Interpretive Research Research Articles

Repertory grid technique and Honey’s content analysis: a methodological application to advance qualitative research in OSCM

PurposeThis paper aims to explain and demonstrate how the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) and Honey’s Content Analysis (HCA) can make new contributions to the field of Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM). The proposition involves integrating these complementary analyses to fortify the rigor of qualitative research and establish robust data analysis protocols to identify the main attributes of interviewees regarding a phenomenon while understanding in their perspective how these attributes impact the desired analysis outcome.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses examples with rich empirical data from 40 interviewees across two organizations. The examples use a protocol that allows the grouping of meanings from different knowledgeable individuals and capturing relevant constructs related to an outcome.FindingsThe combination of RGT and HCA permits researchers to effectively identify and analyze the constructs individuals and groups utilize to comprehend the subject matter under investigation. Consequently, these techniques present a structured means to conduct grounded theory investigations and interpretive research, thereby enabling the iterative development of the preliminary conceptual models necessary for OSCM field advancement.Originality/valueWe present two examples in which the protocol is applied to the field of OSCM. These examples illustrate that the techniques provide valuable opportunities for OSCM research, particularly for addressing the limitations related to sample size. Ultimately, RGT and HCA complement quantitative methodologies by uncovering nuanced variations and micro-foundations within firm- and network-level phenomena, offering insights essential for advancing our understanding of OSCM dynamics in specific contexts.

The impact of the national school nutritional programme in the selected rural and urban primary schools in Mahwelereng circuit

This study evaluated the impact of the national school nutrition program IN the selected primary schools Mahwelereng circuit, Limpopo Province. To date, the (NSNP) reaches almost all schools in the poorest areas and quintiles nationwide. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand on the National School Nutrition Program (NSNP) in schools far beyond expectation, even in schools outside quintile 1, 2, and 3. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the NSNP in the primary schools in Mahwereleng Circuit, Limpopo Province. A qualitative phenomenological study within the interpretive research paradigm was used to explore the impact of the National School Nutrition Programme in primary schools. The researcher, through non-probability convenience sampling, selected a total of 12 primary school teachers from four primary schools in Mahwereleng Circuit. Data from semi-structured interviews was thematically analysed and interpreted to draw findings that answered the research questions. Findings indicated that the NSNP has a positive impact to learners’ welfare and academic performance in schools. The study appreciates the prescribed measures of food to each learner by the Department of Education (DoE). Primary school teachers in the selected schools around Mahwelereng circuit were interviewed individually for 20-30 minutes each in schools on the impact of the National School Nutrition Programme using semi-structured interviews to collect data. The implementation of the national school nutrition programme has a positive impact and established advantageous learning climate and decreased hunger and absenteeism in schools, while increasing enrolment, participation and scholarly execution among the schoolchildren.

An Examination of the Factors contributing to Learner Dropout at Grade Six Level in Manzini Region Primary Schools

Learner dropout remains a challenge in Eswatini despite the introduction of free primary education by the government. The study established the factors that contribute to learner dropout at the grade six level in the Manzini region. An interpretivist research philosophy and a qualitative research approach were adopted to collect the study’s data. A case study design made it possible to collect detailed data from purposively selected participants in three public primary schools. Interviews were held with two head teachers while nine grade six teachers took part in focus group discussions. Findings revealed that school-related factors like overcrowded classrooms, poor performance and non-availability of practical subjects that aligned with learners’ interests and abilities contributed to learner dropout. Findings further revealed that poverty, child labour, peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, lack of parental involvement, and initiation into cultural practices and activities contributed to learner dropout. The study recommended that the government should build more schools and classrooms and hire more qualified teachers to reduce overcrowding in classrooms and the distance walked by learners to school. The government should also support needy learners from disadvantaged backgrounds with basic necessities such as sanitary pads for girls. The Ministry of Education should introduce practical subjects like Carpentry, Art, Music and Dance to cater for the interests and abilities of different learners. Schools should promote parental involvement and core curricula activities to engage, motivate and retain learners. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by suggesting strategies that can mitigate learner dropout which is a widespread challenge in the SADC region and other African countries. Keywords: Factors, Learner, Dropout, Manzini, Primary Schools

‘It was the right thing to do’: pioneering LGBT inclusivity in a local group of companies in Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT This paper aims to explore how and why a local conglomerate in Sri Lanka (Pride-H) decided to introduce Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual (LGBT) inclusivity to their policies and practices, contravening legal, social and religious strictures. Under the interpretive research paradigm and qualitative research design, an embedded case study approach was employed. In-depth interviews and publicly available information were used as data for the study. Theoretically, this paper draws on institutional logics perspective and organizational filters. The findings reveal that the decision and initiative for LGBT inclusivity at Pride-H emerged through interconnected sequences and logics – specifically, the convergence of social justice and corporate logics. Additionally, certain organizational attributes, such as being a market leader, one of the largest conglomerates in the country, possessing an extensive customer and stakeholder base, and demonstrating a commitment to values of equal treatment, functioned as filters to counteract conflicting state, cultural, and religious strictures (logics).

Stefan Zabierowski – Conrad Researcher

The study is an attempt to discuss and summarize the multidirectional and multifaceted Conradist achievements of Stefan Zabierowski. I carefully try to present the scholar’s work on many planes so as to reveal his precursorship, which is not always visible at first glance. It is Zabierowski who creates the entire background of reading and reception research in Conrad studies, starting from the monograph from 1971, entitled Conrad w Polsce. Wybrane problemy recepcji krytycznej w latach 1896-1969 [Conrad in Poland. Selected problems of critical reception in the years 1896-1969] up to Dziedzictwo Conrada w literaturze polskiej XX wieku [Conrad’s Legacy in Polish literature of the 20th century] from 1992. From the perspective of interpretive research, Zabierowski-the researcher represents the exegetical school, devoting most of his attention to one work, the analysis of which has been deepened over the years, also using modern reading theories (Umberto Eco’s concept of the open work) – Lord Jim. In the discussion on the so-called Joseph Conrad’s Polish, as well as borderland background, Zabierowski proposes a competitive metaphor to the one comparing Conrad’s writing to the cathedral in Kamieniec Podolski by Paweł Hostowiec (Jerzy Stempowski) – Conrad’s literature is the Slutsk Belt of competing currents, motifs and poetics and as such, it requires original intertextual reflection. Zabierowski initiates it by comparing the Gould marriage from Nostromo with the Niechcic marriage from Maria Dąbrowska’s Nights and Days.

Post-Colonial Ecocritical Dynamics in Ghosh's The Hungry Tide

The dynamics of ecological systems of the bioregion i.e., the Sundarbans of the Bay of Bengal dominates the novel 'The Hungry Tide' by Amitav Ghosh. Here, I analyze how the text destabilizes and subverts the Universalist claim of Western superiority based on false dichotomy between nature and culture by applying postcolonial eco-critical insights. The basic tenet of postcolonial ecocriticism is that social injustice is embedded in the injustice of nature and it sees equity in both by rejecting Universalist claims of Eurocentrism which sees nature and local communities as resources. To prove the claim, the researcher has gone through theoretical critical insight of Graham Huggan and Helen Tiffin who talk about postcolonial ecocriticism. Besides, the researcher also used the eco-critical insight as per the need of the paper. The qualitative interpretative research is based on the textual analysis of the primary text applying the postcolonial eco-critical insights. The paper concludes that social inequality and injustice in nature must be eradicated so as to liberate both.

The art of writing a research paper that is internationally acceptable, according to a reviewer

This research paper has been written for those researchers striving to do research in the educational and economic fields. Concerns faced by young researchers specializing in educational psychology the current situation surrounding young researchers in recent years is difficult. Against the background of intense performance competition, there are many cases, including those hired as project researchers, who have to learn, measure, analyses and even learn about indicators outside their area of expertise in a short period of time. It is necessary to write documents. Specifically, the field of educational psychology aims to elucidate the mechanisms of human mind and behavior from various educational responses, and the indicators handled are broad. Furthermore, care must be taken when handling each educational index. Therefore, it is essential to follow strong previous research in experimental procedures, measurement, analysis, and interpretation of educational responses. To gain such information, it is necessary to read related papers and conduct further experiments, analysis and persistence.

La trata de personas y su implicancia con la función preventiva del delito en Ayacucho, Perú

The objective of this study is to understand human trafficking in its various forms and its relationship with the preventive function of crime in Ayacucho, Peru, during the year 2023. The methodology employed was descriptive and interpretive qualitative research, based on information collection through interviews conducted with 10 lawyers specialized in the subject. The results obtained indicate that, in Ayacucho, human trafficking occurs without distinction of gender or age. Victims can be both women and men, from different age groups. It is observed that adolescent girls are mainly subjected to sexual exploitation, while adult women and men are victims of labor exploitation, and children are forced into begging. In this context, it has been found that the effective implementation of the preventive function established in the Penal Code regarding the crime of human trafficking in Ayacucho is mostly limited to the theoretical-normative realm, lacking concrete pragmatic actions.

Penciptaan Tari Beyond Terinspirasi oleh Konflik Diri Dengan Pengidap Attention Deficit Hiperactivity Disorder

The work Tari Beyond is a work that originates from the author's empirical experience in dealing with self-conflict when dealing with a sibling who suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Conflicts that can give rise to awareness and acceptance that this is a gift from God Almighty. This research answering two questions, namely: (1) The form of the Beyond dance by Finka Nur Rahmania and (2) The process of creating the dance work Beyond by Finka Nur Rahmania. The theory used to identify forms is the theory of Sri Rochana W. in her book entitled Sejarah Tari Gambyong: Seni Rakyat Menuju Istana, which contains expressed forms and physical forms. Meanwhile, to describe the creation process, we use theories from Sri Rochana W. and Dwi Wahyudiarto in a book entitled Pengantar Koreografi which includes exploration, organization, unity, presentation. This research uses interpretive descriptive research methods through qualitative data. This research uses data collection techniques through observation, interviews and literature study. Data from this research was obtained from researchers as authors or participant observers. Beyond's dance work is unique in its form which is based on hip-hop and contemporary dance which expresses awareness and acceptance of situations that do not match expectations.

The Family as a Place of Experiencing Critical Events – Case Study

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The main aim is to show the narrative of a woman who experienced critical events in her personal life. THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND METHODS: 1. How does the narrator describe critical events based on her family experience? 2. What meaning does she ascribe to the events experienced in retrospect? The presented research is situated in the interpretative research tradition. A descriptive‑theoretical type of case study was used. Empirical data was collected using Fritz Schütze’s narrative interview technique. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The interview began by presenting the narrator’s life story from her childhood to the present day. Attention was paid to her understanding of herself and her life, her relationship with her parents, and critical events that occurred in her family. The empirical material was then interpreted based on Schütze’s process structures, which revealed her current life course, critical events in the family and landmark events in the narrator’s individual biography. RESEARCH RESULTS: The interpretation of the empirical material showed the narrator in the process of change, internal metamorphoses. It revealed poor intra‑family relations, which became the cause of illness, lack of self‑acceptance, and depressive and anxious states. The therapy that she underwent, satisfying professional work and mutual feelings of love allowed the narrator to overcome her limitations, weaknesses and take a critical look at the family relationships that were the cause of her pain and suffering. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: The narrative presented in the paper can become a stimulus for change in people who are currently struggling with family problems, illness or suffering: all those people who experience anxiety and loneliness in the space of family life.

KESADARAN EKOLOGIS; PELESTARIAN LINGKUNGAN DALAM AL-QUR’AN

The interaction of humans and the environment is inseparable. Human dependence on natural resources for their survival is threatened as a result of poor management and exploitation actions making environmental damage worse. The purpose of this interpretation research is so that readers better understand the nature of ecological awareness, verses about ecological awareness, and the urgency of ecological awareness. In this study, a qualitative approach is used with the Maudhu'i interpretation method. As for the results of the research conducted, that ecology is a science about the interaction of living things with their living environment. In Arabic the environment means al-bī'ah. Some verses that explain about ecological awareness are QS. Āli 'Imrān/3: 191; QS. al-Anbiyā'/21: 31; QS. al-A'rāf /7: 10; Qs. al-Qaṣaṣ/28:77; Qs. al-Baqarah/2: 60 Then in Qs. al-A'rāf /7: 56-58. The importance of increasing environmental awareness for humans, because we were created as caliphs (leaders on earth) managers who are responsible for the sustainability of life on earth, not only utilizing but also guarding nature as the mandate given by Allah.

The influence of culture on the health beliefs and health behaviours of older Vietnam-born Australians living with chronic disease.

To explore the health beliefs and health behaviours of older Vietnam-born people living with chronic disease in Western Australia. This study was designed as a focused ethnography guided by the interpretative research paradigm and Leininger's Theory of Culture Care. Data were collected through participant observation and interviews undertaken at participants' homes in Western Australia over 7 months in 2019. Data were analysed using Wolcott's approach for transferring qualitative data, comprising three phases: description, thematic analysis and interpretation. This study included 12 participants. The health perspectives and practices of older Vietnam-born Australians significantly reflected the traditional Vietnamese values. These included the stigma towards chronic disease as an inevitable consequence of ageing; self-blame thoughts about chronic disease causations and maintained traditional dietary practices. However, some aspects of their health behaviours such as beliefs and practices in traditional medicine, Western medicine and physical exercise reflected a blended approach combining both Vietnamese-oriented and Westernized-orientated practices. Individual factors were also identified as contributing to chronic disease self-care among participants. This study emphasizes culture played a significant role in shaping the way that older Vietnam-born Australians believed and behaved while living with chronic conditions. However, it also indicates that culture is not a stationary concept, it evolves gradually and is socially constructed. A better understanding of the health beliefs and practices of older Vietnam-born Australians is expected to contribute to the delivery of culturally safe and effective support for this population. The achievement of culturally safe care requires a systemic approach and collaboration of strategies across sectors. This study encompassed the contribution of 12 older Vietnam-born Australians who offered the researcher the privilege to enter their world and the staff of social care organization who opened the gate for the researcher to approach participants.

A pilot study of early childhood teachers’ views on teaching a structured physical education curriculum: challenges and recommendations

ABSTRACT Background Early childhood physical education (ECPE) is crucial for children’s development and lifelong learning. Children need developmentally appropriate, structured, and systematic opportunities in physical education (PE) to acquire fundamental physical skills, attitudes, values, and knowledge. The curriculum is the starting point for ensuring the educational success of all children. ECPE with a structured curriculum significantly influences children’s development and future quality of life, as a high-quality ECPE curriculum brings them physical, cognitive, academic, and affective developmental benefits. Teachers determine the quality of education through curriculum implementation and effective learning. Teachers’ attitudes and views are important factors for improving the quality of education. Much of the research has suggested requirements for early childhood teachers (ECTs) in implementing the curriculum. However, few studies have been conducted based on ECTs’ views regarding the implementation of a structured ECPE curriculum. Therefore, it is necessary to learn more about ECTs’ views on curriculum implementation. Purpose The pilot study analysed challenges ECTs face and their recommendations regarding a structured PE curriculum, the ‘Know It, Do It, Love It’ (KDL) curriculum implemented in a Chinese preschool, to assess how well it worked so that adaptations can be made for future large-scale use. Methodology This was a qualitative interpretivist study. The interpretivist research paradigm was used to better understand and interpret ECTs’ views based on their beliefs, values, and experiences. Six early childhood teachers in China participated in individual semi-structured interviews, and the data were analysed inductively via individual-case and cross-case analyses using the open code method. Findings The results revealed that the participants were extremely concerned about insufficient equipment, overloaded schedules, and a lack of professional training. Occasionally, inadequate equipment negatively affected children’s safety and interest in learning. The consistent heavy workload presented a significant challenge in implementing the curriculum. Participants were concerned that they did not have a professional background in PE, which resulted in reduced confidence in teaching the curriculum. Findings suggested that the structured PE curriculum should have activities suitable for indoor environments, develop specific lesson plans with detailed instructions, and secure parental support via a summary of empirical data on the benefits resulting from the curriculum. ECTs should have professional development opportunities to obtain PE knowledge and skills and maximise their willingness to improve their abilities to teach a structured PE curriculum. PE teachers should be provided with professional development in teaching language and improve their safety awareness.

‘Between the flags’: women's participation in surf lifesaving sport in Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT Surf lifesaving (SLS) clubs have been portrayed as male-dominated spaces perpetuating hegemonic masculinity. Contrary to this depiction, women and girls have participated in SLS in Aotearoa New Zealand since the 1930s, constituting approximately half of SLSNZ members. However, despite a growing body of research on women in ocean sports, studies on women's experiences in SLS are notably scarce. Addressing this gap, our interpretive research focuses on women's participation in SLS sports in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our findings reveal that the SLS community offers social and sporting opportunities for women throughout their life course. While providing a supportive environment for female friendships and mentorship, the sport fosters a sense of achievement, ocean skills and overall well-being. Nevertheless, challenges persist, as women encounter a ‘boys club’ mentality, where men are often perceived as the natural and legitimate bodies in SLS institutional contexts. Despite these perceptions, women don't necessarily feel excluded or marginalised within SLS spaces. Our research suggests that contemporary SLS clubs in Aotearoa New Zealand are more nuanced cultural spaces than previously portrayed. While still associated with masculinity, women dynamically navigate these male-defined arenas. SLS, as both a sport and lifeguard service, presents an institutional space where cultural norms reinforcing masculinity in ocean sports can be challenged.

Deep learning based identification and interpretability research of traditional village heritage value elements: a case study in Hubei Province

The preservation and transmission of traditional villages is crucial to the prosperity and development of ethnic cultures. However, current traditional village surveys usually require a large number of experts and scholars to conduct field research, which is an expensive and time-consuming method, especially for large-scale tasks. Therefore, this study proposes an automatic classification method based on deep learning (DL) for the identification of traditional village heritage value elements (TVHVE). The study evaluates four selected convolutional neural network (CNN) frames using traditional villages in Hubei Province as a sample dataset. The results show that Residual Network152 (ResNet152) is the most suitable CNN frame for identifying TVHVE in Hubei. The stability and consistency of various TVHVE present in the ResNet152 model were evaluated using Area Under Curve (AUC) and Precision Recall Curve (PRC), which indicated satisfactory prediction performance for most elements, except for specific elements such as tombstones and stone carvings, which showed lower accuracy. In addition, the study sheds light on the areas of concern of the model with respect to different TVHVE images and elucidates the reasons behind the confusion between elements through semantic clustering based on image classification and interpretability analysis using the Gradient-Weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) heat map. By using an automated classification method based on DL, this study significantly reduces the cost and effort associated with traditional surveys. At the same time, insight into areas of concern and confusion in the model improves guidance for conservation efforts and provides valuable references for subsequent research.

Current status and progress on in vitro diagnosis of allergic diseases

Allergic diseases are immune disorders caused by allergens, leading to inflammation or organ dysfunction. In the past decade, the prevalence of allergic diseases in China has increased dramatically, imposing a heavy economic burden on the health care system and society. In vitro diagnosis of allergic diseases plays a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of such diseases. This article enumerates the in vitro tests and diagnostic techniques of allergic diseases, gives an advocacy for quality management of IgE-related tests, summarizes the clinical interpretation and relevant research progress, aiming to provide a reference for improving laboratory diagnosis of allergic diseases.

How to Warranty the Sustainability of a Company’s Digital Transformation Base on the Case of Chi Forest

Abstract As earnings decrease and deflation occurs, companies are facing more competition. Digital transformation has emerged as a crucial strategy for companies to pursue new avenues of growth. Existing studies have explored the definition of digital transformation, the relationship between digital transformation and sustainability, and the impact of digital strategies on businesses. The study aims to investigate the drivers and processes of digital transformation towards sustainability and introduces a qualitative approach of single case study to explain the mechanisms involved. So how did we realize the research in this study? Firstly, we selected Chi Forest, a prominent beverage company, as our research subject. We then adopt an interpretivist research methodology to examine the steps behind the sustainable phenomenon of digital transformation at Chi Forest as well as the driving factors. This provides key recommendations for companies that when undergoing digital transformation, it is important to give more consideration to the steps of transformation and improve the sustainability of the transformation results. The highlight of this study is that we extend the existing steps of digital transformation by describing different transformation processes. More importantly, our study offers a comprehensive and a multi-perspective research reflection the literature on the application of digital transformation strategies, adding value to the existing research.

Ideological and Linguistic Features Analyses of US Presidential Written Discourse addressing Immigration and Terrorism Issues

The aims of this study seeks to examine the underlying linguistics features and ideological concept found in the political speech of American EX President, with a specific emphasis on tweets related to Islamophobia and immigration. The study employs a descriptive and interpretive research design. The corpus of the study consisted of 50 purposely selected Tweets, spanning from 2nd January 2015 to 20th May 2020. Data analysis were conducted using Fairclough's ten-question model (1993). It is found that Trump strategically employed his presidential authority to target Islam and immigration, portraying them as the root cause of terrorism and economic challenges. Trump employed favourable terms while referring to Americans and his supporters, while associating Islam and immigrants with unfavourable descriptors. The findings of this study revealed that Trump employed hyperbole to magnify the perceived threat posed by Islam and immigrants. Trump predominantly employed modal verbs expressing certainty rather than those indicating likelihood in order to demonstrate authority. The future and simple present tenses were commonly used to depict the current threat posed by immigration and the terrorism perpetrated by Islamic groups. The comparative and superlative forms were employed to compare the current state of brightness in the US with its past. The pronouns "we, our, us" were used most frequently to convey a sense of oneness and reduce the perceived barrier between Trump and the audience. Declarative sentences were the most expressive and meaningful acts.

Examining the Political Influences on School Governance in South Africa: A Case Study of the Zululand District

This research examines the impact of political party affiliations and interference on school management in the Zululand District of South Africa. Using an interpretive research approach and qualitative methods, including an extensive review of existing literature and data collection through interviews, the study conducts semi-structured interviews with 21 individuals from three public primary schools. It also explores the influence of political factors on School Governing Bodies (SGBs), including their involvement in party politics and the challenges they face in enhancing their capacities. The findings confirm significant political interference in school governance, particularly in rural areas where political affiliations influence decision-making. SGBs often align themselves with political parties, leading to governance inefficiencies and conflicts among parent governors. Through the lens of participatory democratic theory, the study reveals governance capture in rural schools, with discriminatory practices and corruption arising as consequences of political intervention. The recommendations call for empowering SGBs to navigate political pressures through policy reforms, ensuring autonomy for parent governors, and reassessing the permissible extent of political influence within the governance framework. Additionally, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is urged to address socioeconomic factors exacerbating corruption and to uphold integrity within school governance structures. By addressing the influence of politics and enhancing transparency, the DBE can cultivate a more equitable and effective educational environment for rural South African students.

Construction of Rules for Recognizing Landslides Along Highways Induced By Rainfall

After the "7-20" concentrated rainfall, many landslides occurred along the highways in Jiaozuo City, which seriously threatened the transportation safety and brought serious economic losses to the government and the residents along the highways. In order to investigate the development pattern and distribution characteristics of landslides along highways under extreme weather, we took Jiaozuo City Highway as the research object, based on the Sentinel-2 remote sensing data, and on the basis of analyzing the spectral characteristics of landslide hazards, we used the band ratio method to establish the identification rules of loess landslides along highways; based on the topography, geology, human impacts, and meteorological and hydrological selected 11 impact factors, and used geoprospectors to investigate the The driving factors of landslides. The following conclusions and understandings were obtained: (1) a total of 256 landslides along the highway in Jiaozuo City were identified, and the overall identification accuracy of 69.9% was obtained through visual interpretation and on-site research; (2) the ratio of the surface true reflectance of red and green light fused with the slope (>15°) can be used to carry out the identification of landslides in large-scale post-disaster situations; (3) the human activities and topography have a greater impact on landslide development; (4) the identification rule has a greater impact on the development of landslides with similar geological backgrounds. rule is useful for the identification and prevention of landslides along highways in low-hill loess-covered areas with similar geologic backgrounds.