Creation Of Opportunities Research Articles

The Rise of Digital Reproduction Against Mechanical Reproduction: “Techno-Nostalgia” in Photography

As a result of advancements in contemporary digital technology, the production tools utilized in art, alongside new instruments that facilitate daily life, are becoming increasingly diverse and sophisticated. The innovations offered by technology provide a wide range of creative opportunities, particularly for artists. However, since the 1990s, there has been a notable tendency towards a retrospective return and mimicry in both daily life and art. This research primarily focuses on the paradox of returning to the past, despite all technological developments and digitalization, as explored through the medium of photography. In this study, the reasons for looking back and mimicking the past in defiance of contemporary realities and technologies are analyzed within the framework of the concept of “tech-nostalgia.” Concrete examples of “tech-nostalgia” in the realm of photography, such as the Lomography movement and Polaroid productions, have been examined in detail. Despite the high-resolution image quality achieved through current technology and the conveniences of the image production process, the reasons for the observed increase in analog photography have been addressed. The investigation delves into how this increase is shaped within the nature of art and photographic aesthetics, and this trend is attempted to be elucidated through psychological and sociological perspectives with relevant examples.

Decision-making style and entrepreneurial intentions among public sector workers in Ghana

The present research endeavours to ascertain the rational decision-making style of public sector workers (PSWs) and their impact on entrepreneurial opportunities in Ghana. In particular, the study examines the mediating role of entrepreneurial intention and the moderating effect of social capital. To test the hypotheses, a sample of 358 PSWs was analysed using a structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings reveal that decision-making style has a significant effect on entrepreneurial intention, opportunity development, and opportunity creation, respectively. Furthermore, the research supports the mediating role of entrepreneurial intention, which manifests itself as a crucial conduit between decision-making style and both opportunity development and opportunity creation. The study emphasises the imperative for policymakers to foster a robust social environment that nurtures the Ghanaian PSW community. The study posits that entrepreneurial opportunity creation can be substantially enhanced by encouraging these workers to explore and create business ventures.

Household Level Determinants of Wheat Packages Adoption in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia

Wheat has been considered as one of the strategic food security crops in Ethiopia. A number of research efforts have been done by different research institutions to improve the production and productivity of the crop and as a result a number of wheat production packages has been released and promoted all across the country, including Tigray. Yet, in Tigray, there is no adequate evidence on the adoption status of wheat packages and their determinant factors. Hence, this adoption study was initiated with the objective to analyze the status of wheat packages adoption, and determinant factors for further adoption. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 493 households from five wheat growing districts of the region. Data were collected through the administration of semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using both descriptive statistics and Multivariate Probit (MVP) model. The descriptive results described that, the average wheat packages adoption status was 67%, of these only 17% of farmers adopted all five packages. The result of MVP model revealed that sex, age, livestock size, extension services, average plot distance, off-farm income source, farmer perception on his status and credit access were the determinant factors which facilitate/and/or hinder wheat packages adoption in Tigray. Thus, the policy and development interventions should focus on improving institutional support and wealth creation opportunities to improve production and productivity of wheat producer farmers in Tigray.

Pemanfaatan Analisa SWOT dalam Mewujudkan Wirausaha Berbasis BUMDes di Desa Jambi Tulo Kecamatan Maro Sebo Kabupaten Muaro Jambi

This research aims to determine the effect of using SWOT analysis in realizing BUMDes-based entrepreneurship in Parit Panjang Hamlet, Jambi Tulo Village, Maro Sebo District, Muaro Jambi Regency. The type of research used is qualitative research with a case study approach with the scope of this research being BUMDes members in Parit Panjang Hamlet, Jambi Tulo Village, Maro Sebo District, Muaro Jambi Regency. The results of the research show that the SWOT analysis not only looks at four aspects from different points of view for the sustainability of BUMDes in Parit Panjang Hamlet, Jambi Tulo Village, Maro Sebo District, Muaro Jambi Regency, but is able to provide a way for the creation of job opportunities for the community to become entrepreneurs and founders of successful MSMEs. not there yet.

Employment Generation of Small-Scale Enterpise and Poverty Alleviation in Rivers State

Job creation opportunities of small-scale businesses in Nigeria for low-skilled workers should be the key to employment creation, which in turn leads to poverty reduction. The seeks to investigate the effects of the employment generation of small-scale enterprises and poverty alleviation in Rivers State. The study used descriptive statistics and the Z-test for the analyses of the data. The finding revealed that the employment generation of small-scale enterprises has a positive and significant effect on poverty alleviation in Nigeria. In addition, it was established that the economic benefits of participants in small-scale enterprises have a positive and significant effect on poverty alleviation in Nigeria. It is concluded that the employment generation of small-scale enterprises considerably enhanced poverty alleviation in Rivers State. The study recommends that policymakers and governments and their agencies provide the technical, technological, financial, managerial assistance, and infrastructure needed for the optimal use of the enormous employment creation opportunities in the small-scale businesses in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

Novi Sad cultural stations as healthy buildings for wellbeing concept

Abstract Creating spaces for all citizens through the cultural stations project within the Novi Sad - European Capital of Culture 2022 has set an example of applying the concept of well-being which involves integrating various elements that support physical, mental, and social health. Cultural stations project in the city of Novi Sad is a concept supporting cultural programming, healthy food options, mental health support, accessibility and inclusivity, as well as community engagement. Social interaction in urban areas is vital for mental and emotional well-being, fostering a sense of belonging and community, diverse cultural programming that appeals to different groups, cultural activities such as art exhibitions, performances, workshops, and community events provide opportunities for creativity, learning, and social engagement, enhancing overall well-being. Access to cultural stations, spending time there has been linked to reduced stress, improved mood, and increased feelings of well-being within 7 neighborhoods of Novi Sad. This includes providing barrier-free access, accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and programming that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone. Participation of the local community in the design, programming, and management of cultural stations is also important. By integrating these principles into the design, programming, and management of cultural stations, Novi Sad creates vibrant, inclusive, and healthy spaces that contribute to the overall well-being of its residents and visitors. Cultural stations are located in different parts of the city in order to provide accessibility to all citizens. Their arrangement is in accordance with the recommendations of green construction and restoration, and the interior and surroundings foster respect for nature and nature-based solutions. Also, they are developing different content in line with culture, but also science, health and smart solutions as a tool for well-being.

Mail art methods and the social and cultural geographies of families affected by rare disease

ABSTRACT Building on geographic scholarship around disability and drawing on a programme of arts-based research, we bring attention to the social and cultural geographies of families affected by rare disease. Seeking creative methodological opportunities, we invited families to send us postcards as a means of sharing experiences and reflections. We contextualize the emergence of the postcard as a modality of communication, situating our work within a wider epistolary and artistic tradition, before examining the opportunities postcarding might produce for geographic and broader qualitative research, noting the forms conduciveness to multimodality and recent calls for more engagement with the medium. We detail our own practices of participatory postcarding and the questions, challenges, and hopes such raised. Analysing the postcards received, we discuss how such helps understand the shifting social and cultural geographies of rare disease, reflecting on themes of (in)accessibility and exclusion, changing domestic geographies, and the importance of, and challenges associated with, family-based identities and communities in the context of rare disease. Such highlights opportunities for disability geography to engage in cross-cutting conversations and agenda-building with the nascent area of family geographies, along with further geographic inquiry into the spaces and worlds of rare disease.

The Effectiveness of Using Kahoot in Reinforcing Grammar and Writing for Ibn Tofail University EFL Students

This study explores the positive and negative aspects of using Kahoot to reinforce grammatical rules and writing skills among EFL students at Ibn Tofail University in Morocco. The findings reveal that Kahoot effectively enhances feedback validity, time management, and student motivation. Key motivational factors include engagement, the game-like nature of Kahoot, the evaluation system, anonymity, and competitiveness. However, the study also identifies several drawbacks, such as the potential loss of classroom objectives, accessibility issues, the creation of a tense environment, and limited opportunities for creativity. The research used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from student questionnaires and qualitative data from researcher observations. Results indicate that while Kahoot is a valuable tool for engaging students and improving learning outcomes, its implementation should be carefully managed to reduce potential disadvantages. Further research is recommended to expand the sample size, include diverse student populations, and explore the long-term effects of Kahoot in various educational contexts.

The Impact of the Development of Artificial Intelligence on Unemployment Rates

Abstract: The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative force in global labor markets, presenting dual possibilities: the displacement of traditional jobs and the creation of new employment opportunities. This paper explores the dynamic relationship between AI development and unemployment rates, using empirical data and regression analysis from 2012 to 2022. It examines the impact of AI across various sectors, highlighting how technological advancements and public engagement with AI via platforms like Google Trends influence employment patterns. In addition, it also reveals that AI development has a generally negative correlation with unemployment rates, suggesting that increased AI adoption may be linked to lower unemployment levels. The findings also underscore the importance of adaptive policies and education systems to harness AIs potential for job creation, which contributes to the discourse on AIs economic implications by providing a nuanced analysis of its influence on employment, essential for policymakers and stakeholders in navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies.

Crime radiation theory: the co-production of crime patterns through opportunity creation and exploitation

AbstractConsiderable research shows that crime is concentrated at a few proprietary places: addresses and facilities. Emerging research suggests that proprietary places may radiate crime: activities at a place increase the risk of crime in the area around it. Weaknesses in the research create uncertainty about radiation, so we need more rigorous research. To conduct this research, we need a theory of crime radiation that operates at two spatial levels: the proprietary place and the area. This paper describes such a theory. Our theory states that crime radiation stems from the interaction between place management decisions at the place and offenders searching for opportunities in the area. Place managers create crime opportunities inside and outside their places. Offenders exploit place managers’ creations by deliberately searching for opportunities or by chancing upon the opportunities. The ways place managers and offenders interact gives rise to three types of crime radiation: hot dot, veiled dot, and cold dot. Finally, we propose questions crime scientists should answer to better understand crime radiation.

The potential effects of deepfakes on news media and entertainment

AbstractDeepfakes are synthetic media, such as pictures, music and videos, created with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, a technique that builds upon machine learning and multi-layered neural networks trained on large datasets. Today, anyone can create deepfakes online, without any knowledge about the underpinning technology. This fact opens up creative opportunities at the same time as it creates individual and societal challenges. Some identified challenges are fake news, bullying, defamation, media manipulation and democracy damage. The aim of this study was to analyse and discuss how deepfakes could affect entertainment, education and digital news media in positive and negative ways. The chosen research strategy was a qualitative cross-sectional study to create a snapshot of current attitudes in blogs, online discussion fora and from a selected expert panel. Firstly, blogs and internet discussion fora on deepfakes and AI were analysed inductively. Secondly, results from the previous step were used to create a question scheme for semi-structured interviews with some selected experts that have relevant knowledge in the field of AI and deepfakes. Finally, interviews answered were analysed thematically using the Technology Affordances and Constraints Theory as an analytical lens. Findings show that deepfakes at the same time have a wide variety of affordances, but also some critical constraints to consider. In the affordance part, there are the potential use of deepfakes for speculative and provoking concepts, not only as entertainment, but also to illustrate educational scenarios that are hard or impossible to capture in traditional videos, images or sound recordings. Furthermore, there are many affordances for entertainment and the creation of environments where realism is not an important condition. Some examples are video game graphics, animated film background music in games and music videos. However, the conclusion is that the findings comprise more of constraints than of affordances, where the serious negative aspect of deepfakes can lead to psychological, financial and social harm. Many images and videos in news media have already been manipulated during the last decades, but deepfakes can take this to a new and more problematic level where the overall trust might disappear. The author’s recommendation is to further increase the focus on source criticism and that discussions on which sources to trust should be an early introduced part of educational programmes.

Enhancing Human Knowledge and Capabilities with Artificial Intelligence Tools for Education

This study explores the different ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools bolster human knowledge and boost intellectual and creative efforts within the educational sector. It provides a broad examination of AI's potential to enhance educational processes and outcomes while also assessing the ramifications of AI-driven creative destruction on the job market encompassing both job displacement and the emerging scope for new knowledge creation. Purpose. The study aims to explore the different ways in which AI tools enhance human knowledge and capabilities and their role in augmenting human intellectual and creative endeavours in education. By examining how AI can improve educational processes and outcomes, it highlights the potential for significant advancements. Additionally, the study critically examines the implications of AI-driven creative destruction on the job market, focusing on the education sector. This includes understanding both job displacement and the creation of new opportunities that require advanced skills. Methods. This research involves a detailed analysis of various AI applications across the education domain. It employs virtual interviews with students and educators to provide detailed examples of AI's impact and reviews existing literature to contextualise these findings within broader economic implications. By focusing on the education sector, the study provides a comprehensive overview of how AI is being implemented and the outcomes of these implementations. This approach allows for a thorough understanding of both the benefits and challenges connected with AI integration. Results. The study suggests that AI significantly improves data processing capabilities, leading to notable advancements in educational research and personalised learning. These improvements can facilitate decision-making and innovation. However, AI also disrupts traditional employment patterns, displacing routine jobs that are easily automated. Conversely, it creates new roles that demand advanced technical skills and continuous education, highlighting a shift in the job market toward more specialised and high-skill positions. Conclusion. While AI can present substantial benefits in terms of efficiency and innovation, it poses significant challenges in the form of job displacement. To manage these transitions effectively, strategic responses from policymakers and educational institutions are essential. These strategies should aim to ensure equitable access to AI’s benefits and support workforce adaptation. By fostering a balanced integration of technological advancements and human well-being, it is possible to mitigate the negative impacts while maximising the positive outcomes of AI.

Developing the industrial capacity for energy transitions: Resource formation for offshore wind in Europe

As energy transitions progress from formative to growth or acceleration phases, issues related to resource formation increase in importance. In this paper we address a type of resource formation that has received scant attention in the sustainability transitions literature to date: developing the industrial capacity to manufacture and deliver key complementary assets (i.e. components and services) to large energy projects. Such supply chain elements constitute a significant share of investment, are crucial for the upscaling of low-carbon technologies, and offer important job and value creation opportunities for different regions and countries. Empirically we study the build-up of industrial capacity to supply key complementary assets to the European offshore wind power market in the 2000–2019 period through three phases (formative, take-off, growth) of development. We provide explanations to observed spatio-temporal patterns of industrial capacity development by considering 1) industry life-cycle dynamics, 2) pre-existing assets and industrial relatedness, and 3) home market opportunities.

Digital transformation and resilience in family business: an exploratory study of generational dynamics

PurposeThe paper aims to contribute to the advancement of the debate on digital innovation and entrepreneurship from a cross-generational perspective in the context of family businesses. Specifically, the paper explores the contribution provided by the young generations of entrepreneurs to the digital transformation and resilience of family businesses during the pandemic emergence of COVID-19. Focusing on the need for a major understanding of digital resilience in the context of family businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises, the paper aims to provide theoretical and empirical contributions in replying to the following research question: How did young entrepreneurs contribute to the resilience and the digital transformation of their family businesses during COVID-19?Design/methodology/approachThe methodology consisted of a two-stage qualitative investigation including a focus group managed in presence with the involvement of 24 young entrepreneurs and a self-administered online survey involving the family businesses belonging to the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Confindustria Puglia (South Italy) that has allowed to collect 47 replies, with a 32% response rate.FindingsThe paper presents evidence about the resilience of family businesses during the COVID-19 supported by the disruptive role of emerging digital technologies. Our analysis demonstrates that young entrepreneurs adopted different patterns of digital transformations, depending on the firm’s industry and the family firm’s digital maturity. Digital resilience in the context of the observed family businesses produced different benefits in terms of competitiveness, effectiveness of decision-making, visibility and communication and new opportunities for value creation; it occurred in several business areas, including production, logistics, sales and human resources management.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the relevant role that younger generations can play in exploring innovation opportunities associated with digitalisation as well as in contributing to reinforce innovation and resilience capability of their family businesses through collaboration with external stakeholders and ecosystems.Originality/valueThe value of the research consists in the attempt to analyse the meaning and implication of digital innovation in the context of family business as a driver for their resilience capability. The Family Businesses Digital Readiness and Young Entrepreneurs Contributions Matrix presented into the study as an original contribution of synthesis of the evidence collected.

Scrolling through adolescence: a systematic review of the impact of TikTok on adolescent mental health.

Amidst rising concerns about mental health in adolescents, the role of social media (SM), particularly highly visual platforms such as TikTok, has become a growing focus of investigation. In the extant literature, conclusive evidence is limited by the aggregate analysis of very heterogeneous SM platforms. This systematic scoping review examines the relationship between TikTok and mental health in adolescents. Additionally, it aims to highlight potential interactions between typical developmental processes and the unique aspects of TikTok, exploring their relevance to mental health within this demographic. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and PsychINFO yielded 20 studies that met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a total of 17,336 subjects from 10 countries. The retrieved studies analyzed four main topics related to TikTok use, i.e., the overall impact on adolescents' mental health, risk of problematic use and behavioral addiction, consequences on body image and self-esteem, and possible spreading of mental illness behaviors. While TikTok offers creative opportunities for self-expression and peer connection, the literature raises concerns about its potential negative effects on teens, such as lower life satisfaction, increased risk of "contagion" of certain psychiatric symptoms, and problematic usage patterns. Significant variations in study methodologies and outcome measures were observed. In the current era of evolving SM landscapes, a comprehensive approach informed by developmentally grounded research is critically needed to further understand the interplay between SM and adolescent mental health, providing insights for health authorities and policymakers.

Transforming teaching assistant roles into co-creators of instruction

This case study explores the implementation of a collaborative initiative that transformed the traditional role of teaching assistants (TAs) into student-faculty partners in two psychology courses. The objective of the collaboration was to leverage the insights and contributions of undergraduate students as co-creators of instruction for students’ engagement and meaningful learning experience. The case study highlights the processes, impacts, and challenges of these partnerships, revealing opportunities for student partners to develop pedagogical and assessment literacy, enhance communication and leadership skills, and gain insights into student behaviors and preferences. Pedagogical and curricular gains were observed, including the incorporation of student insights into instructional activities and improved teaching materials. However, challenges related to power dynamics and student perceptions of privilege were also identified. The findings emphasize the importance of careful navigation and the creation of meaningful opportunities for student engagement in higher education.

Concept of economic crimes in legal doctrine and legislation, their differentiation

Ukraine’s transition to a market economy, the development of entrepreneurship, the promotion of competition, and the expansion of foreign trade contributed to the creation of new opportunities for criminal activity in the economic sphere. At the same time, the low probability of detection and the high profits associated with economic crime make the economic sphere very attractive to criminals. In turn, the huge losses associated with economic crime undermine social protection systems and destabilize economic systems, thus clearly indicating a failure of self-regulation. The legislator, having in mind economic crimes, operates with the concept of “CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN THE SPHERE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY” (Chapter VII of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and is limited only to their list. According to the legislative approach, an economic crime can be defined only as a socially dangerous culpable act (action or inaction) committed by the subject of the criminal offense provided for by the Criminal Code of Ukraine and provided for by the provisions of Chapter VII of the Special Part of the Criminal Code. At the same time, on the basis of the generalized data of the legislative and doctrinal approach, it is proposed to define an economic crime as a socially dangerous culpable act (action or inaction) committed by the subject of a criminal offense, which consists in the implementation of illegal economic activity (economic processes, relations, operations) or violation of requirements for legal economic activity to satisfy the selfish interests of a person or a group of persons, encroaches on the sphere of economic relations and poses a threat to the economic security of the state, leads to an imbalance of the state’s economic system. At the same time, the so-called economic crimes (Chapter VII of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - criminal offenses in the sphere of economic activity) should be separated from crimes due to which law enforcement agencies can interfere in the sphere of economic relations. Economic crimes can be differentiated according to various criteria: according to the spheres of social relations that regulate one or another type of economic activity; according to the content of the committed crime; by immediate main and additional objects; by subject characteristics; by criminal law characteristics.

Towards a digital preschool community: Applying activity theory to explore teachers’ views and use of digital tools in science activities

As a result of the increasing digitalisation of society, integration of digital tools has recently been made imperative in the Swedish preschool curricula. This study explores how experienced preschool teachers enact this task when teaching science. Thematic analysis of 13 teachers’ descriptions of why and how they integrate digital tools revealed that digital tools were purposefully used to simultaneously expand science learning and foster fundamental values according to the curriculum. Children’s perspectives, interests, and agency were foregrounded in all activities, and digital and analogue tools were combined to complement children’s various ways of learning and provide opportunities for creativity and exploration. The use of Activity Theory as an analytical lens showed that varying epistemological views within communities might cause tensions when experienced teachers pursue their visions of introducing digital tools. An implication of the study is that varying epistemological views and competences within preschool communities need to be resolved to pursue future digitalisation of preschool science at a larger scale.

Teaching with the test: Using fitness tests to teach paradoxically in physical education

In many countries, fitness testing is used in physical education (PE). Advocates of fitness testing maintain that testing promotes physical activity and has long-term health benefits. Other scholars question using fitness tests for children in educational contexts and describe them as demotivating, embarrassing, and humiliating. The purpose of the study is to contribute to this educational dilemma with knowledge on the use of “fitness tests” in PE practice. This is done by exploring a pedagogical intervention in Sweden where tests were used to teach from a norm-creative perspective and considering how bodies with different weight and form could be included. We draw on “new materialist” methodologies, asking what tests do and can do in PE practice. In our analysis, we brought together six affective elements of what tests do. Many tests produced traditional PE practices, and there were apparent silences regarding body hierarchies, which often render big bodies invisible. Teaching tests paradoxically, however, also produced opportunities for creativity in moving and opportunities to reflect upon norms about justice and “normal” bodies. This analysis highlights the potential of teaching with the test in order for fitness tests to become educational.

Paradigm Shift of Social Work Profession: In Context of Indian Social Work Education

The social work profession is founded on a scientific understanding of human relations and aims to support individuals or groups in exercising their freedom and satisfaction within society. It began as a charitable endeavor and developed into a way to shed light on social issues and give people the confidence they needed to deal with life’s unexpected turns in a positive way. As a human services profession, social work addresses micro-to-macro-level societal issues and works to implement necessary reforms. The distinctive core values of social work education, along with its own methodological technique known as the basic along with the auxiliary methods, contribute to the creation of new opportunities for humankind. The development of a PSW (Professional Social Workers) competent cadre through social work education holds the potential to effect tangible changes in society and human existence. However, the main issues with social work education are the lack of originality in curricula and moral guidance for educators and practitioners. The PSWE (Professional Social Work Education) System is primarily related to training methodology, but there have been other issues with social work education as well, like outdated curricula, specialized courses that aren’t relevant, and improper fieldwork components. In order to prepare the next generation of PSW having the necessary knowledge, abilities, and attitudes, the current paper offers insights into the challenges facing PSWE. In order to produce more capable change agents, the paper attempts to shed light on the requirement to update the professional social work education training methodology. This paper also gives an overview of the PSWE development in India, sheds light on the true issues facing the field, and offers solutions for improving the field’s responsiveness to societal demands.