Intensive Interviews Research Articles

“The Need was F*cking Endless”: A Study of the Minneapolis Sanctuary Movement

ABSTRACT In May 2020, Minneapolis became the epicenter of a global movement challenging entrenched anti-Blackness and police violence after the murder of George Floyd, leading to demands to defund police departments and redistribute police officers’ mental health-related responsibilities to social workers. These events foregrounded dialogue about anti-carceral social work, a nascent area of social work. While empirical studies related to anti-carceral social work are lacking, this study addresses the gap by focusing on an episode in the Minneapolis Sanctuary Movement, a community-led effort to shelter hundreds of unhoused residents displaced by the National Guard during mass protests in 2020. Using constructivist grounded theory, intensive interviews with 17 organizers and volunteers were conducted centered on crisis relief efforts to create a shelter in a hotel in Minneapolis and challenges that surfaced. Results led to development of a grounded theory: Supporting Unhoused Residents in Minneapolis 2020: A Complex Path of Disillusionment.

The online video ecology for preschoolers in India: investigating the creative industry practices

With over 690 million internet users, India ranks second globally in terms of internet user, trailing only China. This surge in internet penetration is fueling online content consumption among preschoolers in the country. As per Statista’s January 2024 data, India has the largest share of YouTube worldwide viewership, with 462 million users, which is nearly double of the 239 million users in the United States. Notably, six out of the 10 most-viewed videos on YouTube globally, cater to the preschoolers. Topping the list for 2024 is “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories with a massive 13.93 billion views on YouTube, and its channel boasting 80.4 M subscribers. The other similar-category videos in the top-ten list include: “Johny Johny Yes Papa” by LooLoo Kids, “Bath Song” and “Wheels on the Bus” by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes, “Phonics Song with Two Words” by ChuChu TV, and “Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm” by Miroshka TV. These statistics underscore the extensive online consumption of content specifically designed for young children, while also highlighting India’s significant role as a major consumer hub for such content. It is in this context that this paper examines the creative industry practices behind production of such content consumed largely on mobile or TV screens by preschoolers in India. This study engages with select content creators from India who have been developing content on YouTube for preschoolers. Adopting a theoretical framework that synthesizes the political economy perspective with the critical media industry studies (CMIS) framework proposed by Havens et al., the paper critically interrogates the children’s content industry within the context of the economic and cultural forces that shape it. The production of content cultures serves as a starting point for exploring the digital content ecology for preschool children in India. It also explores how these children’s contents are shaped in India and also, how the quotidian practices surrounding this content have shaped the industry practices in the Indian context. Given the significant economic potential of this industry, which shapes the media discourse significantly, this paper seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the business culture within the media industry; and also of the creative industry practices of digital content creators and the online video ecology for preschoolers, in India. With a constructivist epistemic foundation, the study investigates industry practices around this content by reviewing secondary data and intensive interviews with content creators, and producers.

“It’s Not About Numbers, It’s About Power”: How Latino Young Adults Imagine the Ethnic and Racial Demographic Future of the United States

The ethnoracial composition of the United States has been changing rapidly in recent decades, a trend expected to persist into the foreseeable future. While quantitative studies have investigated individual attitudes about these shifts, we know little about Americans’ more nuanced and complex views about the projected growth of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and others in the United States and the decline of non-Hispanic Whites over the next 25 to 30 years. Drawing from research about ethnoracial demographic sentiments, the sociology of the future, and U.S. generations, we offer the first qualitative exploration of how Americans imagine the country’s ethnoracial demographic future. Our analyses of intensive interview data gathered from 91 U.S.-born Latinos aged 18 to 29 in Arizona in Winter 2021 focus on how Latino Gen Z and Millennials talk about this future. Latino young adults express optimism about a more heterogeneous nation in 2050 and imagine impacts on diversity, politics and political power, and racial discrimination. However, their optimism is tempered by skepticism about whether population growth among people of color will lead to lasting and meaningful changes, given U.S. history and existing structural inequalities. Latino Gen Z and Millennials also express concerns about current and future White responses to these population dynamics. Understanding how young adults in the United States envision the country’s ethnoracial demographic future has important social, political, and economic implications.

The Appropriation of Religiousity in the 2024 Indonesian Presidential

Religious appropriation is a phenomenon that is continually reproduced in every electoral contestation. However, this context has not been discussed comprehensively in previous studies. In addition to responding to the shortcomings of previous studies, this study also focuses on explaining the characteristics, factors, and latent dangers of religious appropriation that occured in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election. This study reveals three important findings regarding the religious appropriation in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election. First, religious appropriation frequently manifests in the context of doctrine, language, and religious behaviors expressed outside the values and norms of religion. Second, cultural, spiritual, and structural factors have dominantly influenced the occurance of religious appropriation in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election. Third, the latent dangers of religious appropriation in the 2024 Indonesian presidential election often leads to intolerance, polarization, and persecution against religious communities even after the 2024 Indonesian presidential election. This study also recommends the importance of further studies that explain the attitudes of both formal and informal authorities in responding to religious appropriation in political contestation by conducting intensive interviews.

Local Tax Optimization Strategy In Jambi City: A Literature Review

This scientific paper seeks to evaluate the ability of local taxation as a source of income, the level of tax participation and the efficiency of the tax collection mechanism in Jambi City budget 2018-2022. The analytical methodology used in this research includes descriptive and qualitative approaches. Descriptive analysis incorporates computational methods that are illustrated in the form of numerical data, tabulations, and graphical representations. In the meantime, the qualitative aspects include conducting intense interviews that are analyzed using SWOT. Based on the findings from the analysis of local tax effectiveness covering from 2011 to 2023, it reveals that the efficiency of local taxation shows variability in different years. Based on existing literature and comparisons between studies that have been conducted, tax optimization can be carried out in Jambi City in line with the principle of fiscal decentralization in regional autonomy by enforcing regulations to ensure the creation of sustainable development and economic growth. Some of the things that can be done are increasing tax compliance, digitalization and simplifying the tax structure. This discussion produces input to the Jambi City Government to explore the potential of local revenue, which influences the growth of Regional Own-Source Revenue (PAD). Therefore, optimal development can lead to positive outcomes for the community, such as the economic growth of people in Jambi City and the optimization of tax revenue.

Local cultural coping strategies to mitigate the impact of Baribis Fault disasters

Baribis Fault disasters caused the loss of human lives. This study investigates the strategies local communities employ in Indonesia to cope with disasters. A qualitative study was conducted on various cultural strategies used to mitigate disasters in relevant areas. These strategies were selected based on the criteria of locally based traditional oral and written knowledge obtained through intensive interviews. The study reveals that technological and earth science solutions are insufficient to resolve disasters resulting from Baribis Fault activity. Still, local culture and knowledge also play a crucial role in disaster mitigation. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how cultural strategies avoid disasters and highlights the need to transform local knowledge regarding effective cultural strategies for mitigating such disasters. This transformation can have positive psychological implications and enhance community harmony.

Offering protection to immigrant youths in America: Is asylum or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status truly in the best interest of the child?

AbstractIn the United States (US), children's ‘best interest’ principles are central to child welfare policy, but their incorporation into immigration laws is less robust. Drawing on data from international and domestic policies, interviews with legal professionals and legal guidelines, we compare how Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and asylum – the main forms of immigration relief for undocumented youths in the US – align with children's best interest principles. SIJS, while promising, undermines family integrity by imposing rigid child‐rearing standards that may penalize immigrant families. Asylum upholds family integrity, but the application process involves intense interviews and strict evidentiary standards that harm youths’ well‐being. Given asylum's high denial rates, the process often results in trauma without much promise of the permanency asylum can offer. Consequently, both SIJS and asylum fall short of protecting children's rights and best interests. We argue that how legal systems manage youths significantly affects youths’ well‐being and their access to rights and benefits. The impact of legal processes on youths should be paramount to best interest policies and practices. We conclude with policy recommendations for SIJS and asylum that better promote children's best interests.

Leaders in Communicating and Maintaining Sustainable Academic Culture Toward the Top Ten Universities in Indonesia

For universities, leader performance is a determining factor for success. Organizational culture grows with the organization's leaders. In addition, there is a tendency to change the organizational culture perspective towards subjectivism (Clark, Geertz, Schwartz & Ogilvy, Weick). For the University of Lampung (Unila), which was founded in 1965, it turns out that leaders' communication performance under pressure of problems can maintain its academic culture. Initially, this research began with a decrease in Unila's ranking among Indonesian universities in 2019. After conducting the study, two cultural orientations were found, which are being a research university and an educational university. These two value orientations have the power to increase Unila's ranking among universities, as well as becoming a legacy. In 2022 there was a corruption case by university leaders, accepting bribes in admitting new students. The research continues with a focus on how a guided communication culture can maintain Unila's ranking. Data collection was carried out through intensive interviews with the new rector, vice rectors and faculty deans. The results show a picture of typical leader communication patterns, to maintain a sustainable academic culture. First, in the context of recovery, prioritizing internal communication patterns through ritual activities. Second, the slogan “Be Strong” was symbolically proclaimed within the academic community. Third, the communication pattern that is practiced both in the leadership ranks through the division of roles and among all members is to create togetherness, support each other, and reduce structural barriers.

Santur-Playing Iranian Americans in Northern California

In Northern California, there are Iranian Americans who play santur, originally a representative instrument of Iranian music. The present article focuses on this community, taking the following issues under consideration: · What are the aesthetic conceptions of Iranian santurs and their sounds, held by santur-playing Iranian Americans in Northern California? · What are the social applications of Iranian santurs in Northern California? Regarding methods, participatory study in the field served as the basis for this work. Partners of the study took part in intensive interviews, and also shared their opinions on various music samples. Literary investigation was also applied, clarifying the necessary historical and social backgrounds. My particular interest in santur led me to conduct this work. An aspect of it lies in underlining of diaspora discourse in ethnomusicology. Although there are strong ties between Iranian santur practitioners in Iran and santur-playing Iranian Americans in Northern California, the latter group has its own distinctive social identity and follows its concerns. Their repertoire goes beyond Iranian music as understood in Iran: it includes folk music and takes influences from neighboring minorities, such as Indian Americans. Regarding social applications of santur in Northern California, this study focuses on two main trends: political motivations, and interest in establishing dialogues with neighboring cultures. In both cases, the role of Radif-inspired improvisation is strongly present. In Northern California, the santur is used by various segments of the society. This practice sometimes goes beyond the Iranian American community. As this study focuses on a specific practice of santur away from the instrument’s original homeland, its outcomes can contribute not only to ethnomusicology, but also to areas of diaspora studies, music history, and such creative directions as music performance and improvisation.

WeChat assisted electronic symptom measurement for patients with adenomyosis

PurposeSymptom assessment is central to appropriate adenomyosis management. Using a WeChat mini-program-based portal, we aimed to establish a valid symptom assessment scale of adenomyosis (AM-SAS) to precisely and timely identify needs of symptom management and ultimately, to alert disease recurrence.MethodsA combination of intensive interviews of patients with adenomyosis and natural language processing on WeChat clinician-patient group communication was used to generate a pool of symptom items-related to adenomyosis. An expert panel shortened the list to form the provisional AM-SAS. The AM-SAS was built in a Wechat mini-programmer and sent to patients to exam the psychotically validity and clinical applicability through classic test theory and item response theory.ResultsTotal 338 patients with adenomyosis (29 for interview, 179 for development, and 130 for external validation) and 86 gynecologists were included. The over 90% compliance to the WeChat-based symptom evaluate. The AM-SAS demonstrated the uni-dimensionality through Rasch analysis, good internal consistency (all Cronbach’s alphas above 0.8), and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.65 to 0.84). Differences symptom severity score between patients in the anemic and normal hemoglobin groups (3.04 ± 3.17 vs. 5.68 ± 3.41, P < 0.001). In external validation, AM-SAS successfully detected differences in symptom burden and physical status between those with or without relapse.ConclusionElectronic PRO-based AM-SAS is a valuable instrument for monitoring AM-related symptoms. As an outcome measure of multiple symptoms in clinical trials, the AM-SAS may identify patients who need extensive care after discharge and capture significant beneficial changes of patients may have been overlooked.Trial registrationThis trial was approved by the institutional review board of the Chongqing Medical University and three participating hospitals (Medical Ethics Committee of Nanchong Central Hospital, Medical Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, and Medical Ethics Committee of Haifu Hospital) and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number ChiCTR2000038590), date of registration was 26/10/2020.

Threads of Influence: Exploring the Nexus of History, Religion, and Culture in Shaping Chinese Women's Political Engagement in Peninsula Malaysia

The multi-ethnic factor has influenced gender-based political parties and culture. Thus, we shed light on how political socialization through indicators of religion, history, and culture influences Chinese women's behavior and political involvement in Peninsular Malaysia. The political participation of Chinese women in Malaysia remains low, as evidenced by the representation of Chinese women in decision-making sectors such as the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and Parliament. We adopt a qualitative approach through intensive interview techniques with ten purposively selected participants. The primary informants interviewed include female Chinese political representatives, male politicians, academics, and NGO activists. Ultimately, we illustrate how political socialization through cultural, religious, and historical agents influences the political involvement of Chinese women in Peninsular Malaysia. The political culture of Chinese women is not static and has evolved based on contemporary changes before and after independence. The political culture of Chinese women has shifted from referencing Mainland China to survival in Malaya.

Prohibitive Expressions as Traditional Cultural Dynamics among Muslim

It is undeniable that oral traditions such as prohibitive expressions not only lead to careful attitude, but also presents identities as Muslim societies. While their existence remains controversial in Islamic perspectives, more societies believe in their function and contribution over safety, effectiveness, and discipline in a particular situation. Meanwhile, this study investigated oral traditions regarding prohibitive expressions that protect societies from any hazard during pregnancy, babies and child, and marriage. Intensive interviews were employed to collect data from a number of participants selected through purposive sampling. As for results, it is believed that the prohibitive expressions comprised some contexts such as during pregnancy, for babies and child, and marriage. Each expression was a mixture between traditional culture or local wisdom and Islam as a religion with strict rules. Although the expressions were not identified to emerge in Islamic context as a whole, the societies presumably believed in religious supports that allow them to practice the local wisdom without avoiding Islam

청소년기 한국문화 접촉 경험이 한국어 학습 지속 동기와 정체성 형성에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of experiences with Korean culture during ado-lescence on the learners’ identity formation process and their motivation to continue learning the Korean language. Methods The participants in the study were men and women in their mid-20s to mid-30s who, during their ado-lescence, encountered the Korean Wave through various media sources. Additionally, they have been learning Korean for over 10 years, and have an advanced level of proficiency. Their nationalities include France, Taiwan, Vietnam, and India, and they are also currently engaged in industries related to Korea. The research, conducted through narrative inquiry with intensive interviews conducted from February 2023 to early January 2024. Results As a result of exploring the identity formation and transformation process of the research participants dis-played in their sustained motivation to learn the Korean language and their Korean language-learning process, it was found that the participants received exposure to the Korean language and culture prior to adolescence, con-sidered majoring in the Korean language when contemplating their career paths during adolescence, actively sought out interactions with Koreans following matriculation, then established themselves as professionals with expertise in the Korean language and culture. It was evident that the research participants were able to broaden their identity as consumers of the Korean Wave to learners of the Korean language and culture, then eventually to individual members of society with expertise in the Korean language and culture. Conclusions It was found that positive cross-cultural experiences during adolescence helped learners establish their identities and played a decisive role in the learners' career choices.

A constructivist grounded theory of Queer and Muslim identity integration in college

The constructivist grounded theory (CGT) explored how queer Muslim college students integrate their religious and sexual identities. By using intensive interviews concurrent with an iterative analytical scheme, the study identified a cycle of identity integration. Findings suggest that queer Muslim college students navigated identity gatekeepers by redefining religious truths and reflecting on their beliefs. They contextualized themselves within their communities as they preserved their familial connections and cultural congruity. Queer Muslims also disrupted taken-for-granted notions of authenticity through a process of selective outness and differentiated religion from culture and belief to process cultural attitudes and construct a more cohesive and integrated identity as both queer and Muslims. The CGT sheds light on the complexity of the Muslim identity and troubles religious structures by highlighting collectivist paradigms, nuancing self-authorship, and complicating the nexus between religion and culture.

Healing experiences at resort hotels (HERH): Conceptualization and scale development

Anchored in healing experiences literature and therapeutic landscapes theory, this study aims to develop a Healing Experiences at Resort Hotels (HERH) scale. Study 1 comprises an extensive review and culminates in the initial identification of five dimensions. Subsequent intensive interviews with ten interviewees yield 170 statements, which are refined into 26 items spanning five dimensions. In Study 2, through exploratory structural equation modeling using 280 survey responses, results are refined to 22 items across four dimensions: sensory healing, social healing, wellness and cultural healing, and natural healing. With another 574 survey responses, Study 3 then confirms the scale’s reliability, construct and discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity. This four-dimensional 22-item HERH scale constitutes a groundbreaking effort to create a comprehensive scale for healing experiences at resort hotels. As a practical tool, the HERH can be applied by hoteliers to evaluate the quality of healing experiences at resort hotels.

Trend and Online Gambling Risk: An Emerging Criminality Problem Against Youth

The involvement of youth in online gambling cases not only shows a trend of social deviation but also has the potential to form increasingly massive criminal behaviour. However, this phenomenon has not been comprehensively discussed in previous studies. In addition to responding to the shortcomings of previous studies, this study also focuses on explaining the characteristics, factors, and implications of the trend of online gambling against youth on the potential for the formation of increasingly massive criminal behaviour. This study is descriptive qualitative by using a netnography approach. This study shows three important findings regarding the trend and risk of online gambling on the problem of criminality against youth. First, the characteristics of online gambling that are popular against youth, apart from appearing with various types of games, the involvement of youth is also not a few players and even bookmakers of online gambling. Second, the reasons underlying youth to be actively involved in online gambling cases are more influenced by structural factors than cultural factors. Third, the behaviour formed by youth who are actively involved in online gambling cases, apart from going beyond deviant behaviour, has also increased the problem of increasingly massive criminality. This study also recommends the importance of future studies that explain the reception of law enforcement and the community in interpreting the trend of deviant behaviour against youth by conducting in-depth and more intensive interviews.

The Muslim Mothers’ Understanding of Breastfeeding Command in the Quran: A Case Study in Yogyakarta

PurposeThis article aimed to explore the Muslim mothers' understanding of breastfeeding verses, the factors of the role of ulama, community organizations, and the impact of understanding verses on breastfeeding practices.MethodThe study was qualitative research employing a descriptive case study design. It involved Muslim preachers and mothers as the key informants in Yogyakarta. Intensive observation and interview were done to get the intended data. The collected data and information were qualitatively analyzed to unveil Muslim mothers’ understanding of breastfeeding in Islam.Results/findingsThe study' showed those who believed that the Quran obligated breastfeeding did it as an attempt to fulfill the obligations without understanding the benefits that come with it. This was a consequence of the absence of socialization of the breastfeeding-related Quranic verses' content.ConclusionThe study concluded that Muslim preachers had not reached Muslim mothers in Yogyakarta with breastfeeding verses.

Some loss factors and processing methods of dried fishes used in the Sahelian domain of Cameroon

Fish is an important source of protein, minerals and essential fatty acids for human nutrition. To ensure its permanent availability, this highly perishable commodity is processed and stored. However, during storage, dry fishes suffer significant quantitative and qualitative losses due to the lack of efficient pest control methods and preservative processes. An intensive interview survey was conducted with 175 dry fish sellers in markets and processors' families in the Logone basin from 2020 to 2021 to identify the causes of losses and the usual tools used to limit them. It was found that losses of dry fish start during handling and transport where inadequate packaging breaks the dry fish. In addition, fishes are attacked by insect pests, losses depend on fish species and climate. In the Logone basin, 14 species of fish are caught and processed, the most represented species are Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 1758 with 24.49%, Clarias gariepinus Burchell 1822 with 21.26% and Brevimyrus niger Günther 1866 with 15.40%. Their major pests are insects (53%), rodents (28%) and fungi (9%). Moreover, during handling/transport, 10% are lost. The insects identified are from the family of Cleridae and Dermestidae. Cleridae predominate in the surveyed areas with 67.76% against 32.23% of Dermestidae. Four species are identified: Dermestes maculatus, Dermestes frischii, Dermestes ater and Necrobia rufipes. Moreover, to protect their fish against these insect pests, stakeholders use industrial chemicals, generally sold as plant protection products, and local products derived from biodiversity local. The most popular chemical pesticide applied on dried fish has dichlorvos as active ingredient (83%). The most used are DD FORCE (48.51%) and PRIME SHI (16.26%), at the level of sellers and processors. It is an extremely hazardous pesticide, damaging health of consumers and polluting the environment. It would be necessary to consider the use of bio insecticides for the protection of the dried fish against pests and for the health safety of consumers. Key words: Dry fish, insect pests, storage, pesticides, Cameroon, Logone basin

Media Communication and Cultural Influence in Chinese Malaysian Students’ Career Choice in STEM

There has been a decline of Malaysian students pursuing STEM courses over the past few decades. The democratisation of higher education since the 1980s has seen intense advertising of higher education in local media, which plays a role in shaping students’ career choices. Applying Stuart Hall’s theory of Circuit of Culture, a study deploying advertisements, and a survey with intensive interviews has been conducted to understand media and cultural influences on STEM career choice of Chinese Malaysians. Several factors, including media stereotyping nature of jobs of STEM as laboratory-based and practical activities, lack of curation of distinct images and role models in many STEM careers, lack of experiential exposure in daily social settings, fragmentised science communications, and disconnect of Chinese Malaysians from mainstream national development could have contributed to this decline. The study found that there is no distinct dislike towards STEM by Chinese Malaysians. Rather, for them, there are a wide range of careers beyond STEM, with non-STEM careers appearing to be more attractive in terms of career prospects. Alternative discourses and narratives for STEM careers with reimaging of nature of jobs for STEM careers to reconstruct perception towards STEM via the media and science communications could enhance the attractiveness of STEM careers. Additionally, a multi-disciplinary approach to higher education and promotion of specific STEM careers based on market needs could bring STEM closer to students.

Recycling potential of secondary zinc materials

Circularity is a decisive corner stone of a sustainable use of raw materials. This has been recognized at global level and is pushed forward specifically in Europe and e.g., Japan. Based on intensive desk top research and interviews with experts from the zinc industry, information on secondary raw materials for zinc recovery was compiled. This paper comprises of an overview of zinc bearing wastes, residues, and by-products occurring in all stages of zinc mining, production, as well as first-use and end-use production. These materials are quantified and characterized, and ways of recycling are described.As a result, potentials for an increase of zinc recycling rates are identified. Mine tailings are a meaningful resource for zinc recovery. Industrial wastes occurring in zinc smelters, such as Jarosite, Goethite, and their likes are in the scope of research projects aiming at recycling zinc and other valuable metals. Residues, ashes, drosses, slags that are produced in first use operation of the zinc value chain, such as galvanizing, zinc die casting, or brass plants are recycled almost completely in Europe and in many other regions in the world. The biggest potential for increasing recycling rates for zinc still lies in steel mill dusts. Also, the majority of zinc die cast parts seem to end up in waste incineration and dump sites. This low end-of-life zinc recycling rate bears room for additional recycling opportunities via an improvement of the intelligent collection and sorting of waste and other innovative recycling processes utilizing residues from waste-to-energy plants.