Interpretive Approach Research Articles

Practice of Assessment for Learning in Higher Education of Bangladesh

Because of its promising role in facilitating students’ learning, Assessment for Learning (AfL) has been discussed widely in literature. However, its implementation is neither straightforward nor uncontested. While a great deal of research has been conducted on AfL in primary and secondary education, limited research has been done in higher education in Bangladesh. Using basic interpretive qualitative approach, this study investigated assessment practices of three lecturers (university teachers) from three different departments and institutes of one public university of Bangladesh. Data from classroom (lesson) observation, semi-structured interviews with teachers, and Focus Group Discussions with students were thematically analyzed. Findings show that, though the teachers had scope to tailor assessment and though some aspects of AfL were reflected in classroom activities, the assessment strategies were not meaningfully translated into a holistic approach of AfL. The assessment practices were more concerned with measuring and monitoring classroom activities than promoting students' learning, which is the main goal of AfL. The lack of curriculum direction for AfL, teachers' limited understanding of AfL, examination-oriented education, large class size, short class-duration, and limited physical facilities were the challenges for AfL practice. Findings suggest that there is a need to integrate AfL in higher education curriculum with design suitable for the contexts of Bangladesh along with teachers’ training on assessment. Social Science Review, Vol. 41(1), June 2024, Page 17-38.

Exploring barriers to accessing health care services by young women in rural settings: a qualitative study in Australia, Canada, and Sweden

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to explore young rural women’s perceived barriers in accessing healthcare services with a focus on the interrelation between three marginalization criteria: age (youth), gender (female), and place of residence (rural areas) in Australia, Canada, and Sweden.MethodsUsing a qualitative interpretive approach, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 31 young women aged 18 to 24 in selected rural communities. Data collection took place from May 2019 to January 2021, and the qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo software.ResultsSelf-perceived barriers for access to healthcare services among young women living in rural and remote areas encompass various challenges across individual, institutional, and structural levels. Individual barriers include limited knowledge about available health services, negative attitudes toward healthcare, psychological discomfort when seeking assistance, and economic affordability issues. Institutional challenges involve limited healthcare resources, gender insensitivity among providers, judgmental attitudes from healthcare staff, inadequate time management of services, and a lack of privacy and confidentiality within facilities. Structural barriers further compound these issues through socio-cultural and gender norms, insufficient coverage of universal health insurance, low budget allocations for health facilities in rural and small urban areas, and the geographic distance to healthcare providers. Addressing these multifaceted barriers is crucial to improving healthcare access for rural population.ConclusionsAppropriate strategies and policies must be introduced to promote access to healthcare services in rural and remote areas even in most high-`income countries.

Becoming a new parent during the pandemic: experiences of pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period

New parenthood in ordinary times can be a vulnerable and unpredictable time. The Covid-19 pandemic brought additional, unprecedented changes to policy and practice that drastically impacted on the experiences of parents. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the experiences of new parents during the pandemic by qualitatively analysing their experiences. New parents from the UK (N = 303; female = 296; male = 7) responded to a survey conducted between 2021–2022 asking about experiences of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Responses were analysed thematically, taking an interpretivist approach, and drawing across the three time periods. Parents reported conflicting feelings, negative feelings and silver linings cutting across eight themes, including: impacts on well-being, feeling without a village, changes to healthcare, atypical social experiences as a new parent, differential impacts on financial and working lives, conflicting feelings around digital technology, anger and worry regarding contradictory government guidance and recommendations for other parents. The findings offer much needed insights into the experiences of new parents during this time and provide some context to the documented elevated levels of perinatal mental health difficulties in new parents during the pandemic. We suggest key recommendations going forwards in the care of new parents now, and in times of future national crisis.

Predicting coefficient of permeability of soils: an interpretable machine learning approach augmented by deep generative adversarial network

Predicting coefficient of permeability of soils: an interpretable machine learning approach augmented by deep generative adversarial network

An integrative perspective on inter-organisational collaboration in healthcare: a modified total interpretive structural modelling approach

PurposeThis study develops a model for understanding the relationships and interactions between the antecedents influencing inter-organisational collaboration in the healthcare sector.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive and systematized search was conducted on Scopus to identify all relevant studies investigating the antecedents of inter-organisational collaboration in the healthcare sector. Antecedents were identified based on insights from experts and a systematised search method. A modified total interpretive structural model (m-TISM) was used to determine the hierarchical relationships between the identified antecedents. Finally, the Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement (MICMAC) analysis was employed to categorise the identified antecedents into clusters based on their driving or dependence influence.FindingsEight antecedents of inter-organisational collaboration in the healthcare sector were identified. The results revealed that having a shared vision and goals, digital infrastructure and proximity are the most crucial antecedents of inter-organisational collaboration in healthcare, along with leadership, shared resources and communication.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research on inter-organisational collaboration in the healthcare sector can include additional factors that may influence collaboration beyond those currently studied. Structural equation modelling can be employed to validate the proposed model.Originality/valueThe study proposes a hierarchical model for inter-organisational collaboration in the healthcare sector. The framework will help healthcare executives and academicians identify key antecedents that are most critical to enabling effective collaboration.

Ward-Based Staff Perspectives on Their Preparedness to Recognize Patient Deterioration: An Interpretive Description Study.

Despite an overall decline in serious adverse events in hospitalized patients, approximately one third of inpatient mortality continues to relate to adverse events impacting patients on general wards. The preparedness of nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants (collectively referred to as ward-based staff) to recognize patient deterioration is therefore seen as critical. The aim of this study was to explore ward-based staff perspectives regarding their preparedness to recognize patient deterioration. An interpretive description approach was utilized to interview 16 participants from a single-center regional hospital. The participants included nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants who worked exclusively on wards. The participants were purposely selected to complete semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using a six-step thematic analysis, and the study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Three main themes (with subthemes) were identified: (a) feeling prepared (experience, intuitive awareness, early warning systems), (b) promoting preparedness (multimodal education, debriefing, collegial support), and (c) being unprepared (undergraduate education, knowledge deficit, staffing related concerns, psychological response to incident, unforeseen barriers). The findings suggest strategies for increasing knowledge and confidence in all ward-based staff, allowing them to feel better prepared to recognize clinical deterioration. Moreover, based on the results, ward-based staff strongly perceive experience, clinical shortfalls in undergraduate education, collegial support networks, mentorship, psychological response to incidents, and multimodal education to be key contributors to preparedness.

Rationalism vs. textualism: a comparative analysis of Islamic pedagogical approaches in Iran and Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Cultivating rational thinking, rather than solely adhering to the text of Islam, can be a different crucial approach to Islamic pedagogy. We can find some of these differences in the post-Prophetic period when influential figures shaped differing interpretations of Islamic thought. This paper examines two major Islamic theological perspectives regarding the role of rational, logic, and interpretation in understanding sacred texts. The Ahl al-Hadith and Ash’ari school emphasises strict adherence to textual sources, often rejecting interpretative approaches, in contrast to the Ahl al-Ra’y and Mu’tazila schools, which give precedence to reason and interpretation. These divergent views have significantly influenced contemporary Islamic education, leading to notable differences in the method of curricula of Islamic studies. This paper explores how these perspectives shape the content of Grades 1 to 6 of Islamic studies textbooks in Iran and Saudi Arabia, focusing on their impact on developing logic, reasoning, and interpretive skills among students at this crucial stage of intellectual growth.

Optimizing the NGS-based discrimination of multiple lung cancers from the perspective of evolution

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers a promising approach for differentiating multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC) from intrapulmonary metastasis (IPM), though panel selection and clonal interpretation remain challenging. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) data from 80 lung cancer samples were utilized to simulate MPLC and IPM, with various sequenced panels constructed through gene subsampling. Two clonal interpretation approaches primarily applied in clinical practice, MoleA (based on shared mutation comparison) and MoleB (based on probability calculation), were subsequently evaluated. ROC analysis highlighted MoleB’s superior performance, especially with the NCCNplus panel (AUC = 0.950 ± 0.002) and pancancer MoleA (AUC = 0.792 ± 0.004). In two independent cohorts (WES cohort, N = 42 and non-WES cohort, N = 94), NGS-based methodologies effectively stratified disease-free survival, with NCCNplus MoleB further predicting prognosis. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed evolutionary distinctions between MPLC and IPM, establishing an optimized NGS-based framework for differentiating multiple lung cancers.

Transaction cost theory, organisational ambidexterity, and digital platforms: an interpretative case study exploring the implementation of a business-to-business logistics digital platform in a South African organisation

Logistics costs represent a significant burden within South Africa's consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing and retail supply chains. Amidst intensifying market competition and the pressing need for cost reduction, businesses are turning to digital platforms as a solution to optimise logistics efficiency while considering environmental sustainability. Despite the increasing interest in Business-to-Business (B2B) logistics digital platforms, limited case studies exist that explore their early-stage implementation, particularly in emerging markets. This paper examines the implementation of a B2B logistics digital platform within a South African CPG company, using Transaction Cost Theory (TCT) and Organisational Ambidexterity as theoretical lenses. Through semi-structured interviews and an interpretative case study approach, this study investigates how the platform has enabled cost reductions and enhanced operational efficiencies. The findings reveal that the successful implementation of such platforms depends on a sustainable commercial model underpinned by reliability, trust, and transparency. The study also highlights the critical role of organisational ambidexterity in navigating the challenges posed by digital platform implementation in emerging markets.

Transaction cost theory, organisational ambidexterity, and digital platforms: an interpretative case study exploring the implementation of a business-to-business logistics digital platform in a South African organisation

Logistics costs represent a significant burden within South Africa's consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing and retail supply chains. Amidst intensifying market competition and the pressing need for cost reduction, businesses are turning to digital platforms as a solution to optimise logistics efficiency while considering environmental sustainability. Despite the increasing interest in Business-to-Business (B2B) logistics digital platforms, limited case studies exist that explore their early-stage implementation, particularly in emerging markets. This paper examines the implementation of a B2B logistics digital platform within a South African CPG company, using Transaction Cost Theory (TCT) and Organisational Ambidexterity as theoretical lenses. Through semi-structured interviews and an interpretative case study approach, this study investigates how the platform has enabled cost reductions and enhanced operational efficiencies. The findings reveal that the successful implementation of such platforms depends on a sustainable commercial model underpinned by reliability, trust, and transparency. The study also highlights the critical role of organisational ambidexterity in navigating the challenges posed by digital platform implementation in emerging markets.

Migrant churches and reverse mission: Missiological gaps and missionary trap

The migration of Zimbabweans in search of better opportunities has spurred the growth and spread of Zimbabwean Churches within diaspora communities. Currently, many Zimbabwean churches like other African Churches have crossed continental borders, setting up branches in Europe and North America. This phenomenon of African Churches engaging with diasporic communities has been described by scholars as a ‘Reverse Mission’. A critical question that emerges is: To what degree is the establishment of African churches in other nations and continent an indicative of a reverse mission? The case study focuses on two Zimbabwean churches that have established branches in South Africa and other countries both within and beyond the African continent. The selection of the two churches is based on their origins that trace back to South Africa, rendering them pertinent examples for discussion in the context of reverse mission. The research identified ‘missiological gaps’ leading to a ‘missionary trap’ in the context of reverse mission, as the two Zimbabwean Churches face new frontiers. The article discusses how Zimbabwean churches, along with other African churches in the diaspora, created obstacles that impeded the dissemination of the gospel because of their insufficient cross-cultural training and experience. The researcher utilised descriptive phenomenological and interpretive phenomenological approaches for data collection and analysis, respectively.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary: The article is framed within the context of reverse mission, missiology, and the history of African Christianity. It contends that the African church should reassess its evangelistic strategies as it transcends national and international borders.

Revealing the effects of environmental and spatio-temporal variables on changes in Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) high abundance fishing grounds based on interpretable machine learning approach

The construction of accurate and interpretable predictive model for high abundance fishing ground is conducive to better sustainable fisheries production and carbon reduction. This article used refined statistical maps to visualize the spatial and temporal patterns of catch changes based on the 2014-2021 fishery statistics of the Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus fishery in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Three models (XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost) and two variable importance visualization methods (model built-in (split) and SHAP methods) were used for comparative analysis to determine the optimal modeling and visualization strategies. Results: 1) From 2014 to 2021, the annual catch showed an overall increasing trend and peaked at 220,009.063 tons in 2021; the total monthly catch increased and then decreased, with a peak of 76, 033.4944 tons (July), and the catch was mainly concentrated in the regions of 39.5°-43°N and 146.75°-155.75°E; 2) Catboost model predicted better than LightGBM and XGBoost models, with the highest values of accuracy and F1-score, 73.8% and 75.31%, respectively; 3) the overall importance ranking of the model’s built-in method differed significantly from that in the SHAP method, and the overall importance ranking of the spatial variables in the SHAP method increased. Compared to the built-in method, the SHAP method informs the magnitude and direction of the influence of each variable at the global and local levels. The results of the research help us to select the optimal model and the optimal visualization method to construct a prediction model for the Japanese sardine fishing grounds in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, which will provide a scientific basis for the Japanese sardine fishery to achieve environmental and economically sustainable fishery development.

Korean peace and unification education as teacher lived experiences

ABSTRACT This article explores the practice of peace education within the Korean context, where national division has exerted significant cultural and structural impacts. By interviewing South Korean teachers actively involved in peace education, this study examines how such education can contribute to peacebuilding in a politically divisive environment. Employing interpretative phenomenological approach, the author interprets how the teacher participants understand the meaning of peace education and their school practice. By doing so, the author suggests that teachers strategically take a holistic approach, from managing interpersonal conflicts and emotions at a micro level to reflecting their critical macro perspective on divisive society in individual lesson design.

Living in a fluid world

This article employs an interpretive autoethnographic approach to explore how the author navigates the paradigmatic contradictions between poststructuralism as a theoretical framework and his personal religious beliefs. It narrates and analyzes how the researcher arrives at specific understandings of reality, knowledge, and the self. The author then examines how these understandings were challenged by poststructuralism and whether they have been reconciled. The article contributes to ongoing discussions on colonial theories and the critical importance of Asia as a method and southern theory in higher education and social theory.

Understanding Resistance Among Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Co-Produced Study in the United Kingdom.

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is a global problem that affects approximately one in four women in their lifetime. An area of unexplored research is how women use a range of strategies to honor resistance, manage the risk, avoid abuse, and cope with the pain of DVA. Art-based methodology and interpretative phenomenological analysis approaches were used which determined seven strategies employed by women in order to survive DVA: apparent compliance; maintaining a sense of self; knowing boundaries; keeping hope in sight; imagining freedom; degrees of rebellion; and denial. This created a conceptual model for understanding DVA survivorship (The SEED Model).

Políticas Educativas Neoliberales: trabajo académico y salud de profesoras

Neoliberal educational policies have been implemented for more than three decades in Latin America, which have altered teaching practices. Likewise, the educational reforms have not considered the characteristics or idiosyncrasies, in this case, of Mexico, since they have been a copy of the European and U.S. educational models. Based on these problems, the main objective was to: make evident some problems in professional teaching practice, as well as the health repercussions of high school and university teachers as a consequence of neoliberal educational policies. There was the participation of 10 teachers who work at different educational levels: High School and Higher Education; in the State of Mexico, Hidalgo and Chile in South America. The research was divided into three phases: before, during and after the pandemic. The methodology used was qualitative, with a descriptive and interpretive approach. The results were presented as a “novel” constructed from the participants' narratives. Their problems related to teaching work, trigger a series of sickness at a biopsychosocial level. Definitely, the educational institution is going through a crisis and a rethinking of teaching work is urgently needed so that, the meaning of the teaching role does not die and along with it, the educational institution.

Menganalisis Interpretasi Putus Cinta Mahasiswa Marketing Communication BINUS LE51 melalui Percakapan di WhatsApp

This journal aims to understand how Marketing Communication students from Binus LE51 interpret the experience of a breakup through conversations on the WhatsApp application. Using a qualitative descriptive method with a hermeneutic interpretation approach, the research analyzes conversation content from five students who voluntarily shared their breakup experiences. The study also found that the emotional recovery time after a breakup varies, depending on the closeness of the previous relationship and the support from friends. The study suggests the importance of further exploring the role of social media in emotional recovery processes among students, particularly within the increasingly interconnected digital environment. The end of a romantic relationship significantly impacts students' mental health and academic performance. Through a qualitative approach, the study reveals that breakups often trigger negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, and stress. These emotions lead to decreased concentration, reduced quality of assignments, and poor academic performance.

“Encouraged to be Your True Self”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study of Medical Students’ Experiences of Role Models in Shaping Sexual Minority Identity in Medical School

Phenomenon: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) identifying individuals experience worse health outcomes compared to non-SGM identifying counterparts. Representation of SGM individuals within medical schools may improve the delivery of more equitable healthcare through reducing biases and normalizing SGM presence within healthcare spaces. Approach: Our initial aim was to explore the extent to which role models may influence personal SGM identities within medical schools in the United Kingdom, using an interpretative phenomenological approach. This methodology allowed us to develop meaning from, and give voice to participants’ relationship with their bespoke experiences, respecting differing narratives within the broad ‘SGM’ umbrella, rather than attempting to establish commonalities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five medical students and three medical school faculty within three medical schools, who identified as SGM. Due to a lack of gender minority identifying participants, we unfortunately could not adequately speak to their experiences, and therefore narrowed our eventual focus to sexual minority (SM) individuals. Findings: The developed themes followed a cyclical process of: (1) role model identification; (2) role model selection, influenced by matched wider identities including generation, hierarchy and power; (3) trait assimilation, particularly where identity deficits were perceived; and (4) identity projection, where students used role models to both emulate comfortable SM identity projection, and become advocatory role models themselves. Throughout, participants described role models as multifaceted in their direction (vertical and horizontal), influence (positive and negative) and locus of effect (as individuals, and as part of a collective). Unexpectedly, identity, power, and hierarchy-matching meant peer-to-peer role modeling was often experienced more positively than vertical faculty-to-student role modeling. However, as expected, heteronormativity exerted an inhibitory effect on this process. Insights: We built upon existing social cognitive paradigms to develop a ‘double-funnel’ model to represent how social contexts can map onto individual SM identities and vice versa, mediated by role models. The triangulation of these three aspects in relation to medical education presents novel understandings to the field. Greater explicit institutional support of student-led SM societies, and facilitation of the presence and discussion of SM symbols and personal identities within professional spaces, may go a long way in redefining ‘normativity’ in medical schools.

Barriers to treatment seeking for depression among elderly service users at Butabika National Referral and Teaching hospital, Kampala- Uganda

Objectives Depression among the elderly is a significant public health concern in Uganda, where cultural, social, and healthcare-related barriers hinder access to treatment and support. This study examines the barriers to mental health service access faced by elderly service-users in Uganda. Method Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, in-depth interviews were conducted to capture the lived experiences of elderly Baganda service users receiving treatment at Butabika National Referral and Teaching hospital. Results The findings reveal an intricate interaction between cultural, social, economic, and healthcare system-related barriers. Key barriers include limited mental health awareness, financial constraints, fragmentation, drug shortage and geographical access. Social and cultural stigma further exacerbate these challenges contributing to delayed or avoided help-seeking behaviours among the elderly. Conclusion The study highlights the intersectionality of aging and mental health issues, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive, integrated approach to mental health care for the elderly. This research calls for targeted interventions to reduce stigma, increase mental health literacy, and improve the accessibility and affordability of care for vulnerable elderly populations in Uganda. Such services can improve mental health outcomes and quality of life for the elderly in Uganda.

Exploring the role of cardiac activity in forecasting cognitive fatigue with machine learning

Fatigue poses significant risks to safety, productivity, and overall well-being. Traditional statistical methods have been employed for inferring fatigue-related patterns; however, there is a need for interpretable machine learning approaches that integrate time series prediction capabilities to develop intelligent health systems for fatigue management. This study explored forecasting perception and performance scores associated with fatigue using cardiac activity and heart rate variability (HRV), employing both generalized and personalized models with a 10-minute forecast interval during a cognitively fatiguing task. Participants underwent a two-hour working memory task while providing subjective fatigue responses every 10 min, serving as perception labels, and their performance within each 10-minute interval was quantified as their performance labels. The results revealed that performance-labeled models generated lower mean absolute errors compared to perception-labeled models, while the Gradient Boosting Regression algorithm achieved the lowest mean absolute error in forecasting performance scores due to fatigue for both generalized and personalized models. Sample entropy, ratio of Standard Deviation-Poincaré, the proportion of peak-to-peak intervals over 50 ms, coefficient of variation of peak-to-peak intervals, and low frequency were the most important features for predicting performance. These findings offer the potential to forecast performance decline resulting from fatigue in working memory tasks, facilitating the implementation of fatigue mitigation interventions to reduce injury risks and performance impairments. The integration of interpretable machine learning methods with time series forecasting provides valuable insights for developing intelligent systems that proactively manage fatigue and optimize performance across various domains.