Distinct Experiences Research Articles

More human than human? Differences in lexis and collocation within academic essays produced by ChatGPT-3.5 and human L2 writers

Abstract ChatGPT and similar generative AI models are increasingly being integrated into educational practice, including second language (L2) writing. However, AI-generated writing may significantly differ from that of developing L2 writers, raising potential issues over academic integrity. With AI detectors still underused in many contexts due to accuracy concerns, it is essential to determine if and how AI-generated texts are similar or different to those of L2 writers. This study compares lexical and collocation choices between essays on the same topic generated by ChatGPT (version 3.5) and human L2 writers using corpus analytic techniques. R statistical software was used for analysis and comparison. Results suggest that when tasked with producing academic essays under the same topic, ChatGPT-3.5 excels in generating texts with formal and complex vocabulary suited for academic and technical themes, while human L2 writers tend to focus on personal and social issues, using more varied and context-rich vocabulary. Accordingly, educators seeking to detect AI use should recognise the distinct linguistic and cultural experiences L2 writers bring to their writing, while students using AI need to understand the nature of the machine-like clarity and directness of expression as produced by ChatGPT as compared with their own typical production.

Translations, translocations, and pluralism: A transnational and multilingual analysis of the circulation of radical geographical knowledge

AbstractBased on recently opened multilingual archives, this paper addresses relationally three transnational cases of early networking for critical and radical geography that took place in different countries and languages between the 1970s and the 1980s. Addressing materials from the Union of Socialist Geographers (USG, North America and around, 1974–1982), the Unión de Geógrafos Progresistas de México (UGPM, Mexico [involving Latin America], 1978–1990), and Geografia Democratica (GD, Italy [involving France], 1976–1981), it extends scholarship on translation, translocation, and pluralistic bids to decolonise geography. It argues for considering transnational and multilingual analyses of the circulation of geographical knowledge as key to understanding translation as translocation, based on transcultural empathy. Far from being a mere linguistic matter, translation/translocation allows understanding elements of translatability and distinctiveness of concepts travelling from one place to another through complex and rarely linear trajectories. While these three cases show how problematic it is to translate adjectives such as ‘radical’ and ‘critical’ across national, linguistic, and cultural barriers, they also expose how there is no standard or unique application of these definitions to geography, which does not impede putting distinct experiences in mutual and productive dialogues, including for today scholarly and activist agendas.

Social media’s role in enhancing psychological well-being of Generation Z expatriates

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to investigate the role of social media in supporting the psychological well-being of young expatriates.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a qualitative research design based on semi-structured interviews with Gen Z expatriates who are active social media users.FindingsThis study reveals social media’s pivotal role in enhancing Gen Z expatriates’ psychological well-being. It fosters virtual connections to their home country, validating their distinctive international experiences, facilitating integration into the host culture and challenging stereotypes. By developing bonding and bridging social capital, social media mitigates cultural distance, strengthens social support and ultimately contributes to positive expatriate well-being.Originality/valueThis research responds to the growing call for studies on the intersection of digitalization and expatriation, offering insights into how digital tools can enhance the well-being of expatriates. By developing a conceptual model grounded in social media and expatriate support literature, this research highlights the specific mechanisms through which social media impacts the psychological well-being of Gen Z expatriates, a previously under-researched area. While physical support is limited by geographical proximity and shared experiences, digital support can transcend these boundaries, providing access to a wider range of resources and perspectives. By focusing on Gen Z, a generation known for its digital fluency and reliance on social media, we provide insights that can inform targeted interventions and support strategies specifically tailored to this demographic.

‘Who am I?’ Evolutionary perspectives of African ethnic identity

ABSTRACT The journey of identity is a lifelong odyssey, marked by distinct milestones and transformative experiences that shape and redefine one’s sense of self. By theorizing ethnic identities across developmental milestones, this paper highlights the intricate interplay between hereditary perspectives, cultural affiliations, individual development, societal dynamics, and rational choice. This exploration delves into the multifaceted dimensions of ethnic identity construction, acknowledging that these identities are not static but evolve in response to the dynamic interplay of life’s pivotal moments. From the formative years of childhood, through adolescence, to the complexities of adulthood, this narrative provides an understanding of the landscape that underpins the theorization of ethnic identities across these diverse and interconnected milestones of the human lifespan.

Introspection about forced and free choice: Accurate subjective time estimation for externally as well as self-determined actions.

Free-choice behavior is unique in that actions are internally self-determined, unlike forced-choice behavior, which is externally specified. Several studies suggest these two action modes can lead to different behavioral, affective, and motivational outcomes. We examined whether people estimate free-choice differently from forced-choice processing time due to possible introspective biases associated with these modes. Consistent with previous studies, free choices were slower than forced choices and action mode interacted with perceptual difficulty. Importantly, all effects in mean reaction times (RTs) were mirrored in mean introspective RTs (iRTs). Moreover, objective RTs alone could essentially predict iRTs without any contributing distortion of choice modes. Thus, introspection about RT appears equally accurate for both externally and self-determined actions, suggesting that iRTs are primarily based on a direct read-out of temporal information. Possibly, accurate introspection about processing time is a crucial basis for potentially distinct subjective experiences of free and forced choices.

Exploring Multilingualism and Cultural Negotiations in Literary Narratives: A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Language in Aké: Jahre der Kindheit by Wole Soyinka and Die Brücke vom Goldenen Horn by Emine Özdama

This essay compares language and its role in cultural negotiation, focusing on Wole Soyinka's Aké: Jahre der Kindheit and Emine Özdama's Die Brücke vom Goldenen Horn. By examining how language shapes multilingualism in these narratives and influences cultural identities, this comparative analysis presents the ways in which linguistic diversity reflects deeper cultural negotiations. Through the characters' interactions with language, readers are drawn into the complexities of communication as a space for both negotiation and conflict, particularly as characters navigate the expectations of different cultural and linguistic communities. Furthermore, this analysis explores how characters manage language differences and the broader societal attitudes toward multilingualism. By examining these renowned works from authors of distinct cultural backgrounds and experiences, this paper sheds light on the intricate connection between culture, identity, and language.

Protocol to implement and evaluate a culturally secure, strength-based, equine-assisted learning program, "Yawardani Jan-ga" (horses helping), to support the social and emotional wellbeing of Australian aboriginal children and young people.

Australian Aboriginal people experience stressors from inequalities across crucial social determinants, including deep and entrenched disadvantage and exclusion. The impact of unaddressed historical issues is pervasive and intergenerational. The disproportionate rates of Aboriginal youth suicide, juvenile detention and imprisonment highlight the inadequacy of existing social and emotional wellbeing programs and services for Aboriginal children and young people. There is increasing recognition in Australia that aligning social and emotional wellbeing interventions with Western values and conceptions of mental health is one of the main barriers to service uptake among Aboriginal people. This suggests fundamental questions remain unanswered about what type of services effectively address the complex constellation of social-emotional and wellbeing challenges arising from intergenerational poverty and trauma. Yawardani Jan-ga is an Aboriginal-led, operated, culturally secure, Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) project designed by and with local Aboriginal young people, community Elders, members, and experts to address the complex constellation of social-emotional, spiritual and wellbeing needs of Aboriginal children and young people, aged 6-26 years, across multiple communities in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. EAL is a strengths-based learning approach where participants work with horses' inherent characteristics to learn transferable life skills, such as communication skills, self-awareness, and emotional regulation, to promote social and emotional growth and wellbeing. Although EAL has been previously used with Aboriginal children and young people internationally, they are yet to be widely used with Aboriginal people in Australia. Here, we describe the three subcomponents of the Yawardani Jan-ga implementation science project and the planned Participatory Action Research and phenomenological approaches to capture the distinctive experiences of participants and the local communities where the intervention is implemented. We anticipate that findings will build an evidence base that informs policy and practice by understanding key intervention elements of social and emotional wellbeing support for Aboriginal youth, how to incorporate Aboriginal worldviews across different stages of interventions, and how to capture impact best using culturally secure methods.

Engaging Red River Métis families in Manitoba in the development of child health resources – findings from a qualitative study

BackgroundMost research that includes Red River Métis tends to be pan-Indigenous. Grouping Métis with First Nations and Inuit can diminish their unique and diverse experiences, as well as distinctions-based approaches. Taking a step toward addressing this problem, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF; the national government of the Red River Métis) invited researchers within the Canadian network Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids to partner in this research, which focuses on understanding engagement strategies that can help expose Red River Métis parents to child health research opportunities and build trust and transparency amongst research partners and participants.MethodsA qualitative descriptive approach underpinned by a participatory paradigm guided this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 Red River Métis parents and Elders via Zoom or telephone. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to explore patterns and themes across the data.ResultsAnalysis generated four themes: (a) show me why you are here; (b) make it easier for me to take part; (c) create welcoming spaces; and (d) it should be a give and take experience. Parents emphasized the importance of kinship and personal connections, and said they want to hear about child health study opportunities from trusted organizations. They want researchers to be transparent about their research motivations and to offer multiple ways to participate to help them fit research into their busy lives. Relational approaches within the research process (e.g., creating informal/welcoming environments, gathering over food, fostering shared learning/creative opportunities) are prominent in the findings.ConclusionThere is a dearth of research focused on the distinct experiences of Red River Métis families. Engaging Red River Métis parents early in the research process will help incorporate their preferences and perspectives into the design of a larger project to adapt child health resources. More training is needed to help researchers improve their abilities to engage in self-reflection, listen, recognize power relationships, and demonstrate trust and transparency in each research interaction. It is only through respectful and successful engagement that child health research can be relevant, applicable and positively impact Red River Métis children, families and communities.

Argentine Football Fandom as Festive Expressive Practice

This photo essay explores the festive nature of football fandom in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This initiative aims to capture the multisensorial dimensions of fandom, with a particular focus on the distinctive auditory experiences within Argentine football culture.

Island destination workforce development and inclusion

The one island-one resort concept of the Maldives features a distinct upscale tourism experience for visitors that offers seclusion, remoteness, and privacy. In view of each island as its own resort, the isolation among the islands poses unique challenges for workforce development as employees live on the same island where they work to serve the tourists. In an increasingly competitive tourism market, the resilience of the Maldives as a tourism destination stands on the inclusion of its local residents in the workforce. Largely dependent on tourism to sustain the economy, the Maldives persists with environmental concerns, political strife, and rapid socio-cultural changes along with other unprecedented challenges of an island destination. To understand the experiences of the local employees working in remote upscale resorts, the transcendental phenomenology approach was used to capture the essences of the employees’ lived experiences. Essences are the building blocks of experiences with narratives filtered into specific essences and sub-essences derived from the one island-one resort model. The examined essences including serenity, solidarity, self-development, discontentment, antagonism, and workplace alienation can advance understanding to promote inclusive tourism policies for transitioning remote island destinations.

Reimagining the future through the co-creation of social entrepreneurship in higher education: a multivariate prediction model approach

PurposeThis remastered analysis focuses on the impact of entrepreneurial interventions in higher education institutions (HEI), particularly in social entrepreneurship. The study evaluated the effectiveness of such interventions through a pre-and post-test approach, examining various skill sets in students. The primary goal was to analyze the influence of entrepreneurial training programs on students' competencies in social entrepreneurship by analyzing changes in personal behavior, leadership, innovation, social value and management skills before and after the educational interventions.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a quasi-experimental design, analyzing pre-and post-test results in three distinct social entrepreneurship training experiences. The sample consisted of 304 participants, providing a comprehensive view of the impact of these interventions.FindingsThe main findings were: (1) Educational interventions in social entrepreneurship must emphasize strategies for self-awareness, emotional intelligence and personal development improvement. The analysis revealed significant improvements in these areas, indicating that targeted strategies in these domains are essential for enhancing the effectiveness of social entrepreneurship education. (2) The impact of educational interventions on these capabilities can be effectively evaluated using machine learning methods such as ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. This approach allows for the inclusion of variables such as gender, age or location, providing a comprehensive assessment of the interventions' impact. (3) The interventions were particularly effective in improving students' innovation and leadership competencies. The analysis demonstrated substantial enhancements in these areas, underscoring the success of the interventions in developing these critical skills. (4) The study highlighted the need for a more focused approach in future interventions, emphasizing the importance of management, social value and personal skills. Additionally, it pointed out the necessity of developing and utilizing appropriate tools to create and evaluate these interventions effectively.Practical implicationsThe study provides insights into improving educational interventions in social entrepreneurship to better develop essential skills in students.Originality/valueThis research introduces a significant approach to educational interventions for educational communities and decision-makers by demonstrating the effectiveness of entrepreneurial training for competencies in innovation and leadership, which are crucial for societal and economic development.

Racial/ethnic discrimination and racial trauma: Concurrent evaluation among Black adults who smoke in the United States.

Although Black/African American (hereinafter Black) adults who smoke are a tobacco disparities population in the United States, little systematic research has sought to explicate how differences in the distinct experience of race-related threat are associated with established and clinically important smoking processes in one overarching model. The present investigation sought to bridge this gap and test perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and racial trauma in the context of one another regarding an array of processes involved in the maintenance and relapse of smoking behavior. Participants included 517 Black individuals who smoked cigarettes daily (≥ 5; Mage = 45.07, SD = 14.72, 51.5% identified as female). Results indicated that in adjusted models, perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and racial trauma were each associated with an increased risk of more severe problems when quitting smoking as well as somatic symptoms and harmful consequences in smoking abstinence expectancies. For perceived barriers to quitting and negative mood abstinence expectancies, only racial trauma exerted a statistically significant main effect. In contrast, there was a statistically significant main effect only for perceived racial/ethnic discrimination for positive smoking abstinence expectancies, such that greater perceived racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with less positive beliefs about the consequences of abstinence (e.g., positive affect). Overall, the present investigation indicated that both perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and racial trauma were relatively consistent and impactful explanatory variables for several clinically significant smoking processes, even in the context of one another, among Black adults who smoke in the United States. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Access to Healthcare for Black Women in Alberta: An Interpersonal-Level Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators.

Alberta is home to one of Canada's fastest growing populations of Black people, driven by an influx of African immigrants to major metropolitan areas such as Edmonton and Calgary. As the Black population in Alberta continues to grow, it is crucial to the well-being of these communities that we understand their health service needs. Black women are a vulnerable group within the Black population due to inequities in social determinants of health such as access to healthcare. In Canada, little is known about the healthcare access experiences of Black women despite reported disparities in their health outcomes. As such, we undertook a qualitative study to examine access to health services for Black women in Alberta. Semi-structured interviews were completed with 30 Black women from Edmonton and Calgary. We applied intersectionality as an analytical framework to guide our understanding of how interconnected social processes shape Black women's experiences of accessing healthcare. Following our thematic analysis, we identified two major barriers to healthcare access: patient-provider discordance and negative healthcare encounters. We identified two key facilitators: positive patient-provider dynamics and individual and social network strengths. Our findings suggest that Black women have distinct experiences of accessing the healthcare system which are best understood as a confluence of their race, gender, and other aspects of their personhood.

Being a Woman Politician on the Isle of Man: How Smallness Explains Political Culture

Abstract This article explores the distinctive experience of women as legislators in a small democracy, drawing on a multimethod study of the Isle of Man. Experiences of gender in a small democracy’s politics are not merely quantitatively different, for instance in terms of constituents per representative; but qualitatively different as a result of the interconnected ramifications of quantitative differences. We find pervasive effects from the absence of strong party institutionalization, the intersection of intimacy and vulnerability, and the constraints of strictly limited capacity. Understanding gender and politics in a small democracy is an important contribution to island feminism, and acts as a corrective to an understanding of the interrelations of gender and politics within democratic constitutions based only on the experience of women in large democracies. The study also shows the pervasive importance of smallness even for a European democracy with close cultural ties to a large democracy.

Cross-cultural Validation of Achievement Motivation and General Mattering Measures in Latinx Culture

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric evidence for Achievement Motivation and General Mattering scores among Latinx college students in Mexico and the United States based on degree of measurement invariance. Validating instruments in cross-cultural contexts is essential to ensure that psychological constructs are measured reliably across populations with distinct cultural experiences, such as family dynamics, schooling, mental health, and acculturation. A total of 505 participants, with 263 from Mexico and 242 from the United States, participated in the study (U.S. sample: 71.9% female, ages 18–57, M = 23.65; Mexican sample: 55.9% female, ages 15–56, M = 26.69). The results indicated that the Spanish version of the Achievement Motivation scale had partial strict invariance, and the General Mattering scale had metric invariance when used with these two groups of Spanish-speaking Latinx college students. This study highlighted the need of using accurate, trustworthy, and culturally sensitive measures to comprehend the psychological experiences of Latinx college students.

Voices of Care: Nurses' Perspectives on End-of-Life Care for Black/African American Patients.

This qualitative study examines the distinct experiences of Black/African American nurses in providing end-of-life care to patients of the same racial background and their families. It fills a significant gap in existing research by focusing on the lived experiences and perceptions of Black/African American nurses, gathered through semistructured interviews. Using phenomenological analysis with Colaizzi's method, the study identified principal themes such as racial and ethnic disparities in treatment, challenges in pain management, the need for cultural sensitivity, and the significant influence of historical Black/African American patients' mistrust in health care interactions. The findings illustrate pervasive health care disparities, which are intensified by socioeconomic variables, cultural incompetence, and systemic bias. The nurses highlighted the urgent need for enhanced cultural competence in health care practices to ensure equitable treatment and patient-centric care. This research underscores the necessity for systemic reforms to improve cultural sensitivity and trust within health care services, advocating for comprehensive cultural competency training, greater diversity in health care representation, and effective mechanisms for reporting and addressing disparities. These measures are critical for improving health care outcomes and trust among Black/African American communities at the end of life.

What are the experiences and support needs of families of autistic children with Extreme (or ‘Pathological’) Demand Avoidance (E/PDA) behaviours?

BackgroundAn increasing number of families are seeking assessment and support for autistic children who present with Extreme (or Pathological) Demand Avoidance (E/PDA) behaviours. However, research suggests the needs of these families may not be well understood or met by services. This study identifies their experiences and support needs, focussing on their interactions with services. MethodQualitative, semi-structured, online interviews with 21 parents of child(ren) with a formal diagnosis of autism and E/PDA behaviours. Interviews were analysed using an inductive, reflexive thematic analysis at a semantic level. ResultsFour themes describe the distinct experiences of families: (1) Understanding and acceptance of E/PDA behaviours is lacking; (2) Attributing blame: Judgements of E/PDA behaviours by others; (3) Lack of tailored support for E/PDA behaviours; (4) The E/PDA journey results in distress for all family members. Themes form the basis for a new interpretative model of familial experiences of E/PDA in which lack of understanding and acceptance of E/PDA drives neuro-normative judgements about E/PDA behaviours and parenting quality, leading to inadequately tailored support and familial distress. ConclusionParents’ accounts point to a breakdown in service provision for families of children with E/PDA behaviours whose ‘complex’ or ‘atypical’ presentation of autism does not fit neatly within existing classification systems and a ‘label-based’ service model. Improving education and understanding about familial experiences of E/PDA behaviours amongst professionals and services, with greater ‘personalisation’ and ‘formulation-based’ approaches is urgently needed to optimise outcomes and prevent harm.

Depression and loneliness in a volunteer sample of adults at a suicide prevention and fund-raising walk: a feasibility study: Depression and loneliness at suicide prevention walk.

Loneliness is recognized as a distinct psychological experience separate from depression. This feasibility study explored the prevalence and association of depression and loneliness among adults at a suicide prevention walk, a potentially high risk and vulnerable population for depression, loneliness and suicide. Adults completed anonymous loneliness, depression, and physical activity surveys. Based on Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), adults were classified as screening positive (3 to 6) or negative (0 to 2) for depression. T-tests determined if the revised UCLA Loneliness Score (ULS) differed by depression screening status. Of the 133 survey participants, 13% screened positive for depression. Positive screens were highest for males, aged 18-35, living alone with a less active lifestyle. Participants averaged 36.8±10.4 on the ULS; 11%(n=13) and 5%(n=6) were classified as experiencing moderate and very high levels of loneliness, respectively. Loneliness was significantly greater for those who screened positive for depression (49±9) compared to those who screened negative (35±9)(p<0.001). ULS and PHQ-2 were positively correlated (r=0.70, p<0.01). Active participants reported less loneliness than less active participants(p<0.01). The findings may be biased due to the volunteer sample composed primarily of female Caucasians. In a sample that may be at higher risk for depression due to suicide attempts or being suicide loss survivors, 13% screened positive for depression. Loneliness scores were not elevated in this population compared to national estimates. Suicide awareness events may be an efficient and cost-effective public health measure for the screening and appropriate follow-up of physical activity, depression and loneliness.

A qualitative study on the experiences of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant for Multiple Sclerosis

AimAutologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is an effective treatment for people with highly-active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), who are not adequately responding to disease-modifying therapies. To date, research has predominantly focused on disease-specific outcome measures. There is a lack of research exploring patient experiences of this complex treatment. The study aims to explore the experience of considering and receiving HSCT treatment for MS. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted online with 12 adults with MS who had undergone HSCT treatment. Interview topics covered the experience of deciding on the treatment, the HSCT process itself, and the patient-reported outcomes following HSCT. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis approach was employed. ResultsThree main themes were identified: (1) Balancing hope and fear explores the decision-making experience when considering HSCT as a treatment; (2) Distinct emotional experience, highlights the unique challenges faced on all stages of the treatment journey; and (3) Adjusting to outcomes, explores how participants make sense of the aftermath of the treatment, including managing the ongoing uncertainty of MS and complications arising from HSCT. DiscussionHSCT is a complex treatment, both physically and psychologically for pwMS. A comprehensive and holistic care pathway is required to support people with MS at all stages of the treatment process, to ensure patient-centred planning and care.

Challenges and Future Directions for Promoting Intersectional Quantitative Studies in Physical Activity Research.

Understanding health inequalities is essential for improving social justice. Intersectionality refers to a theoretical framework for studying the intersection of multiple social categorizations that create unique experiences and related social inequalities. Currently, the majority of the intersectional studies in the physical activity field have a qualitative design; thus, there is a need for quantitative intersectional studies. This commentary aims to explore primary obstacles impeding intersectional quantitative research and provide recommendations for overcoming these obstacles in physical activity research. In the commentary, we discuss that the lack of accessibility of large-scale and diverse data sets, and suboptimal social categorizations and intersectionality-related questions may contribute to the scarcity of intersectional quantitative research in the field. To facilitate intersectional quantitative analyses, we advocate for making large-scale data sets accessible for intersectional secondary analyses, diverse sampling, standardizing questions and categories related to intersectionality, promoting inclusive research designs and methods, and using the appropriate questions and social categorization that reflect the distinct experiences of each subgroup. By addressing these challenges, researchers may gain new insights into health disparities, making physical activity research more inclusive and contributing to more equitable health outcomes.