Exploratory Design Research Articles

Structure and process evaluation of complex interventions in pain therapy : Description of amethodological approach using the example of POET-Pain

To evaluate the quality of care, particularly in the case of new forms of healthcare interventions, the healthcare services to be provided are defined and documented in advance. The presented explanatory sequential mixed methods design combines quantitative and qualitative data collection and the analysis enables adeeper understanding of anew healthcare intervention. Using the example of the POET-Pain project, which investigates the effect of aperioperative transitional pain service (TPS), the methodological application of the explanatory sequential mixed methods design is demonstrated in order to present the structural and process evaluation of the new healthcare intervention (in this case TPS) and to understand its influence on the quality of care. The mixed methods design presented enables the results of the quantitative phase to be interpreted and expanded in depth using qualitative data, which leads to acomprehensive understanding of the subject matter (second pillar of health services research).

Continuous natural fiber-reinforced shape memory polymer biocomposites: Design and fabrication for sustainable self-folding architectural applications

Abstract The growing demand for sustainable building materials has driven the search for innovative solutions that minimize environmental impact while enhancing architectural functionality. Nature’s adaptability to environmental changes, such as the mimosa plant’s sensitivity to temperature and touch, has inspired the development of shape memory materials like shape memory polymers (SMPs). These materials change shape in response to external stimuli, offering promising solutions for responsive and eco-friendly applications. This study investigates the use of SMP biocomposites (SMPBCs) reinforced with continuous flax fibers for sustainable architectural applications. The main aim is to enhance the mechanical and shape memory properties of these materials, focusing on design exploration, fabrication methods, and performance evaluation for architectural use. Combining material science with digital fabrication techniques, particularly Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP), this research integrates flax fiber into thermo-responsive epoxy-based SMPs. Origami-inspired designs, including rigid and curved folding origami, were explored using a moldless fabrication technique to optimize the SMPBCs’ performance and facilitate the creation of complex three-dimensional structures. The study began with initial prototypes of simple origami shapes, followed by three architectural prototypes representing distinct origami types. Curved folding origami enhances shape memory performance by enabling larger deformation, which increases strain energy storage and allows more effective recovery. Further exploration of Single and Multi Degree of Freedom (SDOF and MDOF) designs for architectural applications revealed that curved SDOF prototypes achieved the highest shape recovery ratio (Rr%) of 97%, while rigid MDOF prototypes showed the lowest Rr of 60% and 70%. All prototypes provided a high shape fixity ratio of nearly 100%. Moreover, initial load tests on the permanent shapes demonstrated their ability to support over 240 times their weight. This research advances sustainable architecture by showing how SMPBCs with optimal geometric designs can enable self-shaping and multifunctional applications, paving the way for more adaptive, eco-friendly building materials.

Resilience of unaccompanied refugee children in foster care at Tongogara Refugee Camp Zimbabwe

This article explores and discusses the resilience of refugee children under foster care in Zimbabwe. It advances the argument that there are resilience factors associated with unaccompanied refugee children under the foster care programme at the Tongogara Refugee Camp. Data were gathered using an exploratory qualitative research design using document analyses, 10 refugee children under foster care and 10 key informant interviews, which were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the lives of refugee children under foster care at the Tongogara Refugee Camp. Evidence from the sources shows that there are several factors enhancing resilience among unaccompanied minors in foster care, such as religious, personal and macro support from foster parents, agencies involved in childcare, and educational support. It is recommended that the National Orphan Care Policy of 1999 be reviewed and the provisions of social protection programmes for unaccompanied refugee children under foster care be strengthened.

Bioinformatics Data-Based Lecture Modules on the Topic of Phanerogamae Diversity to Empower Student Research Skills

This research was motivated by the low level of research skills among students. At the same time, this skill is one of the competencies needed for academic and career success. This study aims to empower students' research skills using bioinformatics data-based modules, especially on Phanerogamae diversity. This study used mixed methods with an exploratory sequential design. The subjects involved in this study were 101 biology education students. Data was collected through interviews, document analysis, open-ended questions, and questionnaires. Data analysis used descriptive, paired sample T-test and N-Gain score. The results showed that the module proved feasible to use in lectures based on the assessment by material experts, media experts, and course practitioner lecturers. The developed module proved effective in empowering students' research skills with a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores, and student responses to the module were positive. This study implies that the developed module can be an innovative teaching material in lectures to attract student interest in learning and accommodate research skills training.

Examining the Perceived Roles of Educational Planners in Shaping Pupils' Academic Performance in Dodoma Municipality, Tanzania

This study examines the roles of educational planners in shaping pupils' academic performance in Dodoma Municipality, Tanzania. The study aims to address two main specific objectives namely identifying strategies employed for enhancing pupils’ academic performance and assessing the challenges faced by educational planners in achieving the goals. An interpretive paradigm guided the study, using a qualitative approach with an exploratory case study design. The target population included 2600 teachers and 37 educational officers in Dodoma municipality. However, from the total population of 2637 only 15 participants were purposively sampled to participate in the study. Data were analyzed using content analysis with the aid of Atlas.ti software; and ethical approval was granted by the Directorate of Research, Publications, and Innovation at the Open University of Tanzania. The findings revealed that the strategies employed by educational planners to improve pupils' academic performance include curriculum development and implementation, teacher training and professional development, resource allocation and infrastructure development, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, policy evaluation and implementation, and promoting equity and inclusion. Despite these efforts, several challenges hinder the effectiveness of these strategies. These challenges include economic constraints, inadequate resources, demographic factors, socio-cultural influences, technological gaps, and the need for enhanced teacher capacity building. In conclusion, while educational planners in Dodoma Municipality have implemented strategies aimed at improving academic outcomes, significant challenges remain. Addressing these barriers is essential for sustainable improvement. The study recommends aligning the curriculum with local contexts, expanding teacher training opportunities, particularly in modern pedagogies, and increasing community involvement in educational planning. Additionally, it is crucial to address resource allocation and infrastructure disparities, particularly in rural areas, to ensure that all pupils benefit from improved educational opportunities.

Incentivizing Rural Work Preferences Among Specialist Physicians: Protocol for a Discrete Choice Experiment.

Retaining specialist physicians in rural parts of India poses a fundamental challenge, which affects the health care system's functionality and provision of standard health care services. There has been an acute shortfall of specialist physicians in the fields of medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery at rural community health centers. This necessitates urgent policy focus to address the shortages and design effective rural retention strategies. In this study, which uses a discrete choice experiment (DCE), individuals choose from multiple-choice preferences that resemble hypothetical job descriptions. DCEs are a quantitative approach to assessing several aspects of job selection. This study aims to develop a detailed plan of a DCE method used to determine specialist physicians' job choices. This protocol outlines the DCE method, which uses an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design to understand specialist physicians' preferences and design reward packages that would effectively motivate them to work in underserved regions. The qualitative phase of the study involved identifying job attributes and their corresponding levels for the DCE. We followed a meticulous process, which included reviewing relevant literature, performing qualitative pilot work, conducting in-depth individual interviews, and consulting with medical and health experts.The quantitative phase involved generating a D-efficient orthogonal fractional factorial design using Ngene software to create choice scenarios using the identified job factors and their corresponding levels. The generated choice scenarios were blocked into 6 versions in 6 blocks. The DCE wasundertaken among final-year postgraduate medical residents and specialist physicians from several health care facilities in Rajasthan. Various statistical models will be applied to explore the response variability and quantify the trade-offs that participants are willing to make for nonmonetary features as a substitute for adjustments in the monetary attribute. After the ethics committee's approval of the study, the qualitative data collection phase occurred from September to December 2021, while the quantitative phase took place from May to August 2022. Six attributes and 14 levels were identified and established through qualitative surveys. The experimental design resulted in 36 choice situations, which were grouped into 6 blocks. The preliminary investigation demonstrated that the instrument was valid and reliable. Statistical data analysis has been initiated, and the principal findings are expected to be disseminated in January 2025. The protocol provides a systematic framework to assess specialist physicians' preferences regarding working in rural health care centers. This research has the potential to substantially influence the future of rural health care by laying the foundation for understanding specialist physicians' choices, which will help design future incentive schemes, policy interventions, and research. DERR1-10.2196/59621.

Differences in the Meaning of IMC: A Study of Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing Professionals

Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) has developed into a well-established discipline, shaped by the evolving role of communication technology, which now serves both as a contextual factor and a practical tool in its implementation. This study investigates differences in the interpretation of IMC across three professional groups: marketing, advertising, and public relations. A quantitative, exploratory research design was adopted, employing purposive and quota sampling techniques, with 30 respondents selected from each profession. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey tests. The findings indicate no significant differences among the professions regarding IMC as an approach and a business-oriented framework. This shared understanding encompasses internal communication, customer-focused evaluation, and external communication elements such as marketing communication, audience management, dialogue, branding, communication technology, and evaluation. However, notable differences emerged between public relations and advertising compared to marketing in their interpretation of IMC as a strategy and tactic. These differences also extended to aspects such as comprehensive planning, coordination, integration, and synergy of tools and channels, the use of communication technology, and the implementation of two-way communication. Moreover, the differing interpretations included an emphasis on understanding customers, providing them with the freedom to discuss the brand, and ensuring clarity and consistency in brand messaging. Further distinctions were observed between public relations versus advertising and marketing regarding IMC as a management process for channel oversight, as well as the evaluation of IMC's strategic role, brand behavior, and brand loyalty. Finally, all three professions exhibited unique interpretations of IMC as a component of brand equity strategy. Future research is necessary to explore the distinct understanding of IMC by public relations professionals, whose perspectives consistently differ from those in marketing. Such studies could delve deeper into how public relations practitioners conceptualize IMC and its relationship to marketing practices.

Community Insights on Violence against Children: Awareness, Engagement, and Predictive Variables in the Context of Hawassa City Administration

This study seeks to investigate community insights on violence against children, focusing on awareness, involvement, and predicting factors within the Hawassa City Administration in Ethiopia. The study employed a cross-sectional explanatory research design, incorporating a mixed-methods approach. Three hundred ninety-one respondents participated in this study, along with seven individuals for in-depth interviews and sixteen participants in focus groups. A single population proportion formula was employed to determine sample size, and a systematic sampling procedure was utilized to select participants from the chosen kebeles. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyze the quantitative data. The qualitative data were analyzed via the thematic analysis method. The study results revealed that all respondents are aware of violence against children; for 57.3% of the respondents, sexual abuse comes to their mind first when they think of violence against children. While 71.4% of the respondents are well informed on measures they can take to address violence against children, only 47.3% of the respondents have the experience of taking measures to address violence against children. The average mean score of 2.19 indicates that the community's level of engagement in addressing violence against children is low. The analysis identified key predictors of community engagement: attitude toward violence against children (β = -.244, t(-4.286), p < 0.05), age (β = -.223, t(-3.997), p < 0.05), habit of working with community policing (β = -.220, t(-3.931), p < 0.05), and role in the existing community structure (β =.178, t(3.135), p < 0.05). The study identified various community-based protection structures, including family systems, religious institutions, educational institutions, community policing services, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, and legal frameworks. These findings suggest the need for strengthening community-based protection mechanisms while addressing the identified gaps between awareness and active engagement in child violence protection

‘We are leaders, not managers!’: academics’ understanding of leadership dynamics in Omani higher education institutions

ABSTRACT This research has adopted an exploratory qualitative design to explore how academics (deans, assistant deans and faculty staff) at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Oman understand leadership. Data was collected qualitatively through 46 semi-structured interviews. Academics perceive leadership as a distributed and collaborative process. In addition, senior academics (deans and assistant deans) in the study viewed themselves strongly as ‘leaders’ whilst those faculty staff positioned at lower levels of the organizational hierarchy viewed senior academics primarily as ‘managers’. The research makes a contribution to the field of leadership and how it is conceptualized by academics. This study exhibits, in addition to existing knowledge of organizational work practices and their unique configuration within the Omani higher education context, which lacks such qualitative research, the complexities and tensions of leadership dynamics in a buried bureaucratic model under the strong weight of the leadership identity adopted by the senior academics and underpinned by what others beneath the senior academics view as management.

A Qualitative Analysis of the Socio-cultural Barriers to Intra-African Trade: Evidence from Nigerian Exporters

This study qualitatively analyzed the sociocultural barriers to intra-African trade, focusing on challenges faced by African businesses in cross-border markets, their impacts, and mitigation strategies. An exploratory case study design was adopted, using purposive and snowball sampling to select participants. Primary data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 10 members of the Association of Nigerian Exporters (ANE). Reflexivity and participant validation ensured research credibility, while Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis framework guided data analysis, with thematic maps aiding interpretation. The findings identified five key sociocultural barriers substantially inhibiting intra-African trade: cultural complexity, corruption and bureaucratic obstacles, trust gaps, unhealthy rivalries, and business network challenges. These barriers contribute to miscommunication, failed negotiations, weakened consumer demand, failed partnerships, and increased operational costs for intra-African trade. These findings underscored that sociocultural factors play a pivotal role in shaping the success or failure of intra-African trade, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to address these barriers. In particular, they emphasized that cultural complexity hampers communication and negotiations, while corruption and bureaucratic obstacles erode trust and create inefficiencies. Trust gaps weaken partnerships, unhealthy rivalries hinder collaboration, and business network challenges limit market access and increase operational costs. Tackling these issues is crucial for improving trade efficiency and fostering stronger economic integration across the African continent.

Exploring barriers and facilitators to blood donation in secondary schools in Malawi.

Despite the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service (MBTS) increasing the amount of blood collected since its inception in 2004, Malawi remains with a 27% deficit in required blood supplies nationally. We sought to understand the facilitators and barriers to blood donation among secondary school students in Malawi. We utilised a qualitative exploratory design, with a sample of 135 participants purposefully selected from 16 secondary schools across Malawi. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews with 20 participants (inclusive of first-time and repeat donors, lapsed and non-donors), 20 key informant interviews (including community leaders, policy-level stakeholders and MBTS staff), and 16 focus group discussions involving 95 participants (community stakeholders and all donor categories). We used the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR) to assess barriers and facilitators of blood donation, focusing only on four CFIR domains: internal and external factors; the implementation process and individual characteristics influencing blood donation. Blood donation among students are facilitated by altruism, incentives including milestone awards, knowledge, motivation, transport, peer pressure and individual health status. Common barriers cited included: negative experiences with the blood donation process, fear, unsupported environment, poor incentives, privacy issues and the donation activities starting late than scheduled. While there have been efforts to motivate students to donate blood, significant barriers to blood donation still exist. Intensifying education and awareness campaigns may help dispel misconceptions and fears surrounding donation experiences and blood usage. Also, continuing with the provision of appropriate incentives including milestone awards may also encourage students.

Knowledge Management and Employee Performance in the Information Technology Sector

Background: Knowledge management involves the identification, gathering, and organization of both explicit knowledge, such as documents and procedures, and tacit knowledge, including the skills and experience of individuals within an organization. Information technology is a knowledge-intensive industry, so knowledge management is crucial for employee performance. Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the status of knowledge management practices within the IT sector, specifically knowledge creation, sharing, retention, and actionable knowledge support, and their influence on employee performance. Methods: This adopts a descriptive and explanatory research design. Purposively, it considered 310 employees working in IT companies in Nepal; 303 responses were considered for analysis. A questionnaire survey measured knowledge management with 27 items and employee (task) performance with six items. The study adopted PLS-SEM to analyze the data. Results: This study found that actionable knowledge support, knowledge sharing, and knowledge retention emerged as the primary influencers of employee performance within the IT sector. Specifically, active involvement in knowledge-sharing and retention contributes to employee performance. Among the factors, actionable knowledge support is vital for employee performance. However, a relationship between knowledge creation and performance was not found. Conclusion: This study helps improve our understanding of IT knowledge management dynamics in developing countries like Nepal, based on knowledge creation, sharing, retention, and actionable knowledge support. Future research on knowledge dynamics and performance may build on these findings. The knowledge-intensive nature of the IT sector affects employee performance. These findings could lay the groundwork for future research on knowledge dynamics and performance in this industry.

Examining Customer Adoption and Usage of Plastic Money in Kathmandu Valley

Background: Plastic money and virtual wallets are becoming increasingly popular due to their adaptability and convenience. Plastic money is becoming accepted everywhere as the world becomes more globalized with changing consumer behavior Objectives: This purpose of the study is to investigate the overall perception of plastic money among customers in Kathmandu Valley. It seeks to uncover the factors influencing users’ attitudes, pinpoint the challenges encountered by plastic money users, and evaluate managerial strategies for enhancing the utilization of plastic money. Methods: This study employs an explanatory research design. It considers customers using plastic money in Kathmandu Valley as the population and selects a sample of 404 using the convenience sampling method to analyze customer acceptance and use of plastic money. The questionnaire is self-administered and adapted from various sources. The data is analyzed both using MS-Excel and SmartPLS 4.0. Results: Findings show that behavioral intention, which in turn strongly predicts how people would utilize plastic money, is significantly influenced by effort anticipation, social influence, and habit. It is discovered that hedonic drive and perceived expectation are not very good indicators of behavioral intention. Conclusion: Effort expectancy, social influence and habit needs to be managed to enhance the people’s behavioral intention which will have impact on use behavior of plastic money. Some of the challenges while using plastic money are lack of availability of technology, lack of knowledge and expertise which can be minimized by increasing availability of technology and clear information.

Occupational Health Challenges Faced by Farm Women during Brinjal Harvesting in Telangana, India

Aim: The study aimed to assess the drudgery experienced by women farmers during brinjal harvesting, focusing on musculoskeletal challenges, postural risks, and occupational health hazards. It sought to evaluate the ergonomic risks involved and suggest interventions to reduce physical strain. Study Design: The study employed an explanatory research design to analyze the ergonomic challenges and health hazards faced by women during brinjal harvesting. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Kaveliguda village, Shamshabad Mandal, Rangareddy District, Telangana, during the brinjal harvesting season in 2023. Methodology: Thirty farm women engaged in brinjal harvesting were purposively selected as respondents. Data were collected using structured schedules, including self-reported health symptoms, and evaluated using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) for postural analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed through frequency distributions and percentages. Results: The study revealed significant musculoskeletal issues, including pain, stiffness, and cramps in the back, neck, legs, and arms. RULA scores indicated high ergonomic risks, necessitating immediate corrective actions. Minimal use of personal protective equipment (PPE) exposed workers to various occupational hazards. Conclusion: The study concluded that ergonomic interventions, such as improved tools and increased PPE usage, were essential to reducing drudgery, enhancing productivity, and improving the well-being of women farmers.

Eyes on communication: strategies to facilitate uptake of clinical practice guidelines for implementation of eye-gaze control technology by people with cerebral palsy. A mixed methods study

Guidelines for implementation of eye-gaze control technology by people with cerebral palsy were published in 2021. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators clinicians perceive exist relating to use of these guidelines for eye-gaze control technology, and to explore potential resources that may be developed to support their implementation. A two-phased mixed methods explanatory sequential design was adopted. In phase 1, an online survey containing quantitative and open-ended questions was completed by 97 health professionals and in phase 2 two online focus groups of five clinicians were conducted. The guidelines for eye-gaze control technology were considered helpful for clinicians new to eye-gaze control technology, useful to provide insight into processes for implementing eye-gaze control technology, were flexible, supported clinical reasoning and professional credibility, and were easy to use. However, time to read the guidelines for eye-gaze control technology, and insufficient funding for time to implement the technology were prominent barriers identified in this study. Through the qualitative findings four themes emerged: (1) Complexity of learning to use and implement the guidelines for eye-gaze control technology; (2) Time and resources in short supply; (3) Takes a dedicated team working together; and (4) guidelines for eye-gaze control technology informing practice. Participants in both study phases identified: case studies and video examples; education and training; and practice in implementing eye-gaze control technology, as facilitators to aligning their practice with the guidelines for eye-gaze control technology recommendations and to optimise outcomes.

Bagaimanakah Dampak Analisis Kebutuhan Dasar Siswa Terhadap Hasil Belajar Siswa di SMA Islam NU Pujon pada Mata Pelajaran Kimia?

A safe and comfortable school is a school that is able to foster students' intrinsic motivation through a positive culture, namely by meeting the basic needs of students as the basis for determining an appropriate learning model to get learning outcomes that meet the KKM. This study aims to determine the impact of the analysis of students' basic needs on the achievement of learning outcomes, especially in chemistry subjects at SMA Islam NU Pujon. The sample of the basic needs analysis research is 398 students of NU Pujon Islamic High School for the 2024/2025 school year and the research sample for student learning outcomes for chemistry subjects is classes XI-4 and XII-2 with a mixed method explanatory design research method. The results of the study were obtained that the results of the analysis of the basic needs of NU Pujon Islamic High School students for the 2024/2025 school year with the need for pleasure 25.7%, the need for affection and acceptance 25.4%, the need for freedom 23.5%, and the need for power 25.4%. The average student learning outcomes for chemistry subjects were obtained in class Xl-4 of 77.9 and XII-2 of 79.22. The findings showed that the learning outcomes of students for Chemistry in the two classes were above the school KKM

Novel Low-Power Computing-In-Memory (CIM) Design for Binary and Ternary Deep Neural Networks by Using 8T XNOR SRAM

The increasing demand for high-performance and low-power hardware in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, such as speech recognition, facial recognition, and object detection, has driven the exploration of advanced memory designs. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and deep neural networks (DNNs) require intensive computational resources, leading to memory access times and power consumption challenges. To address these challenges, we propose the application of computing-in-memory (CIM) within FinFET-based 8T SRAM structures, specifically utilizing P-latch N-access (PLNA) and single-ended (SE) configurations. Our design significantly reduces power consumption by up to 56% in the PLNA configuration and 60% in the SEconfiguration compared to traditional FinFET SRAM designs. These reductions are achieved while maintaining competitive delay performance, making our approach a promising solution for implementing efficient and low-power AI hardware. Detailed simulations in 7 nm FinFET technology underscore the potential of these CIM-based SRAM structures in overcoming the computational bottlenecks associated with DNNs and CNNs.

Exploring Graduates’ Attitudes on the Learning Environment and Institutional Development: A Case Study Based on Mixed Method

In the field of psychology, an attitude is commonly understood as a set of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses directed toward a specific object or situation. Guided by the fundamental principles of functional theory, this study aimed to explore graduates’ perceptions of their institution’s learning environment (LE) and institutional development (ID). The primary objective of this study was to assess graduates’ views on these two aspects. To achieve the objective, the study employed an exploratory and descriptive research design. A case study approach was utilized for qualitative data collection and subsequently analyzed thematically. For the quantitative aspect, statistical techniques such as cross-tabulations and chi-square tests were applied. The research was conducted using a convergent parallel model, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings revealed that graduates held generally unfavorable attitudes toward certain aspects of the learning environment, including library services, internship and placement opportunities, and teaching pedagogies. Notably, graduates from the BA program expressed more negative attitudes compared to those from other programs. Based on their feedback, graduates recommended that institutions should implement ICT-based teaching and learning activities, reduce external interference in educational processes, and invest in the capacity development of faculty members. Additionally, they suggested that the institution should provide ICT equipment to foster a technology-friendly environment, enhance library services by acquiring more books, and offer training in banking, insurance, and cooperative sectors to benefit students. The study’s conclusions provide valuable insights into graduates’ attitudes toward the learning environment and institutional development, providing clearer guidance for the management committee and administration of the CJMC. Furthermore, the findings offer important context for understanding the graduates’ suggestions and willingness to support institutional improvements.

An Investigative Study on the Development Strategies for Electric Vehicle Enterprises in India

The paper presents an investigative study on the development strategies for electric vehicle enterprises in India. An in-depth literature review examines the academic evidence of wind power and solar technologies with proper arguments and justifications. Several implementation processes of renewable energy as solar and wind power as sustainable energy strategies in India. Wind energy and solar energy-related information have also been presented in this literature review including financial barriers that prevent the implementation of sustainable energy strategy in India. The research adopts a selection of deductive research approaches, exploratory research design, and realism research philosophy to perform desk research. In addition, secondary data collection including a qualitative research strategy is selected in the research for conducting narrative data analysis. The case study analysis included in this research is based on four major states in India for successfully conducting a narrative analysis. Lastly, the findings have been summarized and linked with the objectives to bring about an understanding of the discussion and recommendations for further research and highlight the limitations of the present research.

Harnessing AI for peer-to-peer learning support: Insights from a bibliometric analysis

This study investigates the current use of artificial intelligence (AI) for peer-to-peer support through a bibliometric analysis of 1113 records based on co-words. The research employs a four-phase exploratory design that involves co-word search, data charting, and result summation. It uses an inductive, relevant, and reflexive thematic approach (TA). The theoretical foundation is grounded in retention, attrition, and learning theories, including personal, social, emotional, constructive, and humanistic theories. The analysis aims to determine whether institutions leverage AI for peer-to-peer learning as part of peer support. The findings reveal a significant gap in direct research on AI's role in peer-to-peer support, underscoring the need for future studies on its impact on learning customisation, socio-emotional learning, and ethical issues in education.