Diverse Experiences Research Articles

‘ความอุ่นใจ (Kharm Unn Jai)’: honouring transcultural experiences in supporting women

ABSTRACT This paper presents autoethnographic accounts from women design researchers, each sharing their culturally grounded approaches to support women in a transcultural mentoring programme. The authors examine the concepts of ‘safety’ and ‘safe spaces’, by unpacking these terms through decolonial perspectives. The paper’s title ความอุ่นใจ (Karm Unn Jai), roughly meaning warm hearted, represents the first author’s state of being, relating and co-becoming during the programme and became an invitation for all authors to reflect on diverse personal experiences of safety. This paper offers six reflections on atmospheric and felt dimensions of codesign practice as prompts for readers’ own explorations. Their differences and resonances point towards the intersectional positionalities and relationalities that comprise codesigning, rather than collapsing them under generic guidelines for designing ‘safety’ or ‘safe spaces’. We highlight the transcultural emergence of trust and kindness, and expand the scholarship on inclusivity in multilingual and multicultural contexts. This work advocates for a more nuanced understanding of codesigning that recognises and values diverse lifeworlds, thereby contributing to efforts in decolonising and pluralising codesign discourse.

Caregiving in Asia: Priority areas for research, policy, and practice to support family caregivers.

Population aging presents a growing societal challenge and imposes a heavy burden on the healthcare system in many Asian countries. Given the limited availability of formal long-term care (LTC) facilities and personnel, family caregivers play a vital role in providing care for the increasing population of older adults. While awareness of the challenges faced by caregivers is rising, discussions often remain within academic circles, resulting in the lived experiences, well-being, and needs of family caregivers being frequently overlooked. In this review, we identify four key priority areas to advance research, practice, and policy related to family caregivers in Asia: (1) Emphasizing family caregivers as sociocultural navigators in the healthcare system; (2) addressing the mental and physical health needs of family caregivers; (3) recognizing the diverse caregiving experiences across different cultural backgrounds, socioeconomic status, and countries of residence; and (4) strengthening policy support for family caregivers. Our review also identifies deficiencies in institutional LTC and underscores the importance of providing training and empowerment to caregivers. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers interested in supporting family caregivers should prioritize these key areas to tackle the challenge of population aging in Asian countries. Cross-country knowledge exchange and capacity development are crucial for better serving both the aging population and their caregivers.

Perception and Ethical Challenges for the Future of AI as Encountered by Surveyed New Engineers

Our extensive history of embracing AI technological advances demonstrates that AI may be a useful tool if humans learn to use it intelligently, and that concerns about it replacing human occupations may be unwarranted. Indeed, a range of remarkable new AI approaches are fast transforming diverse human experiences and fundamentally disrupting our lives, but not without some drawbacks. This study reflects on how new engineers view AI’s influence on trust and ethical attitudes. Data-driven perceptions drive educated debates, education initiatives, and legislative decisions aimed at effectively addressing non-scientific AI concerns. This contributes to improving the future of AI-based learning through transdisciplinary research that considers the evidence of ethical challenges raised by AI misapplication. Our analysis of quantitative data from a survey of 715 recently graduated engineers from diverse fields, who often use information technologies, reveals that many believed AI-related difficulties were scientifically uncertain. According to this study’s findings, the observed variance in the trend relating to reduced fear of job losses due to AI (R2 = 0.1121) suggests that specialties heavily impacted by crucial decision making have a lower level of fear. This provides strong evidence for an optimistic path to AI breakthroughs boosting the level of confidence in and acceptance of AI across many industries.

AGING AND ADDICTION: A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY IN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES

Objective: To analyze the effects of substance use disorder on treatment and recovery across different age groups in a Therapeutic Community in Paraná. Method: This was a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study. Data collection was carried out in a therapeutic community using a nonprobabilistic sample of 57 inpatients; the data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed via Bardin's content analysis. Results: The results demonstrated diverse perceptions and experiences related to the treatment of substance use disorder. Young people discussed the impact of social and group contexts on their substance dependence trajectories. Adults focused on the impact of dependence on their professional and family lives, while elderly adults reflected on the consequences and their desire for change. Conclusion: This study highlights the need for personalized interventions that integrate psychological, social, and spiritual support, emphasizing the importance of family support and adapting public health policies to effectively meet the needs of this population.

CONNECT WITH ENGLISH A2-B1 SPEAKING HANDBOOK

Preface Diving into the world of English at an A2-B1 level, this book is crafted to guide you through a series of captivating topics, each designed to bolster your language skills and broaden your cultural understanding. Our journey through these pages covers a spectrum of themes, from the excitement of local festivals to the dreams and aspirations surrounding your ideal job. You will explore various subjects such as planning trips, understanding environmental concerns, and the thrill of music and concerts. This book is more than just a language learning tool; it's a window into diverse experiences and viewpoints. Each lesson is structured to enhance your conversational abilities, making English not just a subject to learn, but a world to explore. As you progress, you'll find yourself delving into topics like technology, health trends, and even the significance of historical figures in Azerbaijan. By the end of this book, not only will your English skills have improved, but you'll also have gained insights into various aspects of life and culture. Let's begin this exciting journey together, turning every page into an opportunity to learn and grow in the English language.

Deepening Explorations of Racial and Linguistic Representation in Picturebooks through Critical Translingual Literacies

AbstractAmplifying the racial, linguistic, ethnic, and broader sociocultural resources of Black, Latine, and Indigenous communities remains an urgent endeavor during these precarious times in literacy education. In the wake of continued global and U.S. racial reckoning movements and legislation that narrows early literacy curriculum to isolated skills and texts in standardizing English print, foregrounding the linguistic savvy of racialized linguistically diverse communities' experiences becomes imperative. Drawing on data from a 2‐year long teacher and researcher collaborative inquiry and recent scholarship on critical translingual literacies, we feature a linguistically diverse picturebook read‐aloud planning guide designed to support educators' commitments to amplifying the lives, languages, and literacies of Black, Latine, and Indigenous communities. Picturebooks have a long history as a tool for literacy learning, yet the artful and sociopolitical features of these texts are too often sacrificed at the expense of skills‐focused instruction. The practice of “using” picture books solely to teach skills becomes more alarming as picturebooks that feature diverse racial, linguistic, or ethnic communities are “plugged” into scripted curriculum without opportunities for students to respond to the sociocultural and linguistic resources featured. As diverse picturebooks slowly flood our classrooms, guidance regarding the relevant commitments, conditions, collaborations, and classroom practices are needed to ensure that their aesthetic and sociopolitical features are not only considered but deepened. The featured picturebook guide is specifically designed to support teachers as critical picturebook curators who design read‐alouds that build upon the translingual literacies of Black, Latine, and Indigenous communities and affirms the brilliance and beauty of racial, linguistic, and ethnic diversity. This humanizing and liberatory approach to language and literature study resists the replication of singular language forms (standardizing English print) and centers language(s) as system(s) that thrive in the daily lives of real people.

Life Course Patterns of Work History and Cognitive Trajectories Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Prior research indicated that diverse work experiences in early and middle life stages are associated with cognitive function in later life. However, whether life course patterns of work history are associated with later life cognitive function in China remains unknown. Data were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, and 5,800 participants aged 60 years or older were included. We used sequence analysis to identify the work history patterns between ages 18 and 60. Growth curve modeling was performed to evaluate how the work-history patterns are associated with global and domain-specific (i.e., mental intactness and episodic memory) cognitive function. We identified 8 work patterns, distinguished by duration, transitions, timing, and sequence of work history. Compared with individuals exposed to lifelong agricultural work, those engaged in lifelong nonagricultural employed work had better cognitive function in later life and experienced slower rates of cognitive decline in both global cognitive function and the mental intactness domain. In addition, individuals who shifted from agricultural to nonagricultural employed work early (around age 30) had better global cognitive function in later life, whereas the association was not significant for such a transition later (around age 50). Our study highlights the importance of the duration, sequence, and timing of transitions in work history for cognitive health among older Chinese. Future interventions and policies aimed at improving cognitive function should fully consider the cumulative and dynamic nature of work from a life course perspective.

AI-enhanced collaborative story writing in the EFL classroom

Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening up new possibilities for educators to explore innovative solutions to classroom challenges. While the benefits of AI in enhancing individual learning are well established, its potential in collaborative learning environments remains underexplored. This paper reports on the first cycle of a design-based research project that involved the development of Collabowrite, a collaborative story-writing application designed for compulsory English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classes at a Japanese university. During a 14-week semester, 52 students engaged with the application in 160 separate usage instances, using AI features such as grammar checks, virtual group members, artwork generation, and story narration. The grammar checks were evaluated for accuracy at 90.4% across 894 instances, with students adhering to elements of AI-provided guidance 91.4% of the time. Students rated their enjoyment of the activities at an average of 4.63 out of 5. Pre- and post-intervention surveys involving 27 participants indicated significant positive shifts in perceptions toward English writing, collaborative work, and the role of technology in language learning. Reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative data generated three salient themes that capture the diverse experiences of participants. These findings suggest the need to revisit sociocultural learning theories to incorporate AI into classroom dynamics. This initial research cycle led to the formulation of six design principles for integrating AI-enhanced collaborative writing tools into EFL classrooms. Future cycles will further evaluate the efficacy of Collabowrite as an educational tool and its impact on students’ foreign language writing abilities.

Charting The Path Of Formation: A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Acquired Values Of Former Seminarians

Seminary formation leaves an enduring impact on seminarians that extends far beyond the confines of the seminary walls. As seminarians journeyed through their formation, they are immersed in diverse values, teachings, and experiences that hone their character and worldview. This study explores the acquired values of the former seminarians during their time in seminary formation, exploring how these values continue to shape and influence their lives beyond the confines of the seminary walls. Employing a transcendental phenomenological approach, the researchers interviewed ten former seminarians who spent three to five years in the seminary. Through data analysis, three prominent themes surfaced on the acquired values: spiritual, moral, and personal competencies. These acquired values were not merely abstract concepts but tangible guiding principles that participants actively integrated into various aspects of human experience, including spiritual and ecclesial life, social interactions, and personal and professional development. By paying careful attention to the lived experiences of former seminarians, seminary programs can be crafted to nurture better the spiritual, moral, and personal development of future generations of clergy.

Political Socialization Among Young Adults in Minnesota

In an era marked by polarized political landscapes, understanding the mechanisms of political socialization among emerging adults in Minnesota provides critical insights into the formation of political identities. This study explores political socialization among young adults in Minnesota, focusing on the impact of family, peers, and personal experiences across diverse social positionalities (i.e., race/ethnicity). Utilizing thematic analysis of 41 interviews (Mage = 21.8, 73.2% Female, 70.7% affiliated politically as Democrats), we identified key themes in political socialization for young adults in Minnesota, including familial transmission (i.e., from parent to child), trickle-up socialization, limited socialization and emphasis on values , reciprocal and selective peer socialization, and personalized political socialization processes. Highlighting the nuanced role of social positionality, the research underscores young adults’ active participation in shaping their political beliefs, suggesting the importance of inclusive and adaptable political engagement strategies to accommodate diverse experiences and perspectives in democratic participation.

Exploring the Experiences of Young LGBTQA+ Australians’ Use of Offline and Online Peer Support

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the experiences of peer interactions among LGBTQA+ young people in Australia. 22 verbatim transcriptions from semi-structured interviews with LGBTQA+ young Australians aged 16–24 were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Four themes were developed; (1) Online safety and anonymity facilitate identity exploration, (2) the risks and benefits of online support, (3) the risks and benefits of in-person peer support, and (4) gender and sexuality diverse experiences of peer support differ. These findings illuminate that both online and in-person peer support play an important role in the lives of young LGBTQA+ Australians with our findings indicating that rather than an either-or approach, online and in-person peer support predominately follows a sequential pattern in the development of their identity and sense of acceptance and belonging. Whilst the anonymity of online spaces acts as a catalyst for exploration of gender identity and sexuality, once assured of their identity, in person peer support allows LGBTQA+ young people to feel more connected to others in real life. These findings provide a strong rationale for future research into the differences between subgroups of the LGBTQA+ community and for policies and interventions to increase the safety of online and accessible offline community spaces.

Exploring Sustainable Tourism Through Virtual Travel: Generation Z’s Perspectives

In the contemporary travel landscape, virtual reality (VR) integration has ushered in a novel paradigm, particularly influential among Generation Z. This demographic, inherently familiar with digital technologies, increasingly gravitates towards virtual tourism, an eco-friendly and resource-conscious alternative to traditional travel. Virtual tourism, the alternative to actual travel, offers immersive experiences that are both accessible and sustainable, reducing the environmental impact associated with conventional tourism. This paper examines how virtual travel could serve as a sustainable travel practice, crucial for preserving cultural and natural resources while providing meaningful experiences. The appeal of virtual tourism lies in its ability to deliver diverse and enriched experiences without the physical and environmental costs of travel. This form of tourism not only aids in conserving sensitive ecosystems and heritage sites but also offers inclusivity for individuals unable to travel due to economic or physical barriers. Furthermore, virtual tourism’s potential to simulate endangered or inaccessible sites can play a pivotal role in educational initiatives and global awareness. This study explores the motivations behind Generation Z’s engagement with virtual travel through detailed analysis and empirical data. It discusses how virtual tourism could be strategically developed to support sustainable tourism practices. This approach underscores a shift towards more responsible and conscious travel behaviours aligned with the sustainable values of Generation Z. The purpose of this paper is to detect the main trends in the development of virtual tourism as the new form of travel, with special emphasis on Generation Z’s preferences in future virtual travel as a substitute for actual physical travel.

“It Will Feel Empty, but I Am Not Sure Why”: Belonging and Future Change in Children’s Engagement with Decommissioning Nuclear Energy Infrastructures

ABSTRACT Worldwide, hundreds of the first generation of commercial nuclear reactors are currently entering into decommissioning. In parallel, new nuclear energy is promoted to mitigate climate change. Such energy transitions are global but take place in local landscapes, affecting the everyday lives of the elderly, adults, and children. A nuclear plant often dominates the skyline and the local identity, and its existence, disappearance, or replacement, contributes to the shaping of experiences of the past, imaginations in the present, and expectations for the future. Previous research shows a significant lack of attention to especially children’s experiences of changing energy infrastructures, and to children as active heritage producers in societal meaning-making of energy futures. This study explores children’s engagement with a decommissioning local nuclear facility through drawing workshops and conversations. Data were collected in 2023 in a school close to the Swedish nuclear power plant Barsebäck. The study highlights a particular form of heritage spatiality. A paradoxical situation of closeness and remoteness implies the industry is both a marker of one’s home and a distant façade. It is argued that children’s articulations of meaning provide a richer understanding of what constitutes local heritage, and that “decommissioning generations” is a productive lens through which a complex set of temporally diverse and heritage-relevant experiences may be discerned, enriching adult-dominated narration of changing energy landscapes.

What factors influence research impact? An empirical study on the interplay of research, publications, researchers, institutions, and national conditions

ABSTRACT Purpose This study investigates key factors contributing to research impact and their interactions with the Research Impact Quintuple Helix Model by Arsalan et al. (2024). Design/methodology/approach Using data from a global survey of 630 scientists across diverse disciplines, genders, regions, and experience levels, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to assess the influence of 29 factors related to researcher characteristics, research attributes, publication strategies, institutional support, and national roles. Findings The study validated the Quintuple Helix Model, uncovering complex interdependencies. Institutional support significantly affects research impact by covering leadership, resources, recognition, and funding. Researcher attributes, including academic experience and domain knowledge, also play a crucial role. National socioeconomic conditions indirectly influence research impact by supporting institutions, underscoring the importance of conducive national frameworks. Research limitations While the study offers valuable insights, it has limitations. Although statistically sufficient, the response rate was below 10%, suggesting that the findings may not fully represent the entire global research community. The reliance on self-reported data may also introduce bias, as perceptions of impact can be subjective. Practical implications The findings have a significant impact on researchers aiming to enhance their work’s societal, economic, and cultural significance, institutions seeking supportive environments, and policymakers interested in creating favourable national conditions for impactful research. The study advocates for a strategic alignment among national policies, institutional practices, and individual researcher efforts to maximise research impact and effectively address global challenges. Originality/value By empirically validating the Research Impact Quintuple Helix Model, this study offers a holistic framework for understanding the synergy of factors that drive impactful research.

Solving the inclusion problem: gender without representationalism

Recent work in the metaphysics of gender mostly focuses on trying to solve the exclusion problem - roughly, the problem of giving a metaphysical account of gender that doesn’t exclude anyone from their appropriate gender category. It is acknowledged that no completely satisfactory answer to the exclusion problem has yet been given in the literature; typically such theories fail to account for the diverse experiences and characteristics of trans people. One response is to adopt an anti-realism about gender properties, such as Heather Logue’s gender fictionalism. I rebut the move to an anti-realism, showing that it relies on assuming a representationalism about gender vocabulary that we need not hold. I put forward a non-representationalist theory of gender properties that analyses gender vocabulary in terms of its inferential profile, rather than its representational features. This theory constitutes a deflationary realism about gender properties; it solves the inclusion problem, and guarantees the first-person epistemic authority of an individual regarding their own gender identity.

Student perspectives on interdisciplinary learning in public health education: insights from a mixed-methods study

Interdisciplinary learning is essential for equipping future health professionals to tackle the complexities of contemporary public health. This mixed-methods study investigates the experiences and perspectives of undergraduate public health students in Singapore on interdisciplinary learning in higher education and employed a convergent parallel design by combining a cross-sectional survey with in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were used to assess the relationship between students’ exposure to interdisciplinary learning and its perceived value, while qualitative analysis explored key themes related to facilitators and barriers. Among 52 survey respondents and 11 interview participants, nearly half regularly engaged in interdisciplinary learning. Students with greater exposure to interdisciplinary experiences demonstrated more positive perceptions. Facilitators identified included career development opportunities, faculty engagement, and diverse learning experiences. Barriers such as disciplinary disconnects and the challenge of managing varied skill sets were also highlighted. This study provides valuable insights into interdisciplinary learning in higher education pertaining to public health, particularly within the context of health professions training. The findings suggest that enhancing curricular design, integrating interdisciplinary approaches more effectively, and increasing faculty support can address identified barriers and better prepare students for the demands of their future public health careers.

Living on the Edge: Paradoxical Experiences with Ethics (Reprinted with permission).

Paradox is living phenomenon that provides insights into straight thinking and diverse human experiences important to the discipline of nursing from a nursing philosophical theory-based approach. The author here delves into the metaphorical experience of living on the edge and the paradoxical concepts that assist the discipline in its thinking about artificial intelligence. Possible ethical implications of utilizing artificial intelligence from a humanbecoming ethos of understanding is utilized. The metaphorical implications for future disciplinary priorities are presented.

Image-Based Sexual Abuse and EU Law: A Critical Analysis

Abstract In May 2024, the European Union adopted the Directive on violence against women and domestic violence, marking the first EU-wide binding legislation to address various forms of sexualized and gendered harm. This Article provides the first comprehensive analysis of the Directive’s provisions on image-based sexual abuse (“IBSA”), encompassing the non-consensual taking, creating, and sharing of intimate materials, as well as threats to distribute them. While acknowledging the aim to harmonize legislation at the Union level, the Article identifies a range of limitations and the failure to fully reflect the diverse experiences of victims. Additionally, the Article evaluates the complementary roles in combating IBSA of the Digital Services Act and the AI Act which impose obligations on online platforms, search engines, and AI developers. Overall, the current EU framework represents a promising but partial approach. If the EU is to comprehensively address IBSA and safeguard victims’ rights, implementation beyond the minimum will be required together with proactive, effective regulation.

The Sun, The Moon, and The Earth: A Screenplay Focusing on the Depth of Mid-Life Crisis in the Eye of an Indonesian Housewife

This creative work focuses on empowering Indonesian housewives, particularly those navigating transformative life challenges in their middle years. It champions complete autonomy in life decisions, ambitions, and goals, countering societal and familial expectations. The work also aims to highlight the vibrancy and aspirations of middle-aged women, combating societal invisibility and fostering a broader understanding of their diverse experiences. This work also seeks to present perspectives from marginalized groups, emphasizing middle-aged women often overlooked by society, through Indonesian cinema. The creative thesis aspires to inspire gender equality by amplifying women's experiences and advocating for their rights while challenging and reshaping traditional gender norms. Ultimately, this screenplay aims to influence perceptions both within the film industry and broader society, fostering an inclusive environment that values and encourages aspirations regardless of age or gender.

Critically Engaged Language and Literacy Workshops as a Disruptive Pedagogy in Plurilingual Classrooms

AbstractThis study explored racialized newcomer student participants' experiences in a rural high school in Western Canada, and utilized critically engaged language and literacy workshops (CELLWs) as a means to authentically represent participants' interrelationships with and relatability to their school and community spaces. CELLWs are an important avenue for self‐reflection that fosters socially just, diverse, and equitable educational practices. Understanding the nuanced lived experiences of newcomers, and how these inform educational practices today, represents a pivotal need in the development of educational pedagogies that encompass past and present experiences reinforced within different places and spaces. The study was guided by the following question: To what extent can CELLWs afford multicultural and plurilingual identities to establish a disruptive pedagogy and re‐imagine classroom spaces? The researchers centered arts and walking methodologies within four CELLWs sessions to open up subjective practices and analyses that intersect equitable, inclusive, and diverse theories and participants' life experiences. Data was drawn from a qualitative and thematic analysis that was obtained from participants' artwork, written reflections, and individual/group interviews. The study revealed the importance of CELLWs in research and in‐classroom practices as practitioners and scholars become accountable when appropriating such activities to create spaces for meaning‐making processes that consider relevant personal experiences and feelings within schools and communities.