Critical Perspective Research Articles

Understanding Job Satisfaction and Its Influences in Nigerian Government Firms: A Systematic Literature Review

Job satisfaction is seen as a critical factor in employee performance. This article focuses on a thorough review of the literature to identify the numerous elements that influence job satisfaction and assess their relative importance in shaping employee performance in government-owned firms. The existing literature conceptualizations of job satisfaction are diverse, reflecting the broadness of critical perspectives on the subject. Job satisfaction is conceptualized in various ways in the existing literature, emphasizing the intricacy of key views on the subject. A systematic literature review entailed the following steps: (a) identifying databases and a set of publications; (b) selecting articles and creating a database; and (c) doing bibliometric analysis, content analysis, and verifying the relevance of results to future study. The review included publications from 2013 through 2023 and encompassed psychology, sociology, economics, and management science. Examining existing theoretical writings and practical tests reveals psychological and methodological flaws. Despite countless critical attempts to define exactly what constitutes job satisfaction, no clear and obvious definition has emerged. Similarly, there is a lack of crucial consensus among academics about what factors contribute to job satisfaction, resulting in diverse research methodologies. However, despite the growing popularity of job satisfaction studies, several of these characteristics have yet to be thoroughly investigated, and some research has produced inconsistent conclusions regarding the intensity of specific elements’ influence on job satisfaction. Hence, this study meets that demand by doing a thorough review of the literature and showing the direction of recent research.

‘I produce songs for her …. In this way, I gradually know her more. The more I know her, the more I like her’: Using Collins’ model of interactive ritual chains to study the case of virtual idol fandom in China

In the last decade, virtual idols have become increasingly popular among young people in China with news reports estimating a fan-base of around 300 million and total industry revenues of over $35 billion in 2020 (Bloomberg, 2021). Despite these startling figures, there have been few empirical studies of virtual idol fandom. To address this lacuna, this paper explores the ways in which fans engage with the Chinese virtual idol Luo Tianyi and uses insights from Randall Collin’s (2004) work on Interactive Ritual Chains (IRC) to understand the relationship between digital fan practices and the generation of both emotional responses and a wider sense of solidarity Semi-structured interviews with fans, alongside digital participant observation, indicate the key role fans have to play in promoting their idol, notably when it comes to producing original content designed to raise her profile. It is these activities, in conjunction with gender differences, that are used to define hierarchies within the community, and point to the importance of adopting a more critical perspective in relation to Collins’ original work.

The cultural construction of cellular agriculture food: through the lens of the whole-parts framework for meat

This essay presents a critical perspective on the nature of what is referred to as “cultured meat” in the public sphere by revisiting the concept of meat in cultural practice. We propose a perspective that focuses on and further investigates whether cultured meat is meat, examining the interaction between the emergence of cellular agriculture technologies and cultural practices. First, we review the production processes of cellular agriculture for meat, comparing this to the processes used to produce conventional meat. Second, we discuss how meat has been embedded in cultural practices, focusing on meat-related activities, and propose that a whole-parts relationship is critical for constructing the meaning of meat in cultural contexts. Third, several key issues raised in the social debate on cultured meat are addressed within the whole-parts framework. Cultured meat requires a complete bottom-up process in producing objects, indicating that the concept of cultured meat is not necessarily aligned with the concept of existing meat, as previously suggested from the perspective of producing conventional meat. In this perspective, we proceed to further investigation the meaning of meat in cultural constructions, wherein the relationship between the whole body and meat as a part of it is important. Thus, cultured meat can be considered a nonmeat under the whole-parts framework for meat. This insight can provisionally and speculatively update some of the ethical, legal, and social issues of cultured meat as well as products based on cellular agriculture technologies.

Analysis of Alison Moore’s The Lighthouse from the Perspective of Ethical Literary Criticism

The Lighthouse is an excellent contemporary novel that tells the family tragedies of two generations which involve numerous individuals and families. After being shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize, it has been noticed by many researchers and scholars from home and abroad. Starting from the perspective of ethical literary criticism, this paper intends to have a detailed analysis of the ethical issues existing in The Lighthouse through the method of close reading. This paper also attempts to have an insight into the moral and ethical problems in modern families, or the problems between contemporary people, trying to analyze the main characters’ self-developments of morality and the author’s ethical values from the discussion of the main characters’ ethical choices, the construction of ethical identities and the human and human relationship in this novel.

Transnational Health and Self-care Experiences of Japanese Women who have taken Oral Contraceptives in South Korea, including Over-the-counter Access: Insights from Semi-structured Interviews

AbstractIn an increasingly globalized world, the accessibility of healthcare and medication has expanded beyond local healthcare systems and national borders. This study aims to investigate the transnational health and self-care experiences of 11 Japanese women who have resided in South Korea for a minimum of six months and have utilized oral contraceptives, including those that were acquired over-the-counter (OTC). Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by utilizing the NVivo software. The analysis yielded three significant thematic categories, namely (1) experiences and perceptions of obtaining and utilizing contraceptive pills, including OTC access; (2) individual and social perceptions of pills and their accessibility in Japan, insights from actual users; and (3) enhancing pill accessibility, transnational health and self-care experiences and perspectives. Participants acknowledged that oral contraceptives are a global product and experienced communication challenges with healthcare providers as a result of differing understandings of these medications. Additionally, this study identified transnational strategies, such as purchasing an adequate supply of pills just before departure and seeking pills from local families or acquaintances. This study not only highlights the implications of clinical care for transnational patients but also underscores their critical global perspectives on access to oral contraceptives. Furthermore, it proposes two models for improving accessibility within the Japanese healthcare system, even in prescription-only contexts, by introducing OTC options.

Nanosafety: a Perspective on Nano-Bio Interactions.

Engineered nanomaterials offer numerous benefits to society ranging from environmental remediation to biomedical applications such as drug or vaccine delivery as well as clean and cost-effective energy production and storage, and the promise of a more sustainable way of life. However, as nanomaterials of increasing sophistication enter the market, close attention to potential adverse effects on human health and the environment is needed. Here a critical perspective on nanotoxicological research is provided; the authors argue that it is time to leverage the knowledge regarding the biological interactions of nanomaterials to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the human health and environmental impacts of these materials. Moreover, it is posited that nanomaterials behave like biological entities and that they should be regulated as such.

Prasmingas darbas, postdarbas ir šiuolaikinis aristotelizmas

The paper explores the relation between a contemporary Aristotelian conception of human flourishing and two critical perspectives on work. The meaningful work perspective inquires what kind of work would be meaningful, by arguing that meaningful work is essential for human flourishing. The post-work perspective argues that good life lies outside work and workplaces and calls to eliminate work as much as possible. The paper suggests that it is possible to acknowledge the insights of both perspectives via contemporary Aristotelian notions of practice and human flourishing. The notion of practice incorporates the conception of meaningful work, yet it applies to nonwork activities as well. Conceptualization of human well-being via the notion of practice also responds to the post-work challenge of conceiving human flourishing without prioritizing work over other meaningful activities. In this way, a contemporary Aristotelian conception of human flourishing supports both the need for better work and less work.

The Public Role of Italian Sociology: Among Institutions, Universities and Social Engagement

AbstractSociology has played an important role in Italy, although its centrality in public debate has fluctuated, and it has been supported or opposed by political power at different historical moments. Contemporary Italian sociology has developed since the 1950s and has been influenced in various ways by European and American sociological theories. Sociology has played an important role in Italian public debate and has offered a critical and scientific perspective on the country’s social reality. However, this role should be understood in the context of the different stages of development that have accompanied the academic growth of the discipline and the presence of sociologists in ‘policy making’ processes. In the latter sense, Italian sociology has played an important role in the formation of public policies, as it offers a scientific analysis of social problems and proposes solutions based on empirical research. Within this framework, the training processes also need to be situated within what has been defined—albeit with conceptual ambiguity—as ‘professional sociology’, which involves important figures such as social workers, psychologists, and health workers. However, sociology has also played an important political role both in supporting the actions of policy makers and in analysing the contradictions of the capitalist system. This article also analyses the emergence of a ‘transformative’ positional sociology alongside the traditional public sociology. The goal of this transformative approach is to counteract the public role of Italian sociology, which seems to have lost its critical-explanatory vocation without ever having truly acquired a propositional function in the social context.

Business Institutes and Corporate Social Responsibility in Brazil: Balancing Between Control and Incompleteness

Objective: Provide a critical perspective on CSR in Brazil, focusing on business institutes' involvement with CSR, which could lead to an assimilation that adapts it to meet exclusively business interests.   Theoretical Framework: A literature review focused on the main conceptual debate on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), emphasising the normative approach of Stakeholder Theory.   Method: A qualitative analysis of the literature, data from public sources on civil society organisations, and the websites of leading business institutes involved with CSR in Brazil was chosen, comparing it to the information on institute websites.   Results and Discussion: The leading institutes operate in a segmented and organised way, have large companies among their members, represent a significant volume of investments in the socio-environmental area and present their vision of corporate behaviour. This suggests a search for institutional leadership and reinforces the idea of consolidating CSR in Brazil through corporate resources.   Research Implications: This research's practical and theoretical implications provide insights into how the results can influence business and academic studies about CSR. These implications could encompass business management, sociology, public policies, and project financing for all involved in thinking and practising business behaviour in society.   Originality/Value: It contributes to the debate on CSR by demonstrating that its lack of consensus allows the business world, through its institutes, to shape it to its interests, limiting its potential reach. It is a critical perspective that suggests that business institutes create the conditions for discursive leadership that can lead to selective corporate responsibility practices in society.

Analysis of Financial Market Efficiency

This comprehensive study delves into the intricacies of financial market efficiency, anchored around the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) as postulated by Eugene Fama. It scrutinizes the hypothesis across its weak, semi-strong, and strong forms, incorporating a broad spectrum of empirical evidence and theoretical discourse. In light of recent advancements in technology and the increasing complexity of global financial markets, this paper also explores the impact of high-frequency trading, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology on market efficiency. Through a meticulous examination of both supportive and critical perspectives on the EMH, the analysis extends to consider the implications of market efficiency on investment strategies, portfolio management, and regulatory frameworks. By juxtaposing traditional financial theories with contemporary market phenomena, this study seeks to offer a nuanced understanding of the dynamic interplay between market efficiency, technological innovation, and investor behavior. The ultimate objective is to provide a balanced viewpoint that acknowledges the merits of the EMH while also recognizing the evolving challenges and opportunities within global financial markets.

Vulnerability and Constructed Precarity in the Canadian Housing Regime

ABSTRACT This article brings together feminist and critical theoretical perspectives on vulnerability to critique normative framing of vulnerability in housing. Vulnerability is often positioned as the problem affordable housing policies and programmes are designed to address). Feminist conceptions of vulnerability, by contrast, consider vulnerability as a universal condition. From a feminist perspective, I explicate the ways in which the Canadian housing regime constructs precarity in three ways: a reliance on precarious employment, positioning vulnerability as an inherent characteristic of populations, and finally through an imagined separation between nonmarket housing and (transnational) market practices. I suggest feminist conceptions of vulnerability offer a potent way forward to rethink the housing system. This recognition of shared vulnerability that is differentially felt might turn us away from targeted and population-specific interventions and instead direct attention to the housing regime itself.

Reframing a community in crisis: an Intersectional discourse analysis of media responses to state of emergency declarations in Attawapiskat

ABSTRACT During the height of the Idle No More movement over the winter of 2012–2013, then Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence undertook a ceremonial fast, widely framed by the mainstream Canadian media as a hunger strike. This event responded to a housing related State of Emergency declaration in her community. During the cold Canadian winter, for six-weeks Chief Spence survived on medicinal fish broth and tea while catalyzing unprecedented social mobilization. Her actions sparked dialogue about the failures of the Canadian government and the general public to understand and uphold treaty relations. From an interpretive critical policy studies perspective, this paper presents an intersectional discourse analysis of mainstream coverage of her community and highlights themes of crisis, accountability and blame. In doing so, this paper seeks to interrupt these hegemonic frames with an account alternative counterstories grounded in community voices. Drawing upon interpretive policy analysis this paper argues that these predominant frames misrepresented Spence’s core request: a revitalized dialogue about treaty relations. Spence’s story and the voices of community-members speak back to and intervene upon the colonial status quo in Canada. This paper presents some insights and lessons learned for critical policy studies based on counterstories articulated in a community-engaged mixed media storytelling research project entitled Reimagining Attawapiskat.

Field Hockey in China: An Exploration of Socioeconomic and Political Changes, 1900–2024

Field hockey’s development in China, mirroring its socio-political shifts over a century, unfolds in four phases. The first phase began in 1900; field hockey was introduced into China because Westerners played in Foreign Concession in Shanghai. With the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, field hockey gained official recognition, marking the second phase. Following the Cultural Revolution, field hockey gained significant prominence in the third phase, particularly women’s field hockey, peaking with a 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medal, reflecting China’s strategic Olympic ambitions. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games led the development of field hockey into the fourth phase. Youth field hockey received more and more attention. While this has elevated China’s field hockey population, it also underscores potential imbalances between promoting elite sports and grassroots development. The professionalisation of field hockey remains in its nascent stages, with state-driven growth overshadowing broader public participation. The development of field hockey in China reflects the intricate interplay between China’s sports policies, national identity, and international ambitions and offers researchers a window to develop critical perspectives on the power dynamics and policy-making processes in sports.

The Use of Turning Points in Understanding Homelessness Transitions: A Critical Social Psychological Perspective

ABSTRACT We argue for use of the narrative concept of the “turning point” in homelessness research from a critical social psychology perspective. BackgroundTurning points are often understood as rifts in the life course followed by significant change in direction. However, within narrative theory they are not events but subjectively significant features of the person’s life-story. The turning point as narrative toolThe analysis identified how turning points were deployed by participants in a study of homelessness experiences. Participants used the turning point in constructing themselves as agentic, reformed individuals who had gained insight. However, this did not necessarily bring positive life changes. Data extracts are used to illustrate the power of adopting a constructivist, narrative theoretical orientation in understanding turning points in accounts of homelessness. Implications for practiceViewing turning points in this way may help us understand how best to provide support for people without housing.

Block Chain Based Agri-Food Traceability with SHA-256 Algorithm

Block chain technology has emerged as a promising solution for enhancing transparency and efficiency in various industries, including agriculture and food supply chains. This article examines the influence of block chain technology on agriculture, explores ongoing projects and initiatives, and assesses its potential implications, obstacles, and promises. Despite its potential to revolutionize the food supply chain by enabling transparent transactions among dispersed and untrustworthy parties without intermediaries like banks, several challenges hinder its widespread adoption. These challenges encompass technological limitations, educational gaps, and regulatory hurdles. This study provides insights into the current state of blockchain adoption in agriculture and offers critical perspectives on project maturity.

Ladungstransferdynamiken in organisch–anorganischen hybriden Heterostrukturen – Einblicke mithilfe von Summenfrequenzspektroskopie

AbstractOrganisch–anorganische Heterostrukturen spielen eine zentrale Rolle in modernen elektronischen und optoelektronischen Anwendungen. Dazu gehören Photodetektoren und Feldeffekttransistoren sowie die Umwandlung von Solarenergie mithilfe von Photoelektroden für Farbstoffsolarzellen, photoelektrochemischen Zellen und organischen Photovoltaiksystemen. Die Leistung solcher Systeme wird zu großen Teilen durch die Dynamik des Ladungstransfers an und zwischen (inneren) Grenzflächen, z. B. zwischen einem Halbleiter mit großer Bandlücke und molekularen Sensibilisatoren und/oder Katalysatoren, bestimmt. Daher ist ein detailliertes Verständnis der Beziehung zwischen Struktur, Dynamik und Funktion solcher funktionalen Grenzflächen notwendig, um mögliche Limitationen der Leistungsfähigkeit dieser Materialien und Systeme auf molekularer Ebene zu erklären. Die Summenfrequenzspektroskopie (SFS) als grenzflächenempfindliche Technik ermöglicht es, spezifische chemische Informationen über Grenzflächen zu erhalten. Wird diese in ein Anregungs‐Abfrage‐Schema integriert, liefert sie neben solchen chemischen Erkenntnissen eine ultraschnelle Zeitauflösung. Dieser Mini‐Review‐Artikel diskutiert die Vorteile und das Potenzial der SFS für die Untersuchung von Ladungstransferdynamiken an Grenzflächen und von strukturellen Veränderungen an inneren Grenzflächen. Es wird ein wichtiger Beitrag dieser einzigartigen spektroskopischen Einblicke in ansonsten unzugängliche Grenzflächen vorgestellt, der, so hoffen wir, neue Wege für ein besseres Verständnis der funktionsbestimmenden Prozesse in komplexen Materialien aufzeigt. Damit sollen Gemeinschaften, die sich dem Design von Materialien und Bauteilen widmen, mit Spektroskopikern zusammengebracht werden.

Charge Transfer Dynamics in Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Heterostructures-Insights by Vibrational-Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy.

Organic-inorganic heterostructures play a pivotal role in modern electronic and optoelectronic applications including photodetectors and field effect transistors, as well as in solar energy conversion such as photoelectrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells, photoelectrochemical cells, and in organic photovoltaics. To a large extent, performance of such devices is controlled by charge transfer dynamics at and across (inner) interfaces, e.g., between a wide band gap semiconductor and molecular sensitizers and/or catalysts. Hence, a detailed understanding of the structure-dynamics-function relationship of such functional interfaces is necessary to rationalize possible performance limitations of these materials and devices on a molecular level. Vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy, as an interface-sensitive spectroscopic technique, allows to obtain chemically specific information from interfaces and combines such chemical insights with ultrafast time resolution, when integrated as a spectroscopic probe into a pump-probe scheme. Thus, this minireview discusses the advantages and potential of VSFG spectroscopy for investigating interfacial charge transfer dynamics and structural changes at inner interfaces. A critical perspective of the unique spectroscopic view of otherwise inaccessible interfaces is presented, which we hope opens new opportunities for an improved understanding of function-determining processes in complex materials, and brings together communities who are devoted to designing materials and devices with spectroscopists.

Exploring the Preventive and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Probiotics in Chronic Kidney Disease through the Gut-Kidney Axis.

Gut dysbiosis contributes to deterioration of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Probiotics are a potential approach to modulate gut microbiota and gut-derived metabolites to alleviate CKD progression. We aim to provide a comprehensive view of CKD-related gut dysbiosis and a critical perspective on probiotic function in CKD. First, this review addresses gut microbial alterations during CKD progression and the adverse effects associated with the changes in gut-derived metabolites. Second, we conduct a thorough examination of the latest clinical trials involving probiotic intervention to unravel critical pathways via the gut-kidney axis. Finally, we propose our viewpoints on limitations, further considerations, and future research prospects of probiotic adjuvant therapy in alleviating CKD progression. Enhancing our understanding of host-microbe interactions is crucial for gaining precise insights into the mechanisms through which probiotics exert their effects and identifying factors that influence the effectiveness of probiotics in developing strategies to optimize their use and enhance clinical outcomes.

The Constitutional Complaint in Kosovo from the Perspective of State Liability and Constitutional Certainty

Abstract This article analyses the constitutional complaint in Kosovo through the lens of governmental liability and constitutional certainty. Although it is one of the most significant legal mechanisms for the protection of human rights in Kosovo, the remedial impact of a constitutional complaint does not appear to be appropriate for granting ‘just satisfaction’ and holding a public authority accountable for a violation of constitutional rights. To make the state’s constitutional liability for human rights violations a reality, additional legislative reforms are necessary. The introduction of ‘constitutional damage’ award in the context of the Kosovan constitutional judiciary is therefore especially pertinent to this end. Such a remedy would hold the state accountable for abuses of human rights originating from the unconstitutional behavior of government officials. It would finally provide victims of constitutional rights violations with appropriate means of legal redress, which is the ultimate end of constitutional justice. The constitutional principle of ‘legitimate expectation’ is also not unimportant in this context. By offering a critical perspective on the Constitutional Court’s case-law, this article argues for the significance of adhering to the ‘legitimate expectations’ principle to ensure equality of the parties in constitutional litigation proceedings and a constant development of constitutional jurisprudence that is vital for the Kosovan democracy.

Colourism and indigeneity: the portrayal of Tuareg Amazighs in EFL textbooks in Algeria

ABSTRACT There are quite a few studies that adopted a critical perspective to the analysis of the narrative of standardized school textbooks and their impact in the process of ‘the interpellation of individuals as subjects’. While these studies examined narratives on racial/ethnic identity in different national contexts, both the Global North and the Global South, they all address the way mechanisms of exclusion and inclusion play out to define ‘sense of belonging’ ersus ‘otherness’. In the Maghreb region, studies that depict the representation of Amazighs in school textbooks remain scarce. Therefore, guided by Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis conceptual framework, this study focuses on the textual and visual representation of Algerian Tuareg Amazighs in the textbooks that are currently used in Algerian Middle schools. The findings suggest that the portrayal of the Tuareg Amazigh Sahrawi ethnic group is characterized by the ‘markedness’ of their blackness. This visibility affirms their ‘local Otherness’ in three different ways: deagentialization, folklorization, and disempowerment. Some pedagogical recommendations are suggested to foster inclusive and equitable language learning materials and spaces.