Individual Aspirations Research Articles

The effect of hedonic and eudaimonic happiness in driving altruistic food choices

AbstractThis study investigates whether individual happiness affects prosocial behavior in food choices. We considered two distinct dimensions of happiness: hedonic and eudaimonic. The hedonic component is focused on pleasure, joy, and immediate gratification, while the eudaimonic aspect is related to a sense of purpose in life, personal growth, and the fulfillment of individual aspirations. We conducted a discrete choice experiment to assess if happy people are more prone to altruistic choices when buying food. The results indicate that individual happiness exerts distinct effects according to its two dimensions, eudaimonia and hedonism. We found that happiness influences the demand for ethical foods, whereas it exerts a detrimental effect on preferences for food with environmental labels.

Gender dynamics and aspirational disparities in agriculture

AbstractDespite increasing scholarly attention to individual aspirations, rural women's aspirations in agriculture remain largely unexplored. With women increasingly central to agricultural work, understanding their aspirations is crucial. Using farm surveys from Ecuador, Kenya, and Rwanda, we investigate the relationship between gender and aspiration formation in agriculture. Similar to previous findings related to education and entrepreneurship, our findings show women have lower ambitions for agricultural production. Addressing the unique challenges they face, gender‐sensitive policies are vital for inclusive, sustainable agriculture. Our study contributes to a broader understanding of the multidimensional factors shaping agricultural outcomes, underscoring the importance of integrating diverse perspectives for effective policy formulation in agriculture.

Górale and Farming – It Goes Hand in Hand. Agricultural Work as Part of Cultural Heritage in Podhale

Contrary to common associations linking Podhale with recreation and tourism, this region still retains its rural character. Rurality, thus, is a category inextricably connected with agriculture and largely shaped by work. That is why progressive changes in agriculture and general de-agrarianisation affect rural areas much more strongly than a simple change in occupational structure would suggest. The article concerns selected narratives and activities of Podhale farmers, showing agriculture as part of the cultural heritage of the countryside. Reffering to the specific agrarian structure, I argue that farmers in this regions use mountain conditions and the presence of the tourist business to undertake activities that go beyond economic aspects of work. The specific nature of agriculture makes it a space for realising individual ambitions that reach beyond earning a living and touch upon aspects of indentity. Even though the agricultural past is common to most inhabitants of Podhale, farmers, consciously referring to it, use techniques available only to them as specific continuators of highland farming methods.

Sport, criminal justice interventions and possible future selves: Towards a research agenda

There is growing evidence surrounding the instrumental role of sport and physical activity as a tool to address issues within criminal justice systems and act as a mechanism to engage, educate and develop individuals both in community and correctional settings. This article outlines how sport-based interventions might serve to support the individual aspirations and imagined ‘future selves’ of their participants. Utilising the seminal work of Markus and Nurius, we consider the barriers that may impede the development of an idealised future self for people involved in, or on the margins of, crime. Considering these barriers, the article examines the concept of ‘liminality’, outlining the challenges evident when reconstructing personal identity as the individual transitions ‘betwixt and between’ former and imagined lives. Finally, the article presents evidence which advocates for mentoring within sport-based interventions to facilitate the construction of possible selves, before concluding with suggestions for future research in this area.

From Concept to Novel: Tâhirülmevlevî’s (1877-1951) Sufi Engagement and Critique of Teşebbüs-i Şahsî (Individual Initiative) in the Late Ottoman Era

During the late Ottoman era, particularly the Hamidian period (1876-1909), a culture of diligent labor and industriousness emerged, emphasizing economic progress. State-led initiatives triggered substantial socio-economic shifts, alongside increased regulations to integrate Sufi networks into state apparatus to reduce their economic burden due to constant benefit from the endowment funds. At this juncture, Tâhirülmevlevî (Mehmet Tâhir Olgun) (d. 1951) departed from the Yenikapı Mevlevîhâne and firmly rejected benefiting from endowment funds. Instead, he turned to press and publishing activities that he believed would sustain both his livelihood and spiritual service. His narrative, especially encapsulated in his autobiographical novel Teşebbüs-i Şahsî (1912), offers a critique of the administrative reforms of the era, articulating a perspective that the lack of ethical integrity and judicial fairness severely impeded the successful adoption of teşebbüs-i şahsî (individual initiative) frameworks. His reflections extend to critique societal perceptions of Sufis as economic dependents, delving into why substantial reforms failed to gain traction within the Turkish-Muslim community. Through his literary and journalistic endeavors, Olgun not only personifies the concept of individual initiative but also critically examines its execution and impact within the complex socio-political landscape of late Ottoman society, underscoring the complex interplay between individual aspirations and collective societal transformations.

Work-integrated learning in the humanities, arts and social sciences: where to from here?

ABSTRACT Amidst increasing pressures on Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) disciplines regarding graduate career readiness, this study examines HASS student participation in work-integrated learning (WIL) and its impacts on employability and short-term employment outcomes, using data from the Australian Graduate Outcomes Survey from 2020 to 2023. The research examined the extent of participation across WIL types (work-based, non-workplace and global) and its influence on graduates’ perceived employability and employment outcomes (full-time employment and perceived overqualification), while investigating demographic differences using descriptive analysis and logistic regression models. Results indicated rising WIL participation yet identified disparities by activity type and among student groups. Work-based WIL (e.g. internships) was the most effective type for enhancing employability and facilitating transitions into professional roles and work aligned to degree study. Non-workplace WIL (e.g. projects), while beneficial for skill development, showed limited impact on immediate employment outcomes and there was relatively low participation in global WIL (e.g. industry study tours) across all discipline groups. The study illuminates the need for more inclusive WIL programmes and flexible models to accommodate diverse student needs. Recommendations for HASS faculties include integrating career development learning, optimising industry engagement and providing targeted support for underrepresented groups. By aligning WIL experiences with emerging labour market opportunities, HASS faculties can prepare graduates for successful careers, addressing both individual aspirations and broader economic needs. Future research regarding WIL in HASS could focus on postgraduate participation and industry perspectives on scaling programmes to ensure initiatives effectively bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice.

Validation of Manipal Bedside Swallowing Screening Test for Assessing Aspiration in Individuals with Tracheostomy.

To validate the Manipal Bedside Swallowing Screening Test (MBSST) for assessing aspiration in individuals with tracheostomy using Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS). A total of 53 tracheostomized participants were screened for aspiration at bedside and VFSS across different consistencies. Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS) was used to substantiate the severity of aspiration if present. The test demonstrated both high sensitivity (91%; 95% confidence interval = 70.8-98.9) and diagnostic accuracy (96%; 95% confidence interval = 87.0-99.5) for detecting aspiration in individuals with tracheostomy. The Manipal Bedside Swallowing Screening Test is an easy to administer tool that has sufficient sensitivity to detect aspiration in individuals with tracheostomy. The MBSST will be an easy to administer tool and will help in screening for aspiration at bedside without any instrumental examination.

Fuzzy-Bayesian Expert System for Suggesting Personalized Training Plans with Exercises and Routines with a Model Driven Architecture (MDA)

In the dynamic world of fitness, the quest for tailor-made exercise plans has never been more critical. Expert systems are stepping up to this challenge, offering a promise of personalized routines for both seasoned athletes and newcomers. In this article, we introduce an ingenious fuzzy-Bayesian expert system, armed with fuzzy and Bayesian logic, that tackles the uncertainties lurking within fitness data. It's a system with a dual focus: for fitness veterans, it conducts a meticulous analysis of their training history, past achievements, and current ambitions. Guided by the nuanced power of fuzzy and Bayesian logic, it makes decisions rooted in probabilities. As for beginners, the system builds a strong foundation, considering your present fitness status and your future aspirations. This forward-thinking approach speaks directly to the increasing demand for adaptable fitness solutions. For seasoned athletes, it paves the way to peak performance and injury prevention. Meanwhile, beginners embark on their fitness journey with gradual and secure steps. The Fuzzy-Bayesian Expert System offers a comprehensive answer that embraces data diversity and individual fitness aspirations in both scenarios. Furthermore, the seamless integration of the UPAFuzzySystem (Montes Rivera et al., 2023) library and Twilio elevates the system's functionality and its connection with users, turning it into a personal fitness enhancement tool. Dive into a world where fitness meets technology for a custom-made future of health and well-being.

The Capability to Aspire: An Agentive Model

ABSTRACT Drawing on Sen’s conceptual refinements of agency, in particular the distinction between agency freedom and agency achievement, this article highlights the existence of a feedback loop between agency and the capability to aspire. To explore this loop, the author uses John Dewey’s praxeological approach, bringing institutions into the “Capability Approach” along with situated agency. Against this background, she develops an agentive model of the capability to aspire, where the latter is nurtured by the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of experience. While the longitudinal dimension involves temporal processes driven by creative continuity (between past, present and future), the lateral dimension involves relational processes driven by social interactions (between a person and her environment). Institutions are an important part of that environment. By propagating social norms that define roles and behaviours in society, they provide a matrix for individual and collective aspirations, especially for people with fewer individual resources. But as Sen has pointed out, the moral ideals pursued by institutions do not necessarily translate into concrete achievements. This is why Dewey invites us to subject them to an ongoing critical inquiry that confronts their goals to their effective role in people’s lived experience, with the aim to transform them if necessary. The article concludes by discussing the implications of such a transformative inquiry and its potentially empowering effect in voicing aspirations and articulating new ones.

The Capability to Aspire and Realise Aspirations After Exiting Long-lasting Undocumentedness

ABSTRACT This study examines how the lasting effects of illegalisation and legal status regularisation contribute to the transformation of aspirations of individuals who lived and worked undocumented for years. It investigates whether obtaining legal residence status opens future possibilities, allowing individuals to project themselves more positively, make plans, and realise their aspirations. Drawing on qualitative longitudinal fieldwork conducted between 2018 and 2022, this research focuses on individuals who transitioned from undocumented status through the “Operation Papyrus” programme in Geneva, Switzerland. The study analyses the dynamic changes in their situations, difficulties, and aspirations, particularly emphasising occupational mobility. The findings reveal that while regularisation initially expands aspirations, various obstacles often necessitate the readjustment of these aspirations over time. This study provides valuable insights into the complexities of enhancing the capability to aspire among vulnerabilised individuals; it also highlights that while policies expanding formal opportunities bring many benefits, they may not be sufficient alone to increase the capacity of individuals to live according to their aspirations, especially for those who were previously exposed to social contexts that prevented them from projecting themselves positively into the future, such as illegalising policies.

Transforming Social Policies and Institutions in a Capability Perspective: Agency, Voice and the Capability to Aspire

ABSTRACT The article suggests that putting the enhancement of capability to aspire and capability for voice centre stage of the design and implementation of social policies would entail a deep-seated transformation of such policies. Based on the receiver-doer-judge framework we explore what conditions are to be fulfilled to implement such a transformation, emphasising how the expansion of objective opportunity and entitlement sets should go hand in hand with an increased subjective sense of opportunity and entitlement. We then turn to examine what such transformed institutions would imply in terms of enhancing individual aspirations and capabilities on the one hand and increasing capacity for collective action and social change on the other one, emphasising the key role of capability for voice in both respects. We show how institutions and policies transformed in such a way would differ from dominant approaches to social policies such as social investment, which endorse a more adaptive approach to social policy. It is also suggested how Freire, Dewey and Khader’s ideas could be useful reference points towards the design and implementation of such transformed institutions.

Education Failure Education Failure: Untold Tales of Bangladeshi Transgender’s Unquenchable Educational Aspirations

This study examines the undocumented narratives around the persistent desire for education among transgender individuals in Bangladesh, highlighting the challenges they have encountered in their academic pursuits. Through an analysis of the stories provided by eight adult transgender participants, this research identifies noteworthy factors that have led to the disparity observed in the educational aspirations of transgender individuals. In conjunction with in-depth interviews and interpretive phenomenological analysis, a narrative inquiry approach was utilized to acquire a comprehensive comprehension of the participants' viewpoints regarding educational aspirations. The results of the study indicate several significant factors that contribute to the diminished educational aspirations of transgender students. The results of the study indicate several significant factors that contribute to the diminished educational aspirations of transgender students, such as falsified sex identity, social stigmas, bullying, abuse and harassment, teachers' ignorance and unhelpful behavior, economic hardship and poverty, and unfavorable learning environments. The findings have highlighted the need for more open and accepting environments for transgender children and young adults, particularly in family and educational settings. Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Res arch, 50(1): 7-20

Between Delivery and Luck: Projectification of Academic Careers and Conflicting Notions of Worth at the Postdoc Level

AbstractThis paper investigates how early career academics interpret and respond to institutional demands structured by projectification. Developing a ‘frame analytic’ approach, it explores projectification as a process constituted at the level of meaning-making. Building on 35 in-depth interviews with fixed-term scholars in political science and history, the findings show that respondents jointly referred to competition and delivery in order to make sense of their current situation. Forming what I call the project frame, these interpretive orientations were legitimized by various organizational routines within the studied departments, feeding into a dominant regime of valuation and accumulation. However, while the content of the project frame is well-defined, attempts to align with it vary, indicating the importance of disciplines and academic age when navigating project-based careers. Furthermore, this way of framing academic work and careers provokes tensions and conflicts that junior scholars try to manage. To curb their competitive relationship and enable cooperation, respondents emphasized the outcome of project funding as ‘being lucky.’ They also drew on imagined futures to envision alternative scripts of success and worth. Both empirically and conceptually, the article contributes to an understanding of academic career-making as a kind of pragmatic problem-solving, centered on navigating multiple career pressures and individual aspirations.

Problematising Aspirations, Transformations, and Societal Expectations: Revisioning Academic Success and Wellbeing Through Cross-Cultural Autoethnographic Exploration

Having aspirations and goals to strive for provides a sense of purpose and motivation, which can greatly contribute to one’s overall happiness and satisfaction. However, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of how individual aspirations interact with societal expectations and constructs, potentially resulting in feelings of anxiety and frustration. This collaborative cross-cultural autoethnographic study examines the interplay between the individual and the sociocultural, with a special interest in Eastern and Western lenses of well-being. Based on data from autoethnographic narratives, fieldnotes, and reflection with critical friends, this study aims to provide an insider’s account of an international doctoral candidate’s experiential journey of aspiration/s, and transformation/s, to meet societal expectation/s. Through analysis of these experiences, we propose that societal constructs should be given more attention in discussions of well-being, to envision a more equitable educational environment in which aspiration/s and transformation/s can be better recognized and appreciated.

Parenting Aspirations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Childless Individuals in Ecuador

The desire to have children holds profound significance for many individuals and couples. This study aimed to explore the parenting aspirations of 409 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual individuals residing in Ecuador who completed an online survey. Our objective was to examine their aspirations toward parenthood, including the number of children desired, preferred methods for achieving parenthood, the importance of biological ties, and past attempts to have children. Our findings indicate that approximately half of our sample expressed a desire to have children, with a majority intending to pursue parenthood. Contrary to our expectations, there were no statistically significant differences in parenting aspirations based on sexual orientation. Heterosexual and bisexual individuals tended to prefer sexual intercourse as the method for having children and expressed wanting more children. In contrast, adoption and surrogacy were more commonly favored by lesbian and gay individuals. A minority of participants reported previous attempts to have children. These results are discussed within the sociocultural and legal context of Ecuador.

Pathfinding and Connections in the Life of Small Reformed Communities in Budapest. The Contexts of the 1967 YMCA Trial

In July 1967, the communist political police arrested five members of Keresztyén Ifjúsági Egyesület (the Hungarian equivalent of the YMCA), which had been dissolved in 1950, on charges of conspiracy against the state. Among those arrested were pastors, elders, and a former deacon. The trial is considered to be the last politically motivated trial against the Reformed Church and the most significant of all state security actions against the Reformed in Hungary. In order to understand the background of the trial and the changing considerations of church policy and state security surrounding it, it is necessary to look at how the image and political approach of the decisive actors of church policy had evolved by the 1960s. On the other hand, the documents produced by the party-state can be examined not only from the perspective of power but also from that of communities in action: what were the individual and collective strategies for active Christianity in the first decades of the Kádár regime? What were the individual and collective aspirations, adaptation techniques, and patterns of value transmission that can be discerned among different groups, congregations, youth communities, and their leaders in Reformed Christianity? Which forms of church or religious behaviours were considered dangerous by the party-state, and how did it set forth for the church policy enforcement bodies the activities it considered to be within the category of church or religious resistance and opposition? Keywords: communist church policy, Hungarian Reformed Church, political trial, religious resistance, YMCA

Exploring the “inner compass”: How career strivings relate to career self‐management and career success

AbstractThis research investigates the relations between career strivings, career self‐management behaviors, and career success. Examining 312 German workers with two measurement waves, Study 1 reveals that career strivings significantly positively relate to engagement in various career behaviors, extending beyond the scope of established motivational variables. Specifically, we observed that self‐enhancement strivings correlate with self‐promotion activities, self‐transcendent strivings with helping behaviors, and personal growth strivings with continuous learning. In Study 2, incorporating three measurement waves and involving 299 German workers, examines how these career strivings differentially relate to objective career success and career satisfaction. Our findings indicate that self‐enhancement strivings are associated with higher leadership positions and workplace status, while self‐transcendent and personal growth strivings are linked to greater career satisfaction. Additionally, self‐enhancement strivings indirectly relate to career satisfaction through increased recognition. In contrast, self‐transcendent and personal growth strivings relate to satisfaction through experiences of meaningful work and personal development. This research underscores the significance of career strivings in influencing career self‐management behaviors and success, providing novel insights into the complex interplay between individual aspirations and professional outcomes.

Aspirations versus adaptive achievements in the face of climate change in Sri Lanka

This research explores the linkages between threat perception and adaptive behaviour in the face of climate change in Galle, Sri Lanka. We use an analytical framework to analyse the complexity of aspiration versus adaptive practices, centring around the synthesis of threat perception, vulnerability, adaptive capacity and livelihood resilience. Our findings reveal that individual threat perception incentivises climate adaptation strategies, bolstering livelihood resilience. However, unfavourable societal circumstances affecting the participants significantly impede the implementation of these resilience strategies. In addition to a knowledge gap and lack of climate change awareness in popular discourse, we observe a conspicuous discrepancy between individual aspirations and adaptive capacity with the ongoing economic crisis and the need for governmental climate legislation at the time of research. This research, therefore, emphasises a nuanced approach to researching climate change adaptation, considering the gravity of societal circumstances that delimit how individuals can engage in livelihood resilience strategies.

Machine Learning Applications in Human Resource Management: Predicting Employee Turnover and Performance

The paper presents a fully-fledged survey of the transformative power of AI-driven Machine Learning (ML) models in revolutionizing Human Resource Management (HRM) practices. The research investigates the new-age applications of such emerging technologies about talent identification, workforce planning, employee engagement, and personalized career development. It also looks at how natural language processing and sentiment analysis can become instrumental in the construction of an employee feedback system that is both engaging and transparent. The research also explores how ML algorithms are used to design tailor-made career development plans to ensure a proper match between individual aspirations and organizational needs. It further proceeds to elaborate on the integration of ML with human resource development in creating personalized learning and development programs to address the limitations of one-size-fits-all approaches to training. This comprehensive AI-driven talent framework, represented here, strongly proves its enhanced potential to improve employee engagement, organizational performance, and competitive advantage by its implementation and evaluation.

The world of Polish Army officers’ values

Values are a very complex subject of research not only from an individual but also from a collective perspective. The first approach places them in the culture of the individual and refers to primary and secondary socialisation and cultural participation. The second approach deals with the culture of the organisation and its axiological specificity. The article attempts to identify value systems in a specific organisation such as the army. On the basis of qualitative research (triangulation, source analysis and interviews with former officers), fixed and variable elements of the organisational culture canon and values recognised by representatives of the officer community were exemplified. The analysis of the content of the literature on the subject and the results of author’s own research indicate that the systems of individual values among officers, although differing significantly, have sets of constant universal values that are acquired under the influence of time in service and experience and the culture of the organisation. The variable differentiating values among officers are individual aspirations and environmental factors shaping the worldview and attitude towards the reality around them. The article attempts to identify the factors shaping the axionormative order of Polish Army officers and to define the values shaping their social pattern.