Perceptions Of Identity Research Articles

DNA Testing and Identities in Family History Research

In the preceding decades, rapid technological advancements and increasing democratisation of historical records have been coupled with scientific data from DNA testing, which has revolutionised the family history industry. Going beyond the traditional archives and databases, DNA profiles present nuanced confirmations, puzzles, and contradictions generated through this biological lens. Family history researchers seek iterative engagements with their familial pasts and, in the process, amplify their contemporary identities. This specialised group of historians illuminates their families’ travels through the broader historical landscape, constructing micro-narratives using a broad range of investigative modalities. This article reports on the findings of a large international study (n = 1016) that investigated family history researchers’ motivations for undertaking DNA testing, their experiences, and its impact on their perceptions of individual, national, and global identities using Berzonsky’s socio-cultural model of identity construction (2003, 2011) as an analytic frame. Using a survey methodology, it was concluded that DNA testing can expand and disrupt long-held notions of identity and has the power to shift perceptions and understandings of the self while simultaneously providing a new era of opportunity to reconceptualise national and international affiliations. It suggests further investigative avenues to assess the potential of DNA testing, which may promote social cohesion, inclusiveness, and global citizenship.

Exploring National Identity (Re)production: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Iran's Representation on its Official Tourism Website

Given the significance of tourism in national identity construction and promotion in current era along with Iran’s need for such an international image promotion, the present study investigated the linguistic texts on the discourse of the Iranian official tourism website to achieve two objectives. Firstly, considering the convoluted interplay among discourse, tourism, and national identity, it investigates how Iranians, in terms of their identity, are represented in the linguistic texts of the discourse used on the Iranian official tourism website. Secondly, it identifies how the discourse either maintains, challenges, or transforms the existing stereotyped perceptions of its identity, embracing its Western represented portrayal in Western media. The current study adopted critical discourse analysis as its framework and used Fairclough’s three-dimensional model as its approach to CDA. The findings of the study demonstrated that Iranians’ authentic and genuine identity, by which they wish to be seen, contests the Western mainstream perceptions of Iranian national identity. Therefore, there is a tendency to transform the prevailing Western stereotypical perceptions of their identity from the producers of the analyzed discourse.

Science Identity in Undergraduates: A Comparison of First-Year Biology Majors, Senior Biology Majors, and Non-STEM Majors

We argue it is important for everyone to possess basic scientific literacy for multiple reasons. Viewing oneself as a science person or not can impact one’s confidence and willingness to engage with science content thereby improving science literacy. Identifying as a science person may develop early but is not fixed and may shift through science identity work. We investigated science identity views between STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and non-STEM majors and assessed whether these views may be influenced by science identity work. Our questions were as follows: (1) How does science identity perception differ between non-STEM and STEM majors? (2) How do non-STEM and STEM students’ perceptions of their science identity change over time? (3) How do non-STEM majors describe a science person compared to STEM majors? We surveyed first-year biology majors, senior biology majors, and non-STEM majors to address our research questions. We found significant shifts in science identity in non-STEM majors taking a general education lab science class pre-course and post-course, differences in agreement regarding science identity between groups, and differences in how a science person is defined among the groups. Our data suggest that instructors can scaffold and support students’ science identity work to increase confidence, STEM retention, and ultimately can improve overall scientific literacy.

“One of These Things Is Not Like the Other”: Racial Identity Perception Among Elementary Students of Color

This qualitative, grounded theory research study explored the impact of school environment on racial identity among 36 elementary school students of color. The use of an expressive-arts-based questionnaire allowed for rich description of participants’ racial identity perception. Findings yielded three themes: racial identity awareness, racial identity incongruence, and school environment, and three interconnecting subthemes: consequences of underrepresentation, experiences of racism, and premature resilience development. This article discusses the emergent theory and model that resulted from the analysis of the data and provides implications for school counselors’ advocacy against race-neutral classrooms.

Using Data Visualization Techniques to Assess Perception of Professionalism, Professional Identity and Development: A Case Study on Closed-Type Questionnaires

Introduction. Professional identity, professionalism, and professional development are concepts that attract research interest over the years. The concepts are complex, multi-faceted, evolving over time, and varying depending on the pre-primary teachers’ (i.e., preschool educators’) and primary school teachers’ context. The conceptualization by teachers themselves is of particular interest. Goal. Explore the use of artificial intelligence techniques and specifically dimensionality reduction methods, in analyzing in-service teachers’ perceptions of the three concepts as captured in closed-type questions with Likert-scale responses. Methods of the Research. Model Likert-scale responses of closed-type questionnaire as multi-dimensional question space. Apply dimensionality reduction techniques to visualize responses in two dimensions. Translate back question distances into theoretical concepts and identify unexplored topics. Results. The dimensionality reduction disclosed novel correlations between the concepts and their components, not previously reported in published literature, where classical statistical analysis was employed. Conclusions. We confirm the applicability and usefulness of the dimensionality reduction method for the analysis of human responses in closed-type questionnaires. Further, we identify through dimensionality reduction two novel research questions that should be further studied in the future.

Navigating diversity: identity perceptions and workplace dynamics

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of dissimilarity perceptions, specifically related to religious identity and socioeconomic class, on identity disclosure behavior within the workplace. It also explores the relationship between disclosure behavior and perceptions of workplace ostracism. The study further examines the moderating roles of psychological safety climate and diversity-focused human resource (HR) practices in these dynamics.Design/methodology/approachUsing quantitative methods, this confirmatory study analyzes the relationships between dissimilarity perceptions, identity disclosure behavior, workplace ostracism perceptions, psychological safety climate and diversity-focused HR policies. Hypotheses are tested to understand the effects of these variables in the workplace context.FindingsThe findings reveal that subjective dissimilarity perceptions are negatively associated with identity disclosure behavior. In addition, disclosure behavior is positively linked to perceptions of workplace ostracism. Surprisingly, the study finds that the psychological safety climate moderates the relationship between dissimilarity perceptions and identity disclosure behavior, showing a positive relationship when psychological safety climate perceptions are high. Furthermore, perceptions of diversity-focused HR policies moderate the relationship between disclosure behavior and perceptions of workplace ostracism, indicating a weakened relationship when diversity-focused HR practices are perceived as stronger.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the understanding of workplace diversity, inclusion and management by emphasizing the role of subjective dissimilarity perceptions, identity disclosure behavior and workplace ostracism. It explores the moderating influence of psychological safety climate and diversity-focused HR practices, offering valuable insights for both theory and practical strategies in the context of diversity management.

Face Feature Change Detection Ability in Developmental Prosopagnosia and Super-Recognisers.

In non-clinical populations, facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) may vary in their contribution to face identity perception. Changes to whole faces are easier to detect than changes to individual features, and eye changes are typically easier to detect than mouth changes, which in turn are easier to detect than nose changes. However, how this differs for people with face recognition difficulties (developmental prosopagnosia; DP) and for individuals with superior face recognition abilities (super-recognisers; SR) is not clear; although findings from previous studies have suggested differences, the nature of this difference is not understood. The aim of this study was to examine whether differences in the ability to detect feature changes in DPs and SRs were (a) quantitative, meaning that the pattern across feature changes remained the same but there was an overall upwards or downwards shift in performance, or (b) qualitative, meaning that the pattern across feature changes was different. Using a change detection task in which individual face features (eyes, nose, mouth) changed between sequentially presented faces, we found that while prosopagnosics showed a quantitative difference in performance with a downwards shift across all conditions, super-recognisers only showed qualitative differences: they were better able to detect when the face was the same and were marginally (but not non-significantly) worse at detecting when the eyes changed. Further, the only condition which distinguished between the three groups was the ability to identify when the same face was presented, with SRs being better than controls, and controls being better than DPs. Our findings suggest that, in feature-matching tasks, differences for DPs are due to them being overall worse at the task, while SRs use a qualitatively different strategy.

Exploring Identity Perception and Bilingual Education Dynamics in Taiwanese University Settings

In an increasingly interconnected world, proficiency in English is becoming indispensable, prompting Taiwanese universities to implement English language requirements ranging from one to four years. This initiative aligns with a national bilingual education program aimed at bolstering the English proficiency of college students to enhance their international competitiveness. Consequently, English-medium instruction has become prevalent in various university courses, facilitated by the Freshman English course serving as a transition to English-mediated teaching. While linguistic development is emphasized, the dynamics of identity perception among students cannot be overlooked, as language identity profoundly impacts their learning experiences and growth. This study delves into the identity perception of college freshmen in Taiwan, where bilingual education is heavily emphasized by the government. The purpose of the study is to investigate how Taiwanese college freshmen perceive their identity as they participate in English language learning. In addition, this study aims to examine the influence of gender and college major on the individual differences in identity perception among college freshmen engaged in English language learning. Employing Gao et al.’s (2005) Likert-scale questionnaire on self-identity change, the research surveyed 360 freshmen from a university in northern Taiwan. Data analysis performed with SPSS includes two stages. At the first stage, descriptive statistics revealed that participants exhibited agreement on self-identity changes in four categories: self-confidence, zero, productive and additive. At the second stage, a multivariate analysis of variance demonstrated significant main effects of gender and major on identity changes. Female students exhibited higher self-confidence, additive and productive changes compared to male students. Furthermore, liberal arts majors experienced more pronounced self-confidence, additive and productive changes than their counterparts in business, science, and engineering majors. A Post Hoc test unveiled significant differences, with business majors scoring higher than science majors in subtractive and split changes, while science majors differed significantly from liberal arts majors in zero change. The study’s implications extend beyond theoretical understanding, informing pedagogical practices to enhance language learning experiences.

On Romani Contemporaneity: Rethinking the Malgorzata Mirga-Tas Exhibition in Seville

This essay delves into the representation and reclamation of Romani identity and experience in contemporary art, focusing on the work of Malgorzata Mirga-Tas, viewed from a Gitano point of view located in the South of Europe. Drawing on historical contexts and artistic movements, the essay examines the evolution of Romani portrayal in European art and the emergence of contemporary Romani art as a form of resistance and self-representation. Through an analysis of Mirga-Tas's artistic practice and its intersection with themes of coloniality, gender, and racialization, the essay explores how her work challenges dominant narratives and fosters a deeper understanding of Romani culture and history. Furthermore, the essay discusses the significance of Mirga-Tas's artistic interventions in reshaping perceptions of Romani identity and contributing to broader conversations about representation, power, and agency in the art world, including the cultural field of flamenco. Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing art history, sociology, and cultural studies, this essay offers insights into the complexities of Romani contemporary art and its role in challenging entrenched stereotypes and advocating for social justice and recognition.

Shadows of identity: the experience of Jewish soldiers in the Ukrainian military

ABSTRACT This article delves into the study of Jewish identity within the Ukrainian army, providing a detailed exploration of the experiences of soldiers with Jewish backgrounds fighting at the front lines of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Considering the historical complexities and contemporary challenges faced by the Jewish community in Ukraine, the study investigates how military service transforms the national and ethnic self-identification of Jewish soldiers. Through interviews and comprehensive contextual analysis, we illuminate their personal narratives, ways of expressing identity, common features, inclusivity, and the adaptation of diverse cultural backgrounds within the Ukrainian army.‏ Our study contends that within the military landscape of the ongoing war, the perception of Jewish identity in Ukraine undergoes a significant shift, becoming more prominent and tangible. This transformation imbues the lives of Jewish soldiers with a profound sense of pride and uniqueness.

Феномен гендерного беспокойства и его роль в процессе становления гендерной идентичности

Nowadays, society is undergoing a shift in its perception of individuals within a changing world. Accelerating globalization, the transformation of social institutions and the increasing importance of non-traditional values in Western society are becoming not only a matter of personal perception, but also a topic of public discourse. In these conditions, the formation of gender identity is not merely a biological process but also significantly influenced by societal understanding, as the definition of gender roles in society undergoes shifts. The phenomenon of gender dysphoria emerges, characterized by a contradiction between personal perception of gender identity and societal perceptions. The study is devoted to identifying the role of this phenomenon in modern discourse, considering an analysis of its interpretation. The author concludes that the phenomenon of gender dysphoria in the formation of gender identity is associated with understanding gender as a sociocultural category. By recognizing gender as a complex interplay of biology, culture, and personal identity, society can move towards more inclusive and understanding frameworks for gender expression.

Adolescent Athletes with Stronger Athletic Identity Perceptions Have Weaker Fear Avoidance Perceptions During Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation Return to Sports Preparation.

Adolescent athletes who sustain a musculoskeletal sports injury are at high re-injury risk. This prospective study evaluated athletic identity perception and fear avoidance perception relationships during the return to sport preparation phase of musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation. From 140 consecutive physical therapy outpatients, 50 (26 females, 24 males) adolescent athletes (mean age 16.8, range 14 to 22 y) completed the 7-item Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), the 10-item Athletic Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ), and the AFAQ with 2 additional movement-related fear and pain questions (AFAQ+). Correlational analysis was performed of overall AIMS and AIMS subscale scores (social identity, exclusivity, negative affectivity), with AFAQ and AFAQ+ scores ( P ≤0.05). Adolescent athletes were receiving treatment for musculoskeletal injuries sustained during soccer (n=10), lacrosse (n=7), baseball (n=6), basketball (n=5), volleyball (n=5), track or cross country (n=4), American football (n=4), field hockey or ice hockey (n=3), softball (n=2), tennis (n=2), and gymnastics (n=2). Lower extremity conditions included anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (n=23) or other lower extremity conditions (n=17). Upper extremity conditions included shoulder dislocation or labral repair (n=6), elbow sprain or fracture (n=3), and clavicle fracture (n=1). The AIMS score displayed moderate inverse relationships with AFAQ ( r =-0.40, P =0.008) and AFAQ+ ( r =-0.41, P <0.004) scores. The "social identity" AIMS subscale score displayed a moderate inverse relationship with AFAQ ( r =- 0.48, P <0.001) and AFAQ+ ( r =-0.46, P =0.001) scores. The "exclusivity" AIMS subscale score displayed moderate inverse relationships with AFAQ ( r =-0.40, P =0.005) and AFAQ+ ( r =-0.46, P =0.001) scores. The "negative affectivity" subscale did not display significant relationships with AFAQ or AFAQ+ scores. Subject age displayed moderate inverse relationships with the AIMS "social identity" ( r =-0.56, P <0.001) and "exclusivity" ( r =-0.42, P =0.004) subscale scores and weak direct relationships with AFAQ (r=0.30, P =0.04) and AFAQ+ (r=0.32, P =0.02) scores. Adolescent athletes with stronger athletic identity perceptions during the return to the sports preparation phase of musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation had weaker fear avoidance perceptions. As age increased from early to late adolescence, athletic identity perceptions became weaker, and fear avoidance perceptions became stronger. To decrease re-injury rates, early identification and surveillance of injured adolescent athletes with stronger, more exclusive athletic identity perceptions and weaker fear avoidance perceptions may influence rehabilitation progression and return to play decisions. Level-II, prospective cohort, correlational study.

"We are mothers, sisters, and lovers too": Examining young Black women's experiences navigating sex and sexual health.

In Canada, there is a lack of research that addresses the sexual health and well-being of African, Caribbean, and Blackyoung women. This paper aims to gather perspectives of young Black women to address the social contexts of how young Black women navigate issues related to sex and sexual health. Young Black women experience unique dynamics in navigating their sexualities and sexual healthcare. The nuanced experiences stem from social contexts with historical underpinnings, such as the perception of Black women's bodies, Black identity, gender roles, and sexual double standards. This Community-Based Participatory Researchstudy (N = 24) utilized focus groups to examine young Black women's experiences navigating sexual health. Employing a thematic analysis, participants identified four themes representing their narratives of navigating sexual health. The themes included the perceptions and hypersexuality of Black women's bodies, navigating sexual double standards and gender roles as Black women, diverse Blackness, and migration experiences concerning sexual health and surveillance of Black women's bodies. This paper is intended to add to scholarly discourse and will include practical strategies for use by researchers and community practitioners in sexual health within the Black community.

Navigating Identity: A Study of the Khasis in Meghalaya's Multilingual Borderlands

This paper attempts to study the factors that influence identity perception of the Khasis in a language contact environment in four borders of Meghalaya. The study finds that the ecology of contact, intermarriage, and migration play a significant role in shaping the linguistic and cultural identity perception of the Khasis. The study also demonstrates that the language that people use in a particular community is not just a matter of communication, but is also influenced by the social and cultural context of the contact environment. Apart from utility and value, the kind of motivation associated with language can perceptively affect one’s language and cultural identity. The study provides valuable insights into the complex factors that influence cross-border multilingualism and its impact on identity formation. The findings of the study have implications for the understanding of multilingualism in a contact situation on one hand, and the underpinnings of language and cultural in identity formation.

Understanding the social identity of adolescents in the Indigenous Kodava Community of India.

The social identity development of adolescents in marginalized communities across the globe holds paramount significance in determining the overall well-being of its future population. Focusing on one such community, the Kodavas, an Indigenous community in South India, this study aims to understand the shifting configurations of social identity based on the changing sociocultural structure and its implications on identity perception among the adolescents belonging to the Kodava community in Kodagu district in Karnataka, India. This study used a qualitative research design to develop an analytical framework of social identity formation and its transitions in the context of the Kodavas. Data were collected from 188 adolescents (47% boys, 53% girls) between 13 and 17 years (M age = 15 years), in the form of essay writing. The findings based on thematic analysis highlight the core traditional elements of Kodava identity, factors influencing the transition in identity, and its reflection in the contemporary period.

Managing well-being in paediatric critical care: a multiperspective qualitative study of nurses’ and allied health professionals’ experiences

ObjectivesIt is well evidenced that healthcare professionals working in paediatric critical care experience high levels of burn-out, compassion fatigue and moral distress. This worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work...

무형문화유산(ICH) 문화정체성 인지와 ICH 진정성 인지가 중국 ICH 제품의 소비의도에 미치는 영향

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) products are consumer goods or services that utilize ICH resources and are commercialized or industrialized, encompassing the value of use, emotional value, and symbolic value of ICH. ICH products have become increasingly important in the Chinese tourism industry and have become a key element of China’s tourism economy. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the study of deliberate consumption of ICH products by considering ICH cultural identity perception and ICH authenticity perception as extended variables of the Theory of Planned Behavior. A survey was conducted with 298 Chinese participants for this study. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 24 software to conduct descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The analysis results indicated that ICH cultural identity perception influences attitudes toward ICH products, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Therefore, ICH cultural identity perception can influence consumer intention indirectly but does not have a direct impact on consumer intention. On the other hand, ICH authenticity perception was found to have a positive impact on attitudes toward ICH products, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and consumer intention. Additionally, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control significantly influence consumer intention, while attitudes toward ICH products do not. However, emotional value was confirmed to play a moderating role. In conclusion, the study confirmed that ICH cultural identity perception and ICH authenticity perception of visitors to ICH tourist sites have a positive impact on consumer intention for ICH products. The findings of this study are expected to be helpful in formulating marketing strategies for ICH products.

Platformization of Inequality: Gender and Race in Digital Labor Platforms

We contribute empirical and conceptual insights regarding the roles of digital labor platforms in online freelancing, focusing attention to social identities such as gender, race, ethnicity, and occupation. Findings highlight how digital labor platforms reinforce and exacerbate identity-based stereotypes, bias and expectations in online freelance work. We focus on online freelancing as this form of working arrangement is becoming more prevalent. Online freelancing also relies on the market-making power of digital platforms to create an online labor market. Many see this as one likely future of work with less bias. Others worry that labor platforms' market power allows them to embed known biases into new working arrangements: a platformization of inequality. Drawing on data from 108 online freelancers, we discuss six findings: 1) female freelance work is undervalued; 2) gendered occupational expectations; 3) gendered treatment; 4) shared expectations of differential values; 5) racial stereotypes and expectations; and 6) race and ethnicity as an asset. We discuss the role of design in the platformization and visibility of social identity dimensions, and the implications of the reinforced identity perceptions and marginalization in digital labor platforms.

Towards the Use of Social Robot Furhat and Generative AI in Testing Cognitive Abilities

Abstract Spoken communication between social robotic devices, powered by generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, and the senior population offers great potential for researching social interaction and robot identity perceptions as well as exploring the potential opportunities and challenges when implementing this human-machine interactions in real life situations and health care. In this paper we explore people’s perceptions of the social robot Furhat when administering verbal tasks similar to those used in screening for Alzheimer’s disease. We describe the Slovak system mounted on the robot that includes a speech recognizer, the scenarios powered by generative large language model ChatGPT, and a speech synthesizer. We tested the functionality of the proposed approach with two groups of participants: attendees of a large science fair and a scientific conference. The observations from 87 collected questionnaires suggest good potential and applicability of such an approach for the given task and more positive attitudes of older subjects compared to younger ones.

Blurring Reality and Blurring Gender: Fashion and Attire in Virginia Woolf’s Orlando

Abstract The aim of this paper is to investigate the interplay between narrative style, gender and fashion within Woolf’s Orlando. This study delves into how Woolf’s use of a biographical narrative approach in a fantasy novel facilitates the exploration of gender stereotypes and their subsequent blurring. In this regard, through a meticulous analysis of Orlando, Woolf ingeniously employs the biographical style to transcend traditional literary boundaries. This stylistic choice allows for a deliberate blurring of reality and fantasy, prompting a transformative narrative experience. Within this narrative framework, the significance of fashion and attire emerges as essential tools for challenging conventional gender norms: clothing serves as a powerful vehicle for destabilising preconceived notions of gender. By situating Orlando’s fluid identity and evolving gender presentation within the context of clothing choices, the novel portrays the malleability of gender constructs. The blurring of genders is skilfully intertwined with the blurring of reality, forging a narrative tapestry that offers profound insights into societal perceptions of identity. In conclusion, this paper illuminates how Woolf’s novel enables a thoughtprovoking exploration of gender stereotypes, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and fluid understanding of identity through the lens of fashion and attire.