Research Paradigm Research Articles

Youth-Centered Qualitative Research: Strategies and Recommendations

ABSTRACT Qualitative research methodologies offer many benefits to the counseling field: a thick, vibrant description of a construct or experiences pertinent to a specific group; a critical lens to qualitative research can also propel social justice, advocacy, and systemic change. Despite qualitative research being regularly used in the counseling profession, the majority of this research has been utilized on/with adults, leading to the need for greater guidance specific to youth: children and adolescents. This article is the first in a special issue from The Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, on youth-centered qualitative research. In this lead article, we outline concrete, practical strategies for conducting youth-centered qualitative research; this paper is organized according to a qualitative guide by Goodman-Scott, but applied to youth specifically. Given the importance of social justice and advocacy, this article is also grounded in a critical research paradigm.

Kompetensi Penelitian Dosen dalam Meningkatkan Publikasi Ilmiah Era Digital (Studi Kasus dalam Konteks Pendidikan Umum/Karakter)

Research competency is a mandatory element for a lecturer to have as a concrete form of knowledge applied in academic life. Lecturers are professional educators and scientists who carry out the tridharma activities of higher education, namely, learning activities both in the classroom and in the classroom, research activities in order to develop and give birth to new knowledge, and community service activities. This research aims to formulate lecturer competencies and scientific publications in the digital era. Researchers use a qualitative research paradigm with a case study approach. The sample in this research were lecturers with doctoral degrees and the functional academic position of lecturer. They live on the island of West Java, Indonesia. The research results show that (1) A lecturer has six competencies, namely pedagogical, professional, research, service, personality and social competencies; (2) Lecturers conduct research at least twice a year, to increase productivity/scientific publications in the digital era; (3) The digital era provides distinct advantages for lecturers, namely ease of access to information, in the form of data collection, data analysis, and publication of research results, both print and digital, displaying attractive forms.

Geo-STEM learning ecosystems: A transdisciplinary theory-based framework to establish and engage communities in the geosciences

The geological sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (geo-STEM) have the capacity to investigate and address geological and environmental challenges. Many of these challenges (e.g., pollution, flooding, and slope failure) unjustly impact lower socio-economic communities in urban and rural settings where there is limited access to geo-STEM expertise. Geo-STEM learning ecosystems (GLEs) integrate geo-STEM and social science research paradigms to broaden civic engagement in the geosciences. GLEs are communities of practice consisting of geo-STEM professionals, educators, and learners who address local issues through place-based STEM research and education. The purpose of this study was to connect the concept of GLEs with the extant literature on learning ecosystems. We conducted a thematic review of the literature evaluating how the term “learning ecosystem” is used in psychology, educational technology, and STEM education research. We categorized the learning ecosystem components described in the literature in terms of inputs (e.g., motivation, software, learning environment), processes (e.g., cognition, device development, curriculum), and outputs (e.g., creativity, innovation, engagement). This approach revealed themes aligned with GLE-relevant research on communities of practice, and place-based and problem-based education, connecting GLEs to a century of existing research. To demonstrate how to use a GLE framework, we analyze the attributes of three existing programs through the GLE lens. Based on our findings, we recommend that to build GLEs geo-STEM researchers should: engage in transdisciplinary collaborations to develop local geo-STEM solutions, use the GLE framework to assess geoscience education and outreach programs, evaluate the role of place in efforts to engage diverse communities, and leverage other fields of inquiry to broaden our theoretical understanding of GLEs.

Mapping shared lexical bundles onto rhetorical moves in nursing research articles: A comparative study of paradigmatic variation

Abstract Previous studies have identified frequent lexical bundles associated with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research paradigms. These paradigmatic investigations of lexical bundles conducted thus far seem to have two limitations. One is that they have primarily concentrated on distinctive lexical bundles, without much analysis of the shared bundles in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research paradigms. Another shortcoming is that they tend not to explore in which contexts lexical bundles are likely to occur. These two problems deserve attention, as shared bundles are also frequently used to facilitate fluent linguistic production and analysing lexical bundles in their surrounding contexts can help reveal their specific textual meanings. To address these two limitations, this study seeks to link shared lexical bundles with rhetorical moves based on a corpus consisting of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods nursing research articles. The findings of this study show that in certain move-steps, shared lexical bundles have distinctive discourse functions in mixed methods research. Meanwhile, the findings also show that there are move-steps where shared lexical bundles have similar discourse functions in two or three research paradigms. Revealing shared lexical bundles’ discourse functions in specific contexts may enable learners to know where to use the bundles in a text.

The Transformation of Space Function on Boarding Houses in Settlements around Campus during Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused various restrictions that affect societal behavior and activity changes. One of the behavioral changes is how we interact and how we use shared space. A boarding house is one of the places in the settlement that is quite vulnerable to COVID-19 because the residents are from a wide range of origins and live in the same building, making close interaction in the boarding houses. This problem had an impact on a new design to meet their needs. Therefore, this research aims to determine how design strategy must be accommodated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research paradigm is an emic paradigm, in which the observer experienced directly a condition in a boarding house. The collective data used observation and interviews for content analysis. The output of this research is a design strategy for the students to raise their productivity in their dwellings without any anxiety.

The raced and gendered persistence of human‐exemptionalism

AbstractThis paper makes the case for a reconsideration of the human exemptionalist paradigm in sociological research. Reviewing recent research on the racialized and gendered dimensions of environmental use and abuse in North America, this paper argues that the persistent belief that humans dominate over all other biota is a direct result of the white supremacist, patriarchal gender system. Traditional Anglo‐European performances of and expectations for masculinity not only mandate the subjugation of women, but of all biota. Consequently, the burdens for repair and regeneration are disproportionately placed upon feminized subjects. This racialized gender system is strengthened as long as human exemptionalism persists. Ultimately, sociologists should contend with ‘human supremacy’ as a system of inequality that strengthens all other systems of inequality that plague human society. Moving forward, theories of liberation must go beyond the species boundary to account for an end to unjust domination of all life on Earth.

Multidimensional analysis of twin sets during an intensive week-long meditation retreat

Meditation and other alternative practices have long been known to promote various health benefits, presumably by fostering a blood and tissue environment that enhances resilience to stress. Here, we used an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that couples quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), biometrics, molecular, and biochemical data at multiple time points to investigate the impact of mind-based interventions on the body in a cohort of twins during an intensive week-long meditation retreat. We aim to show the feasibility of a novel design aimed to address individual changes controlling for intersubject trait variation (via twin control) and explore the role of genetic background on multi-omic factors during meditation. Interestingly, similar patterns of change in brain activity, network properties, and complexity were observed in the twin sets. These similarities were not observed in mismatched twin pairs. Heart rate dynamics studies showed alignment among twin pairs that was not present between unmatched pairs. In addition, changes in gene expression, metabolites, and cytokines present in blood plasma and associated with specific meditative states showed patterns of change associated by timepoint. Twin sets were similar in multiple domains before the start of the retreat, showed larger divergence at the mid-point, and looked more similar by the end of the retreat. To our knowledge, this study is novel within the twin research paradigm and is a first step towards exploring the effects of meditation in twins. InnerScience Research Fund. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Lived Experiences, Emotional and Psychological Needs of Covid-19 Emergency Service Nurses: A Qualitative Study

Nurses, who play an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic, are exposed to emotional and psychological stress due to unforeseen risks. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of nurses who are at the forefront in the emergency department, where COVID-19 suspected cases are first encountered, and to analyze their emotional and psychological needs in the light of Alderfer's Existence-Relationship-Growth theory. Data were collected from 20 May to 15 June 2020 in Muğla, Türkiye. 10 nurses working in the COVID-19 emergency department constituted the study sample. The descriptive phenomenological study was planned according to the qualitative research paradigm, based on the Consolidated Qualitative Research Reporting Criteria checklist. The interviews were conducted face-to-face and analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. As a result of the analysis of the data, when the psychological needs of clinical nurses were evaluated in terms of Existence-Relatedness-Growth theory, it was determined that their health and safety needs were priority and they needed respect and understanding in their relationships. The life experiences of nurses working in the emergency room, under two main themes as “patient care process experiences” and “feelings”, and their emotional and psychological needs under three themes as “need to exist”, “need to establish relationship” and “need to develop” gathered under. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was determined that the existence, relationship, and growth needs of emergency nurses were affected by each other.

Creating financial inclusion in “Belt and Road” countries in Europe, Asia and Africa: regulation, technology and financial literacy

PurposeThis study aims to comparatively measure the impact factors of financial inclusion and their spillover effects for Belt and Road countries using panel data from 57 countries in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2021 and relevant indicators from three dimensions: availability, usage and quality to construct a digital empowerment index of financial inclusion.Design/methodology/approachA spatial Durbin panel model is constructed to empirically test the impact mechanism of financial inclusion under digital empowerment.FindingsResults reveal that improving a country’s quality of regulation, technology and residents’ financial literacy significantly contributes to the development of its financial inclusion, while improving its neighboring countries’ financial literacy also boosts its financial inclusion development. This study provides theoretical support for evaluating the development level of inclusive finance in “Belt and Road” countries, promoting the development of inclusive finance and alleviating the problem of financial exclusion.Originality/valueThis study is original as it creates a research paradigm for “Belt and Road” countries, enabling systematic testing and comparative analysis of inclusive finance development. It incorporates traditional and digital services, evaluating them based on sharing, fairness, convenience and specific group benefits. An inclusive financial index is constructed using the coefficient of variation and arithmetic weighted average methods. Additionally, it introduces a more rational analysis approach for the influence mechanism and spatial effect, using an economic geography nested matrix and spatial Durbin model to explore spatial effects in inclusive finance.

Comparative pedagogy: changing research perspective

Introduction. Given dramatic changes in social, cultural priorities and values taking place across the globe today, with all around changing strategic partners, it becomes apparent that comparative pedagogy desperately needs its methods to be updated. Post modern research paradigm resources are running out. We need new data, approaches, and methods to enhance the comparative analysis. The paper aims to propose rationale for new comparative pedagogy avenues via expanding its subject fields. Methodology. The methods employed show the author’s stand on updating scholarly knowledge in comparative pedagogy. Within the frame of conventional historical approach this research relies on the diachronic and synchronic analysis method, coupled with axiological and cultural approaches and complemented with the contextualization method. The anthropological approach is based on the biographical method. The discursive approach was used as a narrative in the form of commentary of authentic texts – their interpretation, the main source of knowledge in comparative pedagogy. Findings. Modern discourse of comparative research in education contains certain inconsistences which might be put down to an inadequate analysis of upsides and downsides of foreign education system, which eventually restricts our opportunities to rely on overseas experience. It is also true as concerns correlating values demonstrated by foreign practices with national mentality and traditions, use of appropriate conceptual semantics and comparisons. Some questions also arise about the limits of the author’s interpretation. The ways of handling these issues were sought during the review of modern works devoted to the problems of education in different social and cultural contexts. Most problems stem from the language, communication, cultural codes, symbolic forms conveying identity, knowledge and values in Latin America, Middle East, South-East Asia, Africa and some European countries. Conclusion. Comparative pedagogy equipped with updated methods is presented in the paper as one of the up-todate research avenues in interdisciplinary humanities. It helps integrate national education systems allowing for their ethnically and culturally specific differences. A comparative perspective enabled to look into foreign pedagogical experience as another worldview based on historic, cultural, spiritual potential of these countries and their significance. Comparative analysis opened door to a scholarly dialogue in the educational space to promote better understanding and international cooperation.

Dynamics of Thought and Paradigm in Islamic Education Research with Bibliometric Analysis

This research conducts a comprehensive examination of the dynamics of thought and paradigm in Islamic education research through a mixed-methods approach, combining bibliometric analysis with qualitative content analysis. The study investigates the landscape, trends, and impact of scholarly discourse within the domain of Islamic education, aiming to elucidate patterns of publication, thematic orientations, and intellectual influences. Through bibliometric analysis, key citation metrics are presented, showcasing the significant scholarly impact and productivity within the field. Furthermore, the identification of top cited research papers provides insights into seminal contributions that have shaped the discourse on Islamic education. Visualizations such as network, overlay, and density maps offer nuanced understandings of research themes, temporal trends, and potential areas for future inquiry. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of Islamic education scholarship, offering valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to navigate the complexities of the field and foster positive change in educational practice and policy.

Philosophical paradigms in information technology research

Having been in existence for nearly 30 years, information technology has revolutionized how human beings carry out their day-to-day life. Its use and adoption have brought about many philosophical issues that need to be reviewed. There are ethical issues concerned with the use of information technology ranging from fake news, autonomous systems, biasedness in AI systems and data privacy among others. As research is being carried out to answer some of these concerns, it will be important to look at the core building blocks of a paradigm and some of the research paradigms that can be used in this field. This paper introduces the field of information technology, where its definition and notable contributions are highlighted. Then it goes on to do a review of existing research paradigms with an emphasis on key components of a research paradigm and the types of research paradigms. Lastly, the paper reviews philosophical issues that exist within information technology with an emphasis on ethical issues. With an understanding of this, it will be easier for researchers in this field to choose a paradigm within the area of information technology that best suits their research.

Speech Puzzles (Spuzzles): Engaging the Reduced, Causal, and Semantic Listening Modes for Puzzle Design in Audio Games

This paper proposes a novel approach to audio game design by introducing the concept of speech puzzles (spuzzles) to describe the utilisation of recorded voice for the creation of audio puzzles in ways that challenge players’ different listening modes. In the fields of audio games and audio-interactive applications, speech serves instructive, descriptive, narrative, and in some cases—in the form of hints or quizzes—gameplay purposes by addressing users through language. The suggested approach of spuzzles extends this potential by including, besides encoded meaning, the acoustic properties of sound, thus engaging the user’s causal and reduced listening modes in parallel with the semantic listening mode. An audio game consisting of four inherently different spuzzles was designed as proof of concept and tested by seven third-year students of Audiovisual Arts, who elaborated on their experience through a focus group semi-structured discussion. Despite their difficulty, the spuzzles were well accepted by most of the participants (5/7), whereas all participants agreed on their acoustic richness, need for concentration, and independence from pre-existing musical knowledge. Therefore, the authors suggest that the proposed design approach could serve as a paradigm for future research in the design of complex audio-based game mechanics.

From Dose to Exposure: Shifting the Paradigm of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Research and Education.

From Dose to Exposure: Shifting the Paradigm of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology Research and Education.

“五育并举”视域下义务教育研学模式构建研究

Building a education system of “simultaneous development of five educations” is a complex systematic project, but it is also an important measure to cultivate qualified socialist builders and successors. As a new form of learning that can promote the implementation of quality education and promote the deep integration of textbook knowledge and life experience, research-based learning is essential. Due to the completion of research and exploration in China, there are still problems such as incomplete mechanisms, unclear models, and inadequate understanding. This article relies on the National Research and Learning Practice Education Base for Primary and Secondary School Students, taking the “The Old House of Zhou Family” research activity as an example, adopts a design based research paradigm, and through three rounds of iterative research, constructs a compulsory education research model from the perspective of “simultaneous development of five educations”. It proposes four specific suggestions for carrying out research, including adhering to the educational nature of research, strengthening the construction of research bases, standardizing the management of research activities, and deepening theoretical research on research.

The Emergence and Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Biotechnology

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed many fields, including biotechnology. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has played a critical role in altering research, drug development, genetic analysis, customized treatment, and other fields. The purpose of this review article is to investigate the numerous uses of AI in biotechnology, focusing on its impact on accelerating scientific advancement, improving data analysis, and driving innovation in the field. Method: Various AI approaches and methodologies used in biotechnology will be explored, including machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and picture identification. Results: This essay will also address important problems, future potential and ethical concerns regarding the use of AI in biotechnology. Conclusion: The integration of AI in biotechnology has redefined research paradigms, data analysis, and decision-making processes.

Estimation with Ultimate Quantum Precision of the Transverse Displacement between Two Photons via Two-Photon Interference Sampling Measurements.

We present a quantum sensing scheme achieving the ultimate quantum sensitivity in the estimation of the transverse displacement between two photons interfering at a balanced beam splitter, based on transverse-momentum sampling measurements at the output. This scheme can possibly lead to enhanced high-precision nanoscopic techniques, such as superresolved single-molecule localization microscopy with quantum dots, by circumventing the requirements in standard direct imaging of camera resolution at the diffraction limit, and of highly magnifying objectives. Interestingly, we show that our interferometric technique achieves the ultimate spatial precision in nature irrespectively of the overlap of the two displaced photonic wave packets, while its precision is only reduced of a constant factor for photons differing in any nonspatial degrees of freedom. This opens a new research paradigm based on the interface between spatially resolved quantum interference and quantum-enhanced spatial sensitivity.

Pushed or Pulled? Becoming Gig Workers in Sri Lanka

The gig economy is expanding with more workers joining digital labour platforms globally. Gig work has become popular in Sri Lanka as well, especially during the recent past. Since the gig economy is still a relatively new concept in Sri Lanka, the area is understudied. Hence, the objective of this research is to examine what motivates Sri Lankans to become digital workers. We use push-pull theory as the theoretical lens of the study. Based on qualitative research methodology under the interpretive research paradigm, 22 digital workers from various backgrounds were interviewed in person to identify their motives and experiences with web- based digital labour platforms. This study found four important reasons for Sri Lankans to choose digital work, 1) pursuit of passion 2) pursuit of money (earning in foreign currency, gaining financial independence and an additional source of income), 3) pursuit of agency and 4) pursuit of developmental opportunities. While the motivation for participants to join gig work was mainly identified as pull motivation, in some instances it was identified that the participants were also pushed to join gig work.

Making Sense of Cyberbullying: Stories of Men and Women at Work

This article explores how women and men appraise and interpret their experiences of cyberbullying at work and how they respond to such behaviours within a gendered cultural space, using the theory of sensemaking. Within the interpretive research paradigm, data was collected through in-depth, in-person interviews from 10 male and 25 female employees who had experienced cyberbullying. The findings indicated the similar and different ways that sense was made by men and women employees about their cyberbullying experiences. While making sense of cyberbullying experiences has been a very social endeavour for women, it has been a relatively private and individual process for men. Further, women had been more assertive and had relentlessly attempted to clear their image and regain their fractured identities as respectable women, while men mainly had been passive in trying to protect their fractured identities as good performers. Further, gender role stereotypes and gender scripts appeared to have influenced the sensemaking process and the participants’ reactions. This article contributes to the limited literature on cyberbullying at work and develops existing understandings of how men and women understand and react to cyberbullying experiences in a gendered cultural context.

Molecular Design Using Selected Concentration Effects in Optically Activated Fluorescent Matrices.

Molecular physics plays a pivotal role in various fields, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, and broader industrial applications. This study aims to enhance the methods for producing specific optically active materials with distinct spectroscopic properties at the molecular level, which are crucial for these sectors, while prioritizing human safety in both production and application. Forensic science, a significant socio-economic field, often employs hazardous substances in analyzing friction ridges on porous surfaces, posing safety concerns. In response, we formulated novel, non-toxic procedures for examining paper evidence, particularly thermal papers. Our laboratory model utilizes a polyvinyl alcohol polymer as a rigid matrix to emulate the thermal paper's environment, enabling precise control over the spectroscopic characteristics of 1,8-diazafluoro-9-one (DFO). We identified and analyzed the cyclodimer 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one (DAK DFO), which is a non-toxic and biocompatible alternative for revealing forensic marks. The reagents used to preserve fingerprints were optimized for their effectiveness and stability. Using stationary absorption and emission spectroscopy, along with time-resolved emission studies, we verified the spectroscopic attributes of the new structures under deliberate aggregation conditions. Raman spectroscopy and quantum mechanical computations substantiated the cyclodimer's configuration. The investigation provides robust scientific endorsement for the novel compound and its structural diversity, influenced by the solvatochromic sensitivity of the DFO precursor. Our approach to monitoring aggregation processes signifies a substantial shift in synthetic research paradigms, leveraging simple chemistry to yield an innovative contribution to forensic science methodologies.