Instrumental Case Research Articles

The role of tradesmen and craftsmen in Mersin urban economics: An analysis of institutional, sectoral-based and location of activity

Urbanization is not only a concentration of humans in city areas but also, the consumption and production activities that are comprised in urban space. In this sense, goods and services are developed through the urban economic actors, through labor, economic diversity, and prosperity. This article reviews the relationship between urban economics and tradesmen & craftsmen (TC). The focus is on analysing tradesmen and craftsmen’s institutional, sectoral-based, and activity location. To do that, the research has adopted the qualitative research method strategy and an instrumental and multiple case study design. The study used the document analysis technique to collect data. It aims to illustrate how urban economics actors conduct their businesses across the city. To clarify that, this article benefits from the urban economi cs notion which explains the relation between urban economics structure and actors. This paper also argues that tradesmen and craftsmen are key actors who produce goods and services in urban economics and it is composed of three main parts, the first of which analyses urban economics notion within the historical background briefly. The structure of Mersin's urban economics is assessed in the second part of this article. Within the scope of the paper, first of all, tradesmen and craftsmen were analysed in terms of the institutional framework, sectoral based, and location-activity. What is evident from this research is that tradesmen and craftsmen both are supported by the state and TC has an institutional organization capacity that is spread whole over the national level. Also, TC provides the city’s production process of goods and services based on sector.

All dried up: The materiality of drought in Ladismith, South Africa

This paper conceptualises droughts as socioecological phenomena coproduced by the recursive engagement of human and non-human transformations. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates political ecology, material geographies and hydroclimatology, this work simultaneously apprehends the role of politics and power in reshaping drought, along with the agency of biophysical processes – soil, vegetation, hydrology and microclimate – that co-produce droughts and their spatiotemporal patterning. The drought-stricken Ladismith in Western Cape, South Africa, is the instrumental case study and point of departure of our empirical analysis. To advance a materiality of drought that seriously accounts for the coevolution of biophysical and political transformations, we alter the spatiotemporal and empirical foci of drought analyses thereby retracing Ladismith’s socioecological history since colonial times. In turn, such extended framework exposes the agency of soil, vegetation, hydrology and microclimate and their metabolic exchanges with processes of colonisation, apartheid, capitalist and neoliberal transformations of South African economy. We argue that the narrow pursuit of profits and capital accumulation of the few has produced a fundamental disruption between nature and society which contributed to transform Ladismith’s drought into a socioecological crisis. Whilst advancing debates on materiality, we note two fundamental contributions to the study of drought. First, our approach makes hydrological accounts of droughts less politically naive and socially blind. Second, it develops a political ecology of droughts and socioecological crises more attuned to the materiality of drought. We contend that apprehending the materiality of drought and the active role of its non-human processes can further understandings of the workings of power and the production of socioecological injustices.

Potential Negative Externalities of Private Military Entrepreneurs from an Economic Perspective

ABSTRACT Private military companies (PMC) can have considerable advantages for the customer on the one hand, but on the other hand can come with great dangers. Based on the theory of externalities, an attempt is made to illuminate this situation and to analyze the negative externalities associated with it. By using an instrumental case study method we can identify two potential negative technological externalities of hiring PMCs which should be internalized. These two are the violation of national law and international humanitarian law in the theater of operation, and the lack of control of the executive by the legislative branch in the exporting state. Based on this, we present and discuss options to eliminate these negative technological externalities. It can be shown that the preferable set of measures includes instruments to create transparency, and command-and-control regulations on the individual state’s level. While the second effect can easily be solved with domestic instruments, a supranational organization is needed to solve the first effect.

Conflicting or co-existing logics – doing action research within the framework of a project in a university

PurposeThe aim of the study was to illustrate how three different institutional logics, present in the implementation of action research, interact in a formalised project, in a traditional university setting.Design/methodology/approachThe article is empirical in nature and the research method used is an instrumental case study. The case was the implementation of action research within the framework of an educational project co-financed by EU funds, conducted in a Polish public university. The research process was conducted from September 2017 to November 2019. The following techniques were used: document analysis, in-depth interviews, participatory observation during the project. Constant comparative analysis was used as an analytical approach.FindingsThe study indicates that action research, project management and university management follow different “logics”. The dominant logic of action research is problem-solving, of project management is efficiency and of university management is compliance. These different logics and the relationship between them is explained in the paper.Originality/valueThe research enriches the ongoing discussion on logic multiplicity and project management in a new context – that of the university environment and combines the issue of the implementation of action research with broader conversations on institutional logics.

Challenges of Licensed Counselors and Other Licensed Mental Health Providers Working With Neurodiverse Adults: An Instrumental Case Study

For enhanced access to treatment and outcomes, it is imperative that counselors and therapists be aware of and confident in adapting their techniques to the needs of neurodiverse individuals. The shortage of trained professionals and limited training in professional counseling and other mental health support services specific to neurodiverse adults has deprived them of therapy. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the challenges of licensed counselors and other licensed mental health providers who work with neurodiverse adults. Ensuring that neurodiverse adults receive appropriate socio-psychological assistance and competent services from licensed counselors requires a proper understanding of the current challenges that these professionals face. Findings from an instrumental case study comprising individual open-ended interviews to investigate the challenges faced by five licensed counselors and other licensed mental health providers who work with neurodivergent clients were analyzed in a thematic fashion and are presented herein. This instrumental case study identified concerns that were built on existing knowledge that allowed adaptation to and evolution within new cultural norms that characterize neurodiversity, which should be treated as a cultural difference and not “a less than” or “more than” condition. The evidence provided in this thematic analysis is connected to social emotional learning, universal design for learning, universal design, and social learning theories that have significant implications for practitioners.

STRATEGIC HEALTH RISK COMMUNICATION OF HIV/AIDS ON TWITTER ACCOUNT @hayVeeID

This research defines the utilization of the Twitter account @hayVeeID as a strategic communication for health risk communication associated with HIV/AIDS. From year to year, the case of HIV is sadly still increasing. The age range that becomes the majority of the people living with HIV is 20 – 24 Years and 25 – 49 Years. Hence, it is necessary to see the other approach to communicating an infectious disease. The UK's Expert and NGOs propose that the government make online sex education because they are shy about discussing and asking questions if sex education is done in public. Since one of the causes of this infectious disease happens through sexual intercourse and sex education in Indonesia is still taboo, hayVee adapts this online campaign to reduce the number of cases and stigma. This study identifies whether the Twitter account of @hayVeeID can be used as a strategic communication for health risk communication and illustrates the usage of that Twitter account. Using the qualitative approach with an instrumental case study method shows that several aspects of strategic communication need to be improved, such as measurement and the time-bound to achieve their targets. In addition, the social media account of @hayVeeID can be used as well as strategic communication to alter the audience's cognitive, affective, and behavioral components. This finding follows the aspects of attitude change in risk communication. To cite this article (7 th APA style): Kusuma, R. A. P., & Mulyasari, F. (2022). Strategic health risk communication of HIV/AIDS on twitter account @hayVeeID . Journal Communication Spectrum: Capturing New Perspectives in Communication 12 (2), 124-134. https://doi.org/10.36782/jcs.v12i2.2278

Preservice Music Educators’ Perceptions of Online Synchronous Fieldwork: A Case Study

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine preservice music educators’ perceptions of teaching voice lessons to elementary and secondary students during an online synchronous fieldwork experience. I used Garrison et al.’s Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework to analyze the participants’ perceptions of cognitive presence (i.e., triggering events, exploration, integration, and resolution), social presence (i.e., emotional expression, open communication, and group cohesion), and teaching presence (i.e., structure and design of the fieldwork experience). During initial lessons, participants cited mostly triggering events and exploration, which occurred alongside indicators of social presence. Participants cited technological challenges associated with online synchronous learning (i.e., teaching presence) may have hindered instances of integration and resolution. Music teacher educators may consider using the CoI framework to structure collaborative and supportive online synchronous fieldwork experiences.

Perceptions of Sexual Assault at Music Festivals

This article examines perceptions of sexual assault at music festivals. The context of a music festival tacitly encourages women to dress in a way that is consistent with the atmosphere of the event, and in ways that are "on trend." However, there is strong evidence that victims who dress in more revealing attire face issues in relation to victim blame, with their own culpability questioned. Given recent reports on sexual assault at music festivals, research investigating perceptions by the general public of sexual assault at such festivals, is timely. Utilizing netnography and an instrumental case study approach, data were collected via a discussion forum on the Daily Mail website, with over 900 responses examined. Employing thematic analysis, core themes to emerge included: victim blame, self-responsibility for safety and its connection with dress, context and location, that no assault occurred, and aspects of the victim's appearance. These themes are unpacked and then discussed as reflective of the broader issue of rape culture. Practical implications regarding policy and event reputation are provided.

Implementing an infection control checklist May not be effective in reducing the incidence of surgical site infections in spinal surgery.

Surgical site infections (SSI) in instrumented spine surgery remains as a major complication with increased morbidity. Although implementation of surgical safety checklists has been reported to lower the rates of SSI, reproducibility of these remain unclear. The specific aim of this study was to explore the results of implementation of a SSI control protocol in regard to its efficacy in decreasing the rate of SSI. A total of 140 instrumented spinal surgery cases between 2018 and 2021 were divided into two groups as Group 1 (checklist implemented) and Group 2 (control) and these were compared regarding SSI rates, patient rand surgery related factors, laboratory findings and infecting microorganisms. Ten SSIs were encountered in Group 1 (20.8%), whereas only nine in Group 2 (9.8%). Although not statistically significant (p > .05), these results highly favor the non-checklist implemented group regarding the development of SSI. A definitive infective microorganism could be identified in five out of 10 SSI in Group 1 and 6 out of nine in Group 2. Whereas only three out of 11 (27.3%) involved Gr (+) agents, rest of eight out of 11 (72.7%) involved Gr (-) agents. A failure in decreasing the SSI rate through the implementation of a SSI prevention checklist may be due to several factors pertaining to the study design, patient characteristics and the Gr (-) dominance in SSIs in our center. Nevertheless, this suggests that checklist implementation to prevent SSI in instrumented spine surgery may not be effective in all contexts.

User theory for inclusion or exclusion? Conceptual models to address the role of users for inclusive socio-technical change

Innovation Studies (IS) and Science, Technology and Society studies (STS) explored the role of users in socio-technological change: from their role as consumers, adopters or experimenters to maximize profit, to exploring the mutual shaping of users and technologies and the power relations embedded into the process of use. By the turn of the century, amidst broader claims to democratize Science and Technology, scholars and practitioners explored the ways technologies may contribute to overcome social, material, and political restrictions in structural inequality scenarios. While discursively praising user inclusion as a ‘good practice’, ‘technologies for inclusive development’ (TID) ranged from processes of distributed decision-making and empowerment to paternalistic schemes and unwanted effects that reinforce exclusion patterns. This paper aims to revisit user theories through the lens of inclusion/exclusion to explore user engagement in TID initiatives to understand the relation between user involvement and ‘inclusive’ outcomes. We argue that diverse theoretical views on user-centeredness, which we systematize in 5 types, are tied to different normative assumptions about what user-centeredness is for, with implications for technology practice and STS theory. In interaction between literature review and instrumental TID case studies (in water, health, nutrition, and recycling), we examine how these differences lead to differential outcomes in terms of inclusion (e.g., exclusion problem-solving, distribution of benefits, social learning). In turn, we analyze how bringing the inclusiveness/exclusion dimension may help to reveal user literature blind spots that need to be addressed, and how unveiling user theory may contribute to deepen our understanding of inclusion in technology making.

How do Patients Diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder Experience Conflict? A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT The role and nature of conflict in the development and manifestation of dissociative identity disorder (DID) remains underexplored beyond theoretical deduction. In this qualitative instrumental case study, we explored the subjective experience and nature of conflict in a group of adult psychiatric patients diagnosed with DID. We purposively selected typed transcriptions of 28 previously recorded in-depth individual interviews with 15 patients, their audio recordings and associated field notes. The data were thematically analyzed and constant comparison was applied. Two main themes emerged from the transcriptions, namely, participants’ experiences of having one or more incompatible and conflicting worldviews about their DID, and the type and nature of conflict that arises between dissociative identities, i.e., conflict of information in awareness, conflicting actions or behaviors, conflicting emotions, conflicting goals, conflicting values, and a battle of wills. Patients with DID have contextually and culturally variable comprehension of the origin of their DID. Conflict between dissociative identities was pervasive, multifaceted, and exacerbated by a lack of awareness between identities. The study provides insight into the complexities of conflict between dissociative identities, as well as highlights the role of inter-identity awareness in conflict.

The Effects of Group Mentoring on Teachers’ Classroom Activities: An Instrumental Case Study

As the technologies in the field of education are becoming more and more sophisticated, continuous professional development for teachers is gaining increasing importance. Therefore, teachers need to improve themselves to grow more competent professionally, to adapt to innovations in their field and to be aware of their competencies throughout their professional careers. A support for professional development can be given to teachers through in-service training programs or mentoring practices. This study aims to improve chemistry teachers' adaptation to the renewed curriculum with a group mentoring program and to determine the effects of this program on professional development of teachers by individually and as a group. The study group consists of four (three males, one female) chemistry teachers working in the central districts of the province of Trabzon in Turkey. A Course Evaluation Form developed by the researchers was used to examine the effect of the teachers’ mentoring support experiences on their classroom practices. Each teacher was observed before, during and after the mentoring. Every one of the classroom teaching practices was video-recorded. The video recordings were analyzed according to the themes and codes in the course evaluation form. The findings show that there is a change in teachers' in-class practices before, during and after the mentoring, and while this change shows continuous improvement in some cases, it is variable or stationary in some others.

Orthographic and grammatical features of word classes (conjunctions) in the Kazakh language

In our language, some words focus only on nouns or subjunctive clauses, which give the word a grammatical meaning, add tone to them, reveal their implications and importance. This article describes the spelling of word classes in the Kazakh language, orthographic features of some conjunctions – homonymic series, difference from other parts of speech, correct spelling (together, separately), grammatical features, use in language, meaning in combination with preceding words. The external personality is similar to some ending words. We will only ask a question about the word that comes before it. For example, this year I am also writing a dissertation (who is writing a diploma – I am?). – I have a very interesting book called «From childhood to Wisdom». (Who has the book? – I have). The locative case has endings (да, де, та, те – and, both… and, as well as, not only, but also) with coordinating conjunctions the location of a person or object, interrogative conjunctions-particles (ма, ме, ба, бе, па, пе – if, really, is, really) with this personal negative suffix phrase: the lexical-semantic character and grammatical features of the ending words were considered in comparison with the suffix, so as not to confuse the instrumental cases either (мен, бен – so, within ) with the coordinating conjunctions. It is proved by examples that if you answer these questions, the suffix will be written together with the same word. And in which case there will be a conjunction, the general meaning of the sentence will not be violated, although the conjunction will be lowered, it was considered with concrete data and evidence. A number of words used in the negative sense are also revealed, as well as the differences, features and spelling of coordinating conjunctions – particles (ма, ме, ба, бе, па, пе – if, whether, really) at the end of an interrogative sentence.

Orthographic and grammatical features of word classes (conjunctions) in the Kazakh language

In our language, some words focus only on nouns or subjunctive clauses, which give the word a grammatical meaning, add tone to them, reveal their implications and importance. This article describes the spelling of word classes in the Kazakh language, orthographic features of some conjunctions – homonymic series, difference from other parts of speech, correct spelling (together, separately), grammatical features, use in language, meaning in combination with preceding words. The external personality is similar to some ending words. We will only ask a question about the word that comes before it. For example, this year I am also writing a dissertation (who is writing a diploma – I am?). – I have a very interesting book called «From childhood to Wisdom». (Who has the book? – I have). The locative case has endings (да, де, та, те – and, both… and, as well as, not only, but also) with coordinating conjunctions the location of a person or object, interrogative conjunctions-particles (ма, ме, ба, бе, па, пе – if, really, is, really) with this personal negative suffix phrase: the lexical-semantic character and grammatical features of the ending words were considered in comparison with the suffix, so as not to confuse the instrumental cases either (мен, бен – so, within ) with the coordinating conjunctions. It is proved by examples that if you answer these questions, the suffix will be written together with the same word. And in which case there will be a conjunction, the general meaning of the sentence will not be violated, although the conjunction will be lowered, it was considered with concrete data and evidence. A number of words used in the negative sense are also revealed, as well as the differences, features and spelling of coordinating conjunctions – particles (ма, ме, ба, бе, па, пе – if, whether, really) at the end of an interrogative sentence.

Psychological Effect of Distance Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Accounting Practicum Lesson

This study aims to scrutinize the psychological effects of students participating in distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in accounting practicum lessons. The research employed a qualitative approach, with a type of single instrumental case study. Data collected were validated using data (sources) triangulation techniques. Data were then analyzed by the qualitative method of Miles and Huberman models (interactive models). The results revealed that distance learning affected students psychology. The psychological effects felt by students, among others, were that distance learning felt less than maximal, less fun, boring, making academic stress, and disappointing. In addition, because distance learning was done at home, students focus and concentration were easily distracted with other things, and student learning motivation fluctuated. Regarding time management, some students could do it, and some others encountered difficulties. A feeling of anxiety and depression was experienced by some students, while others could control them. However, apart from those, distance learning made learning not tense and provided sufficient time for students to relax and refresh.

Centering Our Voices: Experiences of Violence Among Homeless African American Women.

Women experiencing homelessness who are also survivors of violence require uniquely tailored programs to accommodate complex needs. To understand how violence shaped the lives of formerly homeless African American women, an instrumental case study design and community-based participatory research approach was utilized in this qualitative study. Focus group interviews with graduates (N = 40) from a long-term transitional housing program were conducted. Using thematic analysis, identified themes included: cycles of violence, violence in the community, relationships with children, and coping with violence. These themes illustrated survivors' growth through supportive programming and highlighted services dedicated to empowering women who have experienced violence.

33. Comparison of the biomechanics of lumbar spine instrumented with standalone interbody fixation constructs vs interbody with supplemental fixation: a finite element investigation

<h3>BACKGROUND CONTEXT</h3> Low fusion rates and cage subsidence have been reported as the main drawbacks of lumbar fixation with static interbody cages. Although several clinical and biomechanical studies have evaluated the efficacy of 360 interbody fixation constructs (anterior cage plus posterior fixation), no study has reported the biomechanical comparison between such constructs and more novel techniques which use standalone fixation implants. A cadaver validated computational model of lumbar spine was used to compare the biomechanics of spine instrumented with 360 fixations vs standalone cage and screw and cage with lateral plate systems. <h3>PURPOSE</h3> To compare the mechanical stability of different interbody fixation techniques in lumbar spinal segments with standalone interbody vs static cage with posterior fixation or lateral plate system. <h3>STUDY DESIGN/SETTING</h3> Finite element modeling. <h3>OUTCOME MEASURES</h3> Range of motion across instrument segments and load sharing on vertebral endplate. <h3>METHODS</h3> An experimentally validated finite element (FE) model of L1-pelvic segment was used to simulate ALIF and LIF lumbar fixation techniques including: ALIF cage at L5-S1 plus posterior screw-rod fixation (360 construct) vs ALIF standalone (screw through the cage). LIF cage at L4-L5 vs LIF cage with integrated two-hole lateral plate system. 4WEB Medical's Truss ALIF (27mm x 25mm), Lateral Truss (22mm X 5mm) cages and 2-hole integrated plate systems were used for simulation of the surgical procedure. For 360 constructs, a generic posterior rod and screw system was used. All models were subjected to a 400N compressive pre-load followed by an 8Nm moment to simulation flexion-extension, left and right bending and axial rotation motions. The segmental kinematics and the load sharing at the inferior endplate were compared among cases. <h3>RESULTS</h3> The segmental motion in standalone ALIF construct was 1.1°(Flex-Ext), 0.9° (LB) and 0.4° vs 0.8°, 0.8° and 0.6° in 360 ALIF in the same planes of motion. When comparing lateral cases, the motions were 1.2° (Flex-Ext), 1.4° (LB) and 0.5° (AR) in lateral cage with plate vs 0.9°, 1.0° and 0.8° in the 360 lateral construct for the same loads. The peak stresses in extension for the LIF stand-alone cage were somewhat higher than the posterior instrumented cases, but not significant. When comparing the mechanical stress on the inferior endplate of the index segment, the standalone ALIF had almost 20% higher peak stress compared to the 360 ALIF. In the lateral construct, the cage-plate segment experienced 15% lower stresses on the endplate compared to the 360 lateral construct. <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> Our data suggest that standalone ALIF cage with screw through the cage is able to provide kinematic stability in the fixation construct comparable to the cage plus posterior fixation, although the 360 construct is able to provide slightly more stability in the sagittal plane. Also, the standalone cage results in higher stresses applied to the endplate compared the cage in 360 constructs. The lateral cage with integrated plate had superior stability in axial rotation compared to the 360 lateral construct. The loads on the endplate were also slightly lower compared to the 360-fixation case. Standalone ALIF and LIF with lateral plate are biomechanically effecient alternatives to 360-fixation constructs at least under the controlled conditions analyzed in the present study. Clinical data are required to support the findings and define the further role and application of standalone cages. <h3>FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS</h3> 4WEB ALIF Truss System (Approved for this indication), 4WEB Lateral Plate System (Approved for this indication), 4WEB Lateral Truss System (Approved for this indication)

The Role of Field Officers of Family Planning (FOFP) in The Unmet-Need Incidents on The Productive Age Couples

The Family Planning Program is a program designed by the government in order to control the rate of population and birth rates, it aims to prosper the family and improve the quality of Indonesian generations in the future. The existence of Field Officers of Family Planning (FOFP) plays an important role in helping the government succeed in carrying out the family planning program, especially in reducing the number of unmet-need for family planning. The research objective is to obtain an in-depth picture of the role of the FOFP in the unmet-need for family planning in the North Denpasar District. This study uses a qualitative design with a single instrumental case study approach. The sample selection in this study used a purposive sampling technique with 10 informants and one key informant namely the Head of Population Control, Counseling and Movement in DP3A.P2KB in Denpasar. Interview results were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the study were five major themes namely the role of FOFP as: 1) Managing family planning programs, 2) Driving community participation 3) Family Empowerment and community participation, 4) Building and Developing Partnerships with various parties, and 5) obstacles and barriers.

Simple Tests for Selection: Learning More from Instrumental Variables

We provide simple tests for selection on unobserved variables in the Vytlacil-Imbens-Angrist framework for Local Average Treatment Effects (LATEs). Our setup allows researchers not only to test for selection on either or both of the treated and untreated outcomes, but also to assess the magnitude of the selection effect. We show that it applies to the standard binary instrument case, as well as to experiments with imperfect compliance and fuzzy regression discontinuity designs, and we link it to broader discussions regarding instrumental variables. We illustrate the substantive value added by our framework with three empirical applications drawn from the literature.

Transformative Leadership and Work Commitment in Improving the Quality of Madrasah Education

This study describes transformative leadership and work commitment in improving the quality of education at an Aliyah level educational institution in Probolinggo Regency. This research uses a qualitative case study approach. The type of research used is a single instrumental case study, namely efforts to improve the quality of education through principal leadership and teacher loyalty. The data analysis used is theme analysis. The purpose of this study is to provide additional insight into efforts to improve the quality of education through transformative leadership and work commitment. The results of this study are that there are several things in the application of transformative leadership and work commitment in improving the quality of education at an Aliyah level educational institution in Probolinggo Regency, namely (1) Teamwork, (2) Motivation, (3) A pleasant work climate.