised of women beneficiaries of microcredit dwelling from District Sheikhupura, Pakistan. The purposive sampling technique has been used to select respondents for in-depth interviews. The researchers have started fieldwork with some broader questions in their minds as informed by the grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006; Jerolmack, 2007; Strauss & Corbin, 1990). These in-depth interviews and field observations enabled the researchers to draw some new themes and inferences. The researchers have included all these themes and inferences in their interview guide for further interviews. A total of 21 in-depth interviews have been conducted which include the 7 interviews at the initial stage of data collection. It was observed that microcredit has some positive as well as some negative consequences on the lives of the recipient. It was positively linked with women’s economic empowerment, improvement in their well-being, decrease in intimate partner violence, positive influence on the member’s own and their children’s health, education, and nutrition patterns. However, some of the respondents said that microcredit did nothing with their empowerment rather it indulge them in extreme poverty and increased male dominance at the household level. Keywords: Microcredit, Women Empowerment, Intimate Partner Violence, Patriarchy, Extreme Poverty, Money Lenders

Online Teaching during COVID-19 in Bangladesh: Challenges Faced by the EL Teachers

The study explored the challenges faced by secondary and higher secondary English language (EL) teachers in Bangladesh while teaching their learners online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like teachers in most countries across the world, Bangladeshi EL teachers had to abruptly switch to online mode of teaching from in-person classes without much preparation. Following the constructivist research paradigm and a qualitative multiple case study approach, four secondary and four higher secondary EL teachers were interviewed to gather in-depth data on the challenges they encountered. The findings showed that the main challenges for the teachers included: unavailability of devices, falling interest, poor attendance of learners, less interaction in classes, lack of technological skills and training, financial hardship, unstable internet connections, almost no practice of language skills, lack of online testing schemes, negative mental and physical impacts, and the overall perceived inefficacy of online EL classes. The paper also discusses the implications of the main findings and proposes some recommendations for the teachers and other stakeholders concerned.

Social Exploitation of Lower Class and Stratification System in Rawalpindi

The main objective of the research is to study the exploitation and social oppression resulting in a lack of opportunities or unequal access to resources. The methodology is descriptive based on a constructivist research approach.Furthermore, the triangulation method was employed to avoid rapid saturation. For the sake of collection of data, observation,a structured questionnaire was employed. The sampling design is based on the SRS technique. Sample drawing was the essential constituent of the first phase. The research referred to some of the systems of stratification out of many, existing in societies. It also indicated certain stereotypes and obstructions faced by individuals due to the emergence of stereotypical discourses in society. In the end, the researcher tried to relate an ascribed trait(class or class mobility) with education (which sounds to be an achieved trait but is dependent upon several ascribed factors).

The Challenge of Inequality in University Education: Is the District Quota Scheme Addressing Socio-Economic Disparities in Access to University Education in Uganda?

Access to university education is one of the fundamental educational questions in contemporary educational debates. This is because university education is seen as having an array of benefits to individuals, their households, and their nations. However, the challenge of inequality in terms of gender, income, location, and socio-economic status has constrained some individuals and households to access quality university education. In 2005 the government of Uganda introduced the District Quota Scheme to address the social inequalities in accessing university education. This study examined how the District Quota Scheme is addressing the rural-urban divide in access to university; how the District Quota Scheme has increased access to university education for children with parents who have low levels of education; and whether the District Quota Scheme is improving access to university education for children from low-income families. Following the social constructivist research paradigm and integrating both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study found a change in access to university education by students from rural areas, students whose parents have lower levels of education, and those from low-income families as a result of introducing the District Quota Scheme. The study recommends that the government of Uganda and other stakeholders in the higher education sector should address the structural challenges to ensure that mainly the socially disadvantaged students take the biggest advantage of this scheme.

Adult third culture kids: Impacts on adult lives of living internationally and attending boarding school

Families who move to different countries must consider the implications of cultural mobility for children. Seventeen adults in their 60 s and 70 s who grew up as missionary children in Africa completed questionnaires to identify impacts on their adult lives of two interrelated experiences: living internationally and attending boarding school. The data were analyzed for emerging themes using a constructivist inquiry. Results indicated perceptions of boarding school and the attribution to life events varied among participants. However, living internationally was perceived primarily as enriching. Tracing the effects of living internationally on those who can reflect back adds to understanding the implications of these unique childhood experiences, which will help parents considering working abroad make better-informed decisions related to children.

Constructivist Self-Construal: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Building on independent versus interdependent self-construal theory, three studies provide initial empirical evidence for a third way of construing the self: the constructivist self-construal. People with a constructivist view perceive the self as constantly changing (impermanence), as a collection of distinct phenomena from moment to moment (discontinuity), as lacking an essence (disentification), and as psychologically overlapping with other people and things in the universe (boundlessness/boundaries). In Study 1, we piloted a new Constructivist Self-Construal Scale and established preliminary evidence for the discriminant validity of the scale. Studies 2 and 3 found that across seven countries with diverse cultural backgrounds, the self was consistently cognitively represented on the four dimensions of constructivist self. People from collectivistic cultures where Buddhist philosophy is more prevalent tended to endorse the dimensions of the constructivist self-construal to a greater degree than people from other cultures. Implications regarding the development of the constructivist self-construal and future research recommendations are discussed.

Retailer Volunteerism as a Plastic Shopping Bag Governance Tool: Shoppers’ Reflections and Contributions to Environmental Social Marketing

Introduction The pollution of landscapes and coastal environments with plastic shopping bag litter is an escalating global problem. The introduction of plastic bag tax aimed at addressing this challenge achieved limited success in South Africa. This study explores South African shoppers’ perceptions towards social marketing anchored retailer voluntary initiatives, which is an emerging plastic bag policy option. Literature Adverse environmental and social effects of plastic shopping bags are discussed. Retailer voluntary initiatives used to de-market plastic shopping bags, including jurisdictions where they were implemented, are also reviewed. The focus is on retailer anti-plastic bag initiatives such as ‘reusable shopping bags’ and ‘plastic bag-free’ shops. Methods This study is situated within a constructivist research paradigm and a qualitative methodology. Data were collected from a sample of 31 grocery shoppers recruited from retailer outlets in South Africa’s metropolitan cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore shoppers’ perceptions towards retailer-driven anti-plastic bag voluntary initiatives. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse interview data. Findings The findings of this study highlight shoppers’ negative perceptions towards retailer anti-plastic bag voluntary initiatives. Shoppers perceived retailer anti-plastic bag voluntary initiatives as forms of green capitalism, green entrepreneurship, symbolic corporate social responsibility, strategic business posture, commandeered green consumerism, measured environmental morality, masked green washing and calculated pre-emptive behaviour. Future studies may seek to extend the generalisability of these findings by using a larger sample size. Conclusion The study’s findings highlight the trust deficit associated with retailer anti-plastic bags voluntary initiatives and the importance of enhancing market acceptance and legitimacy. Mistrust and cynicism directed towards retailer anti-plastic bag voluntary initiatives point to the importance of consumer education aimed at emphasising the negative effects of single-use plastic shopping bags. This study concludes that reliance on retailer self-regulation may not be the best approach to solve the escalating problem of plastic bag litter. We argue that national governments need to implement interventions that strike a balance between environmental sustainability and economic development.

Insights into Positive Approaches to Parent Partnership Working in UK Nursery Schools

In this article, we share interviews with Maintained Nursery School (MNS) leaders in deprived areas of the West Midlands of England. This constructivist research was carried out to better understand the 'why' and 'how' of parent partnership in early years settings. During our conversations with leaders, they explained how they establish and maintain positive relationships with parents, and in this article, we highlight examples of tangible benefits to the lives of children and families resulting from their partnerships. Our data identify a moral imperative felt by practitioners to 'fill the gap', resulting from the demise of public services in the area. Our interviews reveal the intrinsic satisfaction these leaders experience in 'making a difference'; but we question a system which relies upon goodwill, and represents a largely invisible and unrecognised public service, attempting to mitigate the impacts of growing deprivation and adversity.

Strategies to Prevent Leaner-on-Educator Violence in South African Schools

School violence is singled out by many researchers as an area of salient concern, both nationally and internationally. Moreover, learner-on-educator violence has become a phenomenon of great concern in schools worldwide; and no school is ruled out of this challenge. Various studies in the field of school violence focus on the safety of learners at schools, with inadequate attention paid to violence perpetrated against educators in school environments. Although some local studies on school-related violence do focus on educator-on-learner violence and the causes thereof, little or no studies have been conducted on coping strategies to deal with this concern. This literature study focused on learner-on-educator violence in South African schools and the coping strategies that educators use or can use to manage and restrict violence perpetrated against them. Located in the constructivist research paradigm, this study emanated from an empirical study by the authors on how educators, as victims of school violence, experience and understand learner-on-educator violence in the school environment. The findings of the current study revealed that South African educators use different coping strategies such as departmental directives; collegial support; in-school training programmes; monitoring of classroom access; collaboration with the school environment and participation of parents. It is concluded that these strategies are pertinent in stimulating the reduction of learner-on-educator violence in South African schools.

Young Europeans in Brexit Britain: Unsettling identities

AbstractSince the 2016 European Union referendum, young European migrants living in Britain have faced growing exposure to social exclusion and insecurities over their future. The Brexit process has not only changed their rights, but has also increased their experiences of xenophobia and discrimination. In this context, we consider it timely to focus on young EU nationals’ processes of identification and (re)constructions of their identities while they negotiate the multiple challenges posed by geopolitical transformations. The social constructionist research with young migrants shows that they increasingly experience their identities as fluid, with relationships that move between proximity and distance. Our findings from focus groups with 108 young people aged 12–18 years born in Central and Eastern European countries and case studies of 20 families support this perspective. The analysis documents young people's agency and efforts to negotiate identity as a process of becoming in the context of change and uncertainty. To understand how young people from a migrant background navigate individual and collective identities, the article offers an explanatory framework that highlights their need for familiarity, continuity, and control over their lives, necessary to maintain a sense of home and belonging.

Kemetic Yoga Tourism: A Study of Marketing Strategies in Egypt

Yoga tourism has witnessed a consistent development in the recent years. People around the world have become more mindful of health care options which has led to an increase in the quality of wellbeing care as a need in the minds of most age groups today. The worldwide fascination with yoga has inspired many people to travel in order to practise this activity. Kemetic yoga rapidly evolved into the wonder of yoga tourism, which nowadays is a vital and profitable component of the wellness tourism industry. This unique yoga practice draws yoga lovers from across the world, according to an official statement released by the Egyptian tourism minister promoting it internationally. In 2019, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism collaborated with CNN broadcast to produce a short documentary about Kemetic yoga to highlight wellness tourism in the country. Egypt is a unique destination for Kemetic yogis. Although few researchers have studied Kemetic Yoga as an aspect of tourism, this research focused on the examination of marketing strategies that Egypt needs to apply to promote itself as a competitive destination for yoga. Kemetic yoga tourism is a new travel trend in Egypt, promoting a rising touristic attraction and encouraging the potential of further research. This paper focused on the examination of marketing strategies Egypt is currently implementing to promote itself as a viable yoga destination, and to recommend other marketing strategies to promote Kemetic yoga in Egypt. The methodological approach consisted of a constructivist research paradigm, a qualitative methodology and an interview-based data collection method. Intense, semi-formal interviews were conducted with Kemetic yoga practitioners from different experiences and yoga levels who had travelled to Egypt to practice Kemetic yoga. Keywords: tourism, yoga, medical, health care, wellness, marketing, Kemetic, Egypt

Knowledge, boundaries, and bodies: Social construction between medical sociology and science and technology studies

AbstractMedical sociology and science and technology studies (STS) emerged from different positions, but often closely related concerns, within the broad discipline of sociology. Their interface and areas of overlap have mostly been shaped by theoretical positions broadly considered “social constructionist.” Taken together, these perspectives provide empirical and theoretical tools to analyze important questions about how social inequalities, forms of scientific knowledge, and patterns of human health come to be produced and feedback into one another. Examining their intersection enables sociological questions such as: How is medical and public health scientific knowledge produced, stabilized, and taken as fact? How are scientific facts about health and illness used, experienced, and challenged? What is the relationship between health inequalities and public health or medical knowledge? This article seeks to briefly trace the important contributions that social constructionist research has made at the interstices of medical sociology and STS, further clarifying the history, points of intersection, and areas of diversion between them. The current COVID‐19 pandemic has unveiled the political struggles that constitute public health scientific knowledge and circulation. The interface between STS and medical sociology can help us to make sense of the interrelationships between politics, power inequalities, and public health scientific knowledge.

Exploring experiences of ableism in academia: a constructivist inquiry

To understand the experiences of the disabled in academia, a fully accessible and inclusive workshop conference was held in March 2018. Grounded in critical disability studies within a constructivist inquiry analytical approach, this article provides a contextualisation of ableism in academia garnered through creative data generation. The nuanced experiences of disabled academics in higher education as well as their collective understandings of these experiences as constructed through normalisation and able-bodiedness are presented. We show that disabled academics are marginalised and othered in academic institutions; that the neoliberalisation of higher education has created productivity expectations, which contribute to the silencing of the disabled academics’ perspectives and experiences due to constructions of normality and stigmatisation; and that it is important to enact policies, procedures, and practices that value disabled academics and bring about cultural and institutional changes in favour of equality and inclusion.

Narrations on intercultural experiences in South African contact zones

The study is anchored in Pratt’s theory on ‘contact zones’ (CZ) and explores CZs in Gauteng-Province in Post-Apartheid South Africa, where experiences are influenced by highly diverse and hybrid cultural and language backgrounds. This article presents autoethnographic narrations of experiences of South Africans, addressing the void of emic perspectives in CZs in South Africa.Methodologically, the study follows a qualitative research design and is anchored in the social constructivist research paradigm, using 19 narrations of individuals. Four narrations, which mirror the experience of individuals from South African minority groups (Coloured and Indian) are presented in more depth in this article. Findings are analysed through content analysis. Limitations and ethical considerations are highlighted.Findings show the described experiences in CZs with regard to four categories: intercultural conflict, intercultural identity development, intercultural communication and its barriers, and intercultural non-verbal communication. They mirror predominant themes in South African contemporary society with specific focus on CZ experiences of minority group members, present boundaries created through the experience and narration of difference and possible ways to deal constructively with diversity within selected CZs. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations for future theory and practice are given, not only for the South African context, but also for constructive intercultural relations elsewhere.

Close Intimate Relations between People with Intellectual Disabilities Constructivist Research: The Polish Perspective

The issues raised in this article are not often mentioned in the source literature. Available studies demonstrate that partnership issues for people with intellectual disabilities appear to be among the ignored problems. Empirical evidence indicates the participation of people with disabilities in the realization of these roles, but their realization is burdened with difficulties resulting from individual predispositions and social conditions. I am directing my research on partner relationships towards a constructivist–interpretative paradigm based on ontological relativism (the multiplicity of meanings given to the category of relationship can be observed at this point, arising in subjective reconstructions—statements—of the people surveyed), subjective epistemology (arising in the course of the research, which is co-created by the cognitor and the subject), and the naturalism of methodological procedures, which means the rejection of advanced statistics in favor of cognition of the true experiences of the subjects. I have assumed a qualitative nature for the research and the biographical method was used. The research aimed to answer the questions: How are the relationships of people with intellectual disabilities understood? What meaning do people with intellectual disabilities assign to love and relationships and their own intimate relations (sexuality)? A literal linguistic analysis of the statements of those tested with the Atlas.ti software is presented in the results. The article depicts the way people with intellectual disabilities describe their relationships, how they feel in the relationships they create, and thus, what linguistic means of expression they use to communicate their intentions and expectations with respect to their partner.

INTEGRATIVE ARABIC LANGUAGE TEACHING OF INTEGRATED ISLAMIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN SOLO RAYA

Integrated Islamic Schools, which is very influential in the education system in Indonesia, stand behind this research. This research explored Arabic language teaching at the Integrated Islamic Elementary Schools in Solo Raya with different integrative system backgrounds. It aimed to answer how the language was taught and learned in Integrated Islamic Elementary Schools in Solo Raya and the learning process from Hector Hammerly's perspective. This research was a field research model with a case study approach under the constructivist research paradigm. The results show that the Arabic language is taught depending on the need in Integrated Islamic Elementary Schools in Solo Raya, and it follows the curriculum of each school. The Hector Hammerly perspective in Arabic language teaching applies cognitive, collaborative, natural, and communicative approaches. The teaching strategies were, among others, presentation, L1 usage, visual aids, practices, error correction, technological aids, evaluation (the students’ performance or teacher-and-student quizzes to evaluate daily progress), and CA-OB (cognitive audio-oral bilingual) method.

Mobile-based value co-creation: contextual factors towards customer experiences

El valor de la co-creación basado en dispositivos móviles: Factores contextuales sobre la experiencia de los clientesResumenDiseño/metodología/enfoqueBasado en un paradigma de investigación constructivista, este estudio adopta un diseño de investigación cualitativa. Los datos se recopilaron a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y se analizaron siguiendo un enfoque de análisis narrativo.PropósitoRecopilar información e interactuar con los clientes a través de plataformas móviles con fines de personalización se ha convertido en tendencia. Si bien la co-creación de valor basada en dispositivos móviles ha atraído una amplia atención en la investigación, existe una brecha notable con respecto a lo que podría afectar potencialmente en el proceso de interacción empresa-cliente a través del cual se co-crea valor. Este estudio tiene como objetivo explorar cómo los clientes intercambian información y se comunican con las empresas a través de aplicaciones móviles con fines de creación conjunta de valor en el contexto de los viajes.HallazgosLos resultados enfatizan los factores contextuales (características individuales, características del viaje y características de la comunicación mediada por ordenador) que facilitan e inhiben el proceso de interacción empresa-cliente. Se sugiere a los profesionales del turismo mayor esfuerzo para crear estímulos en las interacciones y gestionar las expectativas del cliente.Limitaciones/implicaciones de la investigaciónEste estudio va más allá de la adopción de tecnología y se centra en la etapa posterior a la adopción del uso de la tecnología por parte de los clientes. Los resultados proyectan luz sobre el importante papel del proveedor de servicios a la hora de facilitar interacciones efectivas para la creación conjunta de valor con los clientes.Originalidad/valorEste estudio se centra en el proceso de interacción, más que en los antecedentes y resultados de la co-creación de valor basada en dispositivos móviles. Aporta evidencia empírica sobre cómo los clientes co-crean valor y por qué algunas situaciones presentan mejores oportunidades para la co-creación de valor exitosa.