Equity Issues Research Articles

Reclaiming the technology of higher education for teaching digital writing in a post—pandemic world

Like all disciplines in higher education, the teaching of digital writing was profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as faculty and students moved to emergency remote teaching (ERT). Rapid shifts to synchronous and asynchronous online delivery modes reshaped classrooms built upon frequent peer review and student collaboration in writing, forcing students and faculty into educational technologies that raised issues of privacy, equity, and surveillance. Yet, digital writing faculty responded to these challenges in ways that prioritised individual autonomy of student writers with creative assessments, improved access to texts, thoughtful connections to employers and audiences beyond the academy, and enhanced classroom collaborations via digital technologies. As this Editorial explores, the story of digital writing pedagogy during the pandemic became the story of a constant push and pull with the technologies that created digital writing itself. And just as teachers of digital writing began to emerge from the disruptions of the pandemic, a new wave of digital writing technologies enter the mix: AI-powered writing generators have arrived via applications such as ChatGPT with the seeming potential to shape the role of digital literacy once again. As this Editorial argues, the technologies of digital writing can be harnessed to reflect the values of education – openness, individual autonomy, and the power of knowledge – but only when the practitioners of digital writing pedagogy understand and access digital writing tools. At this time, those tools are again in rapid flux and the digital writing landscape remains profoundly unsettled.

Sense of Belonging of US Construction Students

ABSTRACT The segmentation, diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in the construction industry are chronically exacerbated the lack of female participation. However, there has recently been a promising increase in the diverse workforce of the industry. As a primary pipeline, construction management programs must reinforce their recruitment and retention efforts with an enhanced comprehension of students’ belongingness. This study provides an overview of the sense of belonging of male and female students to the construction discipline and identifies factors contributing particularly to female students’ sense of belonging. The undergraduate students of three construction management programs in the United States participated in an online survey and the results were analyzed with statistical methods. The results revealed that female students seem to feel less belonging to the industry than male students, albeit this difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, instructors and future prospects in the industry have a significant impact on students’ sense of belonging and females were significantly more likely to perceive gender discrimination in the industry, even though these differences change per gender and institution type. Providing important highlights, this study contributes by identifying key factors to be utilized in the recruitment and retention of the next generation in the construction industry.

Setting Regional Priorities for Palliative and End-of-Life Care Research Using a Delphi Technique Approach.

Identifying research priorities is very important for palliative and end-of-life care to ensure research is focused on evidence gaps. This project aimed to identify and prioritise palliative and end-of-life care research areas within the West Midlands region in United Kingdom (UK). A modified Delphi technique approach was used with palliative care stakeholders. The first round was item generation via rapid interviews. Data were analysed using content analysis and all the items were grouped into main categories. For round two, an online survey was conducted to present all the items from round one, and stakeholders were asked to rate the priority of items on a Likert-type scale (1 = not a priority to 7 = essential priority). Items that achieved consensus in round two were presented to the third round, where stakeholders ranked them in descending order. We completed and analysed 56 rapid interviews which resulted in 158 research items under 15 categories. The research items were rated by 30 stakeholders and seven items which reached consensus were subsequently ranked in order by 45 stakeholders. The highest ranked item was 'Integrated care systems to prevent crisis', followed by three research items related to 'equity' in palliative care. Our research priorities, although unique for our region, mirror previously research priorities from other regions and countries. This suggests issues of integration and equity in palliative and end-of-life care remain unresolved, despite ongoing initiatives and research to address these issues.

Decoding market reactions: The certification role of EU-wide stress tests

We study the market’s reaction to the disclosure of EU-wide stress test results across four periods (2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021). Our novel approach contributes to the literature by studying how stress test disclosures influence both the mean and variance (first and second moments) of bank stock performance, extending beyond previous studies focused mainly on the first moment of equity returns. Using one-factor market and structural Engle–Siriwardane type GARCH models, we find that the publication of stress tests provides new information to the markets: Banks with weaker performance in the tests experience, on average, a reduction in stock returns and an increase in volatility, while the reverse holds for banks performing well. Our findings confirm the important role of stress tests in enhancing transparency and market discipline, thereby supporting investors in assessing the resilience of the banking sector more effectively, particularly during periods of higher uncertainty.

A state-dependent international CAPM for partially integrated markets: Using local and US risk factors

This study investigates the impact of emerging economies' trade levels with the US and exchange rate systems on their interdependency with the US market. We employ a comprehensive approach, analyzing both local factors (such as illiquidity and dividend yield) and US risk factors (including the S&P500 Index, US effective exchange rate, and term spread) to discern various market phases and capture equity returns. Utilizing a State-dependent International CAPM framework, we reveal a common trend among market returns: the reduced informativeness of both US and local variables during transitions from low to high volatility states. Notably, the majority of emerging markets respond to signals from the US equity market during bullish periods. We also highlight the critical role of exchange rate regimes in explaining the sensitivity of emerging markets to US risk factors. While the illiquidity ratio emerges as a significant local risk factor, its informativeness wanes during bear markets. These findings offer valuable insights for asset allocation, diversification, and risk management strategies tailored to the dynamic nature of emerging markets.

Social media use among neurodivergent college students: benefits, harms and implications for education

PurposeSocial media have been associated with social benefits and enhanced psychological well-being among non-disabled individuals; the purpose of this study is to examine whether social media may have similar benefits for young neurodivergent adults with autism, anxiety, or attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder who may experience communication differences. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this first-of-its kind study explores the nature of social media use and related psychological well-being among neurodivergent college undergraduates.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study is part of a larger effort. The authors surveyed undergraduates with and without disabilities at U.S. higher education institutions on their social media use and psychological well-being. A total of 131 students responded, including 24 neurodivergent individuals, the results of which are reported elsewhere. Participants were 18–25 years old, of varied genders and racial/ethnic backgrounds; for neurodivergent adults, questions focused on social challenges. From the survey, a sample of five neurodivergent individuals was drawn for this small-scale, exploratory interview study.FindingsThis paper reports descriptive statistics from survey results to contextualize analysis of students’ social media use (e.g. purposes, practices, benefits and harms). Students used mainly Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to promote well-being primarily through engaging positive relationships and positive emotions. Students reported several benefits of using social media to develop their disability identity and few harms.Originality/valueUnderstanding the impact of social media use on undergraduates with disabilities could help us not only improve services as teachers, counselors and other helping professionals who support young adults to leverage their everyday technologies-in-use but also address digital equity issues.

Following the sounds of children’s “voices”: A researcher’s portfolio

Herein, I explore the meanings of the oft-used phrase “children’s voices.” The phrase is seldom defined in the literature on children’s language, oral and written. And yet, studying those voices has been fronted as a key methodological tool allowing insights into concerns about equity and the erasure of “nonmainstream” children’s communicative resources. Thus, this essay examines the professional use of “children’s voices” by taking readers on a voice-filled journey through time and space as I consider literally how this unstable but valuable phrase (e.g., “children’s voices”) is used to index some quality of children’s language use, especially their multimodal composing. First, I report on a literature analysis, focused on a relatively recent decade of articles from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)’s journal focused on children, Language Arts (the decade beginning in 2010). Although it proved to be a relative rarity to identify an author defining “children’s voices,” this project phase was invaluable for developing a taxonomy of non-rigidified but still differentiated categories for the meaning of “children’s voices.” Next, to clarify this unstable but useful taxonomy, I examined my ethnographic reports written over 46 years of studying children’s talk and writing, selecting excerpts from four chronologically organized reports, which were undergirded by different stances toward “children’s voices.” Together they illustrate how going deeper into children’s voices meant expanding the nature of the sociopolitical and cultural worlds enacted, sustained, or interrupted by children’s contextualized voices. As Hymes said many years ago, to understand voice and how it figures into equity issues in education, one needs ethnographic context. I aim to suggest why clarity about voice matters theoretically, politically, and pedagogically if we are to understand children’s composing of both texts and themselves as participants in a shared world.

Teaching Exams: HSI Candidates’ Use of an Adaptive Online Test Preparation Program

ABSTRACT Supporters of teaching exams say they create better outcomes, but teacher shortages, equity issues, and validity and reliability problems indicate more research is warranted. This quantitative study investigated how an adaptive online test preparation program influenced TExES EC-6 exam performance for teacher candidates at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The framework was based on self-efficacy and critical pedagogy, and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare performance. The institution where the study was performed includes a student population that is 93% Hispanic and 52.27% first-generation. The study began with 324 candidates’ but was eventually narrowed to 77 participants. The program was most effective for those using it for 10–19 hours, while those with baseline scores below 60% benefitted the most. Implications include providing instructional sessions about the program, asking students who have passed to serve as mentors, and researching the long-term retention of content knowledge.

Mapping gender patterns in “dynamic cultural spaces”: the case of Beijing’s open-air antiques “ghost market” at Panjiayuan

Despite the growing recognition of the importance of street vendors and informal markets for urban life and the economy globally, research attention has tended to focus on essential products such as food or clothes and paid less attention to cultural products, such as antiques where potential gender, and other socio-demographic, differences in vending and buying behaviours may systematically differ. To explore these issues, this study employed spatial–temporal behaviour mapping (STBM) and field observations (n = 8587) at Beijing’s Panjiayuan antiques “ghost market” a term reflecting its previously illegal/underground and mobile nature. We monitored four representative sites within the market, four times a day for six consecutive days. The data included five categories of behaviour, four age groups, and two genders. Data were recorded and analysed using ArcGIS. Results showed that, unlike common marketplaces, the antique market is primarily frequented by male vendors and buyers, replicating patterns seen in ancient Chinese paintings of men being involved in the trading of “non-essentials”. Nonetheless, we found differing gender balances depending on the time and day of the week, different age groups, and spatial settings in different market areas. We summarise the nuanced relationships between the emerging gender spatio-temporal behaviour patterns and three key factors, spatial characteristics, physical activities and the social division of labour, in the Chinese context. The study reveals how the varied spatial–temporal patterns of a large antique “ghost market” raise long-established issues of equity and inclusivity and provide empirical insights that could inform decision-making and urban planning, such as better use of dynamic lighting provision to encourage a more gender-balanced experience.

Recovery and Renewal of Co-Design Approaches in Health: Protocol for a Realist Synthesis.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly transformed the landscape of work and collaboration, impacting design research methodologies and techniques. Co-design approaches have been both negatively and positively affected by the pandemic, prompting a need to investigate and understand the extent of these impacts, changes, and adaptations, specifically in the health sector. Despite the challenges that the pandemic imposed on conducting co-design and related projects, it also encouraged a re-evaluation of co-design practices, leading to innovative solutions and techniques. Designers and researchers have explored alternative ways to engage stakeholders and end users, leveraging digital workshops and participatory digital platforms. These adaptations have the potential to enhance inclusivity, allowing for a wider range of individuals to contribute their perspectives and insights through co-design and thus contribute to healthcare change. This study aims to explore the impacts of the pandemic on co-design and related practices, focusing on co-design practices in healthcare that have been gained, adapted, or enhanced, with a specific focus on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The study uses a realist synthesis methodology to identify and analyze the effects of the pandemic on co-design approaches in health, drawing on a range of sources including first-person experiences, gray literature, and academic literature. A community of practice in co-design in health will be engaged to support this process. By examining the experiences and insights of professionals, practitioners, and communities who were actively involved in co-design and have navigated the challenges and opportunities of the pandemic, we can gain a deeper understanding of the strategies, tools, and techniques that have facilitated effective co-design during the pandemic, contributing to building resilience and capacity in co-design in health beyond the pandemic. By involving community partners, community of practice (research), and design practitioners, we expect closer proximity to practice with capacity building occurring through the realist process, thus enabling rapid adoption and refinement of new techniques or insights that emerge. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the advancement of co-design methodologies and inform the future of co-design in health. DERR1-10.2196/58318.

Twenty-five years of change laboratories in schools: a critical and formative review

ABSTRACT Transformation, learning and research come together in educational action research. Change Laboratories (CLs) are a distinctive approach to action research grounded in Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). CLs seek to go beyond technical change, oriented instead to systemic and ideologically driven transformation. However, there have been few reviews of CL research, none focused on education. This paper reports a review of 55 studies using CLs or sibling approaches involving schools. It finds that CLs have been applied to diverse problems including pedagogical practice development, initial teacher education and collaboration across school boundaries. Wider issues of equity, inclusion and justice are present but not ubiquitous in this work. Theoretical references focus on expansive learning, activity systems and double stimulation, with growing use of wider concepts from within and beyond CHAT, including Southern and Indigenous epistemologies. Critical reflection of these findings informs seven fronts for future development in CLs to strengthen their contribution to educational action research: participation, beyond-technical change, enduring change, epistemic justice, addressing grand challenges, resistance, and reporting.

Large Skew-t Copula Models and Asymmetric Dependence in Intraday Equity Returns

Skew-t copula models are attractive for the modeling of financial data because they allow for asymmetric and extreme tail dependence. We show that the copula implicit in the skew-t distribution of Azzalini and Capitanio allows for a higher level of pairwise asymmetric dependence than two popular alternative skew-t copulas. Estimation of this copula in high dimensions is challenging, and we propose a fast and accurate Bayesian variational inference (VI) approach to do so. The method uses a generative representation of the skew-t distribution to define an augmented posterior that can be approximated accurately. A stochastic gradient ascent algorithm is used to solve the variational optimization. The methodology is used to estimate skew-t factor copula models with up to 15 factors for intraday returns from 2017 to 2021 on 93 U.S. equities. The copula captures substantial heterogeneity in asymmetric dependence over equity pairs, in addition to the variability in pairwise correlations. In a moving window study we show that the asymmetric dependencies also vary over time, and that intraday predictive densities from the skew-t copula are more accurate than those from benchmark copula models. Portfolio selection strategies based on the estimated pairwise asymmetric dependencies improve performance relative to the index.

Option‐Implied Ambiguity and Equity Return Predictability

ABSTRACTWe propose a model‐guided option‐implied ambiguity measure to capture uncertainty regarding the return distribution of a risky asset underlying a set of options, and investigate its predictive power on the asset return. A representative investor's ambiguous beliefs or prior distributions on the underlying asset returns are extracted from the market prices of options, the expected volatility of which is then defined as the option‐implied ambiguity and is calculated in line with Brenner and Izhakian. Simulated paths of the calibrated models are utilized to compute all pertinent probability characteristics from a forward‐looking perspective. The empirical results with SSE 50 ETF options indicate that the proposed option‐implied ambiguity has strong predictive power for future returns of SSE 50 ETF. Out‐of‐sample tests also verify the significant predictive ability of the option‐implied ambiguity to the equity returns.

Quantitative analysis of social service space equity in urban parks in China

This study aims to quantitatively analyze the equity of social service space in urban parks in China, in order to explore the equity issues faced by different social groups in accessing urban park services. The research background focuses on the importance of urban parks as social service spaces, particularly in improving residents’ quality of life and well-being. Through a comprehensive literature review, the study examines the social service functions of urban parks, the relationship between parks and social psychology, and the theoretical framework of equity. The study employs quantitative research methods, collects data on urban park usage and resident satisfaction, and defines relevant analysis variables. The data analysis section reveals the basic characteristics of park service space usage and resident well-being index through descriptive statistical methods. Subsequently, quantitative analysis is conducted to evaluate the current status of equity in urban park service space and explore the key factors influencing equity. The study reveals a significant correlation between social psychological factors, resident well-being index, and equity in park service space. Finally, the research conclusion emphasizes the importance of improving equity in social service space in urban parks and provides specific policy recommendations. At the same time, the study acknowledges its limitations and suggests future research directions. This study provides insights for urban planners and policymakers on how to enhance equity in urban park services and offers important strategic guidance for improving overall well-being of urban residents.

A framework for assessing the blue equity of social-ocean systems in marine governance transformation

The equitable utilization of marine resources and the maintenance of healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems are essential to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting the well-being of all humanity. In this paper, we propose a Blue Equity Assessment Framework, which is based on a systematic literature review approach and takes into account the characteristics of Social-Ocean Systems (SOSs). The framework consists of Distributional Equity, Procedural Equity, Recognitional Equity, and Contextual Equity. The aim of this framework is to conduct equity analyses of policies or behaviors within SOSs in order to assess whether blue equity is explicitly implemented and practiced in these societal norms and policy mechanisms. The assessment framework reveals that blue equity has a positive synergy for the majority of the SDGs. This synergy is analyzed in terms of its influence on the assessment dimensions of distributional justice, procedural justice, recognitional justice, and contextual justice. The findings aim to enhance societal understanding of blue equity issues, thereby guiding policymakers in the prioritization of blue equity in the development and utilization of marine resources and in the transformation of global ocean governance.

Non-ecological factors affect human interaction with urban nature and perception of cultural ecosystem services

Cultural ecosystem services (CESs) are not only affected by ecological factors, but also by non-ecological factors such as demographic and socio-political factors. Especially for CESs in urban ecosystems, it is necessary to study how the people's perception of CESs change during the changes in social contexts and urban management. The COVID-19 outbreak caused dramatic changes for human society. In this study, we evaluated people's perceptions of CESs provided by an urban park of Shanghai in four phases of the pre-, during and post-COVID period. It is found that aesthetic, historical and recreational values are perceived in the four phases, but the distribution of people's perceptions for CESs varied considerably, influenced by the socio-political contexts. Besides, we emphasized the importance of focusing on the CESs perceived during the prohibited use, as this is a rare period when people were separated from the park and can only perceive CESs indirectly. People's perception of CESs through indirect interactions with ecosystems has received little attention in previous research, but it should be valued by mangers to respond the issues of CESs equity.

Modeling Risk Sharing and Impact on Systemic Risk

This paper develops a simplified agent-based model to investigate the dynamics of risk transfer and its implications for systemic risk within financial networks, focusing specifically on credit default swaps (CDSs) as instruments of risk allocation among banks and firms. Unlike broader models that incorporate multiple types of economic agents, our approach explicitly targets the interactions between banks and firms across three markets: credit, interbank loans, and CDSs. This model diverges from the frameworks established by prior researchers by simplifying the agent structure, which allows for more focused calibration to empirical data—specifically, a sample of Swiss banks—and enhances interpretability for regulatory use. Our analysis centers around two control variables, CDSc and CDSn, which control the likelihood of institutions participating in covered and naked CDS transactions, respectively. This approach allows us to explore the network’s behavior under varying levels of interconnectedness and differing magnitudes of deposit shocks. Our results indicate that the network can withstand minor shocks, but higher levels of CDS engagement significantly increase variance and kurtosis in equity returns, signaling heightened instability. This effect is amplified during severe shocks, suggesting that CDSs, instead of mitigating risk, propagate systemic risk, particularly in highly interconnected networks. These findings underscore the need for regulatory oversight to manage risk concentration and ensure financial stability.

Asian Diaspora: Understanding Toronto Public Spaces Through Art and Performances

In this article, I explore how art can help Asian immigrants in Ontario understand the public spaces and the community of Toronto. Using Shusterman’s Pragmatist Aesthetics as a theoretical framework, this study asks: How does navigating and responding to issues of equity, inclusion, and environmental resiliency foster residents’ understanding? The study is based on field research that involved a series of improvised art and performance activities in Toronto’s outdoor public spaces from February 2022 to May 2022. I argue that art can enable individuals to recognize and challenge the inequity in public places and develop relational understandings and practices that can inform public policy and inspire further research and action. The findings reveal that participants’ social interactions through artmaking in public spaces enhanced their personal growth, learning, and creativity, connecting their everyday lives with formal education. This article highlights the impact of diasporic experiences in shaping the process of placemaking within these spaces.

Trainees’ perspectives on sickle cell education: a qualitative needs assessment

BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) exemplifies many of the social, racial, and healthcare equity issues in the United States. Despite its high morbidity, mortality, and cost of care, SCD has not been prioritized in research and clinical teaching, resulting in under-trained clinicians and a poor evidence base for managing complications of the disease. This study aimed to perform a needs assessment, examining the perspectives of medical trainees pursuing hematology/oncology subspecialty training regarding SCD-focused education and clinical care.MethodInductive, iterative thematic analysis was used to explore qualitative interviews of subspecialty hematology-oncology trainees’ attitudes and preferences for education on the management of patients with SCD. Fifteen trainees from six programs in the United States participated in 4 focus groups between April and May 2023.ResultsThematic analysis resulted in 3 themes: 1. Discomfort caring for patients with SCD. 2. Challenges managing complications of SCD, and 3. Desire for SCD specific education. Patient care challenges included the complexity of managing SCD complications, limited evidence to guide practice, and healthcare bias. Skill-building challenges included lack of longitudinal exposure, access to expert clinicians, and didactics.ConclusionsVariations in exposure, limited formal didactics, and a lack of national standardization for SCD education during training contributes to trainees' discomfort and challenges in managing SCD, which in turn, contribute to decreased interest in entering the SCD workforce. The findings underscore the need for ACGME competency amendments, dedicated SCD rotations, and standardized didactics to address the gaps in SCD education.Graphical

Blended pedagogy for computer programming language

In the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the hybrid teaching model has garnered significant attention for its combination of the depth of traditional education with the convenience of distance learning. Focusing on the domain of computer programming language instruction, this study innovatively designs a hybrid teaching strategy aimed at fully exploiting the flexibility of its teaching design and the variety of pedagogical approaches. The strategy integrates face-to-face teaching with online autonomous learning, incorporating project-based teaching methodologies and immediate feedback mechanisms to facilitate active student engagement and deep learning. Through a year-long practice in a C++ programming course, encompassing 68 students, the study empirically validates the effectiveness of the hybrid teaching approach. It not only demonstrates remarkable educational outcomes, enhancing the quality of programming instruction and student satisfaction with their learning experience, but also employs Bayesian analysis to delve into the relationship between learning trajectories and students’ sense of self-efficacy. By focusing on key indicators during the learning process, such as the timeliness and quality of online learning, laboratory work, and project assignments, the study then utilizes Bayesian models to directly assess the impact of these learning behavior metrics on students’ perceived self-efficacy. The findings reveal that students with outstanding academic achievements exhibit higher levels of self-efficacy, confirming that academic performance can reasonably reflect teaching effectiveness and provide a quantifiable basis for assessing individual learning progress. Consequently, this research not only contributes a novel strategy to computer programming education practice but also offers a valuable reference for the application of hybrid teaching models in other disciplines. Furthermore, it promotes in-depth contemplation on post-pandemic innovations in teaching modes and issues of educational equity, laying a solid foundation for constructing a more adaptive and inclusive future education system.