Mixed Methodological Approach Research Articles

Appraisal of Health Sector Responses to Covid-19 at National and Sub-National Levels: Case Study of States with Highest Prevalence of Cases-Lagos, Kaduna and FCT Assessment of Health Sector Responses to Covid-19 at Selected States with Highest Prevalence of Cases

The Covid-19 pandemic is the largest and longest outbreak in modern times, with socio-economic, political, and educational disruptions. This study was to appraise the level of efforts and the impact of these interventions in the health sector. A mixed methodology approach involving quantitative research techniques. The study revealed that there was generally a high level of awareness and good compliance to government policies and guidelines on Covid-19 regulations being highest in Lagos state compared to FCT and Kaduna state. The public perception of the use of facemask and its enforcement and handwashing practices by health facilities was rated high across the three states. Client education and public perception of Covid-19 counselling was different across the three states, being highest in Lagos in comparison to FCT and Kaduna. Hence the study recommended refreshers training of health workers on awareness creation and counselling of clients at all levels of care. Keywords: Assessment, Covid-19, Health system strengthening.

Effects of road infrastructure development on residential property value and land development shifts in a peri-urban area of Karachi, Pakistan

The introduction of road infrastructure development projects often triggers expectations of shifts in property values. Extensive research has already been conducted regarding the impact of such projects on property values and land development in developed regions. However, there is a research gap when it comes to developing countries like Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of the road infrastructure development project, the M-9 Motorway, on residential property values and land development in a mega residential project in Bahria Town Karachi (BTK), Pakistan. This study employs a mixed-methodology approach, incorporating qualitative methods (interviews) and quantitative analysis (questionnaire surveys and property data analysis). Statistical tools such as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), the Pearson correlation coefficient, and the Chi-square goodness of fit test were used for correlation and hypothesis testing. This research reveals that proximity to a major road infrastructure project directly impacts property purchase prices, rents, and land development in BTK, either positively or negatively. The obtained results align with both expectations and the existing literature. Although these findings should not directly apply to other locations and contexts, they can be considered suggestive indicators for planning purposes.

Language biases and implicit attitudes among university students in Galicia (Spain)

ABSTRACT This study aims to contribute to the ongoing debate on the role of language attitudes in Galicia (Spain). By means of a mixed methodological approach, we investigate the interrelation between 168 university students’ Implicit Association Test (IAT) results towards Galician Spanish (GS) and Traditional Galician (TG), and their socio-linguistic background. The study found complex interrelations of various factors. Family language and everyday language appeared to play a prominent role in determining the implicit language attitudes towards both languages. Proficiency in Galician was the only other factor that significantly contributed to the development of positive attitudes towards TG, while having Spanish as the L-1 was identified as a key factor in the formation of positive attitudes towards GS. Unlike previous research on explicit attitudes, place of living (rural vs urban) is not associated with (implicit) language attitude formation. Notably, political orientation arises as a relevant factor that should be addressed in future research.

An investigation into various visualization tools for complex biological networks

Network biology has become crucial to understanding the complex structural characteristics of biological systems. Consequently, advanced visualization approaches are needed to support the investigation of such structures, and several network visualization tools have subsequently been developed to help researchers analyze intricate biological networks. While these tools support a range of analytical and interactive features, it is sometimes unclear to a data analyst or visualization designer which features are of most relevance to biologists. Thus, this study investigates and identifies essential factors for the visualization of complex biological networks using a mixed methodology approach. Based on the findings, essential factors were categorized as either generic and heuristic, where the former concern different analytical and interactive functionalities, such as an efficient layout, advanced search capabilities, plugin availability, graph analysis and user-friendliness, while the latter concern usability, such as information coding, flexibility, orientation and help.1Furthermore, the findings indicate that 12 of the 15 generic factors identified were moderately important, while all 10 heuristic factors identified herein were moderately important.

How to Implement Knowledge Management in Emerging Governments in Africa and Beyond: A Case Study on the South African Government

Abstract This paper is based on the premise that public officials in developing countries lack the necessary skills to implement Knowledge Management (KM) successfully, so a framework is required to facilitate this process. South Africa is the case study. It is therefore necessary to develop a Knowledge Management Implementation Framework (KMIF). Consequently, one of the objectives of this paper is to validate this need and then outline a KMIF that can help government departments in developing countries implement KM and foster a KM culture. A mixed methodology approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection. Based on the Taro Yamane formula, 139 people were selected from a target population of 221 officials involved in KM in the South African government. DATAtab, a web-based statistics application, was used to analyze the responses. A comprehensive review of several secondary literature sources was carried out. For the literature review, relevant peer-reviewed articles were downloaded from Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scopus, and Phil Papers. The study posits that officials charged with KM implementation in the South African government lack the necessary implementation skillset, that a need for a KMIF exists, and subsequently outlines a three-stage KMIF to facilitate their efforts. This study recommends that the proposed three-stage KMIF be adopted since it will provide the government (i) a simplified and structured way of realizing KM; (ii) it will be an effective tool that officials can use to guide them on how to implement KM, and (iii) it will cultivate a KM culture within the government. Even though the study is original to the South African government, the findings, however, may be applied to other emerging governments in Africa and beyond. Despite its theoretical nature, the paper lacks empirical validation, leaving it open to further investigation.

Modern Entrepreneur for the Success of Online Businesses for Small and Medium Enterprise in Thailand

The National Strategy includes a master plan for 20 years in Issue 08, Modern Entrepreneurs: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The aim is to create and develop Thai entrepreneurs to be "New Generation Entrepreneurs" who keep pace and take advantage of technology and innovation to drive businesses, especially SMEs as business operations, and play an important part in stimulating economic growth and entrepreneurship strength that will help countries compete globally. This research aimed to develop a structural equation model for entrepreneurs' contributions to the success of online businesses and SMEs in Thailand and examine the consistency of the causal relationship model for entrepreneurs' contributions to their success. This research uses a mixed methodology approach that collects and analyzes both qualitative and quantitative research.

The Relevance of Air Quality Perceptions on Travel Behavior of Visitors with Respiratory Diseases

Air pollution is one of the most challenging environmental issues influencing the lifestyles of the world's population. Every year millions of respiratory diseases and premature deaths are directly attributed to it. Therefore, people who suffer from respiratory diseases are more vulnerable to variations in air quality, as direct exposure leads to exacerbation of symptoms, more hospitalizations, and behavioral changes. This study aims to examine the impact of air pollution on the travel behavior of people with respiratory diseases. To accomplish this objective, a mixed methodological approach is used, applying questionnaires and interviews. The results show that visitors with respiratory diseases are more likely to value air quality and to engage in adaptive measures to prevent the effects of air pollution episodes at the destination. This study enriches the tourism literature by examining how air quality influences visitors with respiratory illnesses and provides practical implications for the tourism industry.

(007) Gendered Differences in Sexual Expectation: The Implications of Power Differentials on Condom Usage in Heterosexual Relationships

Abstract Introduction Sexuality is an important facet of every individual’s identity and overall wellbeing; despite this, gender-based discrepancies exist in relation to expectations of and experiences with sexual activity. In a longitudinal study conducted in 2013, 62% of boys reported expecting sexual pleasure from intercourse, compared with only 30% of girls (Missari, 2013). Furthermore, a 2007 study discovered that women generally prioritize their male partners’ pleasure instead of their own (Tolman, et. al). Objective Given an understanding of these existing trends, this study was developed to analyze contrasting attitudes about condoms and experiences with condom usage between men and women on a college campus. Methods A mixed-methodology approach was utilized, consisting of a survey (n=580), focus group discussions with select survey participants (n=16), and one-on-one interviews (n=30). Each element aimed to ascertain predominating student perceptions surrounding condoms and their role in sexual intercourse and to determine if these varied between men and women. Results Survey data revealed that 51.8% of men vs. 45.7% of women reported that they had never refused to engage in sexual activity when their partner refused to use a condom. Furthermore, women in 56.3% of focus group discussions reported that they believed men found condoms to be “uncool” or make sex “less enjoyable”, with 18.8% of focus groups involving statements that women felt guilty for diminishing their male partner’s experience. In no focus group conversations did men report feeling guilt related to their female partner’s experience. Interview data revealed that 47.8% of women reported a sense of individual responsibility to get STI tested and initiate condom use conversations, compared to only 28.6% of male respondents. Conclusions These data reveal discrepancies in reported self-efficacy between men and women, as well as a general tendency for women to view condoms more positively and consequently advocate for their use more often. Usage in heterosexual relationships, however, appears to be influenced by women’s deference to their male partners’ preferences. This indicates a power differential between men and women that dictates the practices adhered to within sexual relationships. Subsequent interventions should look to examine how these differing perceptions are developed, and which factors can combat the prioritization of male sexual preferences, as well as promote the comfort and pleasure of all partners during sexual intercourse. Disclosure No

The impact of artificial intelligence on higher education: a sociological perspective

This scientific article examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education from a sociological perspective. It explores the sociocultural and pedagogical implications of AI in educational institutions, and discusses how this technology is transforming teaching and learning methods. Through a mixed methodological approach combining literature review and qualitative data analysis, the effects of AI on education quality, equity, and social interaction in the context of higher education are examined. The results reveal both benefits and challenges associated with integrating AI into higher education, and propose recommendations to make the most of this emerging technology.

Evaluation of the Data Centre Waste Heat Potential in District Heating in Latvia

Data centres are large global energy consumers that create low-temperature waste heat. To alleviate the impact of the temperature increase on the information technology equipment, the data centres are cooled with different technical solutions, drastically increasing the facilities’ power consumption. In different regions, the use of data centre waste heat combined with heat pumps in district heating systems was identified as a lower-cost heat energy generation solution compared to alternative fossil or renewable energy-based heating solutions. The research paper aims to identify the data centre’s waste heat potential as an energy source in district heating in Latvia. The technical and economic potential for using heat pumps in the data centre’s waste heat systems was evaluated. To reach the goal of the study, a mixed methodological approach was used divided into four steps: the creation of the statistical calculation method, stakeholder survey to evaluate the energy consumption, mapping of the quantitative results to evaluate technical potential and distribution patterns, and system dynamics modelling to evaluate possible adoption scenarios of the technological solutions. The results of the research reveal a heterogenic distribution of data centres in Latvia, which limits the use of waste heat at the national level. Furthermore, the study identified the total waste heat potential of data centres in Latvia and provided recommendations for the adoption of data centres’ waste heat based on the results of the system dynamic simulations.

Using E-Textiles to Challenge Gender Perceptions in STEM, Design and Career Aspirations of Secondary School Students

STEM subjects in the secondary school curriculum are largely the domain of boys, and the creative arts subjects are predominantly the territory of girls. This disparity permeates into higher education and leads to a gender imbalance in the workforce. This paper investigates issues of gender bias in the secondary school curriculum and explores student perceptions and self-efficacy for future academic success. Using the medium of electronic textiles (e-textiles) the research considers if multidisciplinary and co-design approaches to teaching could create a more gender-equitable environment, bring about a mindset shift in students’ gender perceptions, and alter their perspectives for future university choices. A mixed-gender group of 32 secondary school students from different subject disciplines across science, technology and art and design took part in a year-long study. They were given opportunities to work on a co-design project which sought to break down barriers between subject disciplines and challenge stereotypical perceptions of the “type” and gender of student in each discipline. Students were introduced to an e-textiles project called “ElectroTex” which sought to challenge the current hidden-gendered curriculum. It drew upon curriculum topics from physics, computing, technology and art and design. The research was underpinned by overlapping frameworks of Social Cognitive Theory and Value Expectancy Theory. A mixed methodology approach comprising Action Research and Co-design was sandwiched between pre- and post-project questionnaires which determined how students’ perceptions had altered as a result of the project. The experiential learning demonstrated that students were able to connect science with design and harness the value of their collaborative knowledge by applying it to real life situations. The outcomes show that a multidisciplinary approach to learning can re-frame students’ perspectives on gender in the curriculum, empower them to consider design and science in mutually beneficial contexts, and raise their aspirations for future success.

Seasonal variation and fish assemblage at Hakaluki Haor, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh

Wetlands in Bangladesh have undergone rapid degradation, primarily attributable to a range of factors. These factors include a marked increase in population, extensive water diversion for irrigation purposes, depletion of swamp forests, as well as other natural and anthropogenic causes. Hakaluki Haor is a vast wetland area located at North East in Bangladesh provides habitat for a diverse range of fish species. Due to natural and anthropogenic causes, fish species are declining in the Hakaluki Hoar. Fish species are declining primarily due to the utilization of harmful gear, the drying of beels every year, and overexploitation. The aim of the research was to assess the occurrence of various fish species in different seasons, their distribution, and conservation status. The research was carried out over the course of three seasons (summer, autumn, and winter) spanning from September 2017 to August 2018. The study utilized a mixed methodology approach to investigate the fish assemblage, which included examining the fish catch on boats along with the fish available in the nearest assembling center (fish market). In addition, the Shannon-Weaver index was followed to recognize the species diversity (H), richness (D), and Evenness (e). The research documented the presence of 64 fish species that were classified into 25 different genera, and 24 families across 10 orders. The order Cypriniformes was the most prevalent, constituting 42% of the total number of species identified. Other orders such as Siluriformes (22%), Perciformes (16%), Channiformes (6%), and Clupeiformes (5%) also demonstrated a considerable variety of fish species, although Cypriniformes had the highest dominance with 42% of the total species documented. Additionally, the research determined that among the complete assemblage of fish species identified, a total of 14 (18.88%) were classified as species facing threats. Based on the analysis, 6.25% are vulnerable, 12.5% endangered, and 3.12% are critically endangered as per IUCN Redlist. The research observed the Shannon-Weaver diversity (H), richness (D), and evenness (e) values for the fish species, which were found to be 2.47, 6.28, and 0.65, respectively. Moreover, participants retorted that the present income from fishing had decreased as compared to five years ago. The research finds that anthropogenic pressure is one of the key reasons to fish decline at Hakaluki Haor. According to the findings of the current research, community-based wetland conservation and management have been proposed as a viable and sustainable strategy for augmenting the fish species abundance.

Smartphone-based teacher-student interaction and teachers’ helping behavior on academic performance

The objective of this research is to discover the effects of smartphone-based teacher-student interaction and teachers’ helping behavior on educational achievements. Many factors are found to be crucial about how smartphone-based teacher-student interaction & teacher’ helping behavior can influence students' educational performance. More recently, the integration of technology enhanced teaching and learning was thoroughly analyzed, however, the role of contemporary mobile applications in teacher-student interaction with the helping intention is inadequately examined in the extant literature. To address the gap, key principles of smartphone-based interaction among teachers and students along with their relationship are addressed in the theoretical framework. A total number of 313 scholar respondents from China participated in this study. The study utilized a mixed methodology approach. Structural Equation Model (M plus) was adopted to analyze the statistical data. The findings of the study revealed that smartphone-based teacher-student interaction and teachers’ helping behavior has positive significant influence on academic performance.

Supporting Midwifery Students During Clinical Practice: Results of a Systematic Scoping Review.

Midwifery educators are highly concerned about the quality of clinical support offered to midwifery students during clinical placement. The unpreparedness of midwifery practitioners in mentorship roles and responsibilities affects the competence levels of the next-generation midwives being produced. The aim of this paper is to highlight various clinical support interventions to support midwifery students globally and propose a framework to guide mentorship training in South Africa. This paper adopts a mixed methodology approach guided by the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Keywords such as midwifery students, clinical support, mentorship, preceptorship, and midwifery clinical practice were used during the literature search. The review included primary quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods design papers published between 2010 and 2020, and studies on clinical support interventions available to midwifery students during clinical placement. The search strategy followed a 3-stage system of title, abstract, and full-text screening using inclusion and exclusion criteria. All included papers were quality appraised with a mixed methods appraisal tool. Extracted data were analyzed and presented in themes following a thematic content analysis approach. The screening results attained 10 papers for data extraction. In total, 7 of the 10 (70%) studies implemented a mentorship training program, 2 (20%) used a training workshop, and 1 (10%) used an intervention guide to support midwifery students in clinical practice. Of these 10 papers, 5 were qualitative, 4 mixed methods, and 1 quantitative in approach. In total, 9 of the 10 (90%) studies were conducted in high-income countries with only 1 study done in Uganda but supported by the United Kingdom. The quality of included papers ranged between 50% and 100%, showing moderate to high appraisal results. Significant findings highlighted that the responsibility of mentorship is shared between key role players (midwifery practitioners, students, and educators) and thus a 3-fold approach to mentorship. Mentorship training and support are essential to strengthen the clinical support of midwifery students during placement. The main findings produced 2 main themes and 2 subthemes each. The main themes included strengthening partnerships and consultation; and providing mentor support through training. The 4 subthemes were: establishing stronger partnerships between nursing education institutions and clinical facilities; improving consultation between midwifery educators, practitioners, and students; the quality of clinical support depends on the training content; and the training duration and structure. Hence, the researchers proposed these subthemes in a framework to guide mentorship training. Mentorship training and support for midwifery practitioners will likely strengthen the quality of midwifery clinical support. A framework to guide mentorship training will encourage midwifery educators to develop and conduct mentorship training with ease. More studies using quantitative approaches in research and related to midwifery clinical support are required in African countries. RR2-10.2196/29707.

Incorporating Social Value into Products of Social Enterprise for a New Brand Identity Case Study: Rumah Ismail

Rumah Ismail is a Community-Based Entrepreneurship Accelerator (CBEA) that accelerates community business generated from empowerment activities. The profits earned by Rumah Ismail are used for social activities such as charity programs and the provision of scholarships for school education for underprivileged children. This research aims to develop a sustainable communication model that effectively conveys Rumah Ismail’s mission and social values to the stakeholders to enhance Rumah Ismail’s brand. This research uses brand identity by Kapferer and Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) by Belch & Belch with the mixed methodology or combined approach between qualitative and quantitative methods. The results of this study indicate that Rumah Ismail needs to communicate its social values, namely increasing the added value of local products through empowering local talents as a new brand of Rumah Ismail by delivering a strong brand communication message through packaging so that the social values owned by Rumah Ismail can be conveyed effectively Suitable for all people stakeholders.

Rhetoric Mining: A New Text-Analytics Approach for Quantifying Persuasion

Rhetoric mining is a novel text-analytics method for quantifying persuasion based on rhetorical analysis theory. Our mixed-methodology approach combines qualitative context analysis with automated tagging and quantification of rhetorical moves. Rhetorical moves are complex discursive patterns and, thus, require a sequence-based text-mining approach, rather than the simpler word-based frequency analyses. We apply a sequence-alignment method to detect semantically equivalent sequences with high precision and efficiency. We illustrate our method by analyzing arguments used to justify stock picks in an online investment community. For these data, we detect and quantify the rhetorical moves of ethos (personal versus cited expertise), hedging (confidence versus uncertainty), and evidence type (product-, company-, or stock-based evidence). We use rhetoric mining to identify argument styles of persuasiveness (pitches that receive community recommendations) and trustworthiness (pitches that are written by successful investors). Rhetoric mining provides a new analytic lens in Information Systems research to analyze the influence of persuasion in consumer decision making. History: W. Nick Street served as the senior editor for this article. Data Ethics & Reproducibility Note: The code capsule is available on Code Ocean at https://codeocean.com/capsule/9373643/tree/v1 and in the e-Companion to this article (available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijds.2022.0024 ).

A model proposal for the technical assistance and rural extension service execution in Brazil

ABSTRACTThis study presents a proposal for a model for execution of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (TARE) services in Brazil, presenting a flow of actions through methodological tools. For this purpose, the study used a mixed methodological approach, that is, it used the principles of data triangulation, which comprised a survey of qualitative primary data and secondary quantitative data to prove the evidence. In other words, this study raised, from semi-structured interviews with specialists in the execution of TARE, the main methodological tools used in the execution of that service. Based on the terms most frequently cited by the interviewees, a search syntax developed to carry out a systematic review of the literature to theoretically prove the tools raised. As a result of the verification, it was possible to identify a model based on six main TARE execution tools: awareness, diagnosis, individual service, collective service, reference unit and program. This article has as its main contribution the offer of a model validated in the literature. Proposes to standardize a model for the design of TARE notices, and execution plans to contribute with the maximum efficiency in offering the service to the beneficiaries.

Pakistan Declared Bankruptcy after Sri Lanka: What is Wrong with the Asian Economy? An In-depth Exploration of Psychological Well-being of International Malaysian Students in the United States in the Context of Emerging Economic Turbulence

Asian economies are passing through a challenging time especially after the global pandemic. After declaring bankruptcy by Pakistan followed by Sri Lanka, it has sent a shockwave across the globes to all Asian citizens worldwide, particularly to international students. This research conducted a mixed methodological approach by interviewing 10 Asian policymakers, 20 psychiatrists and 80 Malaysian international students in the United States. Verbatim expression was maintained for precision and focus group discussions were conducted for holistic analysis of the merging psychological concerns. The paper found Malaysian students are experiencing a high level of trauma since the event of Pakistan. A majority of the participants expressed their concerns regarding economic stability, and we found a high-volume growth in visit to psychological centre by the Malaysians recently. This research revealed policymakers are emphasizing on regaining economic stability rather than focusing on the mental health aspects. Further studies are to be conducted to understand the context holistically.

Pre-service Teacher Training Program at Yarmouk University: Mixed methodology Evaluation Study

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the pre-service teacher training program (TTP) for the Classroom Teacher and Early Childhood Education majors at Yarmouk University from stakeholders’ perspectives.
 Methods: The study utilized a mixed methodology approach. The quantitative method with (57) female students from the Classroom Teacher and Early Childhood programs at Yarmouk University, 41 female cooperative teachers, and 10 faculty supervising for 2019/2020 at the Bani Ubaid District Directorate of Education. The qualitative method utilized the Consensual qualitative research (CQR) with a phenomenology paradigm through 21 semi-structured interviews to explore how stakeholders perceived the different challenges and opportunities that affected the efficiency of the pre-service training program at Yarmouk University.
 Results: The quantitative methods indicated a high degree of effectiveness in meeting the program's expected competencies (planning, teaching, classroom management, and assessment) in both majors. The qualitative data uncovered two main themes about challenges: teaching practices and regulatory and organizational challenges, and three themes in terms of opportunities: reforming competencies to include dispositions, creating a shared vision between schools and TTP units, and building accountability systems to enhance the efficiency of TTP.
 Conclusions: The study provided recommendations to revisit the pre-service teacher education program competencies, enhance pipeline efforts between the TTP unit and the schools, and monitor the pre-service procedures and regulations on both sites: university and school.

Exploratory analysis of an e-learning course based on micro-videos to improve the preparation of the undergraduate dissertation in Spanish context

The Bologna Declaration (1999) and the implementation of the European Higher Education Area have opened a new panorama of learning. In Spanish Universities, an Undergraduate Dissertation (UD) is the final step on the developmental period of undergraduate students. However, there are usually no previous subjects during the undergraduate course that prepare the skills required at the UD, especially autonomy. Therefore, there are great difficulties for students. To end this training gap, a face-to-face training course was designed, and another one based on micro-videos was designed in 2019–2020. Based on the Self-Determination Theory, the aim was to know if a training course based on micro-videos is more effective for making students feel more prepared for UD, than the face-to-face method. A quasi-experimental method has been used with a comparative approach between groups. A mixed methodological approach has developed. For exploratory data analysis, independent two-sample t-tests and Pearson’s bivariate correlations were performed. An hermeneutic analysis of the content of the interviews was carried out. All the students (n = 34) in both groups showed an improvement in the preparation to successfully pass the UD. The main difference found between the two modalities of the course was the more analytical and concrete organization. Qualitatively, more perceived autonomy was found in the micro-video group. However, the results were inconclusive. A blended modality could be considered in the future, with the most flexible and aesthetic structure of micro-videos but with the advantages of face-to-face communication.