Lens Of Theory Research Articles

Re-imagining accessibility in screen production: a qualitative study of disabled filmmakers in Australia

ABSTRACT Filmmakers with disability are significantly underrepresented in key creative roles within the Australian screen industry, making up only 5.3% of Australian production crew, despite comprising 17.7% of the Australian population. Despite rapid advances in assistive technologies, well-established anti-discrimination legislation and a conscious movement by the government and the creative industries towards visible commitments to accessibility, screen industry practices rarely meet the diverse needs of filmmakers with disability. Drawing on a disability justice approach, informed by the lens of crip theory, I share findings from qualitative interviews with filmmakers with disability about their experiences working in the Australian screen industry. Their stories indicate filmmakers are doing significant labour simply to be present on set, facing cultural incompetence, frequently being read as ‘high risk', and having to engage in a process of continuous and intimate disclosure. The participants used everyday skills of hacking and scrapping to navigate physical, policy and cultural spaces and experienced ‘access intimacy' when working with their peers. The findings urge the screen industry to re-evaluate ‘business as usual’. In an industry teeming with innovators, designers, and imaginers, the screen must become more creative in the ways we envisage accessibility and the future of storytelling for filmmakers with disability..

“A small piece of my heart remained”: In-service foreign language teachers’ perspectives on short-term mobility in continuous professional development

Based on the need for qualified French, German and Spanish teachers in Norway, a continuous professional development (CPD) programme for in-service teachers was developed by six universities in Norway, France, Germany and Spain. The hybrid course design includes weekly online sessions, one physical seminar in Norway and short-term mobility involving one week abroad per semester. This article discusses how the professional development of 25 teachers, in terms of intercultural competence (IC), language learning and subject didactic knowledge (SDK), is influenced by short-term mobility. Interviews with the participants were subject to content analysis and discussed through the lens of intercultural theory and literature on CPD education. The findings indicate that hybrid course design is vital for the participants’ professional development. Short-term mobility is particularly salient to the teachers’ motivation and their development of IC, language learning and SDK. Meeting the same instructors online and on site increases the participants’ sense of security and fosters a community of practice. The study has implications for the organisation of CPD programmes and addresses the gap in knowledge regarding the role of short-term mobility in CPD programmes for in-service foreign language teachers in Norway and internationally.

Entrainment by transcranial alternating current stimulation: Insights from models of cortical oscillations and dynamical systems theory.

Entrainment by transcranial alternating current stimulation: Insights from models of cortical oscillations and dynamical systems theory.

"Why am I doing this anyway?" A control-value perspective on boredom in endurance sports.

"Why am I doing this anyway?" A control-value perspective on boredom in endurance sports.

Current Trends in Demographic Processes in the Context of Sustainable Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan

This study aims to analyze demographic processes in Azerbaijan within the framework of sustainable development. The main objective is to examine changes in population growth rate, age structure, and fertility levels through the lens of the demographic transition theory. Demographic indicators directly influence the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. In this context, the study applies comparative, descriptive, and statistical methods; long-term trends are evaluated through graphical data. In this study, the demographic evolution of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the context of sustainable development was analyzed, focusing on fertility, mortality, age structure and migration patterns. The results reveal that while population growth in Azerbaijan continues, it has slowed down, with declining birth and marriage rates and an increasing elderly population. These findings suggest rising pressure on the social security system and highlight the need for adaptive strategies in public policy, particularly in healthcare, education, and social support.

Center-Periphery Migration in Malaysia: A Spatial Analysis of Non-Citizen Population Growth (1991–2020) Guided by World Systems and Social Network Theory

This study investigates the spatial dynamics of non-citizen labor migration in Peninsular Malaysia from 1991 to 2020, focusing on population growth patterns and structural migration drivers through the lens of World Systems Theory and Social Network Theory. Utilizing census data and spatial analysis in ArcGIS Pro 2.9.0, the study maps a 92 km southwestward shift in the mean center of non-citizen populations, with increasing spatial concentration in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang. Hot Spot Analysis and rising Moran’s I values confirm persistent and intensifying spatial clustering. The sharpest population increase occurred in Selangor (+481%), Penang (+365%), and Kuala Lumpur (+278%), underscoring center-periphery migration dynamics. These findings reveal critical regional disparities and the urban concentration of foreign labor, highlighting the urgency for targeted, inclusive policies aligned with SDG 8 and SDG 11. The study offers original insights into migration geography and urban sustainability in Malaysia’s evolving labor landscape.

Exploring split shifts in Swedish elderly care: A case study through the lens of power resources theory

AbstractThis article examines the use of split shifts—workdays divided into two periods with a long, unpaid break—in Swedish eldercare. Despite their widespread use, the structural factors driving this scheduling practice remain unclear. Using a case study approach and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), the study explores these factors across municipalities. Insights were drawn from interviews with HR managers, previous research, and power resource theory (PRT), which were used to identify and test relevant conditions. Empirically, the study highlights key drivers behind the use of split shifts; theoretically, it demonstrates how PRT can explain variations in working conditions. The findings reveal two distinct pathways: one involving a high proportion of elderly residents, economic hardship, and absence of a left‐wing majority; the other replacing political orientation with high unemployment. These patterns support both the interview data and theoretical framework, showing how structural conditions shape staffing practices in eldercare.

Supervisory mentoring for legal professionals: navigating between organizational and professional identities

PurposeFrom the lens of identity theory, this paper aims to examine the indirect effect of supervisory mentoring on organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) and burnout via organizational identification (OI) in lawyers. The paper also explores the interplay of the dual identification in professional workers by testing the moderating role of professional identification (PI) on the relationship between OI and work outcomes.Design/methodology/approachUsing two-wave data from 14 law firms in Korea, composed of 23 partner lawyers and 96 associate lawyers, the authors tested the mediated moderation model using PROCESS.FindingsThe results show supervisory mentoring is mediated by OI and statistically significant moderation by PI that predicted OCB and burnout in lawyers. Specifically, highly professionally identified lawyers were less likely to engage in OCB but experienced higher burnout level, providing evidence of organizational-professional identity conflict in lawyers.Originality/valueThe findings demonstrate that identification processes operate differently for lawyers, thus the need for a different approach from the traditional mentoring research. The study highlights the important role of mentors for nurturing OI while preserving PI and helping them to navigate between the two identities for optimal individual and organizational outcomes.

Design teaching practices of practitioner architects: An observational study

The teaching practices of practitioner architects who teach design (known as tutors) are critiqued for being inconsistent, solely based on their own educational experiences, and therefore teacher centred. This observational study makes visible the give and take that occurs in design studios and provides a behavioural perspective. Observations of student-tutor interactions at four Australian universities enabled direct exploration of the phenomena of design teaching as it occurred. Data was collected via video recordings, fieldnotes, and spatial mapping. Employing the lens of practice theory, the analysis consisted of a series of transcriptions illustrating position, talk, pauses, gestures, gaze, shared materials such as study models, drawings, diagrams on tracing sheets and sketchbooks, and laptops and computers, and what students do while the tutor discusses with another student. The key findings of this study are that practitioner architects who teach design improvise during interactions with students. They make evaluative judgements about how to operate within specific settings and manage their behaviours to co-construct design knowledge. While spontaneous, such practices are not simply ‘anything goes.’ Rather, improvisation is a creative response to unfolding situations and occurs within established structures and formats. The significance of this study is that it enables seeing reflection-in-action in a new light, offers an architectural lens towards conversations on practice theory, and provides a unique research method for observation of teaching behaviours and practices.

Microcredit and Food Security in Africa: Can Cameroon Replicate Success? Cross- Country Insights from Sub-Saharan Africa and Policy Recommendations: A Systematic Literature Review

Our study investigates the role of microfinance in addressing food security and nutrition in Cameroon, drawing on cross-country insights from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Following PRISMA guidelines, 20 studies were analysed to evaluate the impact of microfinance interventions through the lenses of Livelihood Empowerment Theory and Financial Inclusion Theory. Findings reveal that while microfinance enhances agricultural productivity and food availability, its effectiveness is constrained by Challenges, including "mission drift," debt risks, and systemic agricultural constraints. The review concludes that microfinance is a valuable, but not a standalone, tool. Effective policy recommendations for Cameroon emphasise formal financial inclusion, integrated financial and non-financial services, targeted interventions, robust regulation, and addressing broader agricultural issues for sustainable food security and nutrition.

Enhancing Sign Language Interpretation in Television News: Cognitive Challenges and Technological Innovations

Sign language interpretation in television news faces significant challenges due to the rapid pace of information delivery and the fundamental linguistic differences between sign and spoken language. This study aims to identify the obstacles sign language interpreters encountered and examine technological innovations that could improve translation accuracy and accessibility. Employing a Narrative Literature Review (NLR) methodology, the study synthesizes academic literature related to the effectiveness of sign language interpreters in broadcast journalism. The findings reveal that short-term memory limitations and the inherent complexity of news content significantly influence translation performance. The absence of standardized sign language interpretation practices in television further complicates the delivery of accurate information to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Moreover, nonverbal expressiveness, effective spatial use, and environmental factors—such as lighting and screen layout—play critical roles in the comprehensibility of sign language during broadcasts. This study also emphasizes the urgency of developing AI-based assistive tools and national standards for sign language interpretation in the media sector. It advocates for enhanced interpreter training, especially in handling high-velocity news and technical terminology, and for collaborative initiatives between media institutions and the deaf community to create more inclusive broadcast standards. Ultimately, this research provides theoretical insights through the lens of Information Processing Theory and Cognitive Load Theory and offers practical recommendations to inform policy aimed at inclusive communication. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on improving media accessibility and promoting equity for individuals with hearing disabilities.

Perceived uncertainty and multiple embeddedness of digital startups

PurposeThis study focuses on the multiple embeddedness of digital startups into digital platforms and explores how digital startups utilize this strategy to cope with the uncertainty of digital entrepreneurship. This study examines the effects of perceived uncertainty (PU) on the multiple embeddedness of digital startups and the boundary condition effects of investment irreversibility (IR) and industry growth potential. Through the lens of real options theory, this study proposes a theoretical model that considers the nature of multiple digital platform embeddedness as a process of constructing a real option portfolio in response to uncertainty and a mechanism for creating strategic flexibility.Design/methodology/approachThe current research conducted a two-wave questionnaire survey and collected data from digital startups in China. The final sample consists of 316 digital startups. This study used Stata and Amos to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings reveal that digital startups are more inclined to embed in more digital platforms under uncertainty, and PU negatively affects relational embeddedness and structural embeddedness. These results suggest that digital startups leverage multiple platform embeddedness to manage PU and maintain flexibility. Moreover, IR positively moderates the relationship between PU and flexible multiple embeddedness strategies, whereas industry growth potential negatively moderates the relationships.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on digital entrepreneurship by extending the nature of digital platform embeddedness. It integrates a novel perspective of real options theory into the research stream of digital platform entrepreneurship, thus offering insights into how startups can navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Cinephilistinism and the Second Coming

This article argues that Palestinian cinema can collectively be understood as adopting a crip aesthetic that gives expression to how, after Jasbir K. Puar (2017) , Palestinians are routinely and systematically rendered disabled, or debilitated, by the Israel Occupation Forces. It is through the twin lenses of disability theory and critical race theory that I propose the concept of cinephilistinism, a term that attempts two things: firstly, to express an essayistic opposition to both a cinematic settler-colonial occupation and the support, be that tacit or explicit, lent to that occupation by various purportedly cinephilic institutions; and, secondly, to function as a means for currying what Steven Salaita might term, apropos of Indigenous and Palestinian relations (but here applied to Palestinian solidarity networks more generally), “inter/nationalism” or “solidarity, transnationalism, intersectionality, kinship, or intercommunalism” with Palestine at this moment of intensified Israeli state brutality. What is more, the article will latterly pitch cinephilistinism against a western theological Zionist myth regarding the (Second) Coming, which has Palestine as its focus, such that the battle for Palestinian freedom becomes the battle for the future of humanity, with cinema playing a key role in this struggle.

Digital inclusion in public services for vulnerable groups: A systematic review for research themes and goal-action framework from the lens of public service ecosystem theory

Digital inclusion in public services for vulnerable groups: A systematic review for research themes and goal-action framework from the lens of public service ecosystem theory

Musculoskeletal triage physiotherapists' perspectives on their role, the patient journey and implementation of interface triage clinics in primary care in Ireland.

Musculoskeletal triage physiotherapists' perspectives on their role, the patient journey and implementation of interface triage clinics in primary care in Ireland.

TINJAUAN TEORI FEMINISME LIBERAL TERHADAP TRADISI LAMARAN GANJURAN DI DESA MAYONG KABUPATEN LAMONGAN

The tradition of proposing ganjuran is a tradition of proposing marriage carried out by women. This tradition is carried out by women because it is seen as a form of respect for men. However, this tradition is often considered to have deviations from the concept of gender equality. Therefore, this research will examine in more depth whether the practice of applying for ganjuran carried out by women is in line with the principles of gender equality promoted by liberal feminism. This research aims to analyze the tradition of ganjuran proposals in Mayong Village, Lamongan Regency through the lens of liberal feminist theory. Using qualitative methods, this research will explore the meaning of each stage in the ganjuran proposal tradition, and analyze how this tradition influences the position and role of women in society. The results of the research show that the ganjuran tradition reflects more progressive social change, namely a shift in patrilineal norms in Mayong Village society as in liberal feminist theory. The existence of the ganjuran tradition shows that women can be active in public spaces, especially in determining their life partner and by referring to liberal feminism it can be a tool to encourage gender equality in the Mayong Village community.

Degrowth and Public Choice: Navigating Private Interests and Power Dynamics for a Sustainable Future

This article examines degrowth through the lens of public choice theory. Since degrowth is both a political and economic concept, public choice provides a useful framework for analyzing its various dimensions. Degrowth challenges the dominant ideology of constant economic expansion, promoting a deliberate reduction in resource consumption to restore ecological balance, reduce inequality, and improve collective well-being. However, the article emphasizes the difficulties of implementing degrowth policies, pointing to the self-interested motivations of key social actors: voters, politicians, and bureaucrats. Voters often prioritize their own utility when choosing a party or policy, while politicians focus on reelection and bureaucrats aim to expand their department’s budget. These individual interests often conflict with the broader goals of degrowth, making the transition to a more sustainable and equitable society difficult. The article critically analyzes degrowth from a public choice perspective, underscoring the systemic obstacles posed by inherent self-interest. It also argues that since government outcomes are often the result of the collective actions of self-interested individuals, the public choice perspective has the potential to provide useful insights for degrowthers.

‘“It was not a bad dream … it was reality.” Examining sequential unprecedented crises in an ultra-peripheral tourism destination through the complexity theory lens

ABSTRACT While the tourism and hospitality literature discusses different crises affecting businesses and their stakeholders, few studies examine firms confronting sequential extreme situations, in particular, firms operating in ultra-peripheral regions. While addressing this research gap, this study makes conceptual and empirical contributions. First, the experiences of La Palma Island’s hospitality and tourism firm owners and managers, after experiencing COVID-19 and the 2021 volcanic eruption, were gathered through semi-structured interviews to determine their impacts, ways to overcome them, and lessons learned. The analysis helped develop 12 dimensions with conceptual and practical value, including the bottom-line predicaments (impacts), harnessing entrepreneurship (overcoming impacts), and community welfare (key lessons learned) dimensions. Differences in perceptions between those living near and more distant from the volcano’s impacts were identified. Second, the study proposes a theoretical model that enhances understanding of sequential, unprecedented crises, offering insights into the future sustainability of tourism and hospitality firms.

A contingency-coping framework for tourism decision-making strategies under adverse weather

ABSTRACT Weather adversity poses a considerable stressor for tourists, shaping their coping strategies and the responses of tourism companies. However, the full extent of this impact remains underexplored. This paper investigates the effects of adverse weather on the tourism sector, with a focus on the adaptive strategies employed by both businesses and tourists. Using a social constructivist approach, we analyse interviews with tourism business representatives and tourists’ written narratives through the theoretical lenses of coping and contingency theory. The findings offer a theory-driven integration that captures the nuanced effects of weather on tourism, providing empirical support for the contingency-coping framework.

Analytical and Practical Study of Digital Game-Based Learning under the lens of Activity Theory: a Geometry game case study

Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) is a complementary methodology to traditional instruction. However, it often faces conceptual and practical limitations in learning environments that are in constant change, such as its focus on the closed nature of games, and a narrow focus on single competences. To address these drawbacks, this paper proposes a holistic and systemic analysis of DGBL through the third generation of Activity Theory (AT). Specifically, it presents an analysis of DGBL as a socio-technological system, exploring the ”zone of proximal development” of Learning, Teaching, and Game Designing Activity Systems (AS). Emphasizing several components of AS, we propose a learning-teaching model that involves students and teachers as both players and creators of game challenges, and also consider game designers as orchestrators of scaffolded competences. This model is vali- dated through a case study of GeoBuild, a geometry game for 3D spatial skills development, conducted in a Math’s class at a secondary school. The initial results are promising and highlight the potential of our proposal, showing that when students both play and create game challenges, the learning experience becomes more effective and engaging even with complex content like that found in the geometry curriculum.