Diverse Positions Research Articles

Local collective action for sustainability transformations: emerging narratives from local energy initiatives in The Netherlands

The phrase “local collective action” is increasingly being used to describe how civil society engages with, and acts upon, sustainability transformations. While existing research has framed local collective action as an outcome of creating a shared agenda on a local level, there have been calls for exploring the diversity of ideas, motives, and ambitions people have when they join local energy initiatives. This article aims to identify the diverse attitudes towards local collective action envisioned by those who engage in local energy initiatives. We use Q methodology to analyze people’s perceptions of the local collective action they are engaged in and how those perceptions could manifest in different pathways for sustainability transformations. Forty-seven statements reflecting various approaches to local collective action were sorted by people engaged in various local energy initiatives in the northeast of the Netherlands. Based on the analysis, we distinguish four factors—Localism, Facilitation, Orchestration, and Radical Transformation—that express the diverse aspirations, motivations, and rationales associated with local collective action in local energy initiatives. The findings emphasize that for those engaged in local energy initiatives (LEIs), local collective action means navigating among different assumptions, values, and transformation processes, which often oscillate between guiding principles that emphasize “getting things done” and “creating a pleasant atmosphere”. We argue that these four factors can serve as a starting point for developing local collective action strategies to help local communities and authorities unpack possible tensions, confrontations, and conflicts concerning local energy initiatives. These findings point out that while local energy initiatives rely on people’s energy and enthusiasm, practitioners and governments should be cautious while embracing their ambitions and values.

Basic Values Transform Political Interest into Diverse Political Values, Attitudes and Behaviors

Since politically interested adolescents do not necessarily present humanistic, environmental and democratic values, this study addresses the hitherto ignored role that how these basic human values play in politically interested adolescents’ political values, attitudes and behaviors. A cluster analysis of 857 Swedish upper-secondary students (50.8% girls, Mage = 16.62, SD = 0.71) identified politically interested adolescents who attached high levels of importance to others’ welfare and politically interested adolescents who attached low levels of importance. They differed on most comparative measures: environmental values, inclusive attitudes towards immigrants, support of democratic principles, trust in social movements, and readiness to step in if something jeopardizes the welfare of others. The conclusion is that the value of attaching high importance to others’ welfare or not transforms youth’s political interest into diverse attitudes and behaviors. The cluster group of politically interested adolescents who attached low importance to others’ welfare largely consisted of males.

Hesitancy towards the Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine among the Younger Generation in Japan.

The younger generation’s hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine in Japan received significant attention during the early stages of vaccination. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive study in Japan that analyzes the apprehension towards the third dose of vaccine, commonly known as the booster dose, and its underlying causes. Using data from an online panel survey conducted by the Hiroshima Institute of Health Economics Research at Hiroshima University, we examined the severity of booster dose aversion among youths of different ages. Our findings indicate that a sizeable proportion of the Japanese population, particularly younger men, are hesitant to receive the booster dose. Furthermore, an inter-age group difference in booster dose aversion exists only among men. According to the probit regression results, subjective health status and future anxiety are associated with the booster vaccine hesitancy of men and women of various age groups. Moreover, few socioeconomic and behavioral factors like marital status, having children, household income and assets, and having a myopic view of the future, are also associated with the booster dose aversion among youths of certain ages. Given the diverse attitude of the younger generation, our findings suggest that public health authorities should develop effective communication strategies to reduce vaccine apprehension in the society.

Nostalgia for the Belief in a Female-Friendly Academic World to Come

Abstract In the academic novel of the 1980s, which Elaine Showalter dubs the feminist towers, women characters are not limited to beautiful and seductive students or faculty wives, whose husbands’ academic career appears to be also their own goal. Although the very presence of women in academia is often interpreted as a threat to the male reign over the ‘small world,’ female scholars are determined to expose and fight against gender inequity and inequality in order to be perceived and valued as fully-fledged scholars. Paradoxically, even if women are considered serious candidates for different university positions, they cannot indulge in the same intense pleasures of academic life as their male counterparts due to the overpowering feeling of being the other. An analysis of female scholar characters and their diverse attitudes towards feminism is based on two academic mystery novels written in the 1980s, Death in a Tenured Position by Amanda Cross and Graves in Academe by Susan Kenney. It is followed by an investigation of the reasons making academics feel nostalgia for the university of the 1980’s, i.e. the milieu before the emergence of the protective power of the Me Too movement and reports on sexual harassment of women in academia published by the NASEM.

Almost 30 years of effort to bind clinical practice and science in the field of psychiatry in Europe

Introduction European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) is a platform for psychiatric trainees from not only Europe but also various other countries. EFPT exclusively works on binding clinical practice and science for better mental health care. Research Working Group (RWG) of EFPT works on sharing knowledge with peers by brainstorming, collaborating and coordinating projects, organizing journal clubs and workshops.ObjectivesWe will focus on tele-psychiatry also known as e-mental health, a subdivision of telemedicine, provides diagnostic interview, evaluation, therapies, psycho-education and treatment. We plan The Brain-Drain follow-up study, investigates immigration of psychiatric trainees. Also educational activities have planned.MethodsWith a questionnaire on the topic of psychiatry residents’ acceptance of tele-psychiatry using The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), we will hold the first multi-national survey among psychiatry residents. The Brain-Drain study was conducted by the EFPT-RWG in the past had a promising outcome. We are currently working on the follow-up of the study. We are starting to hold events. For instance we will commence the monthly journal club. Apart from giving a platform for scientific debate, journal club will also provide a chance have a elaborate discussion with author. We will organize a workshop on how to write a case-study with Neuro-Psycho-Pharmacology Working Group of EFPT.ResultsWe assume diverse attitudes overlapping different telepsychiatry exposure and regualtions, comprehensive data on immigration of trainees and sharing knowledge on practice and research.ConclusionsHopefully, we will have clearer understanding of changes in working environment of trainees either with new technologies or in different countries.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Beauty or Statistics: Practice and Science in Dutch Livestock Breeding, 1900–2000

Beauty or Statistics: Practice and Science in Dutch Livestock Breeding, 1900–2000

Native American and First Nation Perspectives on the Use of Human Remains in Education & Proximity to Death

Cultural attitudes regarding interactions with the deceased, the dead and contact with the lifeless human body vary throughout the world, including among Native American, First Nation, Metίs, and Inuit groups in North America. From remains that have been obtained without consent to working with cadaveric specimens, this talk addresses the beliefs and concerns of indigenous peoples regarding the use of human remains as educational specimens and interaction with the dead. Both speaker perspectives as well as preliminary results from research will address the diverse attitudes towards the dead, treatment of the dead, use of human remains for teaching and research purposes. We will also acknowledge the principle of informed consent in a colonial world. Anatomical education is often reliant on the gracious donation of humans but what are we to do if they were not obtained with consent as are many of the indigenous specimens still maintained at universities?Working with human remains can also be of concern for indigenous students with respect to their cultural beliefs. This talk will address the importance and considerations needed for indigenous students while providing the audience with a basic understanding of some of those cultural beliefs. It is not only important to have respect for the human remains but also for the students who encounter them. Anatomical educators must have an awareness of cultural and religious beliefs that are at odds with working with human remains or being in the presence of a lifeless body, so that we are prepared to provide inclusive learning environments for our students. We hope to provide an inclusive discussion on Native American and First Nation perspectives on the use of human remains in education and the proximity to death.

Humanoid intelligent robot (HIR) situation: research on the formation and influence of social value level substitution cha-xu pattern

PurposeA humanoid intelligent robot (HIR) possessing a human-like appearance can undertake human jobs, interact, communicate and even transmit emotions to human beings. Such robots have gradually been integrated into people's daily life and production scenarios. However, it is unclear whether and by what mechanism HIRs can stimulate people’s risk perception and its impact on consumption attitudes. Based on the risk decision theory, this study aims to take the social value substitution attribute of a HIR as the incentive and analyzes the influence of social value substitution and risk perception on the customers’ consumption attitudes.Design/methodology/approachThree experiments were conducted to investigate the related questions about the social value substitution attribute of a HIR, its impact on risk perception and the customers’ consumption attitudes.FindingsThe results reveal that physical labor, intellectual labor, friendship, kinship and the ego constitute the hierarchical elements of social value substitution. Among them, physical labor and intellectual labor pertain to the dimension of social function value substitution, while friendship, kinship and ego pertain to the dimension of social presence value substitution; social function value substitution and social presence value substitution affect the subjects’ risk perception positively, but the latter arouses a stronger risk perception; the 2 (risk perception of social function value: security/danger) × 2 (risk perception of social presence value: security/danger) condition corresponds to diverse consumption attitudes.Originality/valueThe results enrich the theories of the “cha-xu pattern” and “uncanny valley” and provide reference for the healthy development of the HIR industry.

A Corpus-Based Study of the Use of Temporal Markers in English Writing of Thai EFL Writers

The current study aimed to investigate the tendency to use temporal markers (TMs) in English writing by three different levels of Thai writers. Data used in this study were based on the Corpus of Thai Writers of English. The corpus size of approximately 8,800,000 words consisted of essay writing produced by intermediate and advanced student writers and professional writers from two Thai English newspapers. Fraser’s (2005) taxonomy of temporal markers was used as an analytical framework. Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the frequency of occurrences, while a Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was the primary research tool for data analysis. A one-way ANOVA reveals a statistical difference in the use of TMs among three groups of writers (p =.000). The intermediate and professional writers were found to prefer using temporal markers at a comparable ratio. However, the intermediate group used temporal markers in a more diverse attitude than the advanced ones. Six temporal markers (as soon as, immediately, meantime, meanwhile, originally, and subsequently) were hardly utilized in writing by all groups of writers. However, no significant differences were found regarding preferences on the position of the TM in the sentences. The findings improve teaching and learning of cohesive devices, especially temporal markers, in EFL writing classes. 

A Corpus-Based Study of the Use of Temporal Markers in English Writing of Thai EFL Writers

The current study aimed to investigate the tendency to use temporal markers (TMs) in English writing by three different levels of Thai writers. Data used in this study were based on the Corpus of Thai Writers of English. The corpus size of approximately 8,800,000 words consisted of essay writing produced by intermediate and advanced student writers and professional writers from two Thai English newspapers. Fraser’s (2005) taxonomy of temporal markers was used as an analytical framework. Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the frequency of occurrences, while a Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was the primary research tool for data analysis. A one-way ANOVA reveals a statistical difference in the use of TMs among three groups of writers (p =.000). The intermediate and professional writers were found to prefer using temporal markers at a comparable ratio. However, the intermediate group used temporal markers in a more diverse attitude than the advanced ones. Six temporal markers (as soon as, immediately, meantime, meanwhile, originally, and subsequently) were hardly utilized in writing by all groups of writers. However, no significant differences were found regarding preferences on the position of the TM in the sentences. The findings improve teaching and learning of cohesive devices, especially temporal markers, in EFL writing classes. 

Religious Plasticity in Hungarian Society

In 2017, the Századvég Foundation conducted a large sample survey. One of our main objectives in analysing the data was to get a differentiated picture of those groups in society for whom religion does not play the role of an „empty marker”, i.e. for whom it does not have an identity-forming significance as a single unified phenomenon in their lives. A key issue was to map the diverse attitudes of this heterogeneous group of people, taking into account the distancing, insensitivities and receptivities of each stratum, as well as their sociodemographic characteristics. According to our measurement, 63.2 per cent of the Hungarian society is made up of people with a malleable religiousness. We have identified a total of ten clusters of people with malleable religiosity (desire-religious, experience seekers, routine seekers, support seekers, church supporters, church avoiders, religion consumers, loneliness seekers, God seekers, charity seekers).

On, In, and Within a Place

This article examines six modes of operation on, in, and within a place in Israeli conceptual art and landscape architecture. These modes—action-in-place; intervention; place-making; representation; readymade; and second-nature—maintain landscape architecture’s conception of a genius loci, the spirit of the place. They also attend to place as a new and critical means of operation in the 1970s emerging field of conceptual art. This article explores diverse attitudes and motivations for operating with/in place, as it became a fundamental issue in the international arena in the 1970s, in relation to Israeli cultural, political, social, and environmental concerns. In the context of the period’s sociopolitical turmoil and ideological controversy, the article’s two focal points—the six-mode perspective and the disciplines’ attitude toward place—complement each other and attend to the manifold aspects of place (ha-Makom) in Israel, while highlighting its intricacy.

Why do nursing staff need a cultural knowledge?

Summary. Cultural knowledge forms the basis of cultural competence and intercultural competence of nursing staff. It is especially important in the face of cultural diversity and individuals from a culturally diverse world.
 The aim of the study – to present nursing staff's understanding of the term: cultural knowledge and to identify the meanings given to cultural knowledge in the context of cultural and intercultural competence in the professional practice of nursing staff.
 Materials and Methods. The research sample was selected purposively. It consisted of nursing personnel (students of the nursing faculty, second-degree studies at Collegium Mazovia Innovative University in Siedlce, Poland). The research falls within the interpretative paradigm. The research methods used were: desk research and qualitative case study. 8 individual online, asynchronous interviews were conducted. A qualitative "meaning-oriented" analysis with coding and interpretation of meanings was used.
 Results. The nursing staff defines the concept of cultural knowledge as: knowledge cultural and religious differences, enabling holistic care of patients; knowledge of the surrounding world, enabling appropriate behaviour towards people from culturally diverse world and tolerance; knowledge of customs, habits of various social groups (nationalities, religions); ability to adapt and function effectively in a culturally diverse environment; development of cultural sensitivity; respect for people; lack of prejudice and stereotypes concerning people from culturally diverse world; spiritual and material achievements of a society. Cultural knowledge, treated as the basis of cultural and intercultural competence, enables: to provide holistic, culturally diverse patient care; respect, tact, openness, appropriate behaviour towards patients from a culturally diverse world (diverse attitudes towards health and illness). It is knowledge that enables the development of empathy, learning, and a broader perspective on people from culturally diverse backgrounds; it eliminates stereotypes and reduces communication barriers; it avoids misunderstandings; it is an intrinsic value and contributes to the awareness of diverse value systems; it enables the understanding of people from culturally diverse backgrounds, reducing uncertainty, frustration, and ethical dilemmas of culturally diverse care.
 Conclusions. The presented cases have an autotelic character (cognitive and practical aspect and practical aspects), but they also show a broader context of cultural competence and intercultural competence of nursing staff in culturally diverse care.

Institutional Arrangements and Power Threat: Diversity, Democracy, and Punitive Attitudes

This research synthesizes studies on crime and punishment, work in political sociology, and race and ethnicity scholarship in order to theorize and empirically examine the democratic foundations of group threat theory. We argue that ethnic diversity is particularly threatening when coupled with robust democratic institutions that empower individuals to pose challenges to the extant political and social order. Making use of recent measurement advances in the study of democracy, this article uses multi-level modeling techniques across 39,926 survey respondents in 27 countries from the fifth wave of the European Social Survey to test the extent to which punitive attitudes toward criminals were associated with interaction effects of an index of ethnic diversity and democratic quality. Results strongly confirm our theoretical predictions that robust democratic institutions condition the effect of ethnic fractionalization on punitive attitudes in Europe.

Diversity Discourse as Racialized and Double-edged: Findings from a National Survey

The keyword diversity is common in contemporary U.S. culture, but it can refer to many forms of difference; questions remain about the meaning and consequences of “diversity,” especially regarding whether this concept is commonly recognized in the American imagination and how diversity discourse relates to racial hierarchy in the United States. We use nationally representative survey data to address these questions through a critical race theory lens. First, we conduct factor analysis upon three different items that ask participants to evaluate or characterize “diversity.” These three items are well-predicted by a single latent factor, and this factor proves distinct from possible confounders such as prejudicial attitudes, misgivings about immigration and demographic change, and color-blind racial attitudes. Second, we see that diversity attitudes have a double-edged relationship with other attitudes that relate to racial hierarchy in the United States. Using regressions, we find that positivity toward diversity predicts equitable, non-racist stances on several race-related attitudes such as support for affirmative action and acknowledgment of white privilege. On the contrary, positivity toward diversity is also associated with core cultural ideologies which normalize racial inequality and implicitly denigrate minorities, such as color-blind racism and meritocracy. Thus, our study establishes that a coherent and distinct recognition of diversity exists in the American imagination and that diversity discourse has a double-edged relationship with racial hierarchy.

DESCRIPTION OF EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE TO CHANGES IN THE COMPANY – A CASE STUDY ON ATTITUDE OF PHARMACY ON STRUCTURAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL CHANGES AND HUMANS IN CV. BERKAH MEDIKA FARMA, INDONESIA

CV. Berkah Medika Farma is a company that oversees three pharmacies in Banjarnegara Regency. This company is undergoing developments and changes to be able to keep up with the times. The change made by the management brings a diverse attitude from its employees. This case study research was conducted to see a picture of the dynamics of attitudes that pharmacists have towards the changes that are happening in the company. The study subjects consisted of five pharmacists working on CV. Berkah Medika Farma. This study uses a qualitative approach with measuring instruments used in the form of interviews using semi-structured questions derived from attitude theory from Triandis. The results are processed with coding methods, namely open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. Based on this study, the results were obtained in the form of an overview of the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components that shape the attitudes of pharmacists in the face of changes that are happening in the company. The majority of pharmacists have components of a positive attitude towards the changes that are taking place. At first the pharmacists claimed not to be familiar with the changes that occurred, but over time they began to get used to and able to implement these changes. However, data found that there are pharmacists who experience inconsistencies between attitude components in the face of these changes. Based on the findings obtained in this study, management needs to hold a meeting with all its employees to discuss changes and new policies implemented so that all employees understand and are able to implement them optimally.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0972/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Implementing strategic responses in the COVID-19 market crisis: a study of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. This paper aims to examine how India's SMEs implement their strategic responses in this crisis.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses dynamic capability theory to explore the strategic responses of SMEs. Strategy implementation theory helps to explain how they implement innovative practices for outcomes. A research model defines the COVID-19 challenges, strategic responses and performance outcomes. The study reports the findings of an initial pilot study of 75 firms and follow-up case study results in the context of COVID-19.FindingsFirms choose their approaches according to their perceived market risks. Case studies illustrate that firms display diverse attitudes depending on their strategic direction, leadership vision and organizational culture. They achieve different outcomes by implementing specific styles of risk management practices (e.g. risk-averting, risk-taking and risk-thriving).Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the study context is Indian SMEs, the findings suggest meaningful lessons for other emerging economies in similar crisis events. The propositions may be extended to future research in broad contexts.Practical implicationsEven in the extraordinary COVID-19 market crisis, SMEs with limited resources display their strategic potential by recognizing their unique capabilities, translating them into effective actions and achieving desirable outcomes.Social implicationsIn the COVID-19 pandemic, top leaders' mental attitude, strategic perspective and routine practices are contagious. Positive leadership motivates both internal and external stakeholders with an enormous level of collaboration.Originality/valueThis rare study of Indian SMEs provides a theoretical framework for designing a pilot survey and conducting a case study of multiple firms. Based on these findings, testable propositions are articulated for future research in diverse organizational and national contexts.

Context, Power and Diversity Perceptions: A Comparison of UK and South African Employees

This quantitative study explored group differences in organisational commitment and fairness perceptions across two national contexts. Integrating the social identity and intergroup theories, we analysed categories in relation to proposed differences in power relations in South Africa in a private organisation with over 30 000 employees and the United Kingdom in a public organisation with 10 000 employees. In both countries, White men perceived the organisation as most fair. Black men in South Africa and Black women in the United Kingdom perceived the organisation as least fair. A positive and significant relationship between commitment and organisational fairness for all ethnic-gender groups in both countries were found except for White men in the United Kingdom. In South Africa, White men were significantly more committed to the organisation than White men in the United Kingdom. We categorised groups on the basis of intersecting identities and power relations that are meaningful in a specific context to understand personal or organisational diversity attitudes and outcomes. Our approach offers a new avenue for meaningful examination of diversity outcomes in organisations. Our findings suggest that organisations should not only employ fair and inclusive organisational policies but may also need to differentially manage diversity perceptions for different ethnic-gender groups.

Shaping Students' Attitudes Toward Diversity: Do Faculty Practices and Interactions With Students Matter?

Scholars have advocated for further investigation of the campus climate for diversity and students’ attitudes and behaviors surrounding diversity, and there appears to be an increasing responsibility for higher education professionals to consider ways to encourage students’ awareness and acceptance of difference. Using longitudinal data from the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education, this study examined the relationship between students’ perceptions of faculty practices and student-faculty interactions and two measures of students’ attitudes toward diversity, and whether these relationships were moderated by race/ethnicity. Findings revealed that several perceptions of faculty practices and student-faculty interactions were positively associated with students’ fourth-year diversity attitudes, including: (a) quality of faculty contact; (b) faculty interest in teaching and student development; (c) how often students had discussions with faculty whose political, social, or religious opinions were different from their own; (d) how often faculty engaged students in cooperative learning activities; (e) whether courses helped students see connections between intended careers and how they affect society; and (f) whether courses helped students understand the historical, political, and social connections of past events. Overall, findings suggest that the type and quality of each faculty practice or measure of interaction with students may be significant in terms of fostering positive diversity attitudes among students. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Patterns and Predictors of Off-Label Drug Prescribing in Psychiatric Practice: A Qualitative Study.

Off-label drug prescribing (OLDP) must be based on strong scientific evidence to make sure that patients get the optimum therapeutic outcomes. Adherence to the prerequisites is determined by the physicians’ attitude and knowledge. In this context, the present study was conducted with the goal of investigating psychiatrists’ perceptions of the use of OLDP in their clinical practice. A total of 14 psychiatrists were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic content analysis was performed. Data saturation was achieved at the 12th interview. Six major themes and fifteen subthemes emerged from qualitative interviews. Among the major themes were knowledge and concepts about the off-label drugs, attitude and current practice of prescribing off-label drugs, and rationale of prescribing and suggestions for reducing the use of off-label drugs. Almost all of the respondents interviewed provided detailed comments concerning the OLDP concept, depicted an optimistic approach and deemed that OLDP is quite common in psychiatry. Off-label usage of benzodiazepines such as clonazepam, diazepam and lorazepam in mania, depression, and obsessive–compulsive disorder were commonly reported. It was observed that the majority of the respondents did not inform the patients before prescribing off-label drugs. The present findings revealed that respondents had awareness; however, they depicted diverse attitudes towards prescribing off-label drugs. Further education and sensitization in regions with impoverished knowledge would certainly assist in preventing the risks associated with the use of OLDP.