Natural Construction Research Articles

The timeliness of constructionist theory in the process of journalistic content production in the digital age

This research explores the relevance of constructionist theory in the production of journalistic content in the digital age. Constructionist theory posits that reality is socially constructed and shaped by the discursive practices of the media, gaining significance within a media landscape profoundly transformed by digitization, the proliferation of social networks, and the use of algorithms. The investigation employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing a systematic literature review of publications from 2013 to 2023, aiming to map the principal theoretical and empirical approaches that discuss the impact of new technologies and communicative practices on contemporary journalism. The findings indicate that the digital era has intensified the constructionist nature of news production, given the multiplicity of voices and agents involved in the mediation process, including an actively participating public in the creation and dissemination of content. It was further observed that digital platforms, by personalizing news consumption through algorithms, create fragmented realities and filter bubbles, challenging the notion of a shared news reality. Moreover, the emergence of misinformation and “fake news” underscores the importance of a constructionist approach to understanding how news narratives are continuously negotiated and reconstructed. It is concluded that constructionist theory remains a valid analytical framework for understanding the dynamics of journalistic production in the digital age, particularly in a context where the boundaries between news producers and consumers have become increasingly fluid.

Analiza comparată a curriculumului și a manualelor de fizică pentru clasa a VII-a din România, Rusia și Republica Moldova din punctul de vedere al susținerii conceptului de competențe de învățare pe tot parcursul vieții

In this paper, the lifelong learning competencies supported by physics textbooks for the 7th grade from Romania, Russia, and the Republic of Moldova were studied. Additionally, it was investigated whether there is any discrepancy between the competency units declared in the curriculum and the content and structure of the textbooks. A comparative analysis was conducted on Unit 2 “Mechanical Phenomena. Interactionsˮ from the Romanian textbook, Chapter 2 “Interaction of Bodiesˮ from the Russian textbook, and Chapter 2 “Interactionsˮ from the Moldovan textbook. It was found that the Romanian textbook emphasizes the development of technological skills and critical and analytical thinking through the conduct and analysis of experiment results within each lesson, as well as problem-solving skills by examining complex real-world situations. However, the Romanian curriculum lacks specific competency units for the learning unit. The Russian textbook is distinguished by a clear, structured, and concise presentation of the material, and the Russian curriculum includes a short list of cognitive objectives that fully reflect the constructivist nature of learning. It was established that the Moldovan textbook supports autonomous learning, problem-solving, and technological skills, corresponding in such a way to the curriculum.

What does racial ascription have to do with perception of Swedishness?

AbstractHow do Swedes, who are not exposed to administrative routines of reporting race and ethnicity, perceive, and categorize faces with different phenotypical features? This study examines identity contestation that can occur and address how race affects the way you are perceived as Swedish. A sample of Swedish participants were asked to assign racial categories to images of faces with different phenotypes, identify the skin color of the faces and rate how ‘Swedish’ the faces are perceived. We also use eye‐tracking to explore whether participants look differently at the faces of different racial groups. The results show greater identity contestation among Latino and Black faces. Moreover, while Swedish respondents identify the skin color of faces self‐identified as Black as darker compared to other racial backgrounds, the differences in skin color reported between Asian, White and Latinos were very small. Despite these small differences in the perception of skin color among Asian, White, and Latino faces, faces self‐reported as White were rated as significantly more Swedish by the respondents compared Asian and Latino faces. All these results contribute to the understanding of not only how race matters in Sweden but also to the understanding of constructivist nature of race.

The Conservative of the Spontaneous Order

Libertarianism itself does not hold a stance on moral issues and hence does not prevent libertarians from adopting culturally conservative or liberal positions. Though libertarianism has no position on cultural issues per se, this article argues that libertarians should intellectually oppose the ideas behind some of the current cultural developments in the West due to their constructivist nature. Based on Hayek’s critique of constructivism, I contend that many of the recent cultural shifts in society are influenced by rational constructivist ideas—namely, critical theory and deconstruction. These ideas pose an intellectual threat to libertarianism for two reasons: (1) They intellectually challenge the traditional libertarian view of the spontaneous origins of civil society, which they aim to reshape in favor of a structure that reflects a specific postmodern world view. (2) It remains uncertain how a libertarian society would function under a newly constructed social order that does not value free speech, property rights, and other fundamental principles of the current liberal order. The spontaneous order is the defining feature of libertarian social analysis, and it must be intellectually defended.

Practices for Reporting Scale Structure and Summarizing Scores in Studies Using FAMCARE Scale to Assess Caregiver Satisfaction with Cancer Care: A Scoping Review.

Satisfaction with care is a concept quantified through diverse measurement tools. However, studies have indicated that measuring satisfaction is challenging due to the construct's multidimensional expression. Thus, obtaining valid results requires careful consideration of the construct's nature and measurement methods. The primary aim of this study was to examine how studies involving cancer caregivers have addressed the dimensionality of the construct when using satisfaction with care as an outcome, and whether this is reflected in the score reporting practices. We chose to investigate this by conducting a scoping review of the measurement tool Family Satisfaction with End-of-Life Care Scale (FAMCARE Scale), where scores can be reported as the mean of overall score, subscale scores and single-item scores. This scoping review consisted of systematic searches using Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, and Epistemonikos. Two researchers used the Rayyan Qatar Computing Research Institute system to perform a blinded screening process. We extracted information on study design, purpose, evaluating of structural validity, variations in the type of scores reported, and justification for choosing the type(s) of scores that were analyzed. Twenty-three studies were included in the review, and their designs and reporting practices of score type varied substantially. Five studies reported analyses to test the scale's structural validity. Ten studies provided a justification for their choice of reporting method. The most common reporting practice found was using mean of overall scores, present in 20 of the included studies. Twelve studies reported mean of subscale scores, and ten reported single-item mean scores. We found substantial variability in score reporting practices, highlighting the need for a more in-depth understanding and reflection on the multidimensional nature of caregiver satisfaction.

Revisiting the academic self-concept transcultural measurement model: The case of Spain and China.

Modelling academic self-concept through second-order factors or bifactor structures is an important issue with substantive and practical implications; besides, the bifactor model has not been analysed with a Chinese sample and cross-cultural studies in the academic self-concept are scarce. Likewise, latent structure validity evidence using network psychometrics has not been carried out. The aim of this study is twofold: to analyse (1) the internal structure of ASC through the Self-Description Questionnaire II-Short (SDQII-S) in Chinese and Spanish samples using two approaches, structural equation modelling and network psychometrics conducting an exploratory graph analysis; and (2) the measurement invariance of the best model across countries and investigate the cross-cultural differences in ASC. The sample was composed by 651 adolescents. Seven models of ASC were tested. Results supported the multi-dimensional nature of the data as well as the reliability. The best-fitted model for the two subsamples was the three-factor ESEM model, but only the configural invariance of this model was supported across countries. The graph function shows that the school dimension appears more related to the verbal factor in the Spanish subsample and to the math dimension in the Chinese subsample. Likewise, the relationship between verbal and math factors in Spanish students is non-existent, but this connection is more relevant for Chinese students. These two differences may be behind the difficulty in finding invariance using SEM models. It is a question of the construct's nature, less related to analytical phenomena, and deserves deeper discussion.

Family patio agroecosystem: role and empowerment of rural women in two communities

Objective: To identify the role of women in the family patio agroecosystem and its relationship in the empowerment process, in two groups of women in the municipality of Medellín de Bravo, Veracruz, Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: The research carried out is qualitative-quantitative, of a constructionist nature, and is based on the Research-Action-Participatory process, through adaptation of the management model for natural resource management in family farming. Results: The psychometric results obtained in the Rosemberg Self-Esteem Scale indicate that the average response is 26.3, which indicates a normal self-esteem of women who work in the family patio agroecosystem, and positively impacts their human development, empowerment, and personal identity. Limitations on study/implications: The work of rural women in the family patio agroecosystem is not recognized, so it is important that it be made visible, mainly to them, and that they be empowered in their being, through their actions. Findings/conclusions: A total of 52 species were found, distributed among 15 fruit trees, 13 ornamental plants, 9 seasoning plants, 9 medicinal plants, 4 timber trees and only 2 vegetables. In the breeding of small species, 3 animal species are reported: 41 chickens, 2 pigs and 3 sheep.

Practicing security: securitisation of transboundary rivers by hydrocrats in Himalayan South Asia

This paper examines the intersection of regional geopolitics and the governance of transboundary rivers using the case studies of multipurpose reservoirs in Himalayan South Asia. It uncovers the various ways Indian hydrocracy uses its institutional and technical expertise to strengthen India’s centrality in Nepal’s water and hydropower sectors. The practices of security undertaken by the hydrocrats are classified as structural, institutional, and statutory acts. By focusing on practices of an epistemic community like hydrocrats, this paper addresses longstanding weaknesses of the securitisation theory of being elitist and ignoring the agency of mid-level bureaucrats. It also highlights the constructivist nature of international politics. The findings contribute empirically to securitisation theory’s ‘Paris School’ of thought.

Politeness of nonverbal hospitality in Saudi and British female interactions

Abstract Although linguistic politeness has been extensively theorized about, the role of nonverbal behaviour in managing politeness in interactions has been neglected until recently. In this analysis of natural conversations between female friends in dinner settings, I show how nonverbal hospitality can influence rapport management and the constructionist nature of politeness among Saudi and British female friends, and I compare the two cultures. I show how these nonverbal acts can be observed by looking at the sequences and turns taken in talking, exploring metapragmatic evaluations, and using second-order politeness concepts in interpreting politeness as situated in discourse. The combination of these analytical tools allows for an explanation of what is going on rather than a mere description of the interaction. The analysis demonstrates that nonverbal hospitality plays an important role in the management of rapport and discursive relations. I find that, although the motivation and role of nonverbal hospitality in the management of interactions in young female friendship groups in the two cultures are similar, there are remarkable differences in frequency, reactions, and complexity in the negotiation of nonverbal hospitality.

From discursive resistance to new genealogies: rethinking Israelite identities in Africa through the case of Nuer Christian Zionists

AbstractScholars have commonly interpreted the emergence of claims of Israelite descent among African peoples as attempts of marginalized communities to construct empowering identities by drawing on biblical narratives. This article tries to make sense of such claims from a more emic perspective, not as an instrumental counter-discourse but as a genuine attempt to grapple with the nature of ethnic membership and the place of certain communities in relation to biblical genealogies, time and space. The article explores the claims of Nuer members of several Evangelical Zionist churches operating in western Ethiopia and South Sudan that the Nuer are among the ‘lost tribes’ of Israel. It demonstrates how Nuer Zionists have reinterpreted Nuer identity, known for its permeability and constructivist nature, in light of contemporary premillennialist Zionist notions of history and peoplehood, which emphasize ethnic fixity and focus on lineages, exclusive bloodlines and biological descent. The article offers a new perspective on Israelite identities in Africa and on the influence of born-again Christianity on the construction of ethnic identities.

Data “Objectivity” in a Time of Coronavirus: Uncovering the Potential Impact of State Influence on the Production of Data-Driven News

News reports on the Covid-19 pandemic have largely been data-driven, with coverage on infection numbers, deaths, recoveries, tests administered, economic impacts and vaccine trials; data for these stories tend to be disseminated from top-down, by governments and public health organizations, and often viewed as scientific and precise. This article examines critically the “objective” nature of data and discusses the social constructionist nature of data journalism, where data access and presentation may be shaped by power and social relations. This study focuses on Singapore, a global city in Asia that received praise in international media at the start of the pandemic when it was able to keep its infection numbers low while other cities went into lockdown; the turning point came when numerous infection clusters developed in the migrant worker dormitories on the island. Through in-depth interviews with newsworkers, this study maps out the potential extent of state influence on press coverage and journalistic sensibilities during the coronavirus pandemic through the stages of news production – from the news gathering and selection stages, to the newswriting and presentation stage – and offers an assessment of how data “objectivity” may be a powerful tool to shape public opinion in times of crisis.

Heat sink evolutionary optimization by natural construction method

In the present study, a new optimization method called natural construction (NC) method was presented. This method was inspired by constructal law and it is an effort to extend this theorem by eliminating its predefined constraints. The proposed NC method was implemented on evolutionary optimization of embedded high conductive continuous strips in a cold plate to cool a uniformly heat-generating surface. These strips guide the generated heat to a localized constant temperature heat sink. The proposed method is a straightforward approach with a low computational cost which works based on gradual growth of the constructal cells and unlike the majority of optimization methods, does not need any special assumption about the initial shape of strips configuration or constructal cell size. Moreover, since in this method constructal cells are added gradually, the effect of each element on maximum or mean temperature can be assessed at each step while the proper amount of required area fraction of high conductive material will be evaluated accordingly. The NC method is a general constraint-free optimization method that can apply to a wide variety of engineering problems and will be very useful in different disciplines.

Letter to Matter and Various Incomprehensibilities—The Effective Ethicality of Scientific and Humanistic Interdisciplinarity

The article is based on the dual concepts of theoretical incompleteness in systems science and theoretical incomprehensibility in philosophy previously introduced in the literature. Issues of incompleteness relate to the logical openness of complexity models in their nonequivalence and necessary non-zippable incompletable multiplicity. This concerns the quasi-ness of phenomena and the constructivist nature of models. Theoretically, incomprehensibility is considered in different ways, such as the inexhaustible multiplicity of the constructivist reality corresponding to the logical openness of both the world and of understanding itself and in reference to incomprehensibilities such as questions like the divide between species, cognitive systems, and after-death experience (if any). In conjunction with the need for non-classic, interdisciplinary approaches in science to deal with complexity, unanswerable questions need suitable scientifically updated philosophical reasoning in interdisciplinary humanistic backgrounds to allow for new social representations, understandings, and plausible social imaginary. Such approaches more properly allow for effective philosophical representations of the world. Knowing how to deal with these issues through philosophical reasoning updated to the current scientific levels and humanistic interdisciplinarity allows for higher levels of awareness and new comprehensive philosophical understanding, introducing new powerful social imaginary. Such new philosophical reasoning is expected to allow a conception of the world that is no longer just utilitarian, but theoretically necessarily, and not only concessively respectful of diversity with significant, even self-ethical effects.

Podoroga’s Method. An Ocular Analytics and an Instant of Writing

The paper is dedicated to the method of analysis of literary ontologies developed by Valery Podoroga within analytical anthropology. We attempt to formalize particular aspects of the method with an emphasis on the use of ocular metaphors as abstract representational schemata in the analysis of the writings of N. Gogol, F. Dostoevsky, A. Bely, A. Platonov, Yu. Druskin, S. Eisenstein, and Dz. Vertov. Particular attention is paid to the notion of the moment in Podoroga’s approach. It is viewed not only as a physical or metaphysical category, but also as a distinct discursive device related to the “defamiliarisation” technique proposed by Russian formalist V. Shklovsky as a vehicle of novelty and strangeness emerging in literary texts of innovative writers. We demonstrate how different temporal and ocular metaphors in Podoroga’s texts, such as “moment-time”, “suddenly-time”, “eye-bullet”, “eye-egg”, “eye-crystal”, “eye athleticism”, and “mechanical eye” fuel operational interaction between the optical and temporal discourse lines whilst describing transgressive experience and, concurrently, creating the conditions for its reproduction in the reader’s perception. On the whole, the research strategy of V. A. Podoroga may be construed as an optical construction where the initial ocular metaphor defines the nature and the structure of the entire studied literary ontology, representing the author’s view not only and less as a special way of literary interpretation of the real world, but more as an departure point in constructing an autonomous aesthetic space existing in its categorial logic and governed by its own spatiotemporal laws. Applying formal approach to the works of V.A. Podoroga has allowed us to identify its mainly constructivist nature and to uncover the methodological basis of his research strategy.

Performance assessment of the use of information technology in health management: a systematic review of the literature on the topic

Information Technology (IT) has become fundamental in the provision of healthcare services, encompassing the entire gamut of aspects involved in the area. For this reason, IT can make a significant contribution to the performance of health organizations. There is a knowledge gap about how to introduce and implement improvements in these technologies, one of the reasons cited being the lack of studies on the topic of Evaluation of the Performance of Information Technology in health. The objective of this work is to contribute to the dissemination of knowledge on the subject, by conducting a systematic review using Proknow-C (Knowledge Development Process-Constructivist). By means of the analysis of production metrics, it was seen how the studies comprised in the Bibliographical Portfolio of research represent the area of knowledge investigated. Based on a systematic analysis of the content of these publications, it was possible to ascertain the knowledge gaps still existing in the area. As a limitation of the study, the constructivist nature of Proknow-C is the main issue and, in the suggestions for future research, it is recommended that, based on the analysis performed, the knowledge gaps identified be filled.

Διερευνώντας τις σχέσεις ανάμεσα στη Θεωρία του Νου και στις Επιστημικές Πεποιθήσεις

The present research investigated a) beliefs about the mind of others elementary school children’s (Theory of Mind), b) their epistemic beliefs about the nature of knowledge and knowing (Personal Epistemology), and c) the relationship between these two domains, in order to examine the hypothesis that Theory of Mind is a first step towards the development of a Personal Epistemology. Forty-six fifth graders were administered measures of their ability to attribute false beliefs to others and of their epistemic stance. The results showed statistically significantcorrelations between children’s ability to understand the beliefs of others and their epistemic beliefs. Furthermore, students performed better on Theory of Mind measures in relation to epistemic measures indicating that children more readily understand the constructivist nature of knowledge in the domain of Theory of Mind. The regression analyses carried out showed that Theory of Mind highly contributes to children’s epistemic stance.

Teaching for conceptual change in preschool science: relations among teachers’ professional beliefs, knowledge, and instructional practice

ABSTRACT To effectively support early science learning in preschool, teachers need to be aware of the constructivist nature of children’s learning. This study examined a sample of Swiss preschool teachers’ beliefs about science learning and teaching and their relation to their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and scaffolding practices within a curriculum about floating and sinking. In Study 1, beliefs and PCK were assessed by means of questionnaires. A latent-profile analysis involving 104 preschool teachers reveals three clusters of teachers exhibiting specific belief profiles about science learning: ‘highly constructivist,’ ‘low constructivist’ and ‘hands-on’ teachers. PCK differed across clusters, while highly constructivist teachers ranked highest. To deepen our understanding of the relations among preschool teachers’ beliefs, PCK and teaching, we videotaped scaffolding practice of a subsample of 32 preschool teachers when teaching a curriculum of floating and sinking (Study 2). We found that teachers often apply scaffolding strategies to support topic-specific learning. However, scaffolding strategies aiming to stimulate higher-order thinking were rather rare. Furthermore, we found correlations between teachers’ constructivist beliefs and their scaffolding as well as between teachers’ topic-specific language and their PCK. Our findings emphasize the importance of targeting teachers’ beliefs and PCK to improve the quality of preschool science instruction.

Asset-based recognition criteria: a comprehensive view

Purpose This paper aims to present a comprehensive view of the assets recognition criteria by providing a coherent set of pre-measurement themes that should be taken into consideration to be a candidate asset. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a conceptual review paper. Findings This synthesis review results in seven themes; the social constructionist nature of the conceptual framework (CF), the nature of assets, the changing nature of asset recognition, asset measurement bases, entity-specific vs market-specific recognition, the economic resource comprising “rights”, and finally, the role of “separability” in asset recognition. Originality/value With the increasing importance of internally created assets and their implications on the financial position of the business entity, and with coinciding of revisiting the CF for financial reporting (at the time of writing this paper), this paper shows a synthesis and comprehensive themes of asset-based recognition criteria for tangible and intangibles assets.

Postmoderni mimezis u filmu Vudija Alena "Zelig"

The paper analyses the specific nature of mimesis in Woody Allen's 1983 film Zelig. Mimesis here takes on a dual function: it is fundamental in the protagonist's individuation, but also an essential model of the genre determination. The aim of the study is to re-examine Woody Allen's flirting with the interpretation of subjectivity, as well as with his understanding of genre usages, through poststructuralist perspective. The question that looms over the work is directed towards the identity breviary of Leonard Zelig based on a hyperbolized imitative conformity that implies the constructivist nature of the subject. It is questionable whether these different identity manifestations derive from the a priori essence of the subject, which adapts to external influences, or whether the subject itself is a result of different influences which, by piling up, form a construct of personality. A similar enigma is present in the genre where Woody Allen's film problematizes the identity of documentary film in the role of a true referent of historical facts. In the conclusion of the paper, it is established that the mimetic principle determines a dualism of thematic and formal plan that ideally intertwine and complement, deconstructing on the one hand the notion of the subject as a natural, unchangeable and solid whole, and the view of art forms and genres as clearly demarcated and independent structures on the other. At the same time, this deconstruction re-examines the truth of historical facts by pointing out the possibility of authenticating a fictional work with historiographical, documentary usages. Such a complexity of semantic richness is established on the principle of what is revealed as the postmodern mimesis of Woody Allen's documentary imaginary.

The Inapplicability of Objectivity: Understanding the Work of Data Journalism

ABSTRACT Data journalism is an emerging form of journalism, entailing the discovery of stories in data with the assistance of data algorithms. The burgeoning literature has largely interpreted the work of data journalism through the lens of objectivity. This paper, however, rejects the applicability of objectivity to data journalism. This inapplicability is the product of five factors: the extensive use of data and data algorithms in journalism; the difficulty in verifying data; the imbalance in data and data access; the uncertainty about if and to what extent data journalists can obtain sufficient knowledge of data contexts and algorithms; and their “design subjectivity” in the data processing process. Data reporting becomes a process of knowledge construction under the influence of these factors. The article argues that because of the social constructionist nature of data journalism, serving the public interest and democracy is a more appropriate principle than objectivity for data journalism. It suggests shifting academic attention from celebrating objectivity in data journalism to examining the epistemology of data journalists, the factors influencing data journalists’ formation of knowledge in reporting, their defence of cultural authority, and the democratic meanings of data reports in future research. Such understanding also has implications for data journalism pedagogy and practice.