Exploratory Study Research Articles

Do nonfinancial reporting practices matter in SDG disclosure? An exploratory study

Purpose The Agenda 2030 have drawn a lot of interest in academic studies. This necessitates accounting research on nonfinancial reporting and sustainable development goals (SDG) disclosure in an under-investigated context. The purpose of this study is to examine the contribution of nonfinancial reporting practices to SDG disclosure by 120 companies from 12 African nations for the years 2016 to 2020. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a content analysis to gauge how much information are disclosed on SDG by the selected firms. The authors carried out content analysis using the global reporting initiative frameworks to determine the level of SDG disclosure across the companies by examining the selected nonfinancial reports. Findings Sustainability reports account for 50% of such SDG disclosure making it the highest. This is followed by corporate social responsibility report which accounts for 23%, while environmental reports account for 20% and Chairman’s statement accounts for 7%. The result is expected since corporate sustainability report has been the major channel for disclosing activities relating to social and governance issues in recent times. Practical implications The results of this study demand that corporate entities in Africa take responsibility for their actions and exert significant effort to achieve the SDG. While the government has the main responsibility, corporate entities must support the SDG to be realized. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few studies that examines nonfinancial reporting practices with a focus on SDG disclosure. In addition, this study offers novel insight into how accounting research contributes to nonfinancial reporting practices and SDG disclosure.

The influence of multiple variables on bipedal context in wild chimpanzees: implications for the evolution of bipedality in hominins

Investigations into the role of selection in the origin of human bipedalism using ape models have relied heavily on behavioral frequency data. However, analysis of video of wild apes has the advantage of capturing the details of the entirety of each rare, brief bipedal bout witnessed, not just the moment detected in observational studies. We used video to explore the behavioral context and effects of several variables on bipedalism across all ages in wild forest-dwelling chimpanzees from Ngogo, Uganda. We found, as in earlier studies, that adult chimpanzees used bipedalism in the context of foraging; however, unlike earlier studies, we found that while foraging was the predominant behavioral context during arboreal bipedalism, terrestrial bipedalism was more varied in contextual composition. We also found that these different behavioral contexts of bipedalism were associated with different variables. Specifically, foraging was associated with arboreality, hand assistance, and adulthood; antagonism was associated with adulthood, locomotion, and males; play was associated with terrestriality and subadulthood; and travel was associated with locomotion and females. Given that several variables influence bipedalism across multiple behavioral contexts in chimpanzees, it is likely that the early evolution of human bipedalism occurred under the influence of numerous factors. This exploratory study thus suggests that more comprehensive models should be used when reconstructing the transition to bipedalism from the Last Common Ancestor of humans and chimpanzees.

Multiculturalism of Indonesia’s Multireligious Communities: The Portrayal of Multicultural Competence and its Contributing Factors

Multireligious communities need to acquire multicultural competence (MC) to help them deal with complex interactions taking place in the repertoire of religious and cultural differences. Hence, this explanatory mixed-method study sought to quantitatively measure the MC of Indonesia’s multireligious communities and to qualitatively explore the factors contributing to the formation of their MC. A quantitative survey with 30-item valid and reliable questionnaires was conducted to measure the MC of 577 respondents from a population of Indonesia’s multireligious communities by using a convenient sampling technique. A descriptive qualitative study was further executed to explore the contributing factors of MC by involving 20 participants recruited using a purposive sampling technique. The data were analysed using descriptive-quantitative and interactive-model techniques. The quantitative data revealed that the multireligious communities had a high level of MC (M=3.64) demonstrated by high levels of multicultural awareness, skills, and knowledge with a balanced composition. The qualitative data highlighted five factors shaping their MC. These factors entailed mutual respect, tolerance, internalization of multicultural attitudes, good communication, and interactions with cultural traditions. Further studies could use these factors to develop multicultural education programs or interventions.

Exploring the Impact of an IoT-based Game on the Experience of Visitors at a Natural Science Museum

The use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to improve access to cultural heritage sites and enhance visitor engagement has become increasingly popular. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies evaluating the actual benefits of such technology on visitors’ experiences, which is crucial to improve the IoT adoption in this field. To address this issue, we present an exploratory study we performed to understand whether and how an IoT-based game affects the experience of museum visitors. The game is played after a traditional guided tour; it was created following a meta-design approach to enable domain experts, such as museum professional guides, to adapt the game to specific visitors and/or situations. The study involved a total of 18 participants who took a guided tour of the Museum of Natural Sciences of the University of Bari and played the game afterward. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The study results show that playing the IoT-based game positively affects the experience of visitors and, in particular, their emotions. Visitor workload was also found to be greater than that of a guided tour, but this had no negative impact on visitor experience. The study findings have implications for the design and development of future IoT games to enhance engagement and to improve the experience of visitors at cultural heritage sites.

The Visual Science Communication Toolkit: Responding to the Need for Visual Science Communication Training in Undergraduate Life Sciences Education

Visual representations are essential to scientific research and teaching, playing a role in conceptual understanding, knowledge generation, and the communication of discovery and change. Undergraduate students are expected to interpret, use, and create visual representations so they can make their thinking explicit when engaging in discourse with the scientific community. Despite the importance of visualization in the biosciences, students often learn visualization skills in an ad hoc fashion without a clear framework. We used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory study design to explore and assess the pedagogical needs of undergraduate biology students (n = 53), instructors (n = 13), and teaching assistants (n = 8) in visual science communication education. Key themes were identified using inductive grounded theory methods. We found that extrinsic motivations, namely time, financial resources, and grading practices, contribute to a lack of guidance, support, and structure as well as ambiguous expectations and standards perceived by students and instructors. Biology and science visualization instructors cite visual communication assessments as a way of developing and evaluating students’ higher-order thinking skills in addition to their communication competencies. An output of this research, the development of a learning module, the Visual Science Communication Toolkit, is discussed along with design considerations for developing resources for visual science communication education.

Who Gives? Non-Commercial Distribution Networks in Domestic Food Production in the Inland North of Sweden

This paper examines the social context of “domestic food production” (dfp) in the inland North of Sweden, with a focus on understanding the contributions of non-commercial food distribution to local food security and sustainable rural community-building. We report on the findings of an exploratory pilot study that included an online survey of 305 people who engaged in at least one dfp activity (hunting, fishing, foraging, or farming). The aims were to uncover common social practices of dfp, as well as to identify key values attached to dfp, the extent of commercial and non-commercial distribution of home-produced food, and motivations to give away food. The main findings emphasize the social nature of dfp activities, with the vast majority of respondents undertaking dfp in groups or as part of formal clubs. Key values attached to dfp included social and community-related aspects, while commercial interests were limited. Respondents were more likely to engage in non-commercial distribution networks, usually involving close family and friends. Food givers mostly cited social factors as their main motivations rather than other food-related aspects (such as food security, health benefits, or food waste). Food givers were also likely to receive food from others, emphasizing the relatively narrow and reciprocal character of non-commercial food networks. We conclude that non-commercial dfp networks may be expanded to the broader community by exploiting the social nature of dfp and encouraging generalized reciprocity led by dfp clubs. This could potentially reduce the negative impacts of food deserts whilst also stimulating community interactions, learning and local dfp communities of practice.

Road works ahead: the journey of an innovative cross-campus hybrid learning space navigating higher education institutions’ organizational setbacks

The most recent UN publication on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which covers issues related to socioeconomic, environmental, and technological development on a global scale towards 2030, has expanded its focus to include tertiary education and the role of Universities in contributing to societal development. SDG 4, particularly, calls for equal access to tertiary education from a lifelong perspective, and consequentially an increasing need for flexible education. It has therefore become pivotal for Higher Education Institutions to promote the implementation of both flexible study programs and related innovative learning environments to sustain learners’ lifelong education and the development of critical skills in an increasingly digitalized world. Innovation, however, has a cost. In Higher Education, innovation must necessarily reconcile academic advantages with economic conveniences. In this paper, we look in retrospect and share our experiences from a major research project linked to creating and implementing an innovative hybrid learning space within the frame of a cross-campus and cross-institution master’s degree based at two Norwegian universities. In the evaluation phase of the project, tension became apparent between the underlying pedagogical visions that sparked the enthusiasm for the project and the challenging reality of having to create, organize, and manage a complex cross-campus and cross-institution study program and build the learning space related to it. It seems that traditional university structures as a closed ecosystem made it difficult to anchor the development of the program in/within/between the organizations. The administration did not seem equipped to manage the uncertainty such an innovative project presented in the form of many new unforeseen, challenging, and unpredictable variables. In two related publications we have specifically discussed the results from the project by focusing on the experiences educators and students collectively reported about working and studying in the ad hoc learning environment developed for the master’s program. We wish now to look back and explore the topic from an organizational perspective where the administration of the cross-campus and cross-institution project acts as a filter between the educators’ pedagogical vision and the students’ experiences. In this exploratory case study, we have opted for a phenomenological investigation and a qualitative approach to research design that is informed by constructivist grounded theory methods. We went back to the educators’ and students’ feedback and tried to understand not just what worked and what did not, but why. What contributed the most to the increasing tension between the initial pedagogical vision of the educators and the practical development of the project in reality? We believe that sharing the experiences harvested from our project along the road can be of help to other researchers and stakeholders in confronting and finding solutions to the challenges that complex innovative projects might constitute for higher education institutions.

A Profile of Community College Students as Preservice Music Educators

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was to provide a profile of preservice music educators who chose to attend community college and a description of factors that led to this choice. The study was framed by Perna’s college choice model and focused on participants’ experiences and the socioeconomic and educational contexts that predated their enrollment. Quantitative data were collected via a questionnaire to community college students who sought a career in music education ( N = 59). Qualitative data were gleaned from interviews with four participants. Most participants (77.97%) identified as White, 47.47% identified as female, the mean age was 21.90 years, and 50.85% were first-generation college students. Participants reported varying levels of cultural capital, with 54.24% receiving private lessons prior to college. Affordability, location, the opportunity to live at home, flexible scheduling, and prior positive experiences with the college were motivators for attending a community college.

Mind-wandering contents and characteristics: an exploratory study comparing between work and non-work contexts

ABSTRACT Mind-wandering, where thoughts drift away from the immediate environment or task to self-generated thoughts, is a common human experience. Despite the growing research on its antecedents and consequences, the content and characteristics of mind-wandering across different contexts, such as work-related and non-work-related settings, remain poorly understood. This study, guided by the Context and Content Regulation Hypothesis, explores the nuances of mind-wandering by examining both its content and characteristics, such as deliberateness and temporal orientation. Over five working days, we prompted 131 workers three times daily to report the content and characteristics of their current thoughts. Our findings indicate that mind-wandering occurred less frequently during work but was predominantly populated with work-related content, regardless of the ongoing activity. Furthermore, while most mind-wandering events were future-oriented and spontaneous, those centred on work exhibited a more deliberate and pronounced future bias. Challenging the prevailing notion of mind-wandering as a mere distraction, our findings align with the Context and Content Regulation Hypothesis, emphasizing its strategic role in foreseeing and preparing for future work-related events.

Matrix metalloproteinases are associated with severity of disease among COVID-19 patients: A possible pharmacological target.

COVID-19 is a devastating disease and imbalanced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity may contribute to its pathophysiology. This exploratory study examined whether increased circulating concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and their endogenous inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 are persistently found in patients 2 weeks after their recovery from severe or critical COVID-19 as compared with those in healthy controls. Subjects who had severe (n= 26) or critical (n= 25) PCR-confirmed COVID-19 and healthy controls (n= 21) had blood samples drawn 2 weeks after recovery and serum MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 were determined using two Human Luminex® Discovery Assays. Circulating MMP activity was also determined by gel zymography. Patients who had severe or critical COVID-19 had increased circulating MMP-9 and MMP-2 concentrations, with increased MMP-9/TIMP-1 and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratios indicating increased MMP activity, confirmed by gel zymography (all p< 0.05). Higher circulating MMP-9 (but not MMP-2) concentrations were found in critical versus severe COVID-19 (p< 0.05). We found increased circulating MMP-9 and MMP-2 concentrations and activity many days after recovery from the acute disease, with MMP-9 levels associated with disease severity. These biochemical alterations suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-9 may be important pharmacological targets in COVID-19.

Exploring the influence of non-cognitive skills on academic achievement in STEM education: the case of Kazakhstan

IntroductionThis exploratory study delves into the relationships between non-cognitive skills and academic achievement within the unique context of STEM schools in Kazakhstan.MethodsSurvey data were collected from 109 teachers and 395 students at a STEM secondary school in Kazakhstan. Correlational, regression and path analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between non-cognitive skills and academic performance in Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, and Chemistry classes.ResultsThe results showed that out of the 26 skills, eight had a direct impact, 12 had an indirect impact, and six had no impact on academic achievement of students in the four STEM subjects.DiscussionThis study is the first to explicitly examine the impact of one group of non-cognitive skills on academic achievement of students in STEM subjects mediated by another group of these skills. Teachers are encouraged to integrate non-cognitive skill development into curricula, tailored to subject-specific needs. Policymakers can use findings to inform equitable skill development policies.

Building a No Cost Undergraduate Community Speech Clinic

Aim: This study aimed to explore the clinic learning models through student perspectives using that insight to explore how these students viewed a newly established speech clinic program and understand the organizational and learning benefits and limitations of the clinic and how it can be improved for future service for student learning.&#x0D; Methods: This exploratory study utilized an observation analysis to understand how the student-led functioning of the clinic fits into both the learning models of Bloom’s Taxonomy and Bandura’s Triadic Reciprocal Model of Causality and the factors that contribute most to these learning models. These models were chosen due to the systemic and progressive nature of learning that reflects the academic mission of the university’s accrediting body: the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. A mixed closed and open-ended student questionnaire was utilized to gain insight into themes that influence the student-led learning model.&#x0D; Results: The clinic was overall seen as a place of relationship building and skills development. The main contributors to this relationship-building and skills development lie in the ability of students to apply what they have been learning in the classroom to a functional situation, as well as the opportunity to serve the community and build confidence and leadership skills.&#x0D; Conclusion: Student leadership roles in the clinic are leading to self-efficacy which is seen in the highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy and Bandura’s Triadic Reciprocal Model of Causality.

Effects of enriched task-specific training on sit-to-stand tasks in individuals with chronic stroke.

Approximately 80% of stroke survivors experience motor impairment of the contralateral limb that severely affects their activities of daily living (ADL). To evaluate whether an enriched task-specific training (ETT) program affected the performance and kinetics of sit-to-stand (STS) tasks. The study was part of an exploratory study with a within-subject, repeated-measure-design, with assessments before and after a three-week-long baseline period, and six months after the intervention. Forty-one participants underwent assessments of strength and endurance measured by the 30-second-chair-stand test (30sCST). The STS-kinetics, including the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) during STS, were analysed in an in-depth-subgroup of three participants, using a single-subject-experimental-design (SSED). For kinetic data, statistical significance was determined with the two-standard deviation band method (TSDB). After the baseline period, a small increase was seen in the 30sCST (from 5.6±4.5 to 6.1±4.9, p = 0.042). A noticeable significant change in the 30sCST was shown after the intervention (from 6.1±4.9 to 8.2±5.4, p < 0.001), maintained at six months. The in-depth kinetic analyses showed that one of three subjects had a significant increase in loading of the affected limb post-intervention. ETT can produce long-term gains in STS performance. Weight-bearing strategies could be one of several factors that contribute to improvements in STS performance in the chronic phase after stroke.

Unlocking the Potential of Hybrid Learning: Tourism Student Voices in South African Universities of Technology

This article examines the impacts the pandemic learning environment had on student learning and wellness, and how rethinking higher education (HE) design could bolster the improved student well-being. In the wake of Covid-19, academia is searching for some “normalcy” which requires a critical review of the suitability of current structures, as policy design struggles with the possibilities of a hybrid approach to pedagogic delivery. The body of knowledge on blended/hybrid learning design requires the student voice, in cold face experiences of pandemic-induced academic evolution, to get closer to discovering a model that benefits both teaching and learning. The unearthing of possible unrealised disruptions to the learning environment, affecting social, personal and cognitive presence. A sequential explanatory study that included the collection of quantitative survey data, and qualitative focus group interviews was conducted. The census enquiry of tourism management students at three universities of technology in South Africa was concluded online, as per remote learning requirements at the height of the pandemic. Study results indicate that remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic impacted negatively on student learning and mental health at universities of technology (UOTs) in South Africa. Student data indicated that even through strict pandemic regulations, the university campus life morphed, and did not die. Students gravitated towards parts of the campus considered soothing, with proper internet access, arguing for a holistic, sustainable university architecture that bolsters learning and student support. HE institutions need to further consider the role and design of university architecture for hybrid/blended learning, with a user-focused perspective.

Older mothers and their difficult adult children: a life course exploration

ABSTRACT Adult child to parent violence is a growing international social problem that needs to be better understood to develop clinical interventions. An exploratory study on the antecedents of early life adversity on adult child to parent violence/elder mistreatment was carried out using secondary analysis. Directed content analysis was used based on life course theory with a data set of older mothers all > 57 years old (J. R. Smith 2021, 2022). Measurement of instances of child abuse, domestic violence, and birth trauma among abused older mothers was conducted. All the older women had reported being negatively affected by their adult children’s problems and 56% reported being physically attacked. A case example is presented to illustrate how repeated incidents of abuse or neglect in early life might explain an older woman’s inability to take actions for her own safety.

Exploratory study on the adaptation of online services offered to people with disabilities, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Aim: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many community organizations offering services to people with disabilities (PWD) changed their service delivery, switching from in-person to remote services. However, little is known about what it was like for organizations to quickly pivot their service delivery. The study explored barriers and facilitators to access community services for PWD and identified potential improvements to these services.Methods: The study used a mixed method, multiple case study design, which included a convenience sample of 27 participants recruited from four community organizations delivering services to PWD. Participating staff and members participated in six different focus groups and completed a questionnaire about their level of satisfaction regarding the evolution of the services. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on the focus group data and the data from the questionnaires were descriptively analyzed.Results: The thematic analyses revealed four themes: “Succeeding in adapting the interventions to continue providing services”, “Enjoying a lot of new things about the new online modality”, “Key elements that have facilitated the transition” and “Facing some difficulties implementing online services”. The median satisfaction score demonstrated that the participants were satisfied with the services. The success of these organizational changes relied on the adoption of new methods and approaches to service delivery.Conclusion: Through this study, barriers and facilitators that the organizations and their beneficiaries have experienced during the pandemic were identified as well as suggestions for improvement. The organizations consider maintaining online services beyond the pandemic to offer PWD easier access to community services.

What if GPT4 Became Autonomous: The Auto-GPT Project and Use Cases

Auto-GPT is a product of an experimental project that makes the use of GPT-4 autonomous. Notably, Auto-GPT emerged and spread rapidly, while the echo of OpenAI's ChatGPT continues. However, there are insufficient studies on this new application in related literature. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore the different use cases and experiences of Auto-GPT users. For this purpose, 16 users with an Auto-GPT experience on the GitHub platform were interviewed. Thematic content analysis was performed on the qualitative data. AutoGPT experiences of users can be characterized by learning programs, autonomous applications, conducting research, and writing reports. The results of this study showed that content creation is the most important purpose of using Auto-GPT. As independent research functions of Auto-GPT, users also emphasize data summarization and information organization. However, the participants also pointed out the token limit (inefficiency), forgetting generated tools, and iteration as some prominent limitations of Auto-GPT. It is possible to say that Auto-GPT has a high potential to use in also in educational purpose, but it is still in the development stage.

Effect of Digital Transformation on University Brand Image with Ownership as a Moderating Variable

The digital era demands transformation from universities, including private ones. However, the effectiveness of digital transformation on university brand image can be strengthened by ownership. This research investigates the impact of digital transformation on the university's brand image, with ownership as a moderating variable. Using random sampling, we analyzed 45 private universities affiliated with Private Universities in Indonesia Region 2A. This exploratory study employed a quantitative method. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between digital transformation and university brand image, suggesting an enhancement of the university's reputation in the eyes of the public. However, the study also reveals that ownership does not mediate the relationship between digital transformation and university brand image. This suggests that each university may have different Ownership Competencies, especially in decision-making regarding digital transformation. The conclusion of this research indicates that digital transformation affects university brand image. However, specifically in the case of universities in LLDIKTI Region 2, ownership does not moderate the effects of digital transformation on university brand image. It is recommended that this research be continued using mixed methods to explore ownership moderation or test it in other regions' universities.

Telehealth Use during COVID-19: An Exploratory Study on Adaptations and Experiences of Providers.

The current exploratory study examines the impact of the rapid acceleration of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of healthcare providers. Understanding provider perspectives, particularly in terms of adaptations made during this critical time, is a useful lens into service innovation in times of crisis and can help elucidate successful strategies for continuing the use of telehealth during the postpandemic period. Fourteen providers from 11 different service agencies in a southeastern state were interviewed. Findings identified three themes: (1) dynamic adaptations enacted by healthcare providers at the onset of the pandemic, such as hybrid services, rapid innovations in workflow, collective decision making among providers, and outreach to educate patients; (2) the relaxation of policies by regulators/insurers, focused most often on reimbursement of services; and (3) how patient engagement was impacted via telehealth, including openness to telehealth, more family-level accessibility, and reduced no-show rates. Implications for social workers include heightened professional training on telehealth as well as increasing the critical role that social workers serve in educating providers and patients on telehealth.

The Role of Human Capital in Security Crises Management An Exploratory Study in A number of the Iraq Ministry of Interior (MOI) Departments

The research aims to assess the role of human capital (knowledge, training, capacities) and its reflection on enhancing security crises management (damage containment, recovery and learning). The sample was chosen from the leaderships at the Ministry of Interior(MOI)/Administrative and Financial Affairs Agency .The sample size was (160) and the total research community reached (230), distributed between (General Director, Directorate Director, Department Director), and for the purpose of achieving the objectives of the research, the descriptive analytical method was used, and the questionnaire was the main tool for data collection, and the conclusions were drawn from its analysis through the analytical method and statistical programs, as the dimensions of human capital have achieved paths of direct and moral impact in the security crises management .This requires paying attention to the human capital working in the agency’s formations. As well as many recommendations were presented the most important of them was the necessity of MOI /Administrative and Financial Affairs Agency focusing on the quality of human capital, for the purpose of maintaining a good relationship, especially in the security crises management.