Research-based Knowledge Research Articles

Leadership of democratic communities: Municipal politicians’ motivation to take responsibility

Given that political party membership continues to decrease, it is relevant to investigate what motivates people to engage in political leadership of democratic communities. There is a lack of research-based knowledge on how sense of community responsibility (SOC-R) relates to political leadership behavior among politicians. Using survey data from all Danish municipal politicians in 2019 and 2023, we examine the longitudinal associations between SOC-R and two elements of democratic leadership: consensus building and visionary leadership. We employ both fixed and random effects panel regressions. The main finding is that SOC-R is positively associated with visionary leadership behavior, while findings are less certain for consensus building. This underscores the importance of continuing research into the conditions for leading democratic communities to prevent the erosion of political engagement.

Resilient Leadership and People-Oriented Company Culture in Hospitality: The case of Das Achental Resort in Germany

This business case enlightens two key topics: the resilient leadership, and the people-oriented company culture, with specific regard to the hospitality and tourism sector. It provides managers, leaders and business school students in tourism and hospitality with actionable research-based knowledge, reflecting on how leadership could more effectively cope with adversities at the workplace. Secondly, this case study provides also an actionable research-based knowledge about the benefits for companies to adopt a clear and shared organizational culture and company identity.

The Dynamic Evolution and Knowledge Base of Agricultural Product Supply Chain Research: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on CNKI Literature

This study employs COOC bibliometric analysis, combined with a literature review, to systematically analyze the agricultural supply chain-related documents indexed in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The aim of the research is to reveal the developmental trajectory and current state of agricultural supply chain studies in China, as well as to identify research hotspots and the knowledge base, providing a reference for researchers in this field. The study finds that future research should enhance knowledge cooperation between universities and agricultural research institutions and expand the collaboration network with agricultural supply chain entities. It is recommended that research hotspots be accurately grasped based on national strategies, industry challenges, market demands, and the development status of the supply chain to facilitate the practical application of research outcomes.

Benchmarking large language models for genomic knowledge with GeneTuring.

Large language models have demonstrated great potential in biomedical research. However, their ability to serve as a knowledge base for genomic research remains unknown. We developed GeneTuring, a comprehensive Q&A database containing 1,200 questions in genomics, and manually scored 25,200 answers provided by six GPT models, including GPT-4o, Claude 3.5, and Gemini Advanced. GPT-4o with web access showed the best overall performance and excelled in most tasks. However, it still failed to correctly answer all questions and may not be fully reliable for providing answers to genomic inquiries.

Forskningsbasert og erfaringsbasert kunnskap i utvikling av lærerstudenters norskfaglige masterprosjekt

The topic for this article is experiences from the project PRANO (Practice Oriented master theses in the L1 subject). The goal for the project was to develop models for collaboration between practice schools/teachers and university/master thesis supervisors. More specifically, the article discusses how the work process tied to the master theses in the five year integrated teacher education for year 1-10 can be linked to the students’ practice periods, how research-based and practice-based knowledge play together in this process and how participants with different roles contribute to the students’ work process. Considering political steering documents and theories about third space, we analyze statements from students, master thesis supervisors and practice teachers about the collaboration and the organization that PRANO has facilitated. Also, the article discusses how different types of knowledge play together in different phases of the students’ work with their master projects. The analyses show that through the project, a space is created where all participants – students, teachers and supervisors, develop their knowledge, and that hierarchical structures between university and practice field, are demounted.

Myths About Bilingual Development And Why They Hurt

Between September and December 2023, Babylonia collected questions from parents regarding their children's language development. This article aims to answer the following questions: What are the advantages and disadvantages of language development in a multilingual environment? What are the most common myths about a multilingual upbringing? [summary generated by Claude-3-Haiku-200k - we refer the reader to the article in PDF format for a complete answer] The article discusses common myths about bilingual language development and how these misconceptions can be harmful. The article first acknowledges that while bilingual children may experience advantages like cognitive flexibility and language awareness, they can also face negative experiences due to biases against early bilingualism. These biases are often unfounded myths not supported by research. Six common myths are addressed: "Bilingual children experience delayed language development." Research shows no differences in the rate of language development between bilingual and monolingual children. "Bilingual children always use language mixing." While some mixed utterances are normal, bilingual children are capable of speaking in a single language without structural influence from the other. "Bilingual children cannot learn any one language well." Millions of fluent bilingual children disprove this myth. "Bilingual children get confused when exposed to two languages." In fact, the ability to switch between languages appropriately develops early in bilingual children. "Hearing a non-school language at home hinders learning the school language." Bilingual children raised with a school language from birth as one of their languages generally perform just as well as monolinguals in the school language. Bilingual children first raised with just a non-school language can often learn to perform as well as monolinguals in the school language, but take a lot longer. "Small children easily pick up two or more languages." In reality, it takes years for both bilingual and monolingual children to develop fluency across a range of topics. Another persistent myth is that the "one person, one language" approach is the only way to raise a "perfectly" bilingual child, which research has disproven. The article explains how these myths can be harmful, threatening parental well-being, parent-child relationships, and children's development. Doctors, educators and others may provide advice based on these myths, leading parents to abandon one of the languages spoken at home. This can deprive children of their linguistic and cultural identity. The article emphasizes the need for information campaigns and educational initiatives to address these harmful myths, grounded in sound scientific research. It highlights resources like the Harmonious Bilingualism Network that empower parents with research-based knowledge to counter discriminatory attitudes.

Naturen som læringsarena i norsk grunnskole

Many international review studies show that outdoor education can have positive effects on social relationships, physical and mental health, and learning. However, research from Norway is rarely included in these review studies. In addition, there is great variation as what is meant by outdoor education, which means that outdoor education can, but does not necessarily, refer to nature being used as a learning arena. The aim of this study is to gain an overview and insight into research-based knowledge about how nature has been used as a learning arena in Norwegian schools and what benefits this can have for the students. First, relevant studies were identified through a literature search before they were analyzed using content analysis. The studies that have been included are published research studies where nature has been used as a learning arena in primary or lower secondary schools (compulsory school) in Norway during the 2000-2023 period. The literature search revealed challenges with regard to terminology use, and that the limited number of published Norwegian studies is limited. Furthermore, the content analysis shows that many of the included studies have vague context descriptions, more specifically of the outdoor areas that have been used as learning arenas. Despite these challenges, the study has provided a research-based overview and insight into how nature has been used as a learning environment in Norwegian schools, and of the benefits it can provide to the students.

Accessing the Lived Experiences of Children with Illness in Sweden for Health Care Research.

Children are a relatively marginalized group when doing research in the context of illness, young children particularly so. This even though children can and should contribute their point of view in providing evidence-based care. This article contributes the experiences of Nurse Researchers in gathering research data in Sweden on the lived experiences of children undergoing needle-related medical procedures, living with home mechanical ventilation or undergoing treatment for cancer. Nine published articles from four unique Swedish PhD dissertations in Caring Science formed the basis for the present paper where various open and critical qualitative approaches for gathering data were used. Accessing and interpreting the lived experiences of ill children in healthcare research presents methodological, ethical, and cultural challenges. As with health care contexts in other countries, capturing the ill child's experiences in Sweden requires several different methods. Health researchers in Sweden must navigate a complex landscape of communication barriers, emotional and psychological challenges, and structural issues within the healthcare system to effectively access and understand the lived experiences of children. This paper adds to the knowledge base of research with a focus on gathering the experiences of children with illness within a Swedish health care context. These insights underscore the importance for all researchers of using child-friendly, inclusive methods to understand children's lived experiences thus ensuring their voices are heard and respected in health research. Children's and families' inability to speak the native language of a country cannot be a hinder for inclusion, but rather be encouraged.

Consultative roles of early childhood special education teachers: A modeler, an advisor, and a spontaneous practitioner

This study focused on the ways in which early childhood special education teachers (ECSETs) perform their consultative work and the prevailing structural factors that are connected to it. The significance and centrality of ECSETs’ consultative work have increased as a growing number of ECSETs provide consultative support to other personnel with the aim of enhancing support for children's daily lives in early childhood education and care (ECEC). However, we have limited research-based knowledge about the consultative work done by ECSETs. Therefore, a more comprehensive examination of consultative practices and the factors influencing them is needed. We administered a survey on ECSETs’ (N = 207) consultative work focusing on ECEC in Finland. Using cluster analysis, we identified three consultative work profiles in ECSETs’ practices: a modeler, an advisor, and a spontaneous practitioner. This exploratory study contributes to understanding ECSETs' consultative work, creating potential for further development in this area.

Evolutionary design features of virtual fashion brand collections: a three-year analysis in the Metaverse era

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the evolutionary design features in recent virtual fashion brand collections, analysing 314 design images from leading brands, such as Auroboros, Tribute, Republiqe, The Fabricant, and RTFKT. The analysis classified key design elements–colour, silhouette, texture, and textile patterns – into three phases: embryonic, transitional, and expansion. Findings revealed that the embryonic phase prioritises symbolising brand identities and goals as main design elements. The transitional phase marked a shift toward increased collaboration and experimental designs in response to emerging trends. In the expansion phase, collections shifted away from foundational design elements, displaying mature aesthetics and greater collaboration. These findings identify the evolutionary design features of virtual fashion in the Metaverse era and highlight insights into its consistency with contemporary fashion sensibilities. This research contributes to establishing a crucial knowledge base for research into the development of affective design systems, addressing consumer emotional requirements in virtual fashion design.

Contact person intervention in Nordic countries: A comparative integrative review

In Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark, the contact person intervention (CPI) is declared for children and youth in national legislation. The CPI is based on a relationship between the child and a volunteer adult who provides support to the child in need in different life situations. In this review, we summarise how the CPI within child welfare services has been studied and defined in four Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark). The aim is to present an overview of research-based knowledge on the intervention in the Nordic countries. A thorough integrative literature review for the period January 2010 to September 2022 produced 16 scientific publications. There were no academic publications available for Denmark during this period. The review focused on research carried out in Sweden (10 publications), Finland (5), and Norway (1). All studies on the CPI are descriptive and explorative and mainly focus on tracing the historical background of the intervention. The practice of working with contact persons would benefit from research looking at the content and effectiveness of the service. More systematic national and cross-national research is needed to strengthen the knowledge base of the intervention.

Qualitative research in the Academy of Human Resource Development-sponsored journals

Purpose Qualitative paradigmatic perspectives are increasingly recognized as providing in-depth, rich and nuanced interpretations and critiques of complex phenomena. Nonetheless, positivist and post-positivist epistemologies still dominate social science disciplines. The authors were unable to identify published information on the state of qualitative research in human resource development (HRD) despite the numerous theoretical foundations, epistemological stances and global approaches that shape HRD. To fill this gap, this study determined the prevalence of qualitative designs, data collection methods and data analysis techniques that have been used in Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD)-sponsored journals. This study identified gaps in the use of qualitative research to be explored by HRD scholars to advance research and practice. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive case study approach was used to determine the state of qualitative research in three AHRD-sponsored journals. Findings Qualitative articles have increased in number but still account for a lower percentage of articles when compared with other peer-reviewed articles, including quantitative methodologies and conceptual papers. Most articles lacked grounding in stated ontology and epistemology needed to guide researchers’ investigations, potentially leading to weakened methodological choices, interpretations and authenticity of conclusions. Research limitations/implications To provide in-depth understanding of HRD-related phenomena, all important elements of qualitative articles should be addressed to strengthen the credibility and authenticity of the research process. Qualitative theorists and researchers can build on and embrace the soundness of qualitative research and theories in HRD. Expanding on the credibility and authenticity of rigorously conducted qualitative research will help to broaden the perspectives of researchers who may be hesitant to explore this methodology of inquiry. This will strengthen methodological sophistication and expand the knowledge base of qualitative research. Practical implications HRD professors/instructors will find this study to be a useful guide for graduate students who are exploring and using qualitative inquiry for their research and for understanding others’ research. Practitioners will also find it useful to understand HRD research to determine possible interventions in their workplaces. Originality/value This study identifies trends and patterns of epistemologies and methods used in HRD qualitative articles and provides a foundation on which to build future studies and establish unexplored, unconventional qualitative methodologies and methods.

Fundamental Considerations in Technology Mediated Language Assessment (Book Review)

Computer-based testing has been widely used across many testing environments, serving both high-stakes and low-stakes contexts. Its global use calls for the language assessment community’s attention to reevaluate some fundamental issues, in particular the extent to which these test scores are reliable, consistent, and meaningful. In light of these needs, Sadeghi and Douglas’s recently published edited volume Fundamental Considerations in Technology-Mediated Language Assessment provides a timely treatment on this topic, exploring not only critical issues in computer-based testing but also topics related to the implementation of technology in other aspects of language assessment. This book will appeal to a broader audience beyond just professionals in the field of language assessment because it offers research-based and theoretical-based knowledge for professionals, teachers, and policymakers interested in exploring and developing computer-based tests. [First Paragraph of Review]

Teaching twenty-first-century skills: examining collaborative learning in initial teacher education in Finnish universities

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether and how research-based knowledge on collaborative learning is applied as theoretical content and a pedagogical approach in the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) curricula in Finnish universities. It adopted a qualitative approach, triangulating curriculum documentation and in-depth interviews with curriculum development experts responsible for designing ITE. Results suggest CL's central ideas are present in the curriculum documentation and transversally addressed as a teaching practice of group work, highly dependent on the teachers’ approach. However, the up-to-date empirical discoveries of the learning mechanisms involved in CL processes are not visible in the formal curriculum, creating tensions between content/theory and method/pedagogy. The study uses the Finnish case to critically discuss the challenges of evidencing clear guidelines on CL in ITE curriculum. It emphasises the importance of addressing CL theories and practical methods in ITE to bridge gaps between theory and practices, preparing teachers for contemporary teaching and learning. contexts.

Oppimisympäristön turvallisuuden osa-alueet ja tilannekuva

Dimensions of safetyt in learning environments and a timely snapshot - Managing safety in basic education based on safety notice reports Reporting safety deviations is a key indicator of safety culture in a community, and safety of learning environments is a constant concern in education. In this study safety is seen as a combination of physical, psychological, social, structural, environmental and pedagogical dimensions of safety. To advance research-based knowledge in recognizing and developing safety in learning environments we posed a research question “what is the state of safety in learning environments in basic education based on safety notice reports filed in by staff?”. The data was collected between 15 comprehensive schools (grades 1-9, students aged 7-16), and total 324 individual safety notice reports form an extensive case study. The data was analyzed according to the dimensions of safety in learning environments. The results reveal that safety notice reports concern ...

Promoting salutogenic pathways to health through complementary and integrative health approaches.

Health restoration and disease prevention are important strategies to achieve health and well-being. This Perspective provides a conceptual overview of the key concepts of salutogenesis (health restoration), chronic stress, resilience, and emotional well-being, and describes how they are distinct and interrelated. We posit, and demonstrate through scientific evidence, that complementary and integrative health approaches, including mind and body interventions, can be used to mitigate the effects of chronic stress and promote salutogenic pathways. Our goal is to identify research gaps and opportunities and suggest ways to advance the knowledge base for mechanistic and clinical research in this field.

Analysing the Bioactive Compound of Earthworm Pheretima Javanica Extract by Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrum

Research Based Learning (RBL) is a learning method that uses contextual learning, authentic learning, problem solving, cooperative learning, hands on and minds on learning and inquiry learning. The STEM approach in learning is expected to provide meaning to students through the systematic integration of research-based knowledge, concepts and skills. STEM design begin with the identification of social problems. The social issue of typhoid fever cases caused by Salmonella enterica Typhi bacteria with a high mortality rate in the world is a public health problem. The existence of Pheretima javanica which is abundant in the environment can be utilized by conducting antibacterial activity testing and analysis of bioactive compounds by students on the form of the extract. This research is a development research carried out with the aim of developing a product and also a qualitative descriptive research which serves to provide an overview of the object. The steps in carrying out these tests were identified as part of learning that hone creative thinking skills. The results of the class experimental research showed that the N-Gain score was 0.8, which is in the high category. These results show that the application of developing problem-based learning tools with a STEM approach is effective. Learning outcomes contribute to the effort to find alternative drugs that are effective and do not cause resistance. In addition, students also produce scientific articles as learning products. This paper has implications for STEM integrated research-based learning.

A “flexible” compulsory dental basic research course for undergraduate students: a three-year retrospective study

IntroductionSince 2015, the Guanghua School of Stomatology has established an elective dental basic research course (EDBRC). To make all students benefit from the dental basic research course without causing excessive academic burden, the “flexible” compulsory dental basic research course (CDBRC) was settled in 2020. This study intends to introduce the “flexible” compulsory teaching module and assessment system of CDBRC, and analyze its effectiveness over 3 years.Materials and methodsThe grade point average (GPA), course pressure, level of basic research knowledge and skills, and students’ research achievements were collected and analyzed between EDBRC and CDBRC. The unpaired t test was used to analyze the difference.ResultsThe “flexible” CDBRC has been successfully constructed with compulsory teaching module and hierarchical assessment system. The CDBRC has not caused significant course pressure to students compared with the EDBRC. Besides, the “flexible” CDBRC can improve the students’ GPA, basic research knowledge, and research achievements.ConclusionsThe “flexible” CDBRC can improve students’ academic performance and basic research abilities without causing significant course pressure, which can be conducted in dental schools with similar backgrounds.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Living With Spasticity During the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study of Patient, Carer and Physician Experiences

ABSTRACTBackgroundApproximately 4.4 million people in England (8% of the total population) are living with a long‐term neurological condition. Within this group of vulnerable individuals, there will be individuals living with severe spasticity that requires regular outpatient treatment with botulinum toxin injection. The closure of outpatient spasticity services during the pandemic impacted individuals who required spasticity treatment and their carers, as well as the specialist clinicians responsible for service delivery.ObjectivesWe aimed to gain insight into the experiences of individuals living with spasticity, their carers and a clinical spasticity service lead during the pandemic, and to reflect on potential learning for the future.MethodsA qualitative study was designed using semi‐structured interviews conducted by telephone. Participants comprised patients living with a long‐term neurological condition who attended outpatient spasticity clinics before the start of the pandemic in England, primary carers who accompanied patients attending these clinics and a clinical spasticity service lead. Data were audio recorded, transcribed, anonymised and coded. Data analysis utilised the One Sheet of Paper thematic approach to identify themes, which were discussed and analysed by the interdisciplinary research team and two patient and carer participants.ResultsOut of the 11 participants recruited, aged 36–77 years, seven comprised people living with spasticity related to a long‐term neurological condition, three were carers and one was a clinical spasticity service lead. Six participants were male and five were female. Among the participants, four were stroke survivors, two were living with spinal cord injury and one was living with multiple sclerosis. Analysis revealed six major themes: experience of living with spasticity during the pandemic; impact of the pandemic on patient, carer and clinician health; access to and experience of outpatient clinic appointments; coping strategies during the pandemic; system improvements; and learning from the pandemic period.ConclusionThese findings contribute research knowledge to a very limited research knowledge base and suggest that there is scope for improving system and service delivery through the allocation of research funding to senior clinicians working in this specialist area.

Thermal spray coatings on high-temperature oxidation and corrosion applications – A comprehensive review

In high-temperature boiler operations, conventional steels and alloys grapple with the formidable challenges posed by oxidation and corrosion. Prolonged exposure to extreme thermal conditions exacerbates these issues, progressively diminishing operational efficiency. Surface treatment emerges as a pivotal strategy for safeguarding materials against deterioration while optimizing component performance cost-effectively. Recent attention has honed on surface coatings as a means to combat hot corrosion in boiler steels. Thermal coating, electroplating, and other metallurgical techniques are widely embraced for surface modification, with composite coatings gaining traction for bolstering metallurgical, mechanical, and corrosion resistance properties. This review, unlike any other, takes a comprehensive approach to exploring various thermal spraying methods and their applications, ensuring a robust understanding of the subject matter. Beyond a mere compilation of existing literature, this review identifies emerging trends and technologies, offering fresh insights and interpretations. In this work, 84 articles were critically evaluated for current research, discerning strengths, weaknesses, and avenues for future research on thermal spray coatings on high-temperature oxidation and corrosion. This incisive approach promises to enrich the knowledge base of researchers, scholars, and professionals in materials science, metallurgy, and industrial engineering, facilitating advancements in the field. By pinpointing research gaps in thermal spray coating, this study directs attention toward areas ripe for further investigation, fostering continued innovation and progress.