Mixed Paradigm Research Articles

Design of a campaign to promote environmental care in the Ana Paez Educational Unit.

Introduction: Environmental pollution in Ecuador seriously affected the quality of life of the population and natural ecosystems. Factors such as industrial activity, intensive agriculture and mining contributed to the deterioration of air, soil and water, also impacting educational institutions. The Ana Paez Educational Unit, located in Latacunga, faced these challenges, evidencing the need to implement an educational campaign that promotes environmental commitment through practical and participatory activities aimed at students, teachers and staff.Methods: The research adopted a critical propositional approach that questioned traditional methods and proposed concrete solutions. A mixed paradigm was used: quantitative, through surveys applied to a sample of students and teachers, and qualitative, to interpret the impacts of pollution. The study was of the applied, documentary and field type, and information was collected through direct observation, literature review and structured questionnaires.Results: The findings revealed a high level of interest of the educational community in the implementation of environmental activities. A total of 66.7% of the respondents supported the implementation of practical projects, highlighting a greater interest in the cultivation of fruit and medicinal plants. In addition, artistic botany was recognized as an educational tool to foster creativity, reduce stress, and develop intellectual and psychomotor skills.Conclusions: The research concluded that the implementation of an innovative environmental campaign in the Ana Paez Educational Unit has the potential to strengthen environmental awareness, develop practical skills and improve community engagement, laying the foundation for sustainable and replicable change in other educational institutions

Funcionamiento de las garantías mobiliarias sobre bienes incorporales para la financiación de microempresas

The research article investigates the operation of the legal concept of movable security over intangible assets for the financing of microenterprise credits in the banking system from the issuance of Law 1676 of 2013. The degree of use is determined in the investigation. and effectiveness of the legal concept of movable security in the municipality of Pasto, department of Nariño, by microentrepreneurs and the financial sector on intangible assets for credit financing. In the investigative process, a quantitative-qualitative or mixed paradigm is taken, a hermeneutic historical approach, a level of depth of a comprehensive nature and the use of primary sources of information, secondary sources of information and quantitative and qualitative analysis tools of data, especially those derived from a process of interviews, surveys and tracking of databases of the Colombian Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of Pasto. The study concludes that there is little knowledge on the part of the business sector regarding the existence of the figure of movable guarantees and its advantages compared to the strengthening of productive projects in the region. The study suggests the implementation of government measures and public policy actions that allow the microenterprise sector to access financial and banking credit with reasonable interest rates supported by movable guarantees backed by intangible assets.

A Systematic Review of Paradigm Approaches to Research and Modelling of Educational Ecosystems

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study based on a systematic scoping review that aimed to identify and analyse approaches to explore and model ecosystem dimensions of education. Seventy-six publications indexed in the Scopus database from the period 1999-2024 were selected and analysed. The results demonstrate that the study of educational ecosystems is based on mixed paradigm approaches combining constructivist and connectivist principles and constructs, and their modelling integrates two sets of characteristics - structural and value-functional - in a leading way. Structurally, the underlying ecosystem centres on school and higher education, lifelong learning and business-oriented learning. In value-functional terms, the guiding priorities are digitalisation, inclusion, good governance, innovation and sustainability.

Creative learning in final year students in computer engineering: A case study of the University of Matanzas

The training of creative computer professionals is considered a strategic process in different countries because it is essential for the computerization of society. This paper proposes an approach to the study of creative computer science learning for the digital transformation of modern society. The aim of the research was to evaluate the creative learning of computer science during the training of computer science professionals. An instrument derived from previous research and metrics was applied to evaluate creative learning in the two groups of terminal years of the computer engineering course at the University of Matanzas with a mixed paradigm. The quantitative analysis diagnosed that more than sixty-five percent of the students are evaluated as poor and fair in both years. The qualitative analysis revealed the inadequacies of the teaching staff in the use of computer science teaching approaches, and the four stages of formation of creative learning in computer science in the degree course: pre-university stage, basic stage, professional stage and research stage. They also revealed three key factors in the formation of creative learning in computer science: the integration of subjects, the solution of real projects, and the mainly emotional support provided by teachers and other professionals to students during their integration into the computerization of organizations.

An assessment of the effectiveness of the preventive maintenance policy in enhancing quality assurance in education provision: A case of selected primary schools in Chibombo District, Zambia

The purpose of this study was to investigate on an assessment of the effectiveness of the preventive maintenance policy in enhancing quality assurance in education provision: a case of selected schools in Chibombo district. The study employed a mixed paradigm and descriptive survey design that sampled DEBS officials, Head teachers, PMS coordinators, teachers and pupils. Data was obtained from respondents by means of interviews, questionnaires and observation checklist. The target population was 1280 respondents while the sample size was 128 respondents. Frequency, percentages, tables, graphs and pie-charts were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained. Data was then analyzed manually in some cases and also, a combination of software MS Access and MS Excel. According to the findings, the study found that the activities which was in place was general cleaning one day per week. The study also found that discontinuity was the biggest challenge administrators experienced, and that many projects were abandoned. Unfortunately, the motto that "prevention is better than cure" was not evident among teachers and learners. The conclusion of this study with respect to the application of ethical theories to the findings is that the inner ethical motivation required for adequate care of property in teachers and learners is missing. The study therefore recommended that there is a need for greater emphasis to be placed on character formation in education as is specified in the Zambian Document Educating Our Future. Also, the spirit of the PMS policy directives needs to be more greatly emphasized in order to motivate action, rather than the more exclusive legal dimension which does not suffice to ensure the implementation of the policy.

Digital marketing: user orientation in the universities of Barranquilla

Higher education institutions - HEIs are organizations immersed in a significant competitive world. To stand out from the rest, they can rely on the tools offered by digital marketing to identify and meet the student population's needs. This research reflected how HEIs remain relevant in the market by implementing digital marketing strategies. Furthermore, what is the perception of customers and employees regarding the implementation of user-oriented digital marketing strategies? The mixed paradigm, through the focus group and group surveys, supported the method, allowing the identification of critical points of improvement for the universities studied. It highlights the similarities in the perception of both groups regarding the permanent and updated information offered by the universities to the students and the development of curricular content adapted to the professional competencies offered in each academic program. It is concluded that to guarantee the right to education; digital marketing represents an invaluable tool to maintain competitiveness, which responds to the functional activities of universities.

The Paradox of a World Aspiring for Peace Amidst Pervasive Conflicts

This article explores the paradoxical nature of our global society, where aspirations for peace coexist with persistent conflicts. The analysis delves into the complex interplay of geopolitical, socio-economic, and cultural factors that contribute to this apparent contradiction. The study employed a mixed paradigm and descriptive survey design that sampled Institutions of higher learning, Government ministries and Non-Governmental Organizations and interviewed university lecturers, university students and NGO members. Data was obtained from respondents by means of interviews, questionnaires and project observation schedules. The sample consisted of two hundred respondents. Frequency, percentages, tables, graphs and pie-charts were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained. Data was then analyzed manually in some cases and also, a combination of software MS Access and MS Excel. The findings revealed that despite the collective human desire for peace, the world continues to grapple with deep-rooted conflicts at various levels – from regional disputes to ideological clashes and this paradox highlights the challenges inherent in achieving a harmonious and conflict-free world and the study recommended that achieving global peace requires persistent effort, cooperation, and a commitment from individuals, communities, and nations around the world.

Psychoeducational program for the appropriate use of social networks in Cuban university students

This article presents the basis of a psychoeducational program that promotes Cuban university students' responsible use of social networks. A mixed paradigm was used, and a retrospective ex-post-facto design and a descriptive scope were assumed. 30 university students participated in the design of the proposal. Instruments were used to collect the data, such as the questionnaire to evaluate protective factors of mental health in university students, the social network addiction questionnaire, and the survey to explore patterns of use of social networks. Descriptive and frequency analysis was used to analyze the data. Reviewing the studies conducted in the Cuban university context and the diagnosis developed in the selected sample allowed us to verify that students present difficulties developing social skills. However, a statistically significant relationship between the protective factors of mental health explored and the addictive indicators regarding the use of social networks is not confirmed from a statistical point of view. The triangulation of the information obtained allowed the design of a psychoeducational intervention to promote the appropriate use of social networks, consisting of four sessions based on the health belief model.

The inflection of Latin masculine proper names inThe Old English Martyrology

AbstractThis paper focuses on the inflectional morphology of Latin masculine proper names in Old English. Most common Latin loans are perfectly integrated into the Old English system. Latin proper names, however, like late scholarly loans, show both Latin and Old English inflectional endings in an apparently chaotic distribution. By analysing a selection of 833 tokens fromThe Old English Martyrology, this paper shows that despite variation, a clear pattern resulting from a combination of the Latin and Old English systems can be detected. While the inflectional endings of one language dominate in some cases, e.g. Latin in the nominative and Old English in the dative, other inflections, e.g. the genitive thematic vowel + ‑s,result from a combination of both languages based on phonetic or spelling similarities. The result is a mixed paradigm predominantly modelled after Old Englisha-stem nouns.

Literature Review: Multiparadigm Accounting Research

The objective of this paper is to explore all related literature with multiparadigm accounting research approaches. The literature search strategy begins by looking at literature from sources in the forms of books or sources originating from several databases or search engines including open knowledge maps, google scholar, and z-library. The keywords used for the search are “accounting: science with various paradigms, multiparadigm accounting research, accounting paradigm and paradigm accounting”. From the results of searching and reviewing the literature, including books, journal articles and other electronic sources, various kinds of multiparadigm accounting research were obtained. By knowing the benefits of each of the paradigm viewpoints that have been described, it is good if we take a mixed paradigm approach in accounting research so that research results are of higher quality because they are not only based on one paradigm. Even though in one research using one accounting paradigm, those of us who strongly believe in a certain paradigm still have an open mind towards other paradigms thus enriching our views so that in studying accounting all paradigms are believed to complement one another. This research will greatly contribute to academics in viewing accounting from various perspectives. This literature review classifies multiparadigm accounting research based on more specific groups.

Investigating student reasoning about measurement uncertainty and ability to draw conclusions from measurement data in inquiry-based university physics labs

ABSTRACT Measurement uncertainty is a key topic in the university physics laboratory curriculum. In this study, we investigate students’ ability to draw conclusions from measurement data and reasoning about measurement uncertainty in inquiry labs. This investigation centres around a task where students conclude whether measurements from two experiments that differ only by one setup agree or disagree. Surveys were administered in introductory physics courses before and after Workshop Physics instruction, which utilises an activity-based, guided-inquiry approach. Student reasoning was characterised using the point and set paradigms. Think-aloud interviews were conducted to gain deeper insights into students' interpretations of measurement uncertainty. The survey results showed that students tended to draw conclusions based on the means without appropriately accounting for uncertainty even if many recognised the need to evaluate uncertainty. The number of decimal places had no influence on students’ ability to draw conclusions. After instruction, students’ reasoning shifted from point toward set or mixed paradigm, but their ability to draw conclusions did not improve. During the interviews, students demonstrated sophisticated interpretations about measurement uncertainty and data analysis strategies they used. Students recognised measurement uncertainty is inevitable and were able to identify possible sources of uncertainty. We discuss implications for instruction around measurement uncertainty.

Portuguese Teachers’ Conceptions of the Use of Microsoft 365 during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, education found itself involved in a whirlwind of metamorphosis, of transformations that required responses to the emergencies dictated by the pandemic. In Portugal, many schools opted for Microsoft 365 as the platform of choice for providing adequate resources for teaching and learning processes, while also ensuring remote teaching in an integrated and inclusive way. In this context, we carried out an investigation with the objectives of knowing the opinion of teachers about the use of Microsoft 365 in their classes and identify their degree of satisfaction with its use. The methodology adopted had a descriptive and exploratory nature, following a mixed paradigm. A total of 101 primary and secondary school teachers from schools in Northern Portugal participated in the study. A questionnaire and an interview were used as data collection instruments. The results showed that the most respondents revealed a high level of satisfaction with the use of Microsoft 365, and that its use was accompanied by the employment of active methodologies. Moreover, despite the lack of initial or ongoing training of teachers in the use of this technology and the students’ lack of digital competence, Microsoft 365 proved to be an adequate response to the confinement and ensured students’ learning in a safe environment.

Construction Robotics and Human–Robot Teams Research Methods

Though studies in construction robotics and human–robot teams research have explored varying themes, an in-depth study of the state-of-the-art of methodological paradigms appropriate for construction robotics research is hitherto lacking, taking into consideration that several studies have highlighted conflicting methodological components such as research design, methods, data sources, data types and analytical techniques. To better understand this underexplored area, this study uses a four-stage review approach utilising a scientometric and systematic analysis method based on 112 articles. Using statistical analysis to evaluate the relationship between research components, the study reveals strong associations between components of research methods, data sources and analytical techniques. Researchers are also increasingly looking to mixed paradigms in data sources and designs, highlighting a methodological plurality in construction robotics research. Implications on what this means for the future of construction robotics, policy and stakeholders are discussed in the study.

The Practice of Research Innovation in Higher Learning Institutions: Implication for Quality Education Mwanza-Tanzania

This study explored practice of research innovation in higher learning institutions; implication for quality Education. Higher learning with high provision of research activities would attract finance from different agencies. Globally, research exploration contributes significant benefits to society. The study posed three objectives: to identify roles of research in higher learning institutions in Mwanza, determine areas for research innovation in higher learning, to examine possible strategies to curb challenges facing research innovation. Three higher learning institutions in Mwanza city were involved. The research adopted mixed paradigms. A number of 140 respondents were involved in the study. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design, which allows the researcher to visit the field in a single point of time, collect both narrative and quantitative information concurrently, analyze separately and merge it at the end of the study. Data gathering were questionnaires, descriptive guide, and observation. Instruments were validated, piloted; the result indicated 0.81 Cronbach Alpha demonstrating that tools were acceptable. Information was coded using descriptive statistics with the assistance of the package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21. Narrative data was subjected to word clouds program. Various themes emerged and used in report writing. The findings displayed that; research enables learners to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, empower the youths, gives self-confidence, it gives autonomy and provides monetary funds. However, were varieties of challenges facing research innovation as monetary capital, lack of institutional partnership and low learners registration. Hence, government should set policy that would ensure research is given paramount priority in all learning.

Mixed Methods Research in Special Education in Turkey: Learning from Researcher Experiences in Graduate Thesis

As a relatively young approach, mixed methods research (MMR) is a highly practical method to employ in special education due to its challenges and gains for the researchers. In this qualitative study, our aim is to explore the experiences and opinions of the researchers who completed their graduate thesis studies via MMR in special education in Turkey. We depended on hermeneutic (interpretive) phenomenological design and conducted focus group discussions with eight participants. Inductive thematic analysis has yielded four themes: (1) discovering the nature of MMR, (2) the reasons to opt for MMR, (3) the experience in conducting MMR, and (4) suggestions. The findings have revealed that understanding the mixed paradigm is a challenging task which requires a change in the mindset of researcher. Its strong functional features for special education have directed researchers towards MMR. However, many challenges raise the question: “to what extent do studies meet the MMR quality standards?” The limitations we observed in the theses have indicated that the quality standards are not adequately reflected. The relatively new nature of the method, researchers’ lack of knowledge and experience, and insufficient support from the supervisor were the sources of the challenges according to our findings. We can say that there is also a need for studies discussing the implementation of the method in special education and for guidelines that will plot a route.

The Causes and Effects of Truancy in Chinyama Litapi Schools of Zambezi District

Education is a touchstone and an essential requirement of human life. The purpose of this study was to identify causes of truancy, establish effects of truancy and find out ways of improving attendance in schools in Chinyama Litapi area. The study employed a mixed paradigm and descriptive design that sampled seven schools and 80 participates. In order to meet these objectives, the researcher used open ended and closed questionnaires, interviews and observation. The findings revealed that there was high level of truancy among school going children in Chinyama Litapi area that result from personal, home and school factors. The study recommended that, there is need to have a detailed government educational policy on truancy reflecting why, when and how the offenders would be punished. Further it should explain who is to receive stiffer punishment whether the child, parent or the teacher to avoid unnecessary truancy that make many pupils drop school.

Investigating Teachers’ Awareness of Gifted Children and Resource Accessibility for their Learning in Tanzania

Background: Gifted Children are among learners who have potentials to show a higher performance in comparison with other students in term of skills.
 Objectives: This study investigates teachers’ awareness of gifted children and availability of learning resources to meet learning needs of children identified as gifted in public primary schools in Tanzania taking a case of Tabora municipality. The study was guided by the following objectives. To determine the level of teachers’ awareness of gifted children among pupils in government primary school in Tabora. To explore the role of teachers trained in special education in government primary school in Tanzania. To examine strategies used by teachers in teaching gifted children in government primary schools in Tabora.
 Materials and Methods: The study employed mixed paradigms. A number of 50 teachers were involved in the study. The study adopted cross-sectional survey methods designs. Data was collected by using questionnaires and interview. Research instruments were piloted validated and reliable; the result showed a C alpha equal to 0.81 which is establishing that research tools are reliable and acceptable to be used in the study. Purposive sampling techniques were used in this study where in-depth interviews were employed. The data were analysed thematically based on the study objective.
 Results: results shows that the level of Teachers’ awareness of gifted children and the availability of learning resources among pupils in government primary schools in Tanzania is low. Furthermore, results from the field revealed that trained teachers play a significant role in the education of gifted children in school contexts; some of their role is to develop teaching and learning resources, creating a warm and conducive classroom, providing guidance and counselling to the learners. The findings of this study show that the most and well known strategy that teachers use to teach gifted children in primary schools was grouping strategy, enrolling gifted children in to the upper class, use supplementary reading sources to teach the gifted children in their classes, as well as individualizing teaching strategy in their instructions
 Conclusion: Findings revealed that majority of teachers have insufficient awareness about gifted children in public primary schools in Tanzania. The study suggest that in order to develop a clear awareness of gifted children in public primary schools, teachers should be trained in order to teach gifted learners. Professional development for teachers about gifted education should be conducted frequently. Moreover, to enhance effective learning, a teacher requires to significantly recognize with learners’ concerns and try to understand things from the learner’s perspective and choose the suitable way of instruction.

Collaborating with qualitative researchers to co‐design social‐ecological studies

AbstractIn recent years, ecologists have embraced the human dimensions of their discipline and expanded their remit to explore issues traditionally addressed by the social sciences and environmental humanities. This expansion offers opportunities to engage with diverse methodologies, some of which challenge the orthodoxies of conservation research; however, ecologists do not have the expertise to use social science methodologies in their work. In this Toolkit, we outline ways to improve social‐ecological research and outcomes through partnerships with qualitative researchers. Ecologists – who lack the epistemological and methodological preparation needed for productive qualitative or mixed methods study design – have often used quantitative methods to investigate social‐ecological systems. Though this has enhanced our ecological knowledge and led to the development of evidence‐based conservation practices, the biodiversity crisis continues to worsen as a result of human behaviours. Qualitative inquiry offers powerful insights into the drivers of social and behavioural phenomena but remains under‐represented in ecological research despite its broadening demographic. This presents a substantial missed opportunity that warrants rectifying. Here, we outline the qualitative research paradigm and highlight its benefits to ecology and ecologists. We also discuss a range of pitfalls and caveats ecologists encounter by not using appropriate qualitative research designs to support the exploration of their questions. We conclude by providing guidance for ecologists who intend to conduct research embracing qualitative or mixed paradigm designs. In order to address the human dimensions of ecology and conservation, it is essential to engage qualitative experts within and beyond the ecological science community. When fruitful collaborations form, research teams are able to approach some of ecology's most challenging problems from new perspectives, incorporating the views and knowledge of stakeholders on whom we rely for success.

Temporally dynamic neural correlates of drug cue reactivity, response inhibition, and methamphetamine-related response inhibition in people with methamphetamine use disorder

Cue-induced drug craving and disinhibition are two essential components of continued drug use and relapse in substance use disorders. While these phenomena develop and interact across time, the temporal dynamics of their underlying neural activity remain under-investigated. To explore these dynamics, an analysis of time-varying activation was applied to fMRI data from 62 men with methamphetamine use disorder in their first weeks of recovery in an abstinence-based treatment program. Using a mixed block-event, factorial cue-reactivity/Go-NoGo task and a sliding window across the task duration, dynamically-activated regions were identified in three linear mixed effects models (LMEs). Habituation to drug cues across time was observed in the superior temporal gyri, amygdalae, left hippocampus, and right precuneus, while response inhibition was associated with the sensitization of temporally-dynamic activations across many regions of the inhibitory frontoparietal network. Methamphetamine-related response inhibition was associated with temporally-dynamic activity in the parahippocampal gyri and right precuneus (corrected p-value < 0.001), which show a declining cue-reactivity contrast and an increasing response inhibition contrast. Overall, the declining craving-related activations (habituation) and increasing inhibition-associated activations (sensitization) during the task duration suggest the gradual recruitment of response inhibitory processes and a concurrent habituation to drug cues in areas with temporally-dynamic methamphetamine-related response inhibition. Furthermore, temporally dynamic cue-reactivity and response inhibition were correlated with behavioral and clinical measures such as the severity of methamphetamine use and craving, impulsivity and inhibitory task performance. This exploratory study demonstrates the time-variance of the neural activations undergirding cue-reactivity, response inhibition, and response inhibition during exposure to drug cues, and suggests a method to assess this dynamic interplay. Analyses that can capture temporal fluctuations in the neural substrates of drug cue-reactivity and response inhibition may prove useful for biomarker development by revealing the rate and pattern of sensitization and habituation processes, and may inform mixed cue-exposure intervention paradigms which could promote habituation to drug cues and sensitization in inhibitory control regions.

Recent Trends in the Tribal Conflicts and Socio-Economic Development in Western Uganda

This scientific investigation study assessed the correlation between recent trends in the tribal conflicts and socio-economic development in Western Uganda particularly in the Rwenzori Region. The systematic study employed a cross sectional survey research design with mixed paradigms (qualitative and quantitative approaches). A sample of 384 participants out of 1.057.000 parent population was selected using a table developed by Morgan &amp; Krejcie (1970). Data was garnered utilizing researcher generated questionnaires and interview schedules and scrutinized applying Descriptive measurements and Pearson Linear Correlation Coefficient (PLCC) for quantitative statistics and content analysis was used for synthesizing qualitative information .The investigation study results came up with a significant correlation between recent trends in the tribal conflicts and socio-economic development in Western Uganda particularly in the Rwenzori Region. It was therefore concluded that the recent trends in the tribal conflicts do affect the socio-economic development in Western Uganda. Conflicts create a deplorable environment that cannot allow development to blossom. The scientific exploration study recommended that the political leadership of the Rwenzori region in Western Uganda should sit together on a round table, assess the causes of conflicts and resolve them amicably for the benefit of humanity. Generally, there is need to be cooperative with all the stakeholders in the said region so that development can be engendered.