Conceptual Issues Research Articles

New approaches to solving conceptual issues of Islamic theology in the Tatar theological tradition of the XIX – early XX centuries

The article attempts to identify issues relevant to modernity, such as the specifics of the formation of theological knowledge, the semantic field of theology. Modern times have started the process of rethinking the criteria of reasonableness and validity. In this regard, a number of Tatar theologians have laid down approaches and methods that meet scientific requirements, tools suitable for discussing a new understanding of theology. They have developed the new concepts of the theory of knowledge aimed at a meaningful study of the Quran and the Sunnah, a revision of the role of scholastic theology in creating a picture of the world. After all, the unwillingness to search for models of God's interaction with the world led to a distorted use of the sources of truth. They saw ample opportunities for the cognition of reality in the Quran and the Sunnah. The introduction of natural sciences and humanities into the curriculum was aimed at developing scientific methods and approaches in the study of sacred texts, assumed a critical approach to the study of the features of the Quran, the interpretation of certain provisions of religious dogmas on the basis of scientific reflection. Tatar theologians have developed methods to overcome a number of ideological problems of the Muslim community by solving conceptual issues of Islamic theology.

Treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia: current approaches and future perspectives.

Negative symptoms are core symptoms of schizophrenia which are common throughout the course of the illness. We outline their functional impact, before reviewing the latest research and guidelines on their assessment and treatment. Finally, we discuss conceptual issues related to measurement of negative symptoms and approaches to address these.

Delayed-Choice Quantum Erasers and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox

Considering the delayed-choice quantum eraser using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a nonsymmetric beam splitter, we explicitly demonstrate that it shares exactly the same formal structure with the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm (EPR-Bohm) experiment. Therefore, the effect of quantum erasure can be understood in terms of the standard EPR correlation. Nevertheless, the quantum eraser still raises a conceptual issue beyond the standard EPR paradox, if counterfactual reasoning is taken into account. Furthermore, the quantum eraser experiments can be classified into two major categories: the entanglement quantum eraser and the Scully-Dr\"uhl-type quantum eraser. These two types are formally equivalent to each other, but conceptually the latter presents a "mystery" more prominent than the former. In the Scully-Dr\"uhl-type quantum eraser, the statement that the which-way information can be influenced by the delayed-choice measurement is not purely a consequence of counterfactual reasoning but bears some factual significance. Accordingly, it makes good sense to say that the "record" of the which-way information is "erased" if the potentiality to yield a conclusive outcome that discriminates the record is eliminated by the delayed-choice measurement. We also reconsider the quantum eraser in the many-worlds interpretation (MWI), making clear the conceptual merits and demerits of the MWI.

Development of the Observable Well-Being in Living With Dementia-Scale.

The Observable Well-being in Living with Dementia-Scale was developed to address conceptual and methodological issues in current observational scales for music therapy. Creative interventions may receive lowered scores, as existing instruments rely heavily on verbal behavior. Methods were (1) Systematic review of observational instruments: (2) field work with music therapy and sociable interactions to operationalize the items; (3) field testing assessing feasibility and preliminary psychometric properties; (4) focus groups with experts to investigate content validity; (5) final field test and revision. 2199 OWLS-ratings were conducted in 11 participants. Hypotheses of construct validity and responsiveness were supported (r = .33 -.65). Inter-rater reliability was good (84% agreement between coders, Cohen's Kappa = .82), and intra-rater reliability was excellent (98% agreement, Cohen's Kappa = .98). Focus groups with 8 experts supported the relevance of the items and suggested further refinements to increase comprehensiveness. The final field-tested OWLS showed improved inter-rater reliability and usability.

Editorial: Intersectionality and Social Inequalities Beyond Social Origin

This introductory article to the themed issue on Intersectionality and Social Inequalities Beyond Social Origin highlights some of the debates on social inequality and the historical and theoretical background of intersectionality. It outlines the connections between social inequalites and social policies, e.g., in that social policies aim to reduce social inequalities and improve opportunities and living conditions, yet also produce social inequalities. The article presents the complexities of axes and dimensions of inequalities and how the concept of intersectionality came into play. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to intersectionality. Finally, it introduces the various articles in the issue Socialpolicy 2023(1) that bring together conceptual and methodological issues on intersectionality and exemplify how researchers apply intersectionality in their fields of research, therewith yielding new approaches and novel results for social policy.

ВОПРОСЫ АДАПТАЦИИ ТРАНСПОРТНОЙ ИНФРАСТРУКТУРЫ РОССИИ В УСЛОВИЯХ САНКЦИЙ

The practice of adapting the transport infrastructure of Russia in the context of sanctions is considered. Problems that have a significant impact on the process of such adaptation are identified. The external and internal risks and factors of the development of transport infrastructure are analyzed, and the medium and long-term prospects for its development are characterized. Solutions to practical and conceptual issues of the development of Russia's transport infrastructure in the context of sanctions are proposed.

Prosecution for the most serious international crimes committed in Ukraine during the full-scale military invasion of the aggressor country: jurisdictional aspects

The conceptual issues, related to the construction of the system of international criminal justice, ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and features of cooperation of Ukraine with the International Criminal Court, are examined in the article.
 The main reasons for the delay in Ukraine's ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court are analyzed, and attention is drawn to the inconsistent and contradictory position of Ukraine, which does not use the mechanisms of criminal prosecution for the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression provided for by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Ukraine has signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and invites the latter to investigate crimes committed by the aggressor country in Ukraine, but does not fulfill its obligations, does not ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and does not recognize its jurisdiction (except for special jurisdiction).
 The need to harmonize substantive and procedural law of Ukraine to the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is emphasized. The prospects, negative and legal consequences of Ukraine's ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in the context of a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by an aggressor country, as well as European integration processes and the requirements of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union are studied. The thesis is proved that Ukraine's non-ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court may affect the possibility of bringing the aggressor country to justice, despite the fact that Ukraine used a special procedure of recognizing the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
 The main aspects of the activity and jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court were considered. Attention is drawn to the fact that Ukraine's relations with the International Criminal Court are based on the principle of complementarity of jurisdictions. The essence, significance and advantages of Ukraine's cooperation with the International Criminal Court, as well as the possibility of bringing the aggressor country to justice for the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression, have been studied. Based on the results of such a study, it was concluded that the recognition of the jurisdiction of the ICC (not only the special jurisdiction due to Clause 3 of Article 12 of the Rome Statute) for Ukraine is a priority and indispensable component of its European path of development and a real opportunity at the international level to prosecute top officials of the aggressor country for crimes committed in Ukraine.
 The ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court provides additional opportunities for the national judiciary, will lead to the strengthening of the rule of law and, thanks to access to the International Criminal Court, will allow the aggressor country to be held accountable for crimes committed during a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine.

Replacement naturalism and the limits of experimental jurisprudence

ABSTRACT This essay is concerned with Brian Leiter’s so-called replacement naturalism, according to which the traditional methodology of conceptual jurisprudence ‘should be replaced by reliance on the best social scientific explanations of legal phenomena.’ I argue that, although the methodology of experimental jurisprudence is the only plausible replacement for the traditional methodology, it cannot can replace the philosophical methods traditionally used to address conceptual issues and, further, that experimental jurisprudence needs a theoretical foundation that properly locates its role relative to that of conceptual theorising and clarifies its methodology. To this end, I discuss three recent studies that attempt to ascertain the intuitions of competent speakers on three longstanding conceptual disputes about law: two attempt to show our folk concept of law is antipositivist, whereas the other attempts to show our folk concept of law is consistent with the existence of sanction-less legal systems. I argue that all three studies suffer from defects indicating the empirical methodology of experimental jurisprudence can supplement, but cannot replace, the traditional philosophical methodology for addressing conceptual questions. I argue, finally and far more worrisomely, that the last study calls into question its usefulness even in supplementing the traditional philosophical methodology.

Introduction

The papers in this Edition of the Journal comprise nine papers, of which three are related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, the papers address the perceptions and experiences of students and their teachers, demonstrating where the views/conceptual understandings of students and their teachers align, where they do not and where stress factors have had an impact. The papers reflect a varied range of participant countries both in terms of the authors, but perhaps more importantly the study sites (Cuba, The Czech Republic, Germany, India, Mexico, Philippines, Slovakia, Spain, and Turkey). Similarly, the programmes of study included Engineering, Mathematics, Tourism, foreign languages, social sciences, and education.Consequently, the methodologies and methods are appropriately diverse, ranging from social network theory, mixed methods, qualitative research complex statistical analyses, evaluation scales like COPE, Hedperf, student evaluations of teaching, student engagement, and Sojkin’s instrument to evaluate the influences upon first- and second-generation university students. The authors have also generated some very informative literature reviews outlining the evidence base and the related conceptual and theoretical issues in their respective fields. While some studies had small samples, their findings may have important feedback for local educational service improvement, even if generalizability could not be claimed, readers may find utility in face validity. The papers also remind us that educational research is challenging, whether in the handling of small cohorts, the complexity of the issues under study or the application of sophisticated measuring tools. None the less, evaluation, audit, practitioner research or large scale studies are all necessary activities if we are to improve our understandings of (1) ourselves as educators/researchers; (2) our students with their motivations, interests and capabilities; (3) the system infrastructures that hinder or support the educational endeavours; and of course, (4) the efficacy of the pedagogies for a given cohort, in a specific programme in a cultural context.

Mechanistic Models of Trophic Interactions: Opportunities for Species Richness and Challenges for Modern Coexistence Theory.

AbstractMany potential mechanisms promote species coexistence, but we know little about their relative importance. To compare multiple mechanisms, we modeled a two-trophic planktonic food web based on mechanistic species interactions and empirically measured species traits. We simulated thousands of possible communities under realistic and altered interaction strengths to assess the relative importance of three potential drivers of phytoplankton and zooplankton species richness: resource-mediated coexistence mechanisms, predator-prey interactions, and trait trade-offs. Next, we computed niche and fitness differences of competing zooplankton to obtain a deeper understanding of how these mechanisms determine species richness. We found that predator-prey interactions were the most important driver of phytoplankton and zooplankton species richness and that large zooplankton fitness differences were associated with low species richness, but zooplankton niche differences were not associated with species richness. However, for many communities we could not apply modern coexistence theory to compute niche and fitness differences of zooplankton because of conceptual issues with the invasion growth rates arising from trophic interactions. We therefore need to expand modern coexistence theory to fully investigate multitrophic-level communities.

Ternary economic analysis of blind-box marketing

Blind-box consumption, a phenomenon sweeping through the retail market in China, is the process of buying an unlabelled box containing assorted and random novelty gifts from different retailers. Despite the intensity of its emergence, the extent of research on the phenomenon from a marketing perspective has been scarce. This paper identifies factors likely influencing Chinese consumers participating in blend-box consumption. These factors include brand familiarity emotional value and speculative potential. Conceptual issues discussed include the role of emotions and cognition as forces underpinning shopping behavior. The paper also highlights the marketing strategy features that have successfully driven the blend-box consumption experience.

Uncertainty deconstructed: conceptual analysis and state-of-the-art review of the ERP correlates of risk and ambiguity in decision-making.

Risk and uncertainty are central concepts of decision neuroscience. However, a comprehensive review of the literature shows that most studies define risk and uncertainty in an unclear fashion or use both terms interchangeably, which hinders the integration of the existing findings. We suggest uncertainty as an umbrella term that comprises scenarios characterized by outcome variance where relevant information about the type and likelihood of outcomes may be somewhat unavailable (ambiguity) and scenarios where the likelihood of outcomes is known (risk).These conceptual issues are problematic for studies on the temporal neurodynamics of decision-making under risk and ambiguity, because they lead to heterogeneity in task design and the interpretation of the results. To assess this problem, we conducted a state-of-the-art review of ERP studies on risk and ambiguity in decision-making. By employing the above definitions to 16 reviewed studies, our results suggest that: (a) research has focused more on risk than ambiguity processing; (b) studies assessing decision-making under risk often implemented descriptive-based paradigms, whereas studies assessing ambiguity processing equally implemented descriptive- and experience-based tasks; (c) descriptive-based studies link risk processing to increased frontal negativities (e.g., N2, N400) and both risk and ambiguity to reduced parietal positivities (e.g., P2, P3); (d) experience-based studies link risk to increased P3 amplitudes and ambiguity to increased frontal negativities and the LPC component; (e) both risk and ambiguity processing seem to be related with cognitive control, conflict monitoring, and increased cognitive demand; (f) further research and improved tasks are needed to dissociate risk and ambiguity processing.

Chronotype and mental health: timing seems to matter, but how, why, and for whom?

Chronotype and mental health: timing seems to matter, but how, why, and for whom?

The perspective of developing new forms a Russian pensioner’s employment

The article focuses on the directions and current barriers for including Russian pensioners in new forms of employment. Radical transformations of labour in the post-industrial economy with the accompanying process of “new demographic transition” require modernization of existing approaches and programmes to organize work activities in elderly age groups. In order to effectively address these challenges, it is necessary to solve a series of conceptual issues in defining new forms of employment, that make it difficult to measure the scale of their spread, to develop assistance programmes that lead to bias regulation of emerging new models of employment. The dominant organizational, technological and legal approaches should be integrated with sociological diagnostics and examination of the transformation processes.Based on the results of sociological survey of Russian pensioners (2022), current statistical data and results of research centers (VCIOM, FOM, SuperJob, HeadHunter) the attitude and availability of Russian pensioners to remote work and self-employment are revealed. The article substantiates the need for a differentiated approach to the development of programmes to support new forms of employment for the elderly people (public and company employment programmes) based on the systemic analysis of pensioners’ and pre-retirees’ perception of changes in their social and employment status, taking into account a variety of individual characteristics (age, gender, etc.), local socio-economic conditions (place of residence) and life situations. Based on the analysis of remote employment and self-employment, it is justified that the development of new forms will allow pensioners to form more diverse life and work trajectories that meet their interests.

The impact of treatment preferences: A narrative review.

Attending to treatment preferences is an element of person-centred care, reported as beneficial in improving treatment adherence, satisfaction, and outcome, in practice. The results of preference trials were inconsistent in supporting these benefits in intervention evaluation research. Informed by the conceptualisation of treatment preferences positing their indirect impact on outcomes, this narrative review aimed to summarise the evidence on the effects of preferences on enrolment; withdrawal or attrition; engagement, enactment, and satisfaction with treatment; and outcomes. The search yielded 72 studies (57 primary trials and 15 reviews). The results of vote counting indicated that (1) offering participants the opportunity to choose treatment enhances enrolment (reported in 87.5% of studies), and (2) providing treatments that match participants' preferences reduces attrition (48%); enhances engagement (67%), enactment (50%) and satisfaction with (43%) treatment; and improves outcomes (35%). The results are attributed to conceptual and methodological issues including less-than-optimal assessment of treatment preferences, which contributes to ill-identified preferences, accounting for withdrawal, low enactment, and limited satisfaction with treatment. These treatment processes, in turn, mediate the impact of treatment preferences on outcomes. It is important to refine and standardise the methods for assessing preferences and to examine their indirect impact (mediated by treatment processes) on outcomes in future preference trials to validly identify their benefits.

The Subject (Basis) of the Forensic Method for Investigating Intercorporate Theft in Insurance

The article discusses the conceptual issues of the theoretical prerequisites for the formation of a private forensic method for investigating intra-corporate theft in the insurance sector. The authors in the relevant aspect consider the content of the initial principles of the formation of private forensic techniques, characterize the related problems of the methodology of criminology. On the basis of the principles of immediacy, contiguity and interdisciplinarity adopted by the authors, the scientific reserve on the issues of criminalistic support for the investigation of fraud, other embezzlement and other crimes in the field of insurance is characterized. The “niches” for the prospective study of the problems of intra-corporate theft in the insurance sector are determined. The subject and place of the corresponding private forensic methodology in the system of forensic methodological knowledge are determined.

A structural magnetic resonance imaging review of clinical motor outcomes from deep brain stimulation in movement disorders.

Patients with movement disorders treated by deep brain stimulation do not always achieve successful therapeutic alleviation of motor symptoms, even in cases where surgery is without complications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers methods to investigate structural brain-related factors that may be predictive of clinical motor outcomes. This review aimed to identify features which have been associated with variability in clinical post-operative motor outcomes in patients with Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor from structural MRI modalities. We performed a literature search for articles published between 1 January 2000 and 1 April 2022 and identified 5197 articles. Following screening through our inclusion criteria, we identified 60 total studies (39 = Parkinson's disease, 11 = dystonia syndromes and 10 = essential tremor). The review captured a range of structural MRI methods and analysis techniques used to identify factors related to clinical post-operative motor outcomes from deep brain stimulation. Morphometric markers, including volume and cortical thickness were commonly identified in studies focused on patients with Parkinson's disease and dystonia syndromes. Reduced metrics in basal ganglia, sensorimotor and frontal regions showed frequent associations with reduced motor outcomes. Increased structural connectivity to subcortical nuclei, sensorimotor and frontal regions was also associated with greater motor outcomes. In patients with tremor, increased structural connectivity to the cerebellum and cortical motor regions showed high prevalence across studies for greater clinical motor outcomes. In addition, we highlight conceptual issues for studies assessing clinical response with structural MRI and discuss future approaches towards optimizing individualized therapeutic benefits. Although quantitative MRI markers are in their infancy for clinical purposes in movement disorder treatments, structural features obtained from MRI offer the powerful potential to identify candidates who are more likely to benefit from deep brain stimulation and provide insight into the complexity of disorder pathophysiology.

Determining sustainability using the Environmental Performance Index and Human Development Index – An alternative approach to the Environmental Human Index through a holistic quantitative dynamic framework

The Environmental Human Index (EHI) was recently proposed and demonstrated as a new sustainability assessment tool which uses data from the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and the Human Development Index (HDI). However, the EHI has potential conceptual and operational issues in respect to its consistency with established concepts and principles of the coupled environment-human system and sustainability. Specifically, the thresholds of sustainability the EHI uses, the bias towards the anthroposphere, and the absence of unsustainability. These issues raise potential questions concerning the EHI's value and approach adopted to utilise the EPI and HDI data to determine potential or actual sustainability outcomes. Therefore, to demonstrate how the EPI and HDI can be used to determine sustainability outcomes, the Sustainability Dynamics Framework (SDF) is applied in respect to the case study of the United Kingdom 1995–2020. The results indicated strong sustainability occurring throughout the specified period, within a S-value range of [+0.503 ≤ S(t) ≤ +0.682]. The Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between E and HNI-values and between HNI and S-values, and a significant positive relationship between E and S-values. The Fourier analysis indicated a three-phase change in the nature of the environment-human system dynamics over the 1995–2020 period. The SDF application to the EPI and HDI data has shown the importance of using a consistent holistic conceptual and operational framework to determine and evaluate sustainability outcomes.

Empirical research frameworks in a changing world: The case of audit data analytics

Advances in data analytics is fundamentally changing the field of auditing. The primary objective of this paper is to develop a holistic, multidimensional framework to better understand the dynamics of the diffusion of audit data analytics (ADA). The framework we developed covers categories related to the diffusion of ADA (the technology, the actors using it, and the external rules that regulate it) and the actors reproducing the rules and technologies (focusing on the audit and cognitive processes). We analyze the key findings from 40 empirical studies within and across the interrelated categories of the framework. The findings emphasize that a better understanding of auditors’ judgment and decision making (cognitive processes) is fundamental for a study of the diffusion of ADA. Primary drivers of fundamental changes include audit quality, audit efficiency, and the expectation gap. Our results suggest that ADA competencies should be a professional priority. In addition, conceptual issues (the audit risk model, audit evidence, and audit assertions) and materiality considerations need to be resolved. A solution for these problems is a prerequisite for in-depth changes to audit standards, which in turn will also open the door to the diffusion of ADA.

Volksgruppenmedien und Digitalisierung •

AbstractSince 1 September 2021, the Hungarian Volksgruppe (ethnic group) in Austria has an online medium under the joint management of the four largest Hungarian associations in Vienna and Burgenland. This unique project was made possible by the new ethnic group funding of the Austrian Federal Chancellery. However, the new communication and networking opportunities offered by the new online medium to the Hungarian community in Austria also go hand in hand with several challenges that go far beyond the question of funding. For example, the editors and staff of the online medium must clarify a number of conceptual and practical issues that are of central importance, especially for minority media. The paper presents both the potentials and the challenges of minority media in the age of digitalization and demonstrates them using the example of the online medium of the Hungarian ethnic group in Austria.