Constructivist Methodology Research Articles

Exploring the Question of Bias in AI through a Gender Performative Approach

The objective of this paper is to examine how artificial intelligence systems (AI) can reproduce phenomena of social discrimination and to develop an ethical strategy for preventing such occurrences. A substantial body of scholarship has demonstrated how AI has the potential to erode the rights of women and LGBT+ individuals, as it is capable of amplifying forms of discrimination that are already pervasive in society. This paper examines the principal approaches that have been put forth to contrast the emergence of biases in AI systems, namely causal, counterfactual reasoning, and constructivist methodology. This analysis demonstrates the necessity of considering the sociopolitical context in which AI systems are developed when evaluating their ethical implications. To investigate this conjunction, we apply the theory of gender performativity as theorized by Judith Butler and Karen Barad. This illustrates how AI functions within the social fabric, manifesting patriarchal configurations of gender through an analysis of the notorious case of the COMPAS system for predictive justice. In conclusion, we demonstrate how reframing of gender performativity theory, when applied to AI ethics, permits us to consider the social context within which these technologies will operate. This approach enables an expansion of the interpretation of the concept of fairness, thereby reflecting the complex dynamics of gender production. In the context of AI ethics, the concept of "fairness" pertains to the capacity of an algorithm to generate results dealing with sensitive categories, such as gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and disability, in a manner that does not engender forms of discrimination and prejudice. The gender dimension needs to be reconsidered not as an individual feature but as a performative process. Moreover, it enables the identification of pivotal issues that must be addressed during the development, testing, and evaluation phases of AI systems.

Representations of Trust and Distrust in Financial Institutions in Russian Regional Speech Culture

The article is devoted to a comparative analysis of the representation of trust and distrust in financial institutions in the language and speech culture of the Russian province. The use of the constructivist methodology of P. Bourdieu made it possible to interpret trust as an internal component of the practices of an agent involved in the current situation in the financial market. The content analysis of 55 semi-structured interviews with three generations of residents of the region showed that the conservative model of financial behavior continues to be reproduced in the speech culture. The difference between generations is less noticeable against the background of a significant difference between residents of rural and urban settlements. The study revealed a high level of resentment associated with the collective memory of the collapse of the USSR and privatization. All generations in rural settlements showed a low level of assessment of their own financial situation, while both rural and urban informants had a rather pessimistic representation of social change. Semantic analysis revealed the dominance of the image of the state as a “collector of payments” in their consciousness, and to a lesser extent, an “assistant” supporting a person in their relationship with financial institutions.

Navigating the pathway to advanced practice: A grounded theory of nurse practitioner role transition in a fellowship.

Greater attention to the transitional period for advanced practice nurses has urged health care organizations and employers to implement fellowships. Currently, the theoretical process of nurse practitioner (NP) role transition from the essential perspectives of NP fellows does not exist. The purpose of this study was to construct a middle-range theory grounded in reality of an NP fellowship environment that explains how NPs transition to their new role. Following Charmaz's constructivist methodology, 11 NPs who transitioned to practice in a fellowship were interviewed. "Navigating the Pathway to Advanced Practice: A Grounded Theory of Nurse Practitioner Role Transition in a Fellowship" emerged from the data and is composed of through five phases: (1) mapping a path, (2) stepping onto the trailhead, (3) navigating the trailway, (4) gaining traction, and (5) summiting. The resulting middle-range theory is the first in the nursing literature that conceptualizes meaning about NP role transition in a fellowship. This process occurs in the contextual factor of a realm of support that includes growth, value, lifelong learning, and readiness. Throughout this process, NPs build competence and confidence that advances them to summit, or transition, to their NP role at the completion of an NP fellowship. This discovery will fill the research gap pertaining to best practice interventions in support of NPs during role transition in fellowships. Understanding how NPs transition to their new advanced practice roles may inform organizations on how to structure fellowships that support learning, encourage confidence, and enhance competence.

Small States of Europe in International Negotiations (Case of Benelux Countries)

With a multicentric world forming and stratification of resource potential taking place, as well as with more small states in Europe and the world and emerging big multinationals here, small states receive more and more researchers’ attention: there appear papers analyzing activities of small states in Europe in the international arena in general and in international negotiations in particular. This article answers the following research question: What strategies and tactics allow small European states to strengthen their positions in negotiations (based on the case of the Benelux countries)? The strategies used by small countries in negotiations to compensate for limited resources is of scientific and practical interest as it can be applied by other states, namely Russia. Theoretically, the study is based on constructivist methodology as negotiation tactics effectively (re)formulate the issue, changing it through the use of a different context and/or lexical units, as well as on structural invariants of activity in negotiations. Discourse analysis and case study are used as research methods. The analysis identified the limitations that small European states, in particular the Benelux countries, face at each stage of international negotiations. The authors conclude that the types of behavior small European states demonstrate in international negotiations can be divided into those (1) aimed at increasing the “weight” of the state (e.g., interaction within international institutions, with NGOs and lobbies, organizing side events, etc.) and (2) focused on influencing the course of negotiations: tactics within the bargaining strategy (coalition-building, bargaining, etc.) and tactics based on persuasion ((re)framing, appealing to one’s own “example”, etc.). For small European countries, namely the Benelux countries, persuasion tactics are most typical, although other tactics are also used.

Improving skin-tone inclusivity in patient information leaflets for radiotherapy skin reactions: a literature review

Abstract Introduction: Radiotherapy is a common treatment modality for cancer patients. Unfortunately, the treatment can result in skin reactions that may affect their quality of life and clinical outcomes. PILs can provide guidance on managing early symptoms and reduce unscheduled treatment breaks. Evaluating PILs is not frequently evidence-based, and research into evaluating PILs’ inclusiveness for radiotherapy skin reactions does not exist. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge base to better serve the whole radiotherapy population. Methods: A constructivist methodology was developed to evaluate skin-tone inclusivity in the author’s local PILs, and a literature review was conducted to assess the knowledge base and facilitate providing recommendations for improvement. Results: Publication, diagnostic, language and educational bias were identified in the literature. The content analysis found the author’s departmental PILs were not inclusive of medium and dark-skinned patients. Conclusions: Further research into radiotherapy PILs inclusivity is warranted. The creation or amendments to existing radiotherapy skin reaction diagnostic tools are needed to cater for the whole population. Diverse educational resources are needed to contribute to the reduction of health inequalities faced by radiotherapy patients.

Rethinking the "production of knowledge" as a methodological approach in historical research

The article is devoted to theoretical approaches in contemporary works of foreign authors who study the issues of "knowledge production" within the constructivist methodology. The historiography of this topic is quite extensive. It is based on the study of the relationship between science and power. One of the main aspects of this problem is the consideration of scientific interpretations that could serve to justify political regimes or the transformation of knowledge to serve the interests of power. Especially the study of this aspect of the connection between knowledge and power was expressed in studies on the interaction of authorities with the scientific community, which ensured the interests of empires in the conquered territories. In the proposed analysis of articles, attention is focused on the sources of clichés that were formed within the framework of evolutionary theory, colonial explanatory schemes, which have not yet received a complete rethinking. In this regard, the article mentions the theoretical roots of discourse analysis. The attention is paid to the study of the British scholar Bernard Cohn, who undertook a study of the imperial practices of the British in India. The article also analyzes the works devoted to the rethinking of statements relating to some pages of the history of Kazakhstan, formulated in the colonial period. The relevance of popularizing the deconstruction of colonial knowledge lies in the fact of its presence in contemporary interpretations of history in a huge range of topics that require critical analysis. In this regard, the analysis of foreign works, including those related to the history of Kazakhstan, is likely to be useful and increase interest in such studies

МОДЕЛІ УКРАЇНСЬКОГО ПЕРЕКЛАДУ АНГЛІЙСЬКОМОВНИХ ЦІЛЬНИХ КОНСТРУКЦІЙ (НА МАТЕРІЯЛІ ЗАГОЛОВКІВ ТЕКСТІВ НОВИН)

The aim of the article is to identify the patterns of Ukrainian translation of English item-based constructions in the BBC headlines. Item-based constructions are a combination of form and function/meaning that is fixed within a particular language being entrenched in the long-term human memory. This aim is achieved by the application of constructionist methodology comprising three stages: selection & comparing, classification and correlation. The method of comparative translational analysis is meant to correlate the item-based constructions of the original with those in the translation as well as to single out translational patterns into Ukrainian. The novelty of the paper consists in the findings that the translation of itembased constructions of English BBC News headlines into Ukrainian follows four main patterns: lowering the status of the Latinized item-based construction in translation; expanding a Latinized construction in rendering; lexicalization or grammaticalization of its Cyrillic equivalent in translation. Within the lowering pattern, a Latinized item-based construction of the original is moved in the translation to the lead or various sections of the news text without any changes. The pattern of expanding the Latinized item-based construction of the original in the translation means that it remains unchanged in the translation being supplemented with one or more components represented by a proper name or an apposition. According to the lexicalization pattern, the Ukrainian equivalent of the original item-based construction is supplemented by one changeable component, usually represented by the anthroponym denoting oa celebrity or replaced by a lexicalized construction with a generalized meaning. According to the grammaticalization pattern, the item-based construction of the original, performing a classifying function unavailable on the BBC Ukraine is translated by a grammaticalized equivalent evoking the CONTAINER image-schema.

Bibliometric and systemic analysis of the relationship between quality of work life and productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it changes in the way of working and the well-being of workers. To identify research trends on work life quality and its impact on productivity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Proknow-C constructivist methodology was used, with which a bibliographic portfolio of 49 articles obtained from the Web of Science was prepared, resulting from four stages of search between 2012 and 2022; a bibliometric analysis was performed on that database and bibliometric networks were created with the software VOSviewer; the systemic analysis of the articles was carried out, thus showing theories, definitions and indicators; and areas of opportunity of research were identified. The most important high-impact specialized journals and authors, articles considered central, most used keywords such as job satisfaction, quality of work life and COVID-19, as well as the most representative countries such as European and Asian, are presented. It was found that the health sector is one of the most studied, allowing researchers from other sectors the opportunity to delve into the issue of the affectations of the quality of work life reflected in productivity and common variables were synthesized such as job satisfaction, well-being, motivation and security, among others.

Site Location of the Monument in Modern Guangzhou: A Perspective on Collective Memory

In recent years, more and more scholars have begun to pay attention to the memory content of monuments/memorials or explore collective and cultural memory through monuments/memorials. However, these studies mainly focus on the history and memory of urban public areas or monuments. The objectives of this research were to analyze the distribution characteristics of the site location of the monument in modern Guangzhou and then interpret the collective memory content of the Chinese-style monument site. The whole research is based on constructivist methodology and qualitative phenomenological research strategy, and the final research results can provide a more in-depth discussion on the memory research of monuments. The research procedures consisted of on-site observation, map and literature research data collection, the coding and classification of monument cases and sites, and the comparative analysis of visual data. Finally, the site selection characteristics of the monument in modern Guangzhou are summarized, and its collective memory content is deduced. The research results show that: (1) Chinese traditional culture emphasizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, which profoundly affects people’s collective memory and the site selection of the monument in modern Guangzhou. (2) The mausoleum park-style memorial site is a sublime Chinese-style commemorative place, its eternal symbolic meaning and characteristics conducive to tourists’ visits are its success factors. (3) The selection of monument sites in Chinese-style mausoleum parks is a practical choice in line with the characteristics of Chinese culture, which reflects the collective memory of Chinese people who pursue lofty and eternal meanings.

La metodología constructivista aplicada en la enseñanza de la danza moderna y contemporánea

This article addressed the constructivist methodology in contemporary dance training. The objective pursued in this research was to analyze the constructivist teaching method in contemporary dance, for this the qualitative methodology was used for an exhaustive literature review, with the intention of comparing the different methodologies used in contemporary dance training; to reach the conclusions of which is the most appropriate according to the needs of (the learner), for an effective training in contemporary dance through which it was possible to develop and enhance the skills and abilities of the students of contemporary dance. As conclusions and final results, the apprentice was trained with analytical and reflective criteria and with the ability to self-evaluate for a permanent construction of significant knowledge in contemporary dance.

Creating a gamified learning experience for the threshold concept, the time value of money

ABSTRACT This paper traces the researcher’s development of, and reflection on, the experience of developing a gamified learning experience for the time value of money, as a pedagogical resource for student learning and engagement with threshold concepts. A constructivist methodology was adopted to support the social and collaborative activity of learning in gamified learning experiences. The gamified learning experience for the time value of money was created and deployed as the experiment treatment for a research project which examined student engagement in learning, self-efficacy, and learning outcomes through gamification of curriculum in accounting and finance. The checks and balances employed to ensure the reliability, rigour, trustworthiness, and credibility of the treatment, and the design considerations to facilitate replication and generalisability, are described and discussed. A roadmap for development, creation, and deployment of a gamified learning experience is provided to assist educators and learning designers who are seeking to include gamified learning experiences in their courses.

Exploring the culture of faculty development: insights from Canadian leaders of faculty development.

Although the word culture is frequently mentioned in research on faculty development (FD), the concept is rarely explored. This research aimed to examine the culture of FD in Canada, through the eyes of leaders of FD in the health professions. Studying culture can help reveal the practices and implicit systems of beliefs and values that, when made explicit, could enhance programming. FD leaders from all Canadian medical schools were invited to participate in semi-structured telephone interviews between November 2016 and March 2017. The researchers used a constructivist methodology and theoretical framework located within cultural studies, borrowing from phenomenological inquiry to move beyond descriptions to interpretations of participants' perceptions. Constant comparison was used to conduct a thematic analysis within and across participants' interview transcripts. Fifteen FD leaders, representing 88% of medical schools (15/17) in Canada, participated in this study. Four themes characterized the culture of FD: balancing competing voices and priorities; cultivating relationships and networks; promoting active, practice-based learning; and negotiating recognition. Although the culture of FD may vary from context to context, this study revealed shared values, practices, and beliefs, focused on the continuous improvement of individual and collective abilities and the attainment of excellence.

Right Here, Right Now: Effective Interprofessional Collaboration in Education from the Perspectives of Primary School Teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand

This research aims to develop a deeper understanding of what factors contribute to effective interprofessional collaboration in education from the perspectives of primary school teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand. A qualitative constructivist methodology was used involving semi-structured telephone interviews with seven teachers working in primary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. Four main themes were established: Collaboration is viewed as one teacher and one professional working together; immediacy is perceived as the most important component of support in IPC in education; effectiveness is identified as observable changes in the learner; and the classroom represents the space through which teachers view collaboration. The overall picture provided in the current research was that IPC in the primary classroom setting remains a siloed entity done in addition to and exclusive from the rest of school business. A tension appears to exist between teacher autonomy and collaboration.

Flipped learning and affect in mathematics: Results of an initial narrative analysis

Flipped learning is a constructivist methodology that uses various active learning strategies, drawing on the potential of digital technologies whenever possible. Several research studies have shown the many benefits that flipped learning can bring to students’ learning process and their affective sphere, but studies in the specific area of mathematics are still limited. The present article aims to examine the possible impact of this methodology on affective factors in mathematics. To achieve this goal, it was designed a 20-hour experiment involving about 300 secondary school students, during which conic sections were studied using a flipped approach. At the end of the experiment, textual material was collected on which a narrative analysis was conducted. The analysis took a content-categorical approach, and the reference theory for interpreting the data was the three-dimensional model for attitude toward mathematics by Di Martino and Zan (2010, 2011). The results show that a positive, rather than a negative, emotional disposition prevails, as does a view of mathematics as useful, rather than useless. Students’ perceptions of their own competence are equally distributed between low and high. Initial findings suggest that flipped learning is a methodology that can create a learning environment that has a positive influence on affective factors.

Palliative Care, Intimacy, and Sexual Expression in the Older Adult Residential Care Context: "Living until You Don't".

Commonly, frail older adults move to residential care, a liminal space that is their home, sometimes a place of death, and a workplace. Residential facilities typically espouse person-centred values, which are variably interpreted. A critical approach to person-centred care that focuses on social citizenship begins to address issues endemic in diminishing opportunities for intimacy in the end-of-life residential context: risk-averse policies; limited education; ageism; and environments designed for staff convenience. A person-centred approach to residents’ expressions of intimacy and sexuality can be supported throughout end-of-life care. The present study utilised a constructionist methodology to investigate meanings associated with intimacy in the palliative and end-of-life care context. There were 77 participants, including residents, family members and staff, from 35 residential facilities. Analysis identified four key themes: care home ethos and intimacy; everyday touch as intimacy; ephemeral intimacy; and intimacy mediated by the built environment. Residents’ expressions of intimacy and sexuality are supported in facilities where clinical leaders provide a role-model for a commitment to social citizenship. Ageism, restrictive policies, care-rationing, functional care, and environmental hindrances contribute to limited intimacy and social death. Clinical leaders have a pivotal role in ensuring person-centred care through policies and practice that support residents’ intimate reciprocity.

¿Cuál es el impacto del programa piensanálisis en el pensamiento crítico en estudiantes de secundaria?

The objective was to verify if the application of the "Piensanalysis" program develops critical thinking in students of the 5th year of secondary school in the area of social sciences of the Engels Class Trujillo school. For this purpose, a pretest and posttest consisting of a development test made up of 5 informative texts was applied to evaluate critical thinking, to a sample of 40 students, 20 of them made up the experimental group and 20 the control group. The program that was applied to the experimental group consisted of 10 learning sessions based on active workshops with constructivist methodology. The results showed in the experimental group the absolute value of calculated t (Tc = 19.764), which is higher than the tabular t value (Ttab= 2.032) and a p<0.05 with 38 degrees of freedom, for which it was concluded that the The application of the "Pienslisis" program was significant, allowing to increase the development of critical thinking in 5th grade high school students in the area of social sciences at Engels Class Trujillo school.

Bibliometric and systemic review of the state of the art of occupational risk management in the construction industry

Objectives. The objective of this study is to use bibliometric and systemic terms to select and analyze a set of articles dealing with occupational risk management in the civil construction industry. Methods . Knowledge development process – constructivist (ProKnow-C) methodology was used as an intervention instrument to guide the selection of the bibliographic portfolio and to support systemic analysis. Results. The bibliographic portfolio was created and included 20 articles. Bibliometric highlights were relevant articles, authors, countries of origin, journals and keywords. Systemic analysis showed opportunities to contribute to the state of the art in all areas of knowledge, enabling the researcher to understand theoretical bases, gaps and research opportunities for the theme and thus establish their research question in accordance with the established knowledge vision. Conclusions. The systemic analysis of each article in the bibliographic portfolio based on the decision support model and areas of knowledge present in each stage of its construction measures the amplitude of the knowledge at each stage, and therefore the completeness of or gaps in each article. This clarifies the overall state of and gaps in the field, showing opportunities for new research.

Emergent Constructivism: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations

Nativist and empiricist approaches require foundationalism because they cannot account for the emergence of representation. Foundationalism is the assumption of an innate representational base. In turn, foundationalism places limits on the nature of learning as a constructivist process. In contrast, action-based approaches can account for the emergence of representation through (inter)action. In so doing, action-based approaches can pursue an emergent constructivism for learning and development. Despite the theoretical symmetry between nativism and empiricism with respect to foundationalism, there is an asymmetry in nativist and empiricist research programs. Nativism generally ignores constructivist complexity that non-nativist approaches assume needs to be investigated empirically. In practice, this means that the plethora of nativist looking-time studies do not provide adequate control conditions for the rich interpretations drawn from such research. Instead, it is the a priori assumptions of nativism doing the justification. Without such assumptions, the meaning of the data is unclear at best. Importantly, the problem of a priori assumptions driving rich interpretations is not specific to nativism or looking methodologies. Mindreading as a research program also engages in rich interpretations for studies that concern social-cognition from infancy through preschool. Similarly, these studies do not include the types of control conditions motivated by more constructivist thinking. To the extent that empiricist research programs incorporate constructivist thinking into research, they converge with action-based approaches. This creates a sort of methodological bridge between lean-empiricist research programs and action-based approaches. However, this bridge has limitations that we illustrate through an example concerning maternal mental-state discourse and theory of mind development. The ultimate conclusions are threefold: (a) Action-based approaches are the best theoretical framework for understanding learning and development; (b) constructivist methodology is multiply motivated; (c) there are varying degrees of methodological commensurability between empiricism and action-based approaches.

"Discovering the City of Lodz (Poland). Spatial Experiences and Perceptions of Exchange Students "

This paper aims to reveal the process of adapting to a new environment and developing perceptions of the city of Lodz, Poland by its temporary users – exchange students, studying at the local university. The data analysed and interpreted here was collected during lectures and workshops on Mental Maps and Images in Geography conducted at the Faculty of Geographical Sciences, the University of Lodz, between 2021 and 2022, using sketch maps, photographic essays and digital story maps prepared by course participants. The study tests those tools’ usefulness in recognising the relationship between a person and the surrounding space. Results framed by the concept of three-folded spatiality show that during 3-4 months of their stay in Lodz, along everyday direct spatial experiences as well as indirect interactions with the city, when learning about it in the classroom, reading or talking to people, exchange students gain a wide understanding of Lodz, and the initial sense of alienation gives way to emotional reactions and place attachment. The research presented in this paper is framed by the cultural approach in urban geography making the concept of imagined and lived spaces central and in a wider perspective, using constructionist methodology in social sciences. It aims to follow patterns of transforming the new, undiscovered space into a set of individually experienced and defined places filled with the emotions of exchange students, evolving their new local identities and place attachment. The study can impact future local planning to maximise the exchange students’ satisfaction as agents of urban improvement.

“Discussion or silent accompaniment: a grounded theory study about voluntary stopping of eating and drinking in Switzerland”

BackgroundVoluntary stopping of eating and drinking as an option to end life prematurely is gaining international attention, and health care professionals are increasingly confronted with the wish to die through voluntary stopping of eating and drinking by individuals. While to date, there are no guidelines in Switzerland to orient professional support, it is of interest how professionals and other people involved react to the situation. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how health care professionals in Switzerland accompany individuals during voluntary stopping of eating and drinking and to analyze this decision-making process.MethodsCharmaz's grounded theory constructivist methodology uses guidelines for systematic, theory-driven data analysis underpinned by a pragmatic philosophical perspective. Data were collected in autumn 2016 as part of a regional palliative care conference on voluntary stopping of eating and drinking. All participants of the expert meeting (N = 50, including nurses, counsellors, ethicists, medical doctors, politicians, volunteers, and relatives) were invited to the focus group interviews, of which N = 47 participated. We conducted five focus group interviews, each lasting one hour.ResultsThe results showed that the accompaniment of those willing to die during voluntary stopping of eating and drinking was either discussed and cleared with one another or was unspoken and silently accompanied.ConclusionsThe demands of participants for more knowledge must be heeded, and there is also a need for systematic instructions on how to proceed in the case of voluntary stopping of eating and drinking support and what needs to be considered.