Local Communities Research Articles

Elite Coalitions and Rebel Control in Northern Côte d’Ivoire

ABSTRACT How do armed movements gain civilian compliance and prevent counter-mobilization in localities under their wartime control? This paper argues that rebel capacity to control civilians is contingent on the coalitions formed between rebel mid-level commanders and elite groups embedded in local communities. Rebels are confronted with coalitional choices because local communities are contested and comprised of multiple sets of elite groups. Coalitional choices influence rebel control because they determine whether rebels ally with strong or weak local partners. Where rebel allies are weak, they should confront serious challenges to eliciting civilian compliance. Where rebel allies are stronger, rebels should confront less resistance. I argue that the availability of elites as potential allies for armed movements depends on their pre-conflict proximity to the state. This paper develops this argument through a comparison of three localities governed by the Forces Nouvelles (FN) in Côte d’Ivoire (2002–2011).

유아 놀이중심 교육과정을 반영한 기후·생태계 프로그램 효과성 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a climate-ecosystem program reflect-ing an early childhood play-based curriculum on early childhood development (nature), environmental con-servation attitudes, ecological literacy, and early childhood playfulness. Methods The study participants are 5-year-old children from a kindergarten in Gyeonggi Province, with 13 in-dividuals in the experimental group and 15 individuals in the control group. SPSS 23.0 was used to determine the mean, standard deviation, and reliability coefficient of the study variables. The homogeneity test was conducted using the pre-test mean scores between groups, and the difference between the experimental and control groups was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test based on post-test mean scores. Pre-post differences between the experimental and comparison groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results The main research results are as follows: First, the simple difference between the pre-test and post-test mean scores of the study variables revealed improvement in the experimental group(from 0.13 to 1.02 points), while the comparison group showed both an increase(from 0.01 to 0.36 points) and a decrease(from -0.26 to -0.03 points). There was no statistically significant difference in pretest mean scores between the experimental and comparison groups, confirming homogeneity. The pre-post difference test of the experimental group showed statistically significant differences in early childhood development (nature) and environmental conservation atti-tudes and subscales (conservation attitude, recycling attitude, environmental pollution prevention attitude), eco-logical literacy and subscales (nature's rights, intention to support, resource protection, ecological sensitivity, eco-logical social environment, ecological development_reverse, nature governance_reverse, ecological crisis indif-ference), and early childhood playfulness and some subscales (physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, sense of humor). On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences in the cognitive spontaneity and ex-pression of pleasure sub-domains of preschoolers' playfulness. The pre-post difference test for the comparison group found statistical significance only for ecological sensitivity, a sub-scale of ecological literacy, and physical spontaneity, a sub-scale of preschoolers' playfulness. Second, the factors that resulted in statistically significant differences in post-hoc mean scores between the experimental and comparison groups were environmental con-servation attitudes and their sub-scales, recycling attitudes, ecological literacy and its sub-scales, supportive in-tention, ecological sensitivity, nature dominance(reverse), and ecological crisis indifference. Conclusions The results of this study confirm the effectiveness of climate and ecosystem programs through play. As an extension of this study, we aim to propose collaborative activities with the local community through a living lab approach.

A system mapping activity to visualize lithium’s interconnectedness to societal and environmental aspects of the green energy transition

Abstract Lithium’s role in the global green energy transition provides an engaging context to visualize the interconnectedness of chemistry to seismic shifts taking place in society. Lithium has seen a dramatic increase in utilization, but given lithium’s current low rates of recyclability, this development is exacerbating the e-waste problem. Equally important, we posit that lithium extraction, from either brine or ore, and the associated impacts on the environment and local communities should not be so easily decoupled from the shift in human behaviors causing its demand. Presented here is a mapping activity that was trialed in professional learning workshops organized in New Zealand for secondary/high school chemistry teachers. In their mapping activity response, the teachers were able to connect typical school chemistry content (batteries, chemical processes) with environmental (planetary systems) and social, economic, and ethical considerations (useful products, unintended consequences, inequity in access to water) of the ongoing electrification of society. The teachers indicated a positive intention to utilize the activity, or one similar with a different chemical process or product, in their own classrooms. A school-ready version of the activity is provided in the supplementary information, which was revised based on feedback from the teachers attending the workshops.

Reducing Commercial Tobacco Sales to Youth On and Around California Tribal Reservations with a Reward and Reminder Retail Intervention.

High prevalence of commercial tobacco product (CTP) use among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth is a public health crisis. A multi-level Tribal-community-based participatory research project under Tribal public health authority implemented a retailer-focused intervention to reduce AI/AN youth CTP use. We sought resolutions in support of a retailer-focused CTP intervention from Tribal Nations organized by a tribally-directed research program. We identified tobacco retail outlets operating on and within 5 miles of 9 Tribal reservations, and CTP products sold at these outlets. We conducted a four-wave Reward and Reminder intervention with apparent minor buyers. Clerks who complied with the law received a modest reward and commendation in social media posts to the local Tribal communities, while clerks who sold without age verification were reminded of the laws. Of 18 retail outlets selling CTP, 8 sold e-cigarettes, and all sold combustible cigarettes. The Reward and Reminder intervention showed an approximate 25% reduction in sales of CTP to apparent minors, with a 33% baseline CTP sales rate without age verification and an 8% intervention CTP sales rate without age verification. The intervention increased awareness of laws prohibiting CTP sales to minors and mandating age verification for young adults seeking to buy CTP. The intervention, which had support from all governing Tribal Nations, builds the evidence base of effective practices which Tribal public health authorities may utilize to reduce youth access to CTP on and around Tribal reservations. Sovereign Tribes have authority over commercial businesses operating on their lands. Tobacco 21 laws aiming to restrict commercial tobacco availability to youth are supported by Tribes. A retailer intervention in which apparent minors attempt commercial tobacco purchases can offer accountability feedback to retailers both on and near Tribal reservations. Obtaining Tribal support and publicizing the interventions helps mobilize Tribal communities to support commercial tobacco prevention and promote healthy youth.

An ecologically sound and participatory monitoring network for pan-Arctic seabirds.

In a warming Arctic, circumpolar long-term monitoring programs are key to advancing ecological knowledge and informing environmental policies. Calls for better involvement of Arctic peoples in all stages of the monitoring process are widespread, although such transformation of Arctic science is still in its infancy. Seabirds stand out as ecological sentinels of environmental changes, and priority has been given to implement the Circumpolar Seabird Monitoring Plan (CSMP). We assessed the representativeness of a pan-Arctic seabird monitoring network focused on the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) by comparing the distribution of environmental variables for all known versus monitored colonies. We found that with respect to its spatiotemporal coverage, this monitoring network does not fully embrace current and future environmental gradients. To improve the current scheme, we designed a method to identify colonies whose inclusion in the monitoring network will improve its ecological representativeness, limit logistical constraints, and improve involvement of Arctic peoples. We thereby highlight that inclusion of study sites in the Bering Sea, Siberia, western Russia, northern Norway, and southeastern Greenland could improve the current monitoring network and that their proximity to local populations might allow increased involvement of local communities. Our framework can be applied to improve existing monitoring networks in other ecoregions and sociological contexts.

코리안 디아스포라, 고려인 주제의 실천적 다문화 역사학습의 실제

Objectives This study has an autobiographical character as it is a study that looks back and reflects on ‘my’ class based on my experience at K Elementary School. In the process of research and practice, I continuously tried to reflect the contextual characteristics of the school and region. I recognized the characteristics of the village's mul-ticultural situation, the current status of K Elementary School, the situation faced by Koryoin students, the diffi-culties in communication between Korean and Koryoin students, and the difficulties that fellow teachers face in teaching Koryoin students. Based on this awareness, we designed and implemented a practical multicultural his-tory class for solidarity and togetherness beyond discrimination. Methods First, the topic of forced migration of Koryo people, a minority history, was reviewed from the per-spective of memory and forgetting, and the direction of practical multicultural history education was set through analysis of multicultural education theory and curriculum. Next, I designed and implemented a practical multi-cultural history class on the topic of forced migration of Koryo people and analyzed the process and results. Results The analysis and implications are that, first, the memory of the forced migration of Goryeo people, a for-gotten minority history, was discovered and recalled. Second, it is the acquisition of multicultural com-petency(cultivation of multicultural cultural literacy) based on empathy and interculturalism beyond the assim-ilationist perspective. Third, they had participation and practical experience for solidarity and companionship. Fourth, I looked back on what kind of multicultural teacher I am as a teacher who practices multicultural education. Conclusions The implications of the study are that, in terms of research methods, history classes were autobio-graphically reflected and analyzed based on personal memory data and accumulated cultural artifacts (research notes, student output, photos, videos, etc.). Through this, teachers in the field will be able to understand the de-sign and execution aspects of history classes in detail and use it as a reference for their own class practice research. Next, in terms of research content, history education was practiced with the theme of multiculturalism. Because I recognized the limitations of traditional history education and designed and implemented practical mul-ticultural classes by reflecting the contextual uniqueness of local communities and school, it can be a meaningful reference for schools in multicultural situations. Lastly, the focus on the history of minorities, the Koryo people and forced migration of Koryo people, can be a good example of migration history education.

Drought risk and audit pricing: a mixed-methods study

PurposeClimate change has led to a rise in the frequency, intensity and scope of droughts, posing significant implications for businesses. This study examines the impact of local community drought levels on audit pricing. Additionally, it explores the moderating effects of high-tech industries, auditor busyness and the level of local community concern regarding the drought crisis.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a mixed-methods approach to rigorously test the research hypotheses. The quantitative phase of the study utilizes a sample of 1,278 firm-year observations from Iran’s capital market. For the analysis of the quantitative data, ordinary least squares regression with clustered robust standard errors is used. Additionally, this research supplements its quantitative findings with qualitative evidence obtained through semi-structured interviews with 19 Iranian audit partners.FindingsThe results suggest that firms operating in provinces facing severe droughts experience notably higher audit fees. Furthermore, the positive relationship between drought and audit fees is weakened when auditors are busy, local community concern regarding the drought crisis is high or the firm operates within high-tech industries. These findings are supported by a range of robustness checks and qualitative evidence gathered from the field.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the growing literature on climate change by examining the influence of local community drought levels on audit pricing within an Iranian context. Additionally, our study sheds light on how high-tech industries, auditor workload and the level of local community concern regarding the drought crisis moderate the relationship between drought and audit fees. Importantly, our study pioneers in providing mixed-methods evidence of the association between drought severity and audit fees.

Sustainable hospitality and tourism in the Anthropocene era: the need for a more radical shift of the current circular economy models

Purpose This paper aims to critically analyse the circular economy (CE) models adopted in hospitality and tourism to tackle societal challenges in the current Anthropocene era, exploring the driving values and sustainability approaches. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review was carried out with an increasing level of analysis to delve more in-depth into the ability of the CE models to respond to current societal challenges. The review involved a stepwise analysis, starting with a thematic analysis of 151 papers to create a conceptual structure map of circular hospitality and tourism literature. Based on originality and representativeness, 22 papers were selected and analysed according to Hoffman and Jennings’ (2018; 2021) institutional approach to sustainability, which entails specific archetypes to address the Anthropocene society: market rules, technology fix and cultural re-enlightening. Findings The hospitality and tourism industry has made progress towards implementing CE models. However, CE models in market role and technology fix archetypes may fail to address the current challenges of the Anthropocene era. New culture-led approaches within the cultural re-enlightening archetype, such as the regenerative land practices, a-growth and place-making, and circular society, can foster a more radical shift towards strong sustainability. Research limitations/implications The paper highlights the urgent need for a cultural shift towards radical and strong sustainability, identifying future research directions. Policymakers have a crucial role in shaping sustainability practices consistent with an ecological culture centred on acknowledging planetary boundaries. Originality/value Despite the increasing interest in CE models, it is still debated how the hospitality and tourism industry can continue to thrive while avoiding harmful impacts on the environment and local communities. The study critically reflects on the current contribution of CE models towards strong sustainability in hospitality and tourism.

A contemporary view of civic leadership: Understanding college student perspectives and addressing barriers of service and engagement.

Civic leadership programming can be found across the United States and allows individuals the opportunity to gain skills focused on engaging their local community, creating space for change and impact to occur, and developing civic agency, a practice of working together across differences. This work describes civic leadership understanding, an examination of Generation Z characteristics, and provides a description of the Civic Leadership Academy at one university. The results of a 3-year longitudinal series of phenomenological focus groups identify student-derived themes that set a definition of civic leadership: catalyst of social awareness and change, bridging people and passions, and developing a culture of service. In addition, they identify barriers to service and provide strategies to challenge these barriers through curricular and co-curricular programs.

Learning sustainability at the Barefoot College: local and global community values in action

This article investigates learning sustainability at the Barefoot College, identifying potential replicability and relevance for other contexts.BackgroundGovernment statistics in India, suggest that some 32 million children have no access to education, especially in rural areas. Despite initiatives, 80% mainly from lower castes and deprived backgrounds, have never attended school. Operating across many villages, the ‘Barefoot College’ (BFC) is a mature non-government organisation (NGO) centred on Tilonia, in Northern Rajasthan. Here, poverty is so extreme that children can be sold into textile factories because parents cannot afford to feed them. However, skills learned at BFC such as conserving fossil fuels and water, how to vote, literacy and health practices, improve local lives immeasurably and benefit the planet. The research question (RQ) examines the key characteristics and impact of learning sustainability in this environment. The lead author was astonished by the depth and beauty of how teachings of semi-literate women, teachers and children have generated a living, breathing sustainable community.MethodThis research used an education case study methodology comprising multiple nested cases. Narratives of three key BFC project cases, the solar panel mamas, the Barefoot health and social workers and the children’s Night Schools, contextualise participant interviews that enable individual voices and experiences to emerge. Strategies aligned with a feminist standpoint approach enhance rigour and trustworthiness, systematically comparing qualitative data initiated in 2012 across semi-structured interviews, observations, and photographs. We found two key themes: dealing with on-the-ground inequality and practices of teaching and learning, together with five subthemes. These are in turn examined within a global sustainability-based framework to evaluate and characterise of BFC learning sustainability and sustainable leadership.ResultsThe research finds that learning sustainability at BFC contains novel key elements that are scalable and transferable. Meticulous joined-up-thinking underpins the BFC projects. Participants’ words confirm local and global relevance. Mapping learning sustainability in practice confirms individual self-actualisation and community agency through transformative education with impact. Individual and organisational adaptability are evidenced through individuals’ transformation into community leaders.ConclusionThe Global North has a lot to learn from the BFC, where learning sustainability is deeply embedded in belonging to the community. Bottom-up leadership through active participation and democracy empowers all community members, instilling pride in the Barefoot ethos. In this difficult environment, locally rooted projects nurture the ecological commons including rainwater harvesting and reducing fossil fuels. Projects enable traditions and clean technologies to flourish, whilst strengthening individual and community belonging and identity.

Outdoor workers' perceptions of skin cancer prevention: a qualitative study.

Outdoor workers are at increased risk for skin cancer and melanoma. This qualitative study aimed to explore outdoor workers' perspectives and experiences of primary (i.e. sun protection) and secondary prevention, i.e. skin self-examination (SSE) of skin cancer. Purposive, snowball, and theoretical sampling was used to recruit outdoor workers in Kentucky and Indiana. Semi-structured interviews via telephone or videoconference of approximately 45min were conducted with interviewer probes and questions about perceptions of cancer risk, prevention, and screening techniques conducted, perceived barriers and facilitators, and preferences for health dissemination venues. The recordings were transcribed verbatim and de-identified. Analysis involved constructivist grounded theory coding strategies. Using peer debriefing and consensus building around themes, the researcher established a codebook for all interviews to utilize within Dedoose software for systematizing and organizing data. Eighteen interviews were conducted. Interviewees (N = 18) ranged in age from 35 to 78 yr, with 3 females. Outdoor industries included agriculture, maintenance, and grounds maintenance. Themes derived from the data showed the underlying factors and perceptions that influence outdoor workers to conduct primary and secondary cancer prevention activities. The level of alarm attributed to disease and the level of trust in information contribute to intentions to conduct activities. The intentions and trust toward healthcare institutions and providers drive the primary or secondary prevention behaviors. Cultural and contextual factors included masculinity and self-sufficiency, familial and occupational priorities, and community ties. These data provide a basis for developing future communications and interventions to decrease skin cancer incidence in outdoor workers. They indicate that secondary prevention and building self-efficacy in conducting SSE should be emphasized in tandem or over primary skin cancer prevention methods in this population. Trusted local healthcare providers should primarily provide prevention information, and materials should utilize testimonials from the local community to best influence this population. Communications and training interventions are needed in this population to induce a proactive level of alarm about cancer and result in the performance of SSE.

Metaverse and regenerative tourism: the role of avatars in promoting sustainable practices

ABSTRACT This study explores the role of avatars in enhancing awareness and learning outcomes in virtual regenerative tourism. Data from 483 participants engaging in online virtual tourism experiences were analyzed using partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that extrinsic motivations like authenticity, immersion, perceived social distance, and textual credibility positively influence attitudes toward avatars, which in turn significantly impact learning outcomes. These outcomes are moderated by intrinsic motivations such as prosocial identity. Enhanced learning notably shapes regenerative practices, including conservation efforts support for local community. Contributing to self-determination theory, this research highlights the interplay between virtual environments and self-identity in ethical behavior. It offers key insights for destination marketers and tourism operators in leveraging virtual technologies for sustainable tourism development.

Social value accumulation through Australian aquatic facilities

ABSTRACT Research question Despite being a critical component of public infrastructure, academic research has rarely delved into aquatic facilities as key for acquiring social value. Therefore, this study analyzed how social value is accumulated through public aquatic facilities and commercial swim schools in Australia, specifically exploring the social capital created for local communities. Research methods Twenty-eight interviews with users and managers of aquatic facilities were conducted, representing over 110 facilities across 5 states or territories in Australia. Results and findings Guided by Putnam’s conceptualization of social capital, our data demonstrated the critical importance of aquatic facilities in communities across Australia. The analysis identified that aquatic facilities create a range of benefits to community members, including health and well-being, social connection, safety and education, and employment opportunities. Implications While arguably more difficult to operationalize and quantify, this research provides a foundation to understand the social value, as well as provides avenues to improve the social value achieved by aquatic facilities.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) experience during flooding: the Nsukwao community of Ghana

ABSTRACT This research examines the water, sanitation, and hygiene experiences during flooding. Floods are among the disasters that cause widespread destructions to human lives, properties and the environment. Flooding occurs every year at different places with varied scales across the globe. The focus of the study is the Nsukwao community, located in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The Nsukwao community is prone to seasonal flooding, and in the year 2017, the government of Ghana through the Nsukwao Basin Project tried to solve the seasonal flooding. However, the issues persisted. This research utilised a mixed method approach where semi-structured interviews were undertaken and a survey questionnaire was also randomly administered. The survey questionnaire yielded a response rate of 52%. After the data analysis, it was found that the Nsukwao community has acceptable water and sanitation facilities, however, during the rainy season, the community members are negatively impacted. Also, the community members do not take part in water, sanitation, and hygiene programmes because they are never consulted. To improve water, sanitation, and hygiene experiences, it is important for the government through the municipal and district councils to extensively engage the local community.

“In-betweeners”: The brokering work of frontline workers during the New Zealand mycoplasma bovis outbreak

This article explores the brokering work performed by frontline workers during the recent New Zealand Mycoplasma bovis biosecurity outbreak and the subsequent eradication programme. The parent programme of study utilised a qualitative research design within a pragmatic orientation, and the dataset supporting this article comprised a subset of individual and group interviews conducted with fifteen frontline workers. The analysis indicates that in the process of meeting their various operational briefs, frontline workers brokered knowledge and information, resources and materials, and relationships for the benefit of their clients. Their brokering work mitigated the limitations of the intervention’s infrastructure and also mitigated dysfunction among stakeholder organisations. The embeddedness of frontline workers within their local communities meant that they already had credibility that worked to the advantage of the eradication programme. Participant accounts support the existence of a boundary space on the frontline of the M. bovis invention that, despite an overarching common purpose, was characterised by instability, chaos, and flux. The position of frontline workers as being ‘in-between’ their clientele (farmers impacted by M. bovis) and their employers conferred ambiguous status. Nevertheless, their accounts indicate that their brokering work improved the efficiency of the M. bovis eradication programme, and we suggest that organisations responsible for biosecurity can increase the effectiveness of future incursions by recognising, valuing, and supporting the brokering roles conducted by frontline workers.

Technographic segmentation of smartphone usage at the Rainforest World Music Festival

PurposeThis is amongst the first works to develop a technographic segmentation of smartphone users attending music festivals based on attitudes, motivations and usage patterns. We also aim to describe festivalgoers’ characteristics.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from 522 festivalgoers who attended the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) in Malaysia. A two-stage cluster analysis of Ward’s method and k-means was applied to develop technographic segmentation during the festival. Using discriminant analysis, we confirmed that each festivalgoer’s characteristics differ amongst groups.FindingsFour technographic segments were developed: alarm hitters, technological tickers, plug pullers and fuse blowers. The results confirmed that festivalgoers had distinct characteristics and preferences based on smartphone use.Research limitations/implicationsWe extend previous research on the technographic segmentation of smartphones and festivalgoers. We highlighted the limitations of cluster analysis in terms of stability to produce a suitable number of segments and to include other festivals. The generalisability of the results may be constrained by the time gap between data collection and publication.Practical implicationsOur results can help marketing managers understand the needs of segments by selecting appropriate advertisements and promotional tools that appeal directly to the desired target segments.Social implicationsThis study will help local communities increase their revenue and job opportunities. The culture of music festivals for the next generation can be sustained and promoted by local and international festival lovers.Originality/valueThis study is the first to present festivalgoers' use of the technographic segmentation term in music festivals.

Beyond the formal economy. Social cooperatives for labour integration under the pressure of market competitiveness

Purpose Using the theoretical framework of the substantive economy, this study aims to point out the main aspects of the substantive mode of operation that help the integration of disadvantaged people while at the same time shedding light on the barriers that hinder economically efficient functioning in a market economy. Design/methodology/approach Research focuses on Hungarian rural work integration social cooperatives, which are engaged in producing activity by the employment of disadvantaged people. In the research, mixed methods were applied: results of a questionnaire survey covering 102 cooperatives, as well as 20 semi-structured interviews and experiences from the field. A total of 17 indicators were used to explore the substantive operational features, promoting mechanisms and problems in the following areas: organisational goals and outcomes; integrating roles and functions; productive functions; and the embeddedness of cooperatives. Findings As for results, substantive operational mechanisms and tools that support the integration of disadvantaged people have been identified such as mentoring, social incentives, the ability to create local value or the expansion of local community services. At the same time, several barriers have been detected that make it difficult to operate economically, such as cooperatives being a stepping stone for workers, excessive product heterogeneity or the lack of vertically structured bridging relationships. Originality/value The value of the study is to counterpoint the mechanisms promoting social purposes of work-integration social cooperatives and the obstacles to their long-term sustainability within the framework of the substantive economy, to better understand their functioning and the less quantifiable factors of their performance.

Exploring Factors Influencing Caregiver Burden: A Systematic Review of Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Illness in Local Communities

This study aimed to systematically review and analyze factors contributing to caregiver burden among family caregivers of older adults with chronic illnesses in local communities. Specific objectives included exploring the characteristics of older adults with chronic illness and caregiver burden through an extensive literature review and identifying factors influencing caregiver burden in this population. Using Korean (RISS, KISS, and KoreaMed) and international (EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library) databases, this study employed systematic search methods to identify relevant literature. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were systematically applied in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, focusing on studies that addressed caregiver burden among family caregivers of older adults with chronic illnesses in local communities. Following the database search, 15,962 articles were identified. After eliminating duplicates and applying the selection criteria, 18 studies were included in this review. These studies, representing various countries, contribute to a diverse dataset covering caregiver and care-recipient characteristics, including age, sex, chronic conditions, and various caregiver burden assessment tools. This systematic review provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence caregiver burden among family caregivers of older adults with chronic illness in local communities. These findings emphasize the need for integrated nursing interventions and community efforts to address the welfare concerns of this population and support their caregivers.

Representativeness of the Hong Kong English lexicon

In 2016, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) formally recognized the status of Hong Kong English (HKE) by adding 13 HKE words in its entries (Oxford English Dictionary [OED], n.d.-a). While this codification marks significant progress in the development of a language variety, there have been vigorous discussions within the local community about the legitimacy and representativeness of these selected words as HKE (Xu, 2019). As emphasized by Schneider (2007), acceptability and codification are both important criteria for language development. Therefore, this warrants a bottom-up approach to investigate the extent to which HKE words are accepted by the local community, so as to provide insights on how future HKE words can be better codified.

An "integration" of professional identity formation among rural physicians experiencing an interplay between their professional and personal identities.

The present understanding of professional identity formation is problematic since it underrepresents minority physicians and potentially excludes their professional identity formation experiences. Rural physicians are expected to have similar underrepresented aspects as minority physicians because of their specific sociocultural contexts and consequent private-professional intersection, which lead to ethical complexities. Therefore, to bridge this research gap, we interviewed 12 early- to mid-career Japanese physicians working in rural areas and explored their experiences. Through a narrative analysis guided by Figured Worlds theory, we analysed the data by focusing on the vocabulary, expressions, and metaphors participants used to describe their experiences. A central theme emerged concerning how the rural physicians configurated their personal versus professional participation in their local communities. Further, their identity narratives varied regarding how they constructed their identities, rural communities, and relationships as well as their identity formation ideals and strategies to achieve them. Informed by 'Big Questions' concerning worldview framework, we delineated four identity narratives as prototypes to describe how they participated in their communities. These identity narratives provide a preliminary understanding of how diverse identity formation is for rural physicians. In addition, our findings exposed the current professional identity formation framework as potentially biased towards single forms of participation in monolithic communities, overlooking complicated forms of participation in multiple communities. We argue that applying frameworks and concepts to capture these multiple forms of participation as well as revisiting the 'discourse of integration' are necessary steps to overcome the limitation of the current understanding of professional identity formation.