Core Tenets Research Articles

Artificial Intelligence and Strategic Decision-Making: Evidence from Entrepreneurs and Investors

This paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) may impact the strategic decision-making (SDM) process in firms. We illustrate how AI could augment existing SDM tools and provide empirical evidence from a leading accelerator program and a start-up competition that current large language models can generate and evaluate strategies at a level comparable to entrepreneurs and investors. We then examine implications for the key cognitive processes underlying SDM—search, representation, and aggregation. Our analysis suggests that AI has the potential to enhance the speed, quality, and scale of strategic analysis, while also enabling new approaches, like virtual strategy simulations. However, the ultimate impact on firm performance will depend on competitive dynamics as AI capabilities progress. We propose a framework connecting AI use in SDM to firm outcomes and discuss how AI may reshape sources of competitive advantage. We conclude by considering how AI could both support and challenge core tenets of the theory-based view of strategy. Overall, our work maps out an emerging research frontier at the intersection of AI and strategy. History: This paper has been accepted for the Strategy Science Special Issue on Theory-Based View. Funding: The authors are grateful to their collaborating organizations and to the University of Michigan, Bocconi University Junior Researchers’ Grant, and the INSEAD eLab Research Fund for financial support.

What puzzles L2 learners about German grammar? Using practitioner research to explore threshold concepts in language curricula

Taking the perspective of a language program director (LPD), this practitioner research (PR) study describes how analysis of learners’ reflections written for an advanced undergraduate German course in the United States helped an LPD see how students had experienced learning grammar in lower-level instruction. The study analyses a semester-long project based on the PR framework of exploratory practice (EP), in which students ( n = 30) pursued individual questions (‘puzzles’) about German grammar that would be most meaningful to them in their language learning journey. Initial analysis of the students’ questions revealed a general preference among learners to investigate grammar topics previously covered in the lower-division curriculum. In-depth case studies, focused on two learners’ experiences with EP, show how the project allowed students to investigate their grammar puzzles using resources across the entire curriculum, including dialoguing with teachers and students in other courses. The study looks to threshold concept theory to theorize students’ learning experiences vis-à-vis L2 grammar (specifically inflectional morphology, i.e. case markings) and argues that the flexibility of the EP framework and its core tenets of working towards understanding and involving others supported the LPD in seeing how learners understood and felt about German grammar and grammar instruction across the larger curriculum.

Best practices: CER with vulnerable populations in contentious political environments

ABSTRACT This article outlines best practices for political scientists to consider when conducting civically engaged research (CER) with vulnerable populations during politically contentious times. Best practices are drawn from several studies or the authors’ experiences with student-led CER, and these best practices are demonstrated in a case illustrating an author’s own CER project with individuals who are incarcerated. However, all of the practices encompass the core tenets of CER (Dobbs, Kirstie Lynn, Douglas R. Hess, Graham Bullock, and Adriano Udani. [2021. “Introduction to the Symposium: Civically Engaged Research and Political Science.” PS: Political Science & Politics 54 (4): 711–715].), underscoring the importance of utilizing this approach so researchers can adapt to and deal with ethical and administrative issues as these are compounded in contentious political environments. We ultimately recommend that researchers who are interested in CER and working with vulnerable populations during these times need to develop strategies to educate collaborators about stereotypes of historically marginalized groups, provide opportunities for and document written consent from research participants, utilize convenience samples but expand recruitment techniques to prevent research fatigue, and adjust institutional practices to adapt to the political environments in which the researcher and research participants are embedded.

Cathedrals as Instruments of Influence on Public Consciousness in Medieval Western Europe (10th-16th Centuries)

This study explores the functional impact of Christian cathedrals in Western Europe on medieval public consciousness. Utilizing a systemic analysis method and a values-based approach, cathedrals are examined as structural elements within the framework of religious communication, serving as key instruments for shaping public consciousness during the Middle Ages. Through these edifices, the core tenets of Christianity were disseminated to the masses. Special attention is given to the art of stone calendars, which are considered a significant factor in the formation of a Christian worldview during this period. The study identifies the value-laden, symbolic, and functional characteristics of medieval cathedrals as tools of religious communication. It outlines the overarching principles of architectural organization in Catholic churches in relation to their roles in influencing public consciousness. The influence of Romanesque cathedrals on the trajectory of public consciousness in medieval Western Europe is also examined. The author concludes that Christian cathedrals, as instruments of influence on medieval public conscious-ness, possessed a pronounced managerial and motivational effect, fulfilling a wide range of sociocultural functions that contributed to the stabilization and spiritual-moral development of medieval Western European society.

Public Opinion Toward Critical Race Theory in Academia, Legislation, and Name

Abstract Political wrangling over Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the United States has produced policies banning its teaching in jurisdictions across the country. However, laws touted as “anti-CRT” have little in common with the original, academic origins of the phrase. In this study, we use a Qualtrics-based survey experiment to assess how participants’ support for a ban will change depending on whether the ban reflects core tenets of academic researchers’ use of CRT, the phrase itself, or elements common to many of the laws intended to ban it. We find that these three different frames do indeed change support for such policies, and the effects are dependent upon partisanship. We interpret our results to be empirical evidence of the phrase “Critical Race Theory” complicating political discourse.

“Leaving no one behind”: digital empathy and inclusive media literacy education for young adults on the autism spectrum

The paper advocates for the necessity of inclusive media literacy education (MLE) and equal opportunities for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is in alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 2008 and the Sustainable Development Goal 4 Quality Education (SDG, 2030). It underscores the commitment to ‘leaving no one behind’, a core tenet of the SDGs, by focusing on developing digital empathy and inclusive MLE for young adults with ASD in the digital age. The study aims to empower young adults with ASD in Chennai, India, with media literacy and digital empathy through a one-day hands-on workshop and to assess the impact of this educational intervention on their understanding and application of media literacy in their daily lives. The paper employs a mixed-method approach that integrates experimental-qualitative research and the data is analysed using ‘qualitative reflexive’ thematic analysis. The study’s findings demonstrate significant improvements in the participants’ abilities to discern fake news, learn digital empathy and cybersecurity by engaging responsibly with digital media, and include MLE in their academic curriculum. The paper suggests that such educational interventions can enhance digital empathy and media literacy among young adults with ASD.

Daily living skill support for autistic people through a neurodiversity-affirming practice lens.

Supporting daily living skill (DLS) development for autistic people is a component of occupational therapy practice. DLSs are essential for an increased quality of life (QoL), independent living, and community participation. Autistic young people experience poorer outcomes in terms of QoL and independent living than non-autistic peers. Finding a balance between targeted DLS support to maximise independent living and improve QoL, while avoiding attempts to 'normalise' or 'change' autistic people, presents as a dilemma for therapists striving to align with neurodiversity-affirming practice. This theoretical paper explored literature pertaining to DLS and the neurodiversity movement in the context of occupational therapy values and the Canadian Model of Occupational Participation. Consideration of whether targeted DLS support is neurodiversity-affirming or whether occupational therapists are compelling autistic people to mimic behavioural norms perceived by society was discussed. DLSs are an important factor for maximising QoL, regardless of neurotype. Occupational therapy values align with the core tenets of the neurodiversity movement, and occupational therapists are equipped with the values and skills to support the development of DLSs utilising affirming practice. Occupational therapists should critically reflect on their practice to ensure alignment with the professions core values and recent occupational therapy models, to ensure affirming practice. Further research investigating DLS and neurodiversity-affirming practice would benefit occupational therapists striving to align with neurodiversity-affirming practice. No consumer or community involvement. Consumers have been considered throughout the development of this paper through their representation in the literature. This involved a process of reviewing the literature and considering it in the scope of the questions and how occupational therapy sits within the neurodiversity movement. It is important to help autistic people to learn to do everyday things. Everyday things include activities like showering, cleaning, and cooking. These things are important so that autistic people can live on their own. It has shown that autistic young people are less likely to be able to do everyday activities on their own. It is important that therapists help autistic people learn how to do everyday things; however, do not try and change who they are. This is because completing everyday activities is an important part of QoL for all people.

The construction of a physical literacy assessment index system for junior high school students: a Chinese study

In recent years, the internalisation of education in China has led to an increase in the prevalence of a highly competitive, test-focused approach to learning. This has had a detrimental impact on the physical health and wellbeing of children and adolescents in China, resulting in a concerning lack of physical literacy among junior high school students. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to construct an evaluation index system for physical literacy in junior high school students with Chinese characteristics, quantify the relative importance of each domain, and provide a framework for students to assess and self-evaluate the sustainable development of their physical literacy. The indicator system was modelled on CAPL-2, and valid indicators were extracted from the literature. A pre-selected indicator system for physical literacy in junior high school students was constructed through three rounds of Delphi expert questionnaire surveys (48 questionnaires were distributed in total). A total of 16 experts participated in all three rounds of the surveys until a consensus was reached on the indicators, resulting in the establishment of a hierarchical analysis-based theoretical model. This was developed using the experts’ opinions and determined the items to be subdomains and weights. The AHP was employed to ascertain the relative importance of the subdomains and items within the assessment system. The index weight scores of the Chinese junior high school students’ physical literacy assessment index system are aligned with the core tenet of the physical literacy concept, comprising four primary indicators, eight secondary indicators, and 26 tertiary indicators. The weights of the physical literacy evaluation indexes for junior high school students in China were calculated using the AHP to establish a progressive hierarchical model and the consistency test. The primary indicators were found to be in the following order of importance: Physical Competence (29.82%) > Motivation and Confidence (29.64%) > Knowledge and Understanding (20.27%) = Daily Behavior (20.27%). The system is an effective means of evaluating the impact of physical activity and health promotion among junior high school students, and it effectively addresses the needs of this age group in these areas. It provides a comprehensive assessment of the effects of physical activity and health promotion among junior high school students, and it offers a scientific foundation for the development of precise and individualized physical activity and health promotion programs.

<b>From Imagination to Practice: Unravelling the Professional Identity of a Pre-service EFL Teacher</b>

This study uses a narrative inquiry method, focusing on the transformation journey of a pre-service EFL teacher named Brandon (pseudonym), to explore the complex process of professional identity construction and reconstruction for pre-service teachers to teach EFL from a teaching practicum. The study gathered information about critical events that shaped Brandon's professional identity through semi-structured interviews and diaries before and during his teaching practice. Using an innovative "story constellation" approach, the research creates a three-dimensional narrative, weaving together temporal, personal, social, and contextual aspects. This exploration of Brandon's journey illuminates the core tenets of effective language teaching, including adaptability, empathy, continuous learning, and a student-centred approach, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the (re)construction of EFL teachers' professional identities. This study widens knowledge of EFL teachers' pre-teaching professional experiences and offers important implications for teacher education programs.

GREEN DENTISTRY: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ORAL HEALTH CARE

The dental public health profession, like many others, is becoming increasingly aware of its environmental impact and the urgent need to adopt more sustainable practices. Green dentistry, also known as eco-friendly dentistry, is a growing movement that focuses on reducing waste, conserving energy, and minimizing pollution while maintaining high standards of patient care. By integrating environmentally conscious choices into daily practices—such as using digital technologies, reducing water consumption, and choosing biodegradable or recyclable materials—dentists can significantly contribute to environmental preservation without compromising the quality of their services. One of the core tenets of green dentistry is the shift towards digital dentistry. Traditional methods of record-keeping and patient management involve a considerable amount of paper and plastic waste. By adopting digital x-rays, patient records, and appointment scheduling systems, dental practices can dramatically reduce their paper use, lower radiation exposure, and decrease the need for disposable materials. Additionally, using energy-efficient equipment and eco-friendly sterilization techniques can help reduce the carbon footprint of dental offices, aligning with global sustainability goals. As the dental community moves towards greener practices, there is an opportunity for education and advocacy in dental public health. Dental schools and professional organizations play a crucial role in promoting awareness of sustainable practices among both practitioners and patients. By fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within the field, we not only contribute to a healthier planet but also inspire the next generation of dentists to prioritize sustainability in their professional lives. Green dentistry represents a vital step towards a more sustainable future for both the profession and the world at large.

CDC Program Evaluation Framework, 2024.

Program evaluation is a critical tool for understanding and improving organizational activities and systems. This report updates the 1999 CDC Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health (CDC. Framework for program evaluation in public health. MMWR Recomm Rep 1999;48[No. RR-11];1-40) by integrating major advancements in the fields of evaluation and public health, lessons learned from practical applications of the original framework, and current Federal agency policies and practices. A practical, nonprescriptive tool, the updated 2024 framework is designed to summarize and organize essential elements of program evaluation, and can be applied at any level from individual programs to broader systems by novices and experts for planning and implementing an evaluation. Although many of the key aspects from the 1999 framework remain, certain key differences exist. For example, this updated framework also includes six steps that describe the general process of evaluation planning and implementation, but some content and step names have changed (e.g., the first step has been renamed Assess context). The standards for high-quality evaluation remain central to the framework, although they have been updated to the five Federal evaluation standards. The most substantial change from the 1999 framework is the addition of three cross-cutting actions that are core tenets to incorporate within each evaluation step: engage collaboratively, advance equity, and learn from and use insights. The 2024 framework provides a guide for designing and conducting evaluation across many topics within and outside of public health that anyone involved in program evaluation efforts can use alone or in conjunction with other evaluation approaches, tools, or methods to build evidence, understand programs, and refine evidence-based decision-making to improve all program outcomes.

The unusual DAO: An ethnography of building trust in “trustless” spaces

Blockchains have been discussed as a response to the decline of trust for as long as the technology exists. This paper expands the discourse on trust in blockchains to decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs), novel forms of organisation deployed on top of a blockchain. I show how core tenets about trust in blockchains are mirrored in the design of DAOs. Echoing Nissenbaum’s call to nourish trust online, an ethnographic case study of the blockchain art collective DADA exemplifies how DAOs may be designed differently to allow for trust to emerge. The paper contributes to the scholarly debate on trust in blockchains, by extending it to the layer of DAOs and describing various avenues for further research and builds a more nuanced understanding of DAOs as a modular framework to address declining trust online. Overall, the findings indicate how the affordances of DAOs can be expanded to encompass both “trustless” organisation and trusted online communities.

Healing Love: Toward a Theory of Communion for Black Men

ABSTRACT Guided by the three core tenets of a Black feminist love-politic, this article offers a framework of communion for Black men within higher education. Emanating from the embodied experiences of Black men in academe participating in the “site” of communion (i.e. The Gathering) through an Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) virtual symposium session, four core dimensions of theory emerged: spiritual, relational, material, and political. Life-notes from each session participant are used to capture each dimension of communion. Implications for praxis related to the spiritual and material well-being of Black men within higher education are offered.

Positron emission tomography combined with serum biomarkers detects fibrotic MASH

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a rising global disease signaling the urgent need for non-invasive tests (NITs). Recent work demonstrated that dynamic 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging can identify MASH by measuring liver glucose transport rate, K1, and liver CT attenuation. By combining dynamic PET/CT with the serum-based fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) test, we were able to better distinguish clinical MASH from fibrotic subtypes, enabling determination of the core tenets of MASH: steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Future studies using FDG-PET technology can further enable concomitant prediction of MASH severity and extrahepatic comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease.

Reactive guardianship: Who intervenes? How? And why?

AbstractGuardianship is a core tenet of routine activity theory and collective efficacy. At its outset, routine activity research assumed that the mere presence of a guardian was sufficient to disrupt many forms of crime. More recent research, however, has taken as a starting point that would‐be‐guardians must take on an active role for a reduction in crime to occur. Integrating research on bystander intervention and guardianship‐in‐action, the current study elaborates the individual‐level motivations and decision processes of guardianship to answer the following questions: Who serves as a reactive guardian? How do they do so? And why? We tasked young adults (N = 1,032) included in the recent waves of the Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z‐proso) to assess a 70‐second video depicting a sexual harassment event. We examined participants’ willingness to engage in a range of intervention options as a function of their prosocial attitudes, safety considerations, socioemotional motivations, and moral considerations. Results show a complex decision process leading to whether and how a would‐be guardian decides to intervene to disrupt sexual harassment, such that prosocial motivations and emotional reactions are weighed against perceptions of danger when deciding on a specific course of action.

Face-to-Face Relationships Still Matter in a Digital Age: A Call for a 5th C in the Core Tenets of Primary Care.

We primary care clinicians, scholars, and leaders ascribe value to Barbara Starfield's core tenets of primary care-the 4 Cs: first contact, comprehensiveness, coordination, and continuity. In today's era of rapid technological advancements and dwindling resources, what are the implications for face-to-face interactions of patient-clinician relationships? We propose adding a 5th C: "Contiguity." Contiguity-or physical proximity and presence-is a key dimension that not only enables the necessary technical aspects of a physical exam but also authenticates the most human aspects of a relationship and occurs specifically when we are physically vulnerable and responsible for the other before us. This, in turn, may best enable us to bridge difference and nurture trust with our patients. We measure what we value and, thus, naming Contiguity as a core tenet assures that we will not lose sight of this keystone in a patient's relationship with their personal physician.

사회적 연결은 득인가 실인가: 사회적 연결의 이점과 비용에 관한 연구 동향과 과제

Network theory has traditionally focused on social ties as its primary subject of study, investigating patterns of linkages and relationships among actors and the ensuing social structures from various perspectives. This paper reviews the extant literature on both the positive and negative effects of social ties and social networks. It transcends the mainstream research tradition that has predominantly emphasized positive impacts, presenting domestic and international studies that explore the constraints and costs engendered by social ties, including the excessive homogenization they can cause. Specifically, the paper delves into Granovetter’s (1973) “strength of weak ties” theory, Burt’s (1992, 1995) structural hole theory, which addresses both the patterns of connections and relationships between actors and the resultant structures, and Coleman's (1990) concept of network closure, which underscores the overall structure of social networks. In doing so, this paper presents core tenets of these theories and critically evaluates the current state of knowledge as presented in leading domestic and international management and sociology journals. Finally, considering the implications of networks and their social ties for organizational research, alongside the ease with which individuals can now join various networks through the rapid development of online and mobile social networking sites, the paper underscores the importance of focusing on the costs and constraints that actors face when navigating numerous social connections. It also highlights the necessity of being wary of confirmation bias caused by suggestion algorithms embedded in online sites and proposes directions for future research.

The Innovation of Digital Payment System with QRIS in National Open API and Maqasid al-Sharia Standards

QRIS is a digital payment system innovation standardized as a national QR code in Indonesia. This paper analyzes the National Open API and Maqasid al-Sharia standards within the QRIS digital payment system. Employing a qualitative descriptive methodology, the study determined that Bank Indonesia formulated three National Open API standards: governance guidelines, data standards with technical specifications, and technical and safety standards. Aligned with Maqasid al-Sharia, the analysis reveals a significant correlation between QRIS and its core tenets, specifically Hifz ad-Din (safeguarding religion) and Hifz al-Mal (preserving wealth). Moreover, viewing maqasid as a methodological framework, QRIS is deemed a legal and halal system conforming to maqasid. This topic can be examined from five dimensions: the payment system's alignment with Sharia law, its widespread use among traders (urf tujjar), the contractual adherence (ijab qabul) to Islamic sharia and user benefits, the reflection of service value in QRIS service fees, and mutual advantages for both parties. Regarding maslahah, QRIS falls under dzanni maslahah, necessitating its implementation to be entrusted to contemporary mujtahids for the continued benefit of users

The Labour Left from Benn to Momentum: continuity and change in strategy and tactics

AbstractPrevious works have correctly highlighted the strategic and tactical convergences between the Bennite New Left and the Corbyn insurgency. However, such scholarship has underestimated the impact of the differences in the composition between the two intra-party movements. Critically, while the Benn project developed as an attempt to update Labour strategy in times of social upheaval, Momentum and the Corbyn movement emerged as a hybrid alliance between New Left veterans and the extra-parliamentary anti-austerity and libertarian left. This impacted the Left’s conceptualisation of socialist strategy and led to disagreements over tactics. This paper will explain how, despite these differences, the 2010s Left ended up reproducing the core tenets of New Left’s strategy and tactics. This outcome is explained as a consequence of a convergent conceptualisation of social change and the persistence of intra-party conflicts.

A New Process Model for Relationship-Centred Shared Decision-Making in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Settings.

We present a relationship-centred shared-decision-making (RCSDM)process model to explicate factors that shape decision-making processes during physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) encounters among patients, their care partnersand practitioners. Existing shared decision-making (SDM) models fall short in addressing the everyday decisions routinely made regarding persons with chronic disabilities who require high levels of support, their care partnersand rehabilitation practitioners. In PMR, these everyday decisions are small scale, immediateand in service to a larger therapeutic goal. They can be thought of as micro-decisionsand involve multiple practitioners, care partnersand patients. How micro-decisions are made in this context is contingent on multiple roles and relationships among these relevant parties. Our model centres on micro-decisions among patients, their care partnersand practitioners based on our disorders of consciousness (DoC) research. To develop our model, we examined peer-reviewed literature in SDM in PMR, chronic disabilityand person-centeredness; formed collaborations and co-created our constructs with rehabilitation practitioners and with care partners who have lived experience of caring for persons with DoC; analysed emerging empirical dataand vetted early versions with expert scientific and clinical audiences. Our model builds from the core tenets of relational autonomy,and scholarship and activism of disability advocates. Our model conceptualizes four non-hierarchical levels of analysis to understand the process of micro-decision-making in chronic disability and medical rehabilitation: social forces (historical and sociological); roles and relationships (multiple and intersecting); relational dimensions (interactional and contextual)and micro-decision moments (initiation, responseand closure). Relationships among patients, their care partnersand practitioners are the intersubjective milieu within which decisions are made. Our conceptual model explicates the process of micro-decision-making in PMR. Care partners (or caregivers) and rehabilitation practitioners are active members of our team. We work together to develop research projects, collect, analyseand disseminate data. The conceptual model we present in this manuscript was co-created-input from care partners and practitioners on previously collected data became the impetus to develop the RCSDM process model and share co-authorship in this manuscript.