Critical Inquiry Research Articles

Rethinking the Friday Mosque: a Critical Enquiry of an Architectural Paradigm

Abstract Questioning the notion of master narratives in the study of architecture, this article explores various histories of the Friday mosque in different geographical and temporal contexts and through the lenses of different schools of religious interpretation. The text presents three case-based examples from ʿAbbasid Baghdad, Mamluk Cairo, and Safavid Isfahan to demonstrate that the pre-modern history of the Friday mosque does not follow a neat chronology. By examining the complex nodes of agencies and associations between the Friday mosque, its patrons and users, and the textual juridical engagements with mosques and prayer, the article demonstrates that the evolution of the Friday mosque was multicentred and asynchronous and always reflecting local religious and political contexts.

Interpretive Autoethnography in Medicine: An Accessible Way to Introduce Healthcare Professionals to the Craft of Critical Qualitative Writing

Qualitative research is valuable in medicine because of the deep insights it offers into the social and cultural dimensions of healthcare. Historically, qualitative methods have been influenced by critical theory and have shared its constructivist epistemology and orientation towards social justice. It can be challenging to teach such critical qualitative inquiry to healthcare professionals because its underlying philosophy can seem at odds with the objectivist biological perspective emphasized in medical education. This is unfortunate because several social inequities are perpetuated by modern healthcare systems and critical qualitative inquiry is essential to the project of addressing them. This article argues that Norman Denzin’s interpretive autoethnography is a promising method through which educators could introduce healthcare professionals to critical qualitative inquiry. In this method, the author uses the craft of writing creatively about their personal experiences as a tool for cultural interpretation and social justice activism. Such a creative analytic practice might seem alien to many medical professionals. On the other hand, the idea of analyzing their own experiences in detail is likely to feel familiar to them because of the prominence of reflective writing in healthcare professional development practice. This familiarity might make interpretive autoethnography accessible to healthcare professionals and practicing the method could help them to appreciate the value of interpretive writing as a way of investigating sociocultural meaning and promoting just change.

The Rise in Cesarean Births and the Technocratic Medicalization of Childbirth in Late-Reform China

The surge in cesarean section (CS) deliveries in China over the past several decades has led to significant international discussion, yet critical social science inquiry remains limited. Drawing on insights from sociological and anthropological studies of childbirth, this article moves away from the premise that having a CS is a matter of individual choice. Instead, we treat childbirth as ground zero of a set of complex negotiations between multiple actors, and we show how the biopolitical and politico-economic reconfiguration of the process of childbirth governance from the 1990s onwards has contributed to a dramatic increase in cesarean deliveries. Combining ethnographic materials from China’s rural and urban areas with an analysis of documents and quantitative data, we argue that the surge in CS rates in post-1990s China is part of a larger globalized process of the technocratic medicalization of birth, which has had a profound impact on the normative procedures and conditions shaping the process of childbirth, including the methods and forms of knowledge guiding childbirth management. This has contributed to the increasing normalization of a highly medicalized and interventionist model of childbirth, which has in turn facilitated the routinization of cesarean procedures.

Can Community Music Contribute to More Equitable Societies? A Critical Interpretive Synthesis

This article presents outcomes from a critical interpretive synthesis inquiry exploring whether community music can contribute to more equitable societies. Drawing on 74 cross-disciplinary articles, we identify equity-related outcomes across three key categories: outcomes to improve the immediate wellbeing and life trajectories for individuals experiencing disadvantage; outcomes relating to the development of skills, knowledge and understandings empowering individual participants to enact positive social change within their communities; and outcomes with the potential to affect the root causes of social inequity. This review provides a solid foundation for further conceptual and theoretical development within and beyond the fields of social justice research and community music. Our findings will also be helpful for translating the creative and cultural benefits that community music practice could bring to addressing social justice issues in a wide range of complex contexts.

Development of Undergraduate Student's Criticality in Social Sciences in Higher Education: A Comparative Study with Socio-Material Perspective

In the field of higher education, there are two dominant strands of interpretation of criticality, either as a decontextualized skill of logical reasoning, or a sense of action within larger contexts more than mere cognition. This research offers a reclaiming and reimagining of criticality in universities as an affective process, highlighting the entanglement of social, discursive and material perspectives. This research takes a comparative lens to investigate undergraduate students’ perceptions of criticality and institutional cultivation of it in a Sociology undergraduate degree in China and the UK, adopting a qualitative interview method. Differences were found between cultures regarding the level of engagement with a range of criticality-embedded practices, including field work, critical inquiry in class, group work, etc. Through the development of criticality in various activities, students’ feelings towards it shifted with contexts. While placed within physical and discursive universities that convey a sense of professionalism, students in the study acknowledged the importance of criticality and proactively demonstrated it. However, the feeling towards showcasing criticality outside campus was two-fold. Whereas criticality can be associated with negativity in social interactions, its value is appreciated as it enabled students to reconstruct their identities into a more rational, tolerant and caring one.

Alter-neoliberal analysis: Abduction, critique, radical imagination

Radical critique and praxis today face an unprecedented challenge because neoliberal rationalities partly succeeded in encroaching upon emancipatory ambitions. On the one hand, as critical sociology informs us, this is because many of the utilitarian tenets of neoliberal rationalities have become naturalized in everyday conduct. On the other hand, as pragmatic sociology shows, because neoliberalism has succeeded in incorporating critical activity into its mode of functioning, challenging neoliberalism comes at the cost of its partial reproduction. Against this backdrop, the goal of this article is to reconsider both the role of critique in neoliberalism and the mode of inquiry of critique, in order to map out an ‘alter-neoliberal analysis’: a normative mode of critical inquiry that seeks to discover what would need to be the case for a future beyond neoliberalism to be conceivable. Building on the inferential logic of abduction, alter-neoliberal analysis (1) defamiliarizes the opaque ways in which neoliberal rationalities encroach upon practices, so as to (2) critique them in ways that curtail their reproduction and (3) radically imagine politico-epistemological positions that are unintelligible to neoliberal rationalities.

Return to innocence? Diaspora screen media and “New Ethnicities” in the moment of diversity

ABSTRACT This article revaluates Stuart Hall’s influential essay “New Ethnicities” for the study of diaspora screen media. In “New Ethnicities”, published in 1988, Hall famously declares that we have reached the “end of innocence”, having identified a shift in how race was then being articulated in the work of a new generation of British-born black and Asian film-makers. However, while Hall was excited by the promise of these new ethnicities, this article argues that there has been a shift back to the previous state of innocence, a consequence of racial neo-liberalism and the emergence of “diversity” discourse. The remainder of the article examines the implications of this reversal for research on the representation of race. While Hall’s optimism may have been premature, the article argues that “New Ethnicities” nonetheless contains a mode of critical enquiry that is crucial to our understanding of contemporary diaspora screen media in this moment of diversity.

The Impact of a Centralized Plastic Surgery Research Infrastructure on Scholarly Productivity and Output.

Although research and innovation is a key within the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, the impact of team structure, interpersonal dynamics, and/or standardized infrastructure on scholarly output has been infrequently studied. In this work, we present the formation and implementation of a novel plastic surgery research program that aims to unite previously disparate clinical and translational research efforts at our institution to facilitate critical inquiry. From July 2022 to June 2023, our department launched a pilot research program based on three pillars: (1) formalization of a research curriculum (monthly research meetings for agenda setting and discussion for project honing, formal research leadership for meeting facilitation and workflow regulation), (2) development of a centralized database to compile ongoing research (Google Drive repository to house all ongoing research documents, facilitate real-time editing, and provide resources/templates for assisting in the research process), and (3) bolstering of a core research identity built on mentorship and collaboration (more frequent interactions to shift previously siloed faculty-student mentorship into a robust milieu of intercollaboration). During the first year, we saw an increased number of publications and presentations, as well as robust participation and contribution from faculty, residents, and medical students. Future directions will focus on addressing resource limitation, such as project idea availability and funding, to sustain the success and growth of this novel research infrastructure.

A Review on Harnessing Nature's Heat with Earth Tube Heat Exchangers (ETHE)

This review paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. Through a meticulous examination of various scholarly papers, this review synthesizes and analyzes the significant contributions made by researchers in the field. Each paper reviewed offers unique insights and methodologies aimed at addressing key challenges and expanding the boundaries of knowledge in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. This review provides a succinct summary of the methodologies employed, the findings obtained, and the implications of each study. The synthesis presented here underscores the diversity of approaches and the richness of ideas that characterize contemporary research in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. From theoretical frameworks to empirical investigations, each paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and suggests avenues for future exploration. By distilling the essence of each paper, this review serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners, and students interested in gaining a nuanced understanding of the current state of research in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. Furthermore, it highlights emerging trends, unresolved questions, and potential areas for further investigation, thereby fostering ongoing dialogue and innovation within the academic community. In conclusion, this review illuminates the collective efforts of researchers in advancing knowledge and addressing pressing issues within Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, critical inquiry, and methodological rigor in shaping the trajectory of future research endeavors.

Improving Students' Abilities by Developing an Inquiry Learning Model

This research aims to improve students' knowledge and thinking abilities by developing an inquiry learning model. The method used by the researcher is qualitative, which describes something in the form of writing. In addition, the Inquiry also teaches students to think critically, namely by giving opinions and using reason when deciding something or what is being discussed. It also concerns the potential of students to learn by involving critical thinking or inquiry learning. This research shows that learning based on the Quran must be applied because this will make it easier for teachers or prospective teachers in the teaching and learning process. In addition, by learning the Quran, students can be active in the classroom and think logically.

Composing adult lives with a ventilator at the intersection of developmental and neoliberal discourses of time.

This paper explores temporalities and experiences of time drawn from an analysis of interview data from a critical narrative inquiry of the experiences of young adults living with home mechanical ventilation (HMV). The analysis centers the ideological effects of dominant discourses that shape understandings of time in the Euro-Western world and the ways in which young adults' stories prompt a rethinking of time in health research and praxis. Data generation involved interviews and photo-elicitation with five young adults (ages 18-40). A critical narrative analysis of participants' stories surfaced the influence of ableist, developmentalist, and neoliberal discourses of time and the creative resistance that points to the potential of crip orientations to time in opening up possibilities for living. Implications for practice and research are offered.

Who Watches the Watchdog? Understanding Media Systems as Information Regimes

This article explores institutions that monitor news media performance. It opens up critical inquiry into how knowledge about media systems is shaped, shared, and bounded in society. Using Sweden as an illustrative and data-rich case, we first map the overall media monitoring structure in Sweden. Second, we examine the kind of knowledge and data about media that monitoring institutions produce, including their motives and the underlying values they support. Third, we extrapolate questions about implicit and explicit motives to participate in an “information regime.” Fourth, by means of media system theory, we discuss the international relevance of the Swedish case to understand media monitoring systems in other parts of the world.

"Unlock a better life: Here's how!": A critical inquiry into how life coaches gain capital and shape legitimacy using Instagram's affordances

Instagram has become a primary platform via which life coaches establish a relationship with potential clients and advertise their professional services. In this study, we draw from Bourdieu’s work on taste and capital to unravel how life coaches capitalize on the affordances of Instagram to generate legitimacy and credibility for their profession. Drawing from a one-month observation of 1,650 posts collected from 20 Instagram profiles of life coaches, our analysis provides insight into how these professionals strategically display and integrate cultural practices, tastes, and preferences that align with neoliberal ideals of self-improvement and self-responsibility to set themselves apart as experts within their field. They then use this distinctiveness as a marketing technique, thereby feeding off their cultural and social capital, among others by rationalizing their expertise by appealing to their own experiences, embedding client testimonials, and driving the narrative by combining hashtags or images that refer to self-entrepreneurism, self-responsibility, and the good life. We reflect on the potentially harmful implications of these legitimization techniques on individuals and society.

The pedagogy of action learning facilitation – a critique of the role of the facilitator in an organisational leadership programme

ABSTRACT This paper explores the professional practice of the Action Learning (AL) facilitator through a process of critical inquiry, self-reflection and evaluation of action learning practice within a Higher Education Leadership Programme, commissioned by an English NHS Mental Health Trust. Action research was adopted as the overarching research approach which was built into the one-year post graduate programme. This enabled planning, fact-finding, and taking actions in analysing the role of the AL facilitator as an iterative process to explore the practice of action learning facilitation. It involved examination of the complexities and dynamics within an AL process and how learning and action is facilitated, as well as different relational dimensions that the facilitator must be aware of to effectively manage and support AL set members. Thematic analysis, which involved a 5-step process, was used to collate and investigate the research data. Results from this research reinforce the significance of the role of the AL facilitator in the learning process and offer a framework for pedagogy of AL facilitation presented as the art, craft and apparatus of AL facilitation practice. This framework contributes to the current AL literature by offering a holistic point of reference for the learning and practice of AL facilitation.

Theology and the Enlightenment: A Critical Enquiry into Enlightenment Theology and its Reception Paul Avis T & T Clark, London, 2023, xi + 402 pp (paperback £28.99), ISBN: 9780567705648

Theology and the Enlightenment: A Critical Enquiry into Enlightenment Theology and its Reception Paul Avis T & T Clark, London, 2023, xi + 402 pp (paperback £28.99), ISBN: 9780567705648

Navigating Intellectual Crossroads: Intersections of Modern Western Thought and Islamic Reformism

Introduction: The article begins by outlining the historical and intellectual context of the interaction between Modern Western Thought and Islamic Reformism. It highlights the challenges and opportunities arising from the convergence of these two intellectual traditions, noting the significant impact of Western secularism, scientific inquiry, and rationality on global discourse, including Islamic societies. The introduction sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the exclusivist and inclusivist movements and their implications for Islamic societies. Objectives: The primary objective of this article is to examine the intellectual challenges and opportunities presented by the interaction between Modern Western Thought and Islamic Reformism. It aims to provide insights into the diverse perspectives within Islamic societies, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the potential for reconciling religious faith with reason. The article also seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural contexts that shape these debates and to promote respectful dialogue and critical inquiry. Conclusion: The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of fostering mutual understanding and respectful dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophies. It underscores the need for a nuanced approach that considers historical and cultural contexts to bridge the epistemological gap between these two intellectual traditions. By promoting critical inquiry and embracing pluralism, the article suggests that both Islamic and Western societies can engage in a productive exchange of ideas, ultimately contributing to intellectual advancement and societal progress.

Teaching, Learning, and Praxis: A Critical Inquiry on Graduate Student Research Apprenticeship Opportunities in Qualitative Research

Teaching, Learning, and Praxis: A Critical Inquiry on Graduate Student Research Apprenticeship Opportunities in Qualitative Research

Is resistance to Covid-19 vaccination a “problem”? A critical policy inquiry of vaccine mandates for healthcare workers

<abstract> <p>As the COVID-19 global vaccination campaign was launched in December of 2020, vaccination became mandatory for many healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. Large minorities resisted the policy, and the responses of authorities to this resistance led to damaged professional reputations, job losses, and suspension or termination of practice licenses. The joint effect of dismissals, early retirements, career changes, and vaccine injuries disabling some compliant HCWs from adequate performance has exacerbated existing crises within health systems. Nevertheless, leading health authorities have maintained that the benefits of a fully vaccinated healthcare labor force—believed to be protecting health systems, vulnerable patient populations, and even HCWs themselves—achieved through mandates, if necessary, outweigh its potential harms. Informed by critical policy and discourse traditions, we examine the expert literature on vaccine mandates for HCWs. We find that this literature neglects evidence that contradicts official claims about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, dismisses the science supporting the contextual nature of microbial virulence, miscalculates patient and system-level harms of vaccination policies, and ignores or legitimizes the coercive elements built into their design. We discuss the implications of our findings for the sustainability of health systems, for patient care, and for the well-being of HCWs, and suggest directions for ethical clinical and policy practice.</p> </abstract>

CULTURAL CAPITALISM AND TODAY’S GLOBALIZED SOCIETY: AN ANALYSIS

The phenomena of cultural capitalism emerged from the complex junction of culture and capitalism in today's worldwide society. This abstract investigates the workings of cultural capitalism in the context of modern, globalized society, looking at its effects and implications. First, it explores the idea of cultural capitalism, explaining how the market shapes and commercializes cultural identities, practices, and expressions. It looks into how cultural symbols, stories, and experiences are appropriated for profit, emphasizing how the media, advertising, and consumerism contribute to this practice. The abstract also discusses how cultural capitalism affects societies all around the world. It talks on how the dominance of Western capitalist ideas leads to cultural imperialism and homogenization, which threatens cultural variety, authenticity, and the preservation of cultural heritage. It also closely examines how cultural capitalism exacerbates social differences, marginalizes particular groups, and maintains inequality. n conclusion, this abstract highlights the complexities of cultural capitalism in today's globalized society, emphasizing the need for critical inquiry and proactive measures to mitigate its negative impacts and foster more equitable, inclusive cultural environments.

Social Constructivist Meta-Ethnography - – A Framework Construction

Objective: The objective of this review was to establish a modified meta-ethnography framework by integrating the traditional phases with methods from social constructivist grounded theory. The modified version was required to identify methods which can ensure analytic generalisability and honour critical inquiry. Method: A narrative synthesis review was undertaken using 4 electronic databases. Articles were located that described the methods and methodologies of meta-ethnography and social constructivist grounded theory. A synthesis was undertaken which integrated the methods of social constructivist grounded theory. Results: The meta-ethnography was undertaken in 5 phases: (1) The positionality of the researcher and the area of interest identified. (2) Identifying what is relevant. (3) Reading the included studies and determining how studies are related. (4) The iterative process of idea generation required for theory generation. And (5) Expression of the theory, model, or process. Conclusion: The current review has been able to create a social constructivist meta-ethnographic framework for reviewing empirical qualitative research. This framework will support the development of a substantive theory (a theory in one area) which can be used then to consider its application in other areas. This approach will help create new lines of research and aid the explanation of problems in other areas.