International Survey Data Research Articles

‘Corruption talk’ and the politics of class in 21st century Britain

Scholars have diagnosed widespread class disidentification among working-class citizens in contemporary Britain despite high and sustained levels of inequality. Everyday narrations in working-class communities, however, reveal deeply classed accounts of politics and society, even if not expressed in the formal idiom of class. Across our field sites, practices of corruption talk were rife and aided citizens in making sense of their experiences of political powerlessness and economic dispossession. Drawing on political ethnographic studies from working-class areas in Oxford, Corby and Mansfield, and buttressed by survey data, we find that corruption talk can act as an informal political ontology. An analysis of international survey data on corruption perceptions and class identification further substantiates our ethnographic findings about the resonance and character of corruption talk. Following the Marxist historian E. P. Thompson, we argue that corruption talk reveals the complex and at times contradictory ways in which marginalised citizens define and narrate their relationship to politics and state power under conditions of class fragmentation. These findings highlight, we argue, the importance of paying attention to vernacular discourses and call into question straightforwardly teleological accounts of the decline of class consciousness in the past 50 years.

Unmasking the Pandemic's Dark Side: Exploring the Roles of Stress, Emotions, and Alcohol Use in Violent Behavior Across Six Countries.

We use international survey data recently collected among adults in six countries (Ukraine, Guatemala, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United States) to examine the global variations in interpersonal violent behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that pandemic-related stress is significantly associated with violent behavior in most countries. Depression emerges as a significant predictor of violence across all countries and as a mediator between pandemic stress and violent behavior in multipls contexts. On the other hand, negative affect and alcohol use predict violent behavior only in non-Western contexts. We provide policy implications focused on prevention and reduction of violence cross-nationally during public health crises.

Segmenting social media users in international tourism: Insights integrated from multi‐homing theory and international visitor survey data

AbstractThis study utilizes multi‐homing theory to assess international travelers' usage of social media platforms, revealing insights into their gender, country of origin, generation cohorts, and travel purposes. These insights can guide the development of effective social media marketing strategies for national destination management organizations (DMOs). Data from South Korea's 2019 International Visitor Survey (with 12,194 participants) was analyzed using chi‐square and correspondence analysis techniques. The results revealed distinctive preferences of international visitors among generational cohorts with different travel purposes across 19 countries in the usage of online travel communities, social network platforms, video‐sharing platforms, and travel blogs. Understanding the dynamics of social media platforms helps national DMOs enhance their social media marketing strategies for international visitors, based on the multi‐sided platform usage paradigm. Nevertheless, acknowledging the study's limitations points towards potential avenues for future research.

An Archival Framework for Sharing of Cultural Heritage 3D Survey Data: OpenHeritage3D.org

Abstract. Photogrammetry and LiDAR have become increasingly accessible methods for documentation of Cultural Heritage sites. Academic and government agencies recognize the utility of high-resolution 3D models supporting long-term asset management through visualization, conservation planning, and change detection. Though detailed models can be created with increasing ease, their potential for future use can be constrained by a lack of accompanying topographic data, data collector skill level, and incomplete recording of the key metadata and paradata which make such survey data useful to future endeavors. In this paper, informed by various international survey organizations and data archives, we present a framework to record and communicate Cultural Heritage - focusing on architectures based on 3D metric survey - to first describe the data and metadata which should be included by surveyors to enable data usage and to communicate the expected utility of this data.

EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF OLDER ADULTS

The aim of the article is to find out educational needs of older adults and to discuss the process of the training course development and its implementation jointly with older learners in Lithuania. Mixed methods research was applied incorporating survey and participatory research. The training course was developed based on international survey data aiming to reach older learners who had less possibilities to engage in a lifelong learning process. Data analysis revealed similarities across countries, based on which the general template of the course was developed. It included topics in biological, psychological and sociological aspects of ageing, networking and joint research possibilities. However, data showed that there were variations in needs not only between countries but inside countries as well. Participatory research approach allowed older learners to follow the needs and to make necessary changes. Such changes were made in content (for ex., some sociological topics substituted by culture) and in organization (less intensity and shorter sessions) of the course. Even if the learners agreed to involve in participatory research, at the end they were told that it was too many interviews and discussions. On the other hand, they were proud that other learners will take their designed course.

Exploratory factor and confirmatory analyses of the polycystic ovary syndrome health-related quality of life questionnaire (PCOSQ-50)

BackgroundA condition-specific instrument is necessary to measure the health-related quality of life among those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common chronic endocrinopathy among women. The first instrument was developed in 1988, followed by several revisions. However, further recommendations from all versions include additional application and measurement among different cultural populations of women with PCOS and psychometric testing based on use among larger samples of women with PCOS. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the factor structure of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ-50) using an international cross-sectional survey data from women with PCOS aged 18–42 years.MethodsUsing data from the largest known international cross-sectional study of women with PCOS aged 18–42 years (n = 935) to date, exploratory factor and confirmatory analyses were conducted for the PCOSQ-50, followed by factor labeling using a thematic analysis approach.ResultsRespondents were 31.0 ± 5.8 years of age, mostly White (72%), well-educated (56% had a college degree), married (69%), and employed full-time (65%). Three-quarters (74%) of the sample had one or more chronic conditions in addition to PCOS. Approximately 20% of the respondents originated from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, etc. The PCOSQ-50 demonstrated good reliability but may be best described using a 7-factor model. The 7-factor model revealed goodness-of-fit. Thematic analysis suggested the following labels of those seven factors: hirsutism, fertility, isolation/trepidation, sexual function, self-esteem, emotional, and obesity.ConclusionMore research is needed to adapt the current PCOSQ-50, as well as to create an age-appropriate PCOS-specific HRQoL instrument for peri-postmenopausal women with PCOS.

The effect of peer bullying on academic achievement: A meta‐analysis study related to results of TIMSS and PIRLS

AbstractFocusing on the variables that can affect both academic achievement and the well‐being of students has been crucial for their development, making schools effective and designing educational policy as well as curriculum. The study has aimed to investigate the effect of peer bullying on academic achievement and to determine moderators in the relationship between these two terms by using TIMSS (The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) data through the meta‐analysis method. Based on seven international survey data sets from TIMSS (2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015) and PIRLS (2006, 2011, and 2016), the current research has focused on 793 independent findings, including 3,503,005 students in 77 countries. In the analysis process, the mean effect size was measured by using the coefficient of standardized means (Cohen's d) based on the random effect model. In addition, the significance of the moderator variables was calculated by using the Q statistic. The findings of the study revealed that peer bullying had a significant effect on academic achievement, and in this effect, grades of the students and course types played moderator roles, while the culture of the countries was not a moderator. It could be concluded that the effect of peer relationships not only on the social development of students but also on their academic performance should not be ignored.

What are we missing? An alternative way to explore distributed leadership effectiveness

Existing research has revealed various beneficial teacher-level outcomes of distributed leadership (DL). Yet these studies lack important operational nuances. The DL effectiveness literature mainly stresses one dimension of DL study operations of how leadership is distributed (e.g., interaction), being grounded in the agency view. However, it is also important to consider other dimensions of what leadership work is distributed to whom. Therefore, our study adopted the study operation of one DL research stream derived from the structural view. Specifically, our research investigated which leadership function distribution patterns for teachers were connected to teacher-level outcomes, especially teachers’ current work environment satisfaction (SENV) and professional learning communities (PLCs). We employed Latent Class Analysis and U.S. lower secondary school teacher samples from the Teaching and Learning International Survey data. Two patterns emerged: the Dualistic Distribution and Fully Stretched-Over Distribution patterns. Importantly, the relationships between the two patterns and the teacher-level outcomes were varied. We discovered no mean difference in teacher SENV between the two patterns in contrast to the previous DL effectiveness research, but a significant mean difference in teachers’ PLCs. These findings suggest considering more operational nuances of what leadership work is distributed to teachers for what outcome to better explore DL effects on teachers.

The Pandemic-Stratified Workplace: Workspace, Employee Sense of Belonging, and Inequalities at Work

In the wake of 2020, employees are currently diverging according to remote, hybrid, and completely onsite workspaces. However, questions remain regarding the impact of this stratification when it comes to employee cohesion and sense of belonging at work, and whether extant theories of belonging adequately capture employees’ feelings of belonging in post-pandemic work environments across the world. Thus, drawing from original, international survey data ( N = 6,497), we explore how working remotely, in a hybrid environment, or onsite/in office matters for employees’ sense of belonging at work. Using logistic regression, we observed no differences according to workspace. However, we did find that older employees, those paid hourly, and those identifying as a “minority” in some way were significantly less likely to report feeling a sense of belonging at work. Lastly, a follow-up regression showed that compared to their peers working onsite or in an office, “minority”-identified employees who began working remotely before the pandemic (but not those who started working remotely after the pandemic began) felt an elevated sense of belonging. These results suggest, first, that despite the potentially disruptive nature of work changes in the short term, workspace by itself does not significantly impact employee sense of belonging. However, for “minority”-identified employees in particular, remote work options may offer elevated feelings of belonging in some cases. Going forward, organizations should continue to focus on effective diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies to bolster belonging among all employees across different workspaces.

A global typology of school principals’ time use: Exploring the effects of contextual and individual factors

This study aims to provide quantitative evidence regarding school principals’ time use by employing Latent Class Analysis (LCA) and multinominal logistic regression to the 2018 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) data from 47 societies. We examined (1) how principals spend their time across different societies by developing a global typology and (2) what macro (national) and micro (organizational) level contextual factors, as well as principals’ demographic characteristics, predict principals’ association with the identified typology. The results suggest four distinguishable categories of principal leadership in terms of their time use: Balanced Leadership, Administrative Leadership, Instructional Leadership, and Student-Centered Leadership. Several contextual (national and organizational) and individual variables influencing principals’ prioritization of their leadership responsibilities were also identified.

Cognitive flexibility and academic performance: Individual and cross-national patterns among adolescents in 57 countries

Studies have suggested cognitive flexibility as an enhancer of academic performance. However, this link has not been confirmed across diverse samples of countries, which requires a cross-cultural reinvestigation with a consideration of possible contextual moderators such as societal culture. Specifically, we consider the moderating role of societal flexibility (vs. monumentalism), a dimension from Minkov-Hofstede's cultural model which emphasizes humility, adaptability, and desire for self-improvement. Using international survey data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, this study examines the relationship between adolescents' cognitive flexibility and academic performance in diverse sociocultural contexts. Results from multilevel analyses of 378,087 adolescents from 57 countries show that adolescents' cognitive flexibility is positively associated with academic performance in a global context. An interaction term, however, reveals that the academic benefits of adolescents' cognitive flexibility are significantly greater in more flexible societies. In addition, we identify individual and cross-national characteristics that influence adolescents' academic performance such as gender, socioeconomic status, national wealth, and educational level. These findings reveal the role of individual factors on adolescents' academic performance and emphasize the importance of the interaction between individual and sociocultural factors.

Should activism be treated as an indicator of attitudes towards political violence?

Multiple contemporary meta-analyses pointed out activism as one of the risk factors for engagement in political violence, which is in line with the early radicalization models. However, others pointed out that joining activist organizations could prevent individuals from conducting violent acts. This study attempted to empirically evaluate whether activism should be treated as a risk factor using a large international World Value Survey data set and controlling for support for family violence. The initial outcomes have confirmed that activists tend to hold more positive attitudes towards political violence than non-activists. However, this relationship lost practical significance when the support for family violence was included in the model, which was replicated across different political regimes and contexts. Although such results do not support the notion of activists exhibiting more positive attitudes towards political violence, they also do not imply that their attitudes towards political violence are more negative compared to non-activists. Therefore, without knowing more about the specific social issue and context in which it had developed, conclusions regarding one’s attitudes towards political violence based only on his or her history of activism seem to be negligibly more correct than random guessing.

Girls are more likely to attribute failure to lack of talent

We used international survey data from 500,000 students to show that genders attribute differently their failure to a lack of talent and argued that these differences reflect gender stereotypes about talent and relate to the glass ceiling. These differences are present in almost all of the 72 countries studied, and are stronger among high achieving students and in more developed countries

Global Self‐Similar Scaling of Terrestrial Carbon With Aridity

AbstractWhile it is well known that water availability controls vegetation growth and soil microbial activity, how aridity affects ecosystem carbon patterns is not completely understood. Toward a more quantitative assessment of terrestrial carbon stocks, here we apply dimensional analysis and scaling to the global joint distribution of terrestrial carbon stock, obtained from international survey data and harmonized global maps. The results show a remarkable self‐similar behavior of the global carbon stock with dryness index, whereby the key statistics (e.g., mean, quantiles, and standard deviation) of carbon stock tend to scale with the hydroclimatic regime (i.e., aridity) via a universal exponent. Such a scaling reflects the strong coupling between the hydrological cycle and biogeochemical process and enables robust predictions of carbon stocks as a function of aridity only. When normalized by its averages in the corresponding hydroclimatic regime, the carbon stock distributions collapse onto a single double Pareto lognormal distribution, often used in economics to describe income. The presence of this distribution in completely different physical contexts, such as biogeochemistry and economics, hints at generating mechanisms that transcend the details of the specific stock being considered.

Using Bourdieu's theory of cultural reproduction to examine English language learning: A multilevel study in three lower- and middle-income countries

This study examines the determinants of the gaps in learning outcomes of students in three lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) – Ethiopia, India, and Vietnam. We examined the extent to which English language performance relates to Bourdieu's theory of cultural reproduction, using the Young Lives international school survey data in the three countries. We employed a three-level multilevel model, to investigate variables at the individual, classroom and school levels that may influence English language skills of students. We find that differences in English test performance are attributable to both home background and school factors in all three contexts. Within countries, we find evidence of a high degree of variation in the English test scores of students between schools, indicating the importance of schooling quality and school characteristics for the development of English language skills. We conclude that the process of cultural reproduction through schooling is different for each country, with school-level factors found to reinforce social stratification in countries that are less equitable. This study provides a robust quantitative contribution to the literature base on English language learning in LMICs, where large-scale cross-country comparisons are relatively uncommon due to a relative lack of suitable data. The results and recommendations would be of interest to education stakeholders within LMIC contexts.

Do Teachers Feel Valued in Society? Occupational Value of the Teaching Profession in OECD Countries

Teacher accountability reforms implemented around the globe have heightened a sense that teachers are losing the support of policymakers and the general public. To examine the global pattern in teachers’ perception of occupational value and identify possible outcomes and predictors, we analyzed the 2018 Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) data. We found an overwhelming majority of teachers feel undervalued in almost all OECD countries. In addition, teachers who feel undervalued reported less collective teacher effort for school improvement and job dissatisfaction consistently in four countries of comparison with different policy contexts—the United States, Australia, Finland, and Korea. However, the relationships between three working conditions impacted by accountability reforms—compensation, classroom autonomy, and involvement in school decision-making—and perceived occupational value varied across these four countries. Specifically, these working conditions seem to matter more in the United States, where the teacher policy context produces greater disparities across schools in teacher qualifications, distribution of qualified teachers, and degree of professional control.

On international household survey data availability for assessing pre-pandemic monetary and multidimensional poverty in developing countries

ABSTRACT Data availability plays a crucial role in the fight against poverty. Yet, it lags behind the data available on most other economic phenomena. This paper catalogs and reviews existing data availability for low- and middle-income countries with a view to break the cycle of outdated poverty data and strengthen statistical systems – while drawing readers’ attention to existing information and experiences. Countries that generate and analyze frequent and accurate poverty data are identified to show what is possible and to better document what is already available. Results show that data for both monetary and multidimensional poverty dramatically increased since 1980. Sixty countries already produce annual updates to key statistics, and some have continuous household surveys with cost-cutting synergies. International agencies have explored short surveys for comparable data but the success and uptake of these have not followed expected patterns. Certain regions have agreed on harmonized variable definitions across countries, and new technologies reduce lags between data collection and analysis. These existing resources and experiences can inform much-needed efforts to expand data availability.

ESTIMATION OF FETAL AND PEDIATRIC DOSES FROM CHEST CT EXAMINATIONS USING VIRTUALDOSE SOFTWARE.

Pregnant women and children sometimes had to undergo chest computed tomography (CT) scans during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study estimated the fetal and pediatric doses from chest CT scans. Organ doses and effective doses were calculated using the VirtualDose-CT software. Two groups of computational human phantoms, pregnant females and pediatric patients were used in this study. The results of doses normalized to volumetric CT Dose Index (CTDIvol) can be used universally for other dosimetry studies. Based on our calculations and international survey data of CTDIvol, fetal absorbed doses from COVID-19-related chest CT were found to be 0.04-0.36, 0.05-0.44 and 0.07-0.61mGy for 3, 6 and 9months of pregnancy, respectively. When the scan range is extended to the abdominal region, fetal doses increase by almost 4-fold. Effective doses for COVID-19-related chest CT were 1.62-13.77, 1.58-13.46, 1.57-13.33 and 1.29-10.98mSv for the newborn, 1-, 5- and 10-y-old children, respectively. In addition, the effects of specific axial scan ranges exceeding the thorax region were evaluated. Although doses from chest CT scans are small, such data allow radiologists and patients to be informed of the dose levels and ways to avoid unnecessary radiation.

Engagement, achievement, and teacher classroom practices in mathematics: Insights from TIMSS 2011 and PISA 2012

This article examines a multidimensional conceptualization of engagement and how it is related to achievement outcomes and teacher classroom practices in mathematics (including structure, support, and challenge). It draws insights from existing literature on engagement and other related research areas, including motivation and teaching effectiveness, and conducts empirical investigations using international large-scale survey and assessment data in four education systems (i.e., Singapore, Finland, Australia, and Romania) that have distinct cultural and social backgrounds and achieve at varying levels on international assessments. Confirmatory factor analysis results validate engagement as a multidimensional construct across contexts. Path analysis results reveal different patterns in the relations among engagement, achievement, and teacher classroom practices. In some contexts, relations between teacher practices and engagement or achievement vary as a function of student or teacher report. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Saw the office, want the job: The effect of creative workspace design on organizational attractiveness

Attracting talent is key for every organization. This research introduces a novel way to attract talent: creative workspace design. In two studies with complementary samples and methods, we examine whether, when, and how a firm's creative workspace design enhances organizational attractiveness. In Study 1, we use an experimental design to examine the attraction effect of creative (vs. conventional) workspace design from the applicant's perspective. First and foremost, we find that creative workspace design has a positive effect on organizational attractiveness. Second, our findings reveal two underlying mechanisms that help to explain this positive attraction effect: perceived climate for creativity and perceived innovation ability of the firm. Moreover, findings show that this attraction effect is stronger for highly creative (vs. less creative) individuals and attenuated for high-value (vs. low-value) workspaces. In Study 2, we validate the positive attraction effect of creative workspace design from the firm's perspective by using international survey data on a firm level. Taken together, this work sheds new light on how workspace design influences organizational attractiveness, elucidates why and when applicants are attracted by creative workspace design, and provides actionable implications for practice.