Personal Constraints Research Articles

From Ignorance to Empowerment: Education’s Role in Sujatha Gidla’s Ants Among Elephants

This research paper mainly focuses on Sujatha Gidla’s Ants Among Elephants, which thoroughly explores the systematic oppression and tenacity prevalent in the Indian social structure, specifically focusing on the caste system. The comprehensive study analyses how personal decisions and environmental constraints determine identity in the context of extensive societal hierarchy. Gidla, from an academic perspective, explores the significant impact of education in promoting empowerment and upward social mobility among marginalised communities. Inspired by Indian scholars who take an interdisciplinary approach to Dalit feminism and by the lens through which Hooks interprets Black feminism. Using intersectionality, this study investigates how caste, gender, and socioeconomic issues affect Dalits in the caste system scenario to highlight their marginalization.

“Everyone has a weight complex”: Experiences of participation in physical activity in regional, rural and remote Australia

ABSTRACT There are many complex and interrelated personal and structural benefits and constraints to being physically active. In this research, we invited people living in regional, rural and remote (RRR) environments of Australia to share their experiences of being active both currently and historically via an in-depth open-ended online survey. This study focuses on the perspectives of 139 participants, 92 of whom identified as female, 43 identified as male and 2 identified as gender fluid. Our participants were aged 18–76 years. By using an interpretivist lens and applying the feminist, weight inclusive Well Now approach (Aphramor, 2018) as a framework to understand these experiences, we identified that this group of people enjoyed the benefits of being active that included physical, mental, and emotional health benefits, as well as social benefits. Participants also shared stories about exclusion, discrimination, and reluctance to participate in various forms of physical activity. Our findings may help inform the work of practitioners who seek to use a weight inclusive approach in RRR areas and highlight the need to support individuals to find safe spaces and meaningful opportunities to be active.

Challenges in Fintech Adoption among Members of Farmer Producer Organisations – An Analysis

Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine the personal, technological, and trust-related barriers that prevent farmers in Tamil Nadu from adopting fintech. The research aims to provide insights for enhancing the utilization of fintech in the agricultural sector by analyzing these obstacles. Study Design: The limitations that limit farmers' use of fintech were investigated using an ex-post facto research design. Place and Duration of Study: From March to July 2023, the research was carried out in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, India. Due to its high concentration of banking establishments, this area was chosen for fintech adoption research. Methodology: From four Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) affiliated with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tiruvallur, 120 farmers, 86 men and 34 women, aged 18 to 75, were chosen at random. A structured interview schedule was used to collect the data, which were divided into personal, technological, and trust-related constraints. The farmers' perspectives were used to evaluate the severity of these constraints using the Garrett ranking method. Results: Personal constraints, such as risk aversion (average score = 65.14) and a preference for cash transactions (average score = 56.68), were found to be the most significant obstacles to the adoption of fintech. Usage was further hampered by technological issues such as restricted access to technical support (64.79) and complicated user interfaces (52.95). Concerns about trust, particularly concerns about scams and fraud (65.83), were the most significant obstacles, highlighting the need for robust security measures. Conclusion: The results emphasize the need for targeted interventions to remove the major obstacles to the adoption of fintech, particularly by improving user-friendly designs, technical support, and security measures.

Constraints limiting the effectiveness of extension agents in disseminating climate-smart agricultural practices among rice farmers in north-Central Nigeria

Climate-smart agricultural practices play a crucial role in achieving national food security and development goals, and the significance of extension agents in this endeavor is invaluable. In view of this, this study investigated the constraints limiting the effectiveness of extension agents in disseminating climate-smart agricultural practices to rice farmers in North-central, Nigeria. The study specifically examined the socioeconomic characteristics of the extension agents, the dissemination pathways employed by them, constraints limiting the extension agents from effectively disseminating climate-smart agricultural practices, and the factors that influence their constraints. Data for the study were collected using a well-structured questionnaire administered to a total of 88 respondents selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and Pearson product–moment correlation. The result showed that the respondents had a mean age of 48 years, the majority were males (93.2%), married (95.5%), and (85.2%) had tertiary education. Dissemination pathway/ method mostly used by the extension were; farm and home visits (𝑥̅ = 1.73), result demonstration (𝑥̅ = 1.66), and methods demonstration (𝑥̅ = 1.58). The constraints impeding the extension agents in disseminating CSA practices were; insufficient number of extension workers to provide services for a large number of farmers (𝑥̅ = 1.87), lack of incentives for staff motivation (𝑥̅ = 1.83), inadequate means of transportation (𝑥̅ = 1.83), were ranked 1st,2nd, and 3rd, respectively. There was a negative significant correlation (p = 0.05) between the number of training and personal constraints, as well as institutional constraints (p = 0.017) in the dissemination of climate-smart agricultural practices. Therefore, it is recommended that extension agents receive periodic training and incentives such as awards, cash rewards, promotions, and staff recognition from government bodies to enhance their performance.

Problems and Prospects of Tribal Women Entrepreneurs in Kalahandi District of Odisha

In many developing countries, women are typically expected to contribute to the financial stability of their families only when it’s absolutely necessary. The less affluent the family, the more reliant they are on the income earned by women. It is crucial to make efforts to increase job opportunities to empower impoverished women to generate income. Numerous initiatives and programs have been initiated to encourage self-employment among women. In this context, it is essential to emphasize the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship, regardless of their educational background. Various government agencies at the state and central levels, as well as non-governmental organizations, are actively involved in advancing entrepreneurship among women. The prevalence of women-owned businesses is on a sharp rise in nearly every country. In developed nations, women are widely recognized and hold prominent positions in the business world. However, women entrepreneurs in Odisha are encountering substantial challenges, including social and personal barriers, marketing obstacles, financial constraints, and production issues. Moreover, tribal women entrepreneurs face even more complex issues as times change. These additional challenges can be elaborated upon, including limited knowledge and experience, inadequate transportation infrastructure, liquidity and financial difficulties, low levels of education, a reluctance to take risks, a lack of self-confidence, a lack of ambition, family commitments, and financial constraints. Choosing the correct business opportunity for a venture can yield substantial rewards in the future. Initiating women-led businesses in tribal regions of Odisha can contribute to the enhancement of socio-economic conditions within these tribal areas. This paper aims to delve into the issue of fostering entrepreneurship among tribal women in Odisha and propose practical solutions to enhance the current state of tribal affairs. Additionally, it aims to align with the existing policy framework of the state for the betterment of the overall societal well-being.

Measure Constraints Faced by Farm Women Using ICT Tools by Garett Ranking Method

Traditionally the extension services have focused on male farmers. In the last few decades the concern regarding farm women have been raised globally. There is immediate need to equip these farm women with relevant knowledge and skill. It is only possible if appropriate and relevant Information communication technology (ICT) tools are made available to farm women to get information related to agriculture. The present study was conducted in the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand state to identify the constraints faced by farm women while using ICT tools. Garrett ranking was used. For this study, respondents were selected by using a Probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling method. To derive the inferences of the study, two blocks were selected for the present study. The study covered four villages & it covered 120 farm women in the selected villages. Data for the study was collected during 2019-20. Primary data was collected from farm women through personal interview method with the help of a pretested schedule. The main personal constraints noticed were lack of preference in using Information communication technology (ICT), lack of training, lack of confidence, lack of motivation and lack of time to utilize Information communication technology (ICT). The main technological constraints were language problem to use Information communication technology (ICT), complex nature of Information communication technology (ICT) restricted availability and restricted accessibility to Information communication technology (ICT) tools. The main cultural constraints were lack of faith in Information communication technology (ICT) tools, traditional belief in the existing system, discouragement from the family and society. The main infrastructural barriers were poor electricity services and poor network connectivity.

Moral Distress and Pediatric Palliative Care.

Moral distress is a complex phenomenon whereby a person feels tension, constraint, or conflict with an action or circumstance because it goes against their individual or the perceived collective (e.g., community, organizational, or professional association's) moral stance. In pediatric healthcare settings, managing and mitigating feelings of moral distress can be particularly difficult to navigate through because of the intricate dynamics between the pediatric patient, parent and/or legal guardians, and clinicians. The proactive integration of an experienced pediatric palliative care (PPC) team can be an appropriate step toward reducing clinicians feeling overwhelmed by various case-specific and team management issues that contribute to the development of moral distress among healthcare professionals. Based on our experiences in a free-standing, quaternary pediatric hospital, the involvement of PPC can help reframe the approach to challenging situations, enhance communication, and provide guidance to the care team, patients, and families. Moreover, PPC teams can benefit other multidisciplinary team members through education on respecting the plurality of values of diverse families and patients and consideration of ethical implications during morally challenging situations.

Engaging with AI painting: exploring motivations and challenges in laypeople's creative information practices

Introduction. The advent of generative AI has democratized art creation, enabling individuals without formal training to produce visually appealing digital artworks. However, it is not yet well-understood why and how laypeople engage with AI in creative information practice. Method. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 participants, aiming to understand the motivations for laypeople's engagement with AI painting and the challenges they encounter. Analysis. The interviews were analysed using open coding and thematic analysis, with two independent coders achieving a substantial inter-coder reliability score. Results. Our findings reveal that laypeople's engagement with AI painting is a practice-oriented information practice, influenced by social and contextual factors. The engagement process is iterative, starting with a user prompt and AI-generated initial output, followed by continuous refinement. Laypeople engage with AI painting for emotional motivations, personal utilitarian motivations, and social interaction. Notable challenges include image quality, technological limitations, and personal constraints. Conclusion. These findings provide empirical evidence of the potential and limitations of AI in creative information practice. This understanding is vital for informing the design of future AI tools to enhance the human-AI collaborative experience in creative endeavours.

Personal and Institutional Constraints to Accessing Tertiary Education among People Living with Disability in Bayelsa State

The paper investigated personal and institutional constraints to accessing tertiary education among people living with disability in Bayelsa State. Two research questions and two corresponding null hypotheses were answered and tested in the study. Mixed method design was adopted in the study while 165 respondents consisting of 160 persons with disability, four Deans of Student Affairs and an executive of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Bayelsa State were sampled for the study using multistage sampling technique. The respondents were drawn from within and outside four randomly selected tertiary institutions namely; Bayelsa Medical University (Yenagoa LGA), Fderal University Otuoke (Ogbia LGA), Niger Delta University (Southern Ijaw LGA) and Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education (Sagbama LGA). Instruments used for collection of data were questionnaire for the persons with disability as well as Focus Group Discussion while five Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)was conducted with the other respondents. Data gathered quantitatively were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and t-test while the qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study indicated that poverty and fear of discrimination were the major personal factors that hindered access to tertiary education for the respondents while the major institutional factors were shortage of experts in special needs education and shortage of infrastructure. There existed a difference in the opinion of the students and non-students on these personal and institutional factors. It was recommended that laws should be enacted that will criminalize and punish the violation of the educational rights of people with disability while special fund should be established to take care of their educational needs.

Constraints Faced and Suggestions Offered by Women Self Help Group Members in Cuddalore District, India

Women's empowerment is essential to ensuring equal access to opportunities and their rights are properly respected. This is accomplished by enhancing and expanding women's social, economic, political, and legal existence. The present study was conducted in Cuddalore Block of Cuddalore District. A proportionate random sampling procedure was applied to select 120 respondents. They were members of Mahalir's Women Self-Help Group. Thittam project under, the organizational efforts taken by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW) to define the constraints faced and suggestions offered by the members of SHGs. The study found that lack of awareness about credit sources, followed by a lack of adequate communication skills and more dependence on leaders are the major personal constraints faced by women SHG members. Also, insufficient credit facilities, followed by a lack of periodical training and a lack of marketing channels for selling their produce, are the major organisational constraints women SHG members face. Among the suggestions, the majority of the members offered to increase the loan amount, enhance the subsidy amount to the women members and create employment opportunities for women members.

Fail or pass? Investigating learning experiences and interactive roles in MOOC discussion board

In massive open online course (MOOC) discussion board, students' learning experience, reflecting implicit cognitive and affective states, is related to their learning outcomes and course's completion rates. The majority of researches about learning experience identification in MOOCs depend on post-hoc questionnaires, which may encounter issues such as personal biases, hazy memories, or time constraints, and distribution difficulty in MOOCs. Moreover, learning experience is influenced by students' interactions during learning but their relationship has not been thoroughly explored. This study aimed to address these issues. Firstly, it proposed an artificial intelligence-based text analysis approach for automatically identifying patterns of learning experiences from the large-scale students' posts in MOOC discussion board. It had performance advantage in terms of accuracy when compared with the other competing approaches. Secondly, this study defined students' interactive roles from both social relations and interaction behaviors in MOOC discussion board, and analyzed learning experiences corresponding to the different interactive roles. For students with high participation and low influence in interactions, flow and boredom were prone to happen, while for students with low participation and high influence in interactions, anxiety and apathy were easy to generate. Finally, this study revealed the effect of learning experience on learning achievement with respect to interactive role. For students with high participation characteristics, their learning achievements were less affected by learning experience, while for students less active in interaction, flow was related with good learning achievements. In summary, this study had significant methodological implications for automated learning experience identification. Moreover, this study revealed importance of interactive role in describing the interplay between learning experience and learning achievement, and provided suggestions for the improvement of MOOCs.

LEARNING TO LEARN: THE KEY TO LEADERSHIP SUCCESS

AbstractThe author is former CEO of 7‐Eleven, Inc., and Blockbuster, Inc., and has been involved at the board level and other key positions in various nonprofits and artistic organizations. He says that in his career, he “grew to appreciate the critical importance of education to the individual, the corporation, and to the humanity at large.” He says that he has tried to “capture ”what″ learnings were necessary, “how” to make leadership a dynamic learning process, and “why” continued learning is such a fundamental requirement for effective leadership. I have distilled the what, how, and why of my leadership education into 9 principles I call the “C‐Suite Learnings.” The three areas of what to learn are, in his words, change, confidence, and clarity. In how to learn, they are critical thinking, curiosity, and creativity. For why to learn, collaboration, cultural literacy, and character. “My goal,” he concludes, “is to help others find their own path to academic, professional, and even personal success. By practicing these nine Cs, we can Live to Learn; freeing ourselves from personal and societal constraints that limit our success. Only then will we truly Learn to Live; and in turn Learn to Lead.”

Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Recruitment of Black People With Cancer in Biospecimen-Based Research.

The increasing focus on precision medicine to optimize cancer treatments and improve cancer outcomes is an opportunity to consider equitable engagement of people racialized as Black or African American (B/AA) in biospecimen-based cancer research. B/AA people have the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates compared with all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States, yet are under-represented in biospecimen-based research. A narrative scoping review was conducted to understand the current literature on barriers, facilitators, and evidence-based strategies associated with the engagement of B/AA people with cancer in biospecimen research. Three comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus were conducted. Of 770 studies generated by the search, 10 met all inclusion criteria for this review. The most frequently reported barriers to engagement of B/AA people in biospecimen research were lack of biospecimen research awareness, fear of medical harm, and violation of personal health information privacy, resource constraints, and medical mistrust. Key facilitators included previous exposure to research, knowledge about underlying genetic causes of cancer, and altruism. Recommended strategies to increase participation of B/AA people in biospecimen-based research included community engagement, transparent communication, workforce diversity, education and training, and research participant incentives. Inclusion of B/AA people in biospecimen-based research has the potential to advance the promise of precision oncology for all patients and reduce racial disparities in cancer outcomes.

Navigating The Pedagogical Landscape: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Teachers’ Perceptions And Preparedness For Teaching License In Sindh, Pakistan

Quality of teachers’ development, recruitment, and retention holds substantial value when it comes to delivering quality education. In this paradigm, teaching licensing epitomizes the cornerstone of development as it brings professionalism in teaching, executing strict protocols of compliance with quality measures. In the context of Pakistan, the emergence of the Sindh Teaching License Policy has served as a progressive initiative towards elevating the educational caliber in the province to ensure teachers’ adherence and compliance to certain standards of skills, knowledge, and competence and, in turn, bringing professional proficiency to them. The current study is aimed at exploring teacher’s perceptions and readiness concerning the newly introduced teacher licensing system in the context of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. Data was analysed and presented by conducting a thematic analysis of interviews. Findings revealed that when asked about their perceptions, teachers expressed skepticism about licensing policy implementation, cited resource constraints, showed transparency and accountability concerns, called for better stakeholder engagement and support, and finally demanded clarity on policy, benefits, and its impact on their professional status. Moreover, while discussing their readiness and the barriers they encountered, teachers communicated a lack of readiness for the requirements as they felt the absence of formal training and support by their institutions, and the need for supportive resources and test materials. Furthermore, personal financial constraints, resistance to change, and inequity of access were notably hindering access to licensure at the primary individual levels. On the contrary, the senior educational faculty members recognized the significance and need for the policy initiative and careful implementation of the policy. The challenges highlighted include the involvement of private sector schools, the status of existing teachers, the importance of teacher involvement, and the government's responsibility for support. This research study emphasizes the need for dedicated efforts by policymakers and educational stakeholders to enhance teacher licensing and improve the quality of education in Sindh.

Training need assessment of women members in selected farmer producer organizations (FPOs) of Karnataka

Agriculture sector provides gainful employment and livelihood for majority of the population and contributes significantly to the national income and in India it accounts for 17.60 per cent of it’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Indian agricultural sector facing several challenges like small and fragmented land-holdings, climate change, diversification due to rapid urbanization, inadequate market and storage facilities, unorganized sector, lack of credit facilities and low knowledge on supply chain management and business plans. Hence the study was conducted in Karnataka during the year of 2022- 23. Study was carried out in three Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from Karnataka have been selected. A total of 90 women members constitute the sample size. Data was collected through interview schedule and analyzed through mean scores and index percentage. Study concludes that, highest index score 81.11 was observed for training on skills for marketing of products at large scale and business skills and ranked I. Whereas, highest index score in personal constraint, expressed by majority of the women members was, they were unable to manage time between household work and FPO work with index score of (86.66) and it ranked I. With regard to marketing majority expressed that, price fluctuation every year and distress sale as a constraint with index score 81.11 and ranked I. Great majority (93.33) of FPO members expressed that, high initial share capital/membership charge in FPOs as a constraint and ranked I in administration. With respect to services and benefits more than half (56.66) of the respondents expressed that, non- availability of custom hiring services at FPO as a constrain and ranked I. Study results also indicated that great majority (93.33) of FPO members suggested that, they want proper guidance towards packaging, grading, branding, processing and marketing especially for value added products should be given by FPOs for better participation.

Social-ecological semiotics and the complex organization of psyche, language, and culture

In each given situation, our words and deeds carry signs and meanings that are contingent on, and reflect, the social-ecological semiotic settings. The purpose of this work is to better understand the complex organization of psyche, language, and culture. The process of hyper-generalization brings affective and cognitive opposites into the whole sign field and guides the whole relating with the world. As well, the process of semiotic mediation entails signs constraining and enhancing both interpersonal and intrapersonal psychological processes and experiences, including through nested systems (the levels of the individual-the relationship-the community-the societal). We present data for Australia and Thailand on Hofstede’s six culture dimensions, that is, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, individualism/collectivism, short-term/long-term orientation & restraint/indulgence. An idealized and dynamic model of relations of Hofstede’s six culture dimensions and four indeterminate pronouns (e.g., ‘every’-one, ‘some’-one, ‘any’-one, ‘no’ one) is proposed. As a framework for construing the complex semiotic organization of (western, English-speaking) culture and psyche, four “cyclical” regulatory statements are outlined, regarding personal constraint, personal enhancement, cultural constraint, and cultural enhancement in language and culture, that is, in semiotic cultural psychology. Examples on the values of caring for people and planet are given to illustrate the social-ecological semiotic framework.

Exploring the Constrained Faced by Farmer in Use of ICT Mediated Extension Services in Arghakhanchi District of Nepal

A study was conducted to find out the profile characteristics of the respondents and constraints faced by farmers in usages of ICTs mediated extension services by the farmers of Arghakhanchi district of Nepal in 2020. A total of 180 farmers were randomly selected for the study from 6 wards of 2 municipality of the district. Data was collected by structured interview schedule and used different statistical analysis tools for interpreting the data such as Frequency, Percentage, Arithmetic Mean, Standard Deviation and Rank order. The constraints perceived by farmers were divided on 4 sections i.e., Infrastructural constraints, financial constraints, Content related constraints, and Personal constraints. Majority of respondent possessed the lack of network connectivity is first problem among infrastructural constraints, high cost of internet facilities in village on financial constraints, Similarly Complexity of message content on content related constraints and lack of specialized training on ICT on Personal constraints.

Knowledge Level of Rural Dwellers on Sustainable Utilization of Forest Resources in Peri Urban Local Government Areas of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Forest resources have been a major source of income for a sizeable number of the populace especially in the rural areas. This study therefore investigated the knowledge levels of rural dwellers on sustainable utilization of forest resources in Peri Urban Local Government Areas of Ibadan, Oyo State in which Oluyole and Akinyele Local Governments were purposively chosen. Using a multi-stage sampling procedure, 200 respondents were randomly sampled from the Study Area and data were collected using a structured questionnaire on their personal characteristics, knowledge level, accessibility and constraints faced in sustainable utilization of forest resources. Majority of the respondent 68.4% were males, had secondary education (34.7%). All the respondents (100%) were involved in forest resources utilization; majority (63.3%) sourced their information from forest workers. The high cost of forest resources (40.8%) ranked as the highest constraint faced in the utilization of forest resources. Significant relationship (x2=15.76; p≤0.05) existed between household size and the knowledge level of respondents on forest resources utilization. Also, there was a significant relationship (r=-0.712, p= 0.000) between knowledge level and constraints associated with sustainable utilization of forest resources. The paper therefore recommends the use of public-private partnerships in creating awareness on sustainable utilization of forest resources.

Exploring Interdisciplinary Team Teaching as a Pedagogical Strategy for Developing ESP Teachers’ Subject Matter Knowledge

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has rapidly gained considerable importance due to the position of English as a lingua franca in various scientific and economic domains. This paper aims to highlight ESP practitioners' attitudes towards implementing interdisciplinary team teaching and the potential barriers that hinder its implementation in the business school at Ibn Tofail University. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative research design was adopted, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with five ESP practitioners in the business school. The study reveals that the five interviewed teachers have positive attitudes towards interdisciplinary team teaching in the business school. However, the five interviewed ESP practitioners have been reluctant to implement co-teaching, which is the highest level of collaboration and interaction between ESP practitioners and content teachers, due to personal, pedagogical, and administrative constraints.

Lessons Learnt From Conducting an Instrumental Ethno-Case Study in a Mainstream Secondary School

The aim of this paper is to provide an insight into the lessons learnt as the primary researcher during an instrumental ethno-case study research project that took place in a mainstream secondary academy that set out to examine the physical education (PE) experiences of adolescent, white, pupils in a ‘typical’ working-class secondary school (Ayrefield Community School – ACS). With the term instrumental ethno-case study used to reflect the non-continuous nature of the 34 days spent in the school over a 16-month period, the structure and content of the paper aims to provide a greater theoretical and practical understanding of this relatively nuanced and contemporary approach to qualitative research in education. Determined that the study design remained based in ethnography, consideration is also given to the impact of professional and personal time constraints on an ability to engage in a truly immersive ethnographical study. In this regard, the paper also aims to provide additional guidance on the design and implementation of the study and the recording and interpretation of the data for any researcher with similar aims and/or time constraints. In addition, the paper also utilises Norbert Elias’ sociological concept of involvement and detachment as the lens through which the juxtaposition between objective researcher and experienced mainstream secondary school teacher was explored and managed throughout the duration of the study. Overall, therefore, the paper aims to provide a theoretical justification for the use of the term instrumental ethno-case study design, additional guidance and lessons learnt on the design and implementation of this approach, and further detail on the extent to which the potential conflict between objective researcher and former school teacher was acknowledged and managed. The project itself primarily set out to examine the physical education (PE) experiences of adolescent, white, pupils in a ‘typical’ mainstream working-class secondary school (Ayrefield Community School – ACS) and in doing so also sought to explore the attitudes of the pupils in relation to their views on qualifications and education generally, how they spent their leisure time, and more specifically, how their own actions and relationships with their male PE staff came to influence the content and delivery of their PE provision. Therefore, reflecting on the use of the traditional case study methodologies of covert and overt observations, informal guided conversations, and focus group interviews with male pupils and school staff, the paper highlights and examines the practicalities and considerations associated with the selection of, and access to, a ‘typical’ white, working-class school, how care was taken to encourage ‘natural’ behaviour during covert and overt observations, the specific nature of informal guided conversations with pupils and staff, and the techniques utilised in order to facilitate focus group interviews with these male adolescent pupils.