Focus Group Technique Research Articles

Indicators of grassroots innovations in Iran: A mixed method study

Grassroots innovations are bottom-up solutions for solving problems that meet local needs and take into account their interests and values. The main purpose of this study is to identify the indicators of grassroots innovations in Iran. This research is based on a mixed method approach with an explanatory design. Participants were first selected using a quantitative method and then quantitative data were explored by using a qualitative method. The quantitative part was a survey design with Delphi technique and the qualitative part was done using the phenomenological design and the focus group technique. The tools were semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. SPSS software was used to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by calculating the CVI index and different methods were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the qualitative part. Findings showed that grassroots innovation in Iran is defined in seven main themes: problem-solving, environmental protection, economics, practicality, independence from government, availability and use of technology. The results of this study provide a basis for comparing grassroots innovation in Iran and the rest of the world and can be useful for policymakers in science, technology and innovation in terms of sustainable development.

Social Contexts in Social Work: a View from Teachers in the Centro East and Colombian Caribbean Region

Objective: To reveal, from the point of view of the teachers dedicated to the training of social workers, the meanings they attribute to the social contexts in order to establish relationships with the training emphases proposed by the social work programs in the Caribbean and central-eastern regions of the Colombian territory. Theoretical Framework: oriented from the study group methodology, where the exchange of knowledge was the basis for analyzing and deciding the basic theoretical course for the configuration of historical and theoretical perspectives of the developed process, based on local sociologies to understand life contexts of subjects and communities, which paraphrasing Wiebke Keim (2010) work the dynamics of the local, recovering the voices of actors against the classical social theory that marked even the powers of the so-called North Atlantic. Method: the study was developed from the hermeneutic paradigm, qualitative approach, non-probabilistic designs, focus group technique and discourse analysis, aimed at teachers of Social Work Programs. Results and Discussion: the relationship of the context as a scenario where interactions are developed is reaffirmed, product of an economic structure that determines certain social representations, built in the groups permeated by social dynamics and intervention processes influenced by diagnoses that give reading to social, economic and political determinants that allow their development. Research Implications: It contributes to the epistemological, theoretical and methodological developments of Social Work from the reading of context. Originality/value: It provides views of context related to the emphasis of training that give sense to areas of professional performance.

When language becomes an obstacle: the challenges of teaching immunology in french for moroccan students

The teaching of sciences, and more specifically immunology, in a foreign language presents numerous challenges, particularly in terms of understanding and assimilating knowledge. In this context, teaching sciences in the native language would be more conducive to learning, as students have been familiarized with these linguistic structures from a young age. Nevertheless, since 2014, Morocco has decided to teach scientific subjects (mathematics, physics, and life and earth sciences) in French starting from middle school to help students in scientific fields, initially educated in Arabic, to better pursue their higher education in French. This approach creates a double barrier for students whose mother tongue is Amazigh or Arabic, they must both master complex scientific concepts and express them in a foreign language. This article aims to examine these challenges through two studies targeting a sample of 185 (n1+n2+n3) teachers, one quantitative based on a questionnaire, and the other qualitative using the focus group technique. Both studies focus on the opinions of life and earth sciences teachers regarding the teaching of immunology in French the high school, a discipline with particularly complex concepts, and whether teaching scientific subjects in French is hindered by difficulties, and finally to propose possible alternatives to improve the effectiveness of this teaching. The results obtained show a negative appreciation from the teachers in our sample regarding the teaching of immunology in French, as it poses problems for students' understanding of this discipline. In fact, the results suggest that the majority of students lack interest and motivation in immunology courses taught in French, with low engagement in classroom discussions.

NAVIGATING CORPORATE CULTURE: PERSPECTIVES FROM GENERATION Z BUSINESS STUDENTS

This research is a qualitative study based on the focus group technique and examines the opinion of business students, as a niche of Generation Z, in relation to organizational culture and its role in choosing and keeping a job. For this purpose, 3 focus groups were conducted with students from the Faculty of Business and Tourism of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. The first focus group had only 3 participants and served more to test the discussion guide. The next two focus groups had 10 and 12 participants respectively, boys and girls, with the difference that the second group consisted of undergraduate students and the third of students in a master's program. A surprising finding was that none of the 25 student participants in the 3 focus groups were familiar with the concept of organizational culture. However, after some brief explanations, they understood what the concept referred to and were able to participate in in-depth discussions. The key findings made it clear that Gen Z students are looking for companies with a positive culture and a workplace that allows them to have a good work- life balance. These aspects become even more important than a higher salary if it is to be achieved in a company with a toxic culture.

INTER-COLLABORATIVE NURSING SUPERVISION PROCESS BETWEEN HOSPITAL ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT MODELS AND ACADEMIA: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH

Introduction: Organizational management models influence supervisory activity in nursing. Collaborative practice between students and health professionals in the provision of person- and family-centred care allows them to evolve in the process of autonomy and knowledge transfer. However, this does not guarantee the acquisition of supervisory practices and inter-organisational interaction between the hospital and the academy, which are necessary for carrying out safe and qualified clinical procedures. However, this does not guarantee efficient acquisition of supervisory practices and inter-organizational interaction between hospital and academia, which are necessary to provide safe and effective clinical procedures. Objectives: The aim is to understand the possible dimensions of inter-organisational collaborative practice (academic and hospital), identifying its possible processes and results capable of guaranteeing the safety and quality of clinical procedures. Methods: This study emerges from a first mixed research intervention with N=50 nurse supervisors, non-randomized, using the snowball technique. We will, nevertheless, focus on its qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, using the Focus Group technique in which seven nurse supervisors took part. By using Bardin's assumptions, we conducted the content analysis of the participants' speech. Results: The content analysis allowed us to recognise the Processes of Inter-Collaborative Supervision in Nursing as the main dimension of analysis. The results identify, on the one hand, potential threats, highlighted by the time dedicated to supervision and access to information in the hospital context and, on the other hand, opportunities for articulation, highlighted by the importance of involving the various actors in each context, both in planning training programmes and in using supervisory strategies. Conclusion: This study explores the collaborative processes of nursing supervision between academia and hospitals, highlighting common elements of care and education. It reveals the influence of both bureaucratic and anarchic models in shaping these relationships. The findings underscore the importance of inter-organizational coordination, which plays a critical role in effective health promotion practices.

Acciones para establecer el esquema de certificación de Sistemas de Gestión de Organizaciones Educativas basado en NC-ISO 21001:2019 en Cuba

To demonstrate their quality, higher education institutions can be accredited by sectoral educational quality schemes or certify their management systems, following the approaches of the International Organization for Standardization. The objective of this work is to present the actions carried out in Cuba to establish the certification scheme, according to NC-ISO 21001:2019. To this end, a descriptive research was carried out, with a qualitative approach, supported by the analysis of scientific articles and other documents that substantiate the importance of the SGOE. The focus group technique was applied to know the experts' perceptions about the relevance of establishing this certification in the country. The necessary actions were planned to establish the scheme and it was designed with the University of Havana, as owner. The certification of Management Systems for Educational Organizations will allow institutions that provide higher-level and postgraduate training services to demonstrate the quality of their educational processes, through compliance with the NC-ISO 21001:2019 standard, by a third-party evaluation scheme, which includes educational organizations that are not governed by the sectoral accreditation system established in Cuba.

The Broken Windows of the KRG Private Universities: An Autoethnographic Study on XY University in Erbil

This research aims at exploring some of the fundamental disorders and anomies in the Kurdistan private academic institutions. It tries to answer how and why these anomies and disorders originated, and how they are translated into macro-level structural chaos in the society at large. Is the commercial aspect dominant or the academic dimension? which one does shape and constrain the other? My research is theoretically informed by the “Broken Windows Theory”, developed by “Wilson” and “Kelling”, that studies the causes and contexts of spreading, expanding, and translating trivial problems into large-scale and societal problems. I also draw upon the notion “Institutional Anomie” proposed by “Messner” and “Rosenfeld”, that focuses on the economization and commercialization of non-commercial and non-economic institutions. Methodologically, I employ the critical and interpretive autoethnography. To further strengthening my qualitative data, I also made use of focus group technique and unstructured interview with 37 samples (22 students, 7 instructors, and 8 university personnel) in addition to participant and direct observations. The name of the studied university is indicated by the symbol (XY), the researcher taught at this university for three years, and therefore chose it as a target sample. The results show that private universities in Kurdistan, despite their abundance, operate as commercial institutions more than academic and educational institutions, and participate in the marketing and sale of certificates accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education in Kurdistan.

Enhancing visual and plastic education training: a blended learning and flipped classroom approach

This article explores whether the implementation of the B-Learning (BL) and Flipped Classroom (FC) methodologies, using the ICT tool Edpuzzle, in the mandatory subject of Didactics of Plastic Expression in the Early Childhood Education teacher training programme leads to improvements in their education as future teachers. To address this investigation, two different pedagogical interventions were proposed: Unit 1 (U1), implementing BL, and Unit 2 (U2) through traditional lectures. For the analysis, a qualitative methodology using the focus group technique was employed. The results revealed high satisfaction among students regarding U1, implying that the use of ICT through the implementation of BL and FC methodologies has created a more dynamic and enriching educational environment, thereby enhancing their learning.

Validation of the Health Index in the Postoperative Period: Use of the Nursing Outcome Classification to Determine the Health Level.

The postoperative period is the recovery time after surgery and is defined as an individual process whose purpose is to return the person to the state of normality and integrity that they had prior to surgery. Demonstrate the modification of the level of health of people in the early postoperative period through the development and validation of the Health Index Instrument, which is built from the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) standardized language. The design used a mixed method, which involved a first phase of instrument development and a second phase of instrument validation. The methods was based on focus group techniques with text analysis techniques, internal validation with a group of care language experts, external validation with a group of clinical nursing experts and a clinical validation with quantitative and qualitative analysis. A panel of experts in Language of Care evaluated the (NOC) labels and their correlation with the 11 Health Variables to construct the instrument. The instrument developed was subjected to external validation with a panel of clinical nurse experts in post-anesthesia care. The clinical validation included a cross-sectional descriptive study in a postoperative unit. The final sample of the cross-sectional descriptive study was 139 cases. Of the 89 NOCs proposed in the preliminary construction phase of the instrument, 36 passed through the first round. Of those 36 NOCs, 25 passed through to the second round with a review performance and 11 directly as approved. The total number of approved NOCs were 4. The results of the research show that there are changes in the global score of the health level and in each health variable. It is observed that there was a significant increase in the scores of the health variables at admission and discharge (p < 0.001). The results of the data analysis show that six groups present a similar pattern of evolution of the health variables. A correlation was found between the time of stay in the unit with the scores obtained in the health variables, the physical functioning, comfort status and the presence of symptoms being particularly significant.

Assessment of UNESCO Global Geoparks websites for a public geocommunication

This study proposed a semi-quantitative methodology for assessing the quality of the UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) websites. The study was based on mixed indicators (binary and ordinal) which were grouped into five dimensions (presentation, content, interactivity, usability, and special UNESCO information) and combined with multivariate assessment using Principal Component Analysis and the application of the focus group technique using Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis to propose geocommunication strategies. The evaluation matrix, comprising 36 indicators, defined three levels of development (“high”, “moderate”, and “emergent”) and was useful for monitoring website quality and enhancing its territorial value for geotourism, geoconservation, and geoeducation. The results from 156 websites showed a predominance of “moderate development” scores (52.56%) and highlighted positive indicators, such as contact information, geotourism details, mobile compatibility, news, and the UGGp logo. This study also presented the potential of immersive technologies, such as virtual reality and 3D tours, for disseminating geoeducational content. However, there was room for the improvement in interaction and information standardization on UGGp web platforms to ensure effective communication that enriches the user experience.

Necesidades de desarrollo profesional en competencias digitales docentes: estudio de caso

This paper presents the results of a research work focused on identifying educational improvements needs in the field of digital teaching skills (DTS) in higher education, specifically in a Teacher Training College. There are several frameworks to assess this, however, this research focused on those related to the competence: communication and collaboration described in the Marco Común de Competencias Digitales Docentes (MCCDD) (INTEF, 2017). The pandemic evidenced as an emerging requirement in terms of the DTS also national and international foundations in which it is highlighted how these are essential to support lifelong learning and to inclusion. Ten teachers from Veracruz participated in the study through the focus group technique, which made it possible to recover information to learn about their perspectives on the training needs they identified in the area of the DTS, both in themselves and in the degree program in education in which they teach. The MAXQDA program was used to analyze the information and graphs were created with the segments of their oral participations. The results are shown in Unique-Code Model (summaries) of each skill in the area of communication and collaboration.

Activity Proposals to Improve Children’s Climate Literacy and Environmental Literacy

With the climate crisis, schools have a fundamental role to enrich children’s climate literacy, which should begin in their early years and continue for life. Developing activities in the classroom can be an excellent way of bringing this about. This work is part of a larger research project, during which a previous study was carried out with 245 children aged 9 to 13, in which we identified some limitations in their knowledge about climate change. Based on these results, we decided to present some proposals for activities that could help improve these children’s climate literacy. The study we conducted was of an exploratory character, and the main objective was to understand the impact of applying a set of activities to 54 children. The objectives of this work were to increase the climate literacy of the children involved—more specifically, to evaluate the impact of implementing three activities related to climate change and identify the knowledge about the cases and consequences of climate change that were acquired by the children involved. To collect the data, we used a focus group technique and content analysis to process it. The results revealed that the children acquired a better understanding of the problem of climate change—in particular, the causes and consequences of it and of the concept of the ecological footprint—as well as motivation to contribute to mitigating the problem. We conclude that the activities proposed could contribute to improving climate literacy, as well as stimulate children’s curiosity and proactivity so that they become citizens capable of exercising their active citizenship.

TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS FOR RESIDENT NURSES IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Objective: To describe how the learning process of residents occurred in the face of experiences experienced in covid-19 patient care in the period from March 2020 to May 2021. Method: Exploratory study with a descriptive and qualitative approach. Data collection was performed in the online focus group technique, through the Google Meet platform. Eight resident nurses from the Uniprofessional Residency Program of the Our Lady of Graces Nursing School were interviewed at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital from March 2020 to September 2021. Result: Analysis of the teaching-learning process revealed potential, opportunities, weaknesses and threats, guiding proposals to align the residence program with the needs of the labor market. Conclusion: Based on this, improvements were suggested aiming at the development and collaboration of resident nurses. The importance of clarity in the responsibilities of preceptors, coordinators and residents was highlighted, with emphasis on mutual evaluation of educational nature, without punitive character.

Need of belonging, Mexican men's normative socialization, and machismo as the root of couple problems, the role of alcohol use, and intimate partner violence

This research aims to understand and describe the etiology and mechanisms that maintain the association between alcohol consumption and violence perpetrated by Mexican men against their female partners. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using the focus group technique, with the participation of 14 men recruited through a marketing campaign in social networks, all with a history of intimate partner violence and alcohol consumption (assessed using the AUDIT and a semi-structured questionnaire). The data analysis was done manually, based on grounded theory, and subjected to three triangulation types. According to the results, the etiology of the association between alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence is the inadequate satisfaction of the need for bonding (attachment), imposed by the normative socialization of being a man, culturally known as machismo; an association that is maintained mainly by emotional dysregulation, lack of cohabitation skills in couples and poor management of the family economy. The results bring to the table a well-known, but little-considered fact: both alcohol consumption and the exercise of violence are strongly influenced by culture, which makes it necessary to investigate the phenomenon, emphasizing the peculiarities of the population under study. These results can be considered an indicator of the components necessary to develop an intervention that addresses both variables in the Mexican population

Leisure, Work, and Study Among University Students, an Approach From a Colombian Perspective

The dynamics and demands of contemporary society require increasingly tight adjustments concerning time, space, and human relationships. Maintaining a healthy balance among work, education, and leisure is necessary and challenging. In this scenario, distance education and information and communication technologies offer university-level training opportunities for those working in various contexts. In addition to time management challenges, finding leisure spaces that promote well-being presents another challenge. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the implications of simultaneously working and studying in leisure spaces and times, particularly focusing on students pursuing education through a distance-learning modality at the Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios-UNIMINUTO at a national level in Colombia. Methodologically, the study adopted a mixed research approach, utilizing a sequential explanatory design. Data were collected through questionnaires and the focus group technique. The analysis was based on categories such as serious leisure, casual leisure, digital leisure, and satisfaction with leisure. The quantitative component constituted a sample size of 455 students. The results revealed the characteristics of the leisure spaces within this population and the level of satisfaction with the limited leisure times and spaces available, given the peculiarity of working and studying concurrently. This satisfaction, whether derived from serious, casual, or digital leisure activities, correlated with the achieved well-being on personal and familial dimensions. Keywords: Leisure, education, work, student

I think they just logged on and fell asleep: Challenges to facilitating creativity online in higher engineering education

Creativity is a crucial skill for future engineers. Hence, it is becoming increasingly important for higher education (HE) engineering educators to foster and enhance engineering students' creative abilities. Simultaneously, online learning has found a place in engineering education. Nevertheless, we find that HE engineering educators in all domains continue to express a sense of inadequacy when it comes to fostering creativity in hybrid and online learning environments. This sentiment persists despite the existence of scholarly work that suggests strategies for addressing these challenges. In this paper, we assume that the rationale behind this is that the proposed pedagogical approaches are primarily established through conceptual reflections, whereas the perspective of the HE engineering educators on the perceived barriers has thus far been largely neglected. Therefore, we present a study that uses data from experience interviews and focus group techniques involving 71 HE engineering educators from Ireland, Germany, Denmark and Turkey to identify the common challenges that HE engineering educators perceive when facilitating creativity in online and hybrid classroom environments. These are used to extend theory by developing a four‐field conceptual model organizing the eight overarching challenges encountered. This model can be used as a basis for defining measures to support HE engineering educators in facilitating creativity online and serves as a guide for future research studies.

Innovación social para la conservación de prácticas textiles-artesanales basados en gestión de conocimiento y educación intercultural

Social innovation is a strategy for solving problems in community settings that integrates the cooperation of different participants to promote better conditions. This article aims to identify how co-creation practices promote the conservation of artisan textile knowledge through knowledge management and interculturality in social and educational spaces in the municipality of Nobsa - Boyacá, Colombia. In this, a descriptive investigation was privileged, for which there was a population of textile artisans and students of an educational institution of the municipality. The instruments used were the focus group technique and surveys to obtain data related to particular social aspects of the community under study. Social, educational, and business spaces were created using living laboratories that allowed the search for social alternatives to the problems encountered. As a result, a knowledge management model was obtained, based on the Nonaka and Takeuchi (1994) model, which responded to the research objectives, contributing to the reduction of acculturation of textile practices on a local level.

Rituals of Separation in the Face of the Death of a Child

Objective: To describe the separation rituals developed by bereaved mothers in the face of the death of their children. Methodology: Descriptive field research, with a qualitative approach, carried out in a municipality in the interior of Paraíba, with ten members of the “Mothers of Pieta” group, consisting of mothers who lost children of natural or tragic death and share their experiences with other mothers in the process. mourning. Data collection took place over two months, using the focus group technique through individual interviews. Results: Interpretations were obtained about the maternal experiences of loss produced from conceptual maps in the light of the rituals of "Before death" - the rite of anointing the sick or the hospital experience, "Before the burial" - rite of the funeral and " After the burial” – celebration of the mass in faithful memory of the deceased. Conclusion: It was found that each ritual has its relevance in the face of the displeasure caused in a situation of loss, which shows the loss can have a better understanding when symbols (rites) are adopted that help in the elaboration of this experience.

Executive functions of higher education entrants: Case Bilingualism degree program with emphasis on English

This article shows the main findings of a research project to study the executive functions of new students entering a bachelor’s degree program in Bilingualism in the face-to-face teaching process. It was aimed at analyzing the state of the administrative tasks of new students entering the program in a university institution in Cartagena (Colombia) during 2022 and 2023. This research was conducted from a mixed approach of descriptive scope involving quantitative techniques and instruments, EFECO self-report test, and qualitative through the focus group technique. The data processed allowed for the identification of the profiles of executive functions in the sample examined. These results point to the need for reinforcement that students should strengthen their emotional skills for planning, initiative, and working memory training. The data analysis pointed to a tendency to procrastinate and need to remember what they have learned after completing the assessments. The evidence suggests that students are conditioned to put their executive functions into action and in specific situations. The results highlight the need to design a strategic plan to develop administrative functions adequately and contribute to good performance in university life.

Experiences of women with physical disabilities in labor and delivery assistance.

To understand the meaning attributed by women with physical disabilities to the health care received and expected during labor and delivery. Qualitative study, based on Social Network Theory, conducted through an online workshop in April 2022, with the participation of six women with physical disabilities. Data, collected through the focus group technique, underwent thematic content analysis with the assistance of the IRaMuTeQ tool. Three thematic categories emerged: Challenges experienced during pregnancy; The experience within the maternity ward; and, The importance of social networks. The assistance provided by healthcare professionals sometimes differed between what was expected and what was received by women with physical disabilities during labor and delivery. Experiences were predominantly negative, resulting from inappropriate professional conduct due to ableist attitudes. Support from members of social networks is crucial for preventing stressors.