Personal Matters Research Articles

Elementele artei narative în teatrul muzical

In this paper we have discussed a range of ideas and information that can be obtained from a musical script or score that can help us understand the text intimately as you prepare your role. But how you choose to use this information is a personal matter and will not be the same for any two actors or any two roles. Your job is to put the pieces together, like a detective, in a way that makes sense to you and agrees with the perspective of your particular production. Be careful that what you have done doesn’t simply confirm everything you wanted to feel about a role before you started the investigation. You may also find new information that could lead you to a performance you never would have imagined.

Does personality matter? Understanding the impacts of real-self and avatar personality traits on metaverse satisfaction

PurposeThe metaverse enables users to create their own avatars in a shared virtual space, giving rise to a new avatar personality that differs from their real-self personality. The aim of this research is to explore how users' real-self and avatar personalities may affect their behavioral engagement and satisfaction in the metaverse context.Design/methodology/approachThis research applies self-discrepancy theory to investigate how the big five traits of both real-self and avatar personalities influence users' engagement and satisfaction in the metaverse. The present research employed a mixed-methods approach, beginning with a qualitative study to identify prevalent personality cues among users on metaverse social media platforms. Subsequently, a quantitative study was conducted to further validate the findings of the qualitative study.FindingsThe results indicated that avatar personality scored higher than the real-self personality in the dimensions of openness, conscientiousness and extraversion, while scored lower in the dimensions of agreeableness and neuroticism. Both real-self and avatar personality traits positively influenced metaverse satisfaction via behavioral engagement in the metaverse. Notably, avatar personality traits had a stronger impact on behavioral engagement compared to real-self personality traits, which further influence metaverse satisfaction.Practical implicationsThe present study offers practical insights for metaverse developers and managers to enhance user satisfaction by focusing on users’ big five traits of both real-self and avatar personality. It suggests implementing personalized tools, organizing personality-based social activities and other initiatives to encourage user’s behavioral engagement and ultimately enhance metaverse satisfaction.Originality/valueUnlike existing research that concentrates on a single facet of personality traits, this research employs a mixed-methods approach to conceptualize users' real-self personality and avatar personality, further exploring their impacts on metaverse satisfaction.

Diskurser i kartläggning av nyanlända elever

The aim of this study is to shed light on discourses in national assessment material for recently arrived students and discourses about students' knowledge as they emerge from teachers’ use of the national assessment material for newly arrived students. The empirical material consists of assessment material for five students, two with little or no previous school background and three with long school background. The documentation in the mapping material is analyzed with Gee's discourse analysis. The result shows two different discourses in which information of different kinds is made significant: assessment discourse for newly arrived students and important knowledge at Language Introduction. Through the assessment material, the Swedish National Agency for Education supports a comprehensive assessment where information about students' previous knowledge and background regarding language and education is requested, with a particular focus on numeracy and literacy. What emerges from the study is that the documentation is inconsistent, often fragmentary and abbreviated. The results also show that the teachers consider personal matters, such as fleeing and arriving in Sweden, to be important knowledge at Language Introduction that they need to document. Additionally, the documentation regarding students who have experience studying in formal schools is more informative compared to the documentation for those students who have little or no experience of formal education. Thus, the information which is intended to be provided through assessment material appears only vaguely, and there is a discrepancy as some information is left out, particularly for students with short or no earlier schooling.

Exploring the value of PGRs who teach (PGWT) in supporting undergraduate students’ sense of belonging: A Student Staff Partnership Project

The aim of this research was to explore the impact of interactions between undergraduate students (‘students’) and the postgraduate researchers (‘PGWT’) who teach them, on students’ sense of belonging. Meaningful interactions between staff and students have been identified as a key aspect of students’ sense of belonging. The unique space that postgraduates who teach occupy- both student and teacher- is widely recognized in the literature and through this dual role PGWT can provide a valuable bridge between students and academic staff. Due to the nature of their teaching - which is typically small group teaching characterised by proximity and informality - opportunities can arise for discussion of matters from the wider student experience beyond the curriculum. Activity-oriented focus groups were conducted with module leaders, PGWT and their students in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Hull to explore each groups’ perspectives, and the results were thematically analysed. Findings show that whilst students didn’t explicitly recognize or use the term ‘belonging’, through resonance, rapport and academic enrichment PGWT created environments which aligned with definitions of belonging, including building meaningful relationships, contributing to the student experience, and creating informal spaces where students discussed both learning and personal matters. PGWT were relatable, providing authentic examples and being role models. Our findings suggest that being a teacher enables PGWT themselves to feel part of, and that they belong in, the University community. This research adds to the literature on students’ perceptions of PGWT and provides recommendations for future practice.

Navigating platformized generative AI: Examining early adopters’ experiences through the lens of data reflectivity

Following the widely noticed launch of ChatGPT 3.5 in November 2022, an unprecedented number of users have started to experiment with generative AI for communication purposes. Prior studies have shown how users are commodified by platforms, and the unprecedented development of generative AI raises hence once again questions of platform dynamics vs user agency. In this study, we argue that platformized generative AI (GenAI) actively ‘talks back’ to their users, prompting them to act accordingly. Theoretically, we develop the concept of data reflectivity as a critical lens, showing that users exhibit reflective practices. These allow them to reflect upon their own role in relation to platformized GenAI and thus alter their patterns of action. The empirical case study, carried out in Spring 2023, draws on a survey with 60 early adopters and 14 subsequent semi-structured interviews, collected in an NGO operating in Southeast Asia. The thematic analysis shows that users relate to platformized GenAI in three distinct but related ways: (1) as a happy helper to organize and systematize knowledge and information; (2) as a creative tool to generate ideas; and (3) as a conversation partner for personal and life-related matters. In conclusion, we discuss the findings critically in relation to overall platform dynamics and the notion of systems ‘speaking back’ and further suggest that future research should aim to bring the two research fields of datafication and user studies even closer together.

Personality matters in extremely demanding environments: A bed rest performance study.

Personality is a rather neglected aspect in bed rest studies. The aim of the study was to clarify which specific personality pattern may predict the performance of bed rest study participants. Personality traits were correlated with participants' performance rated by the team running the study. The sample consisted of N = 68 participants who took part in one of four different studies. A broad set of personality traits correlated with different performance aspects (stability, perseverance, modesty, flexibility, compliance, likability, social adaptation). Emotional instability showed the highest correlations. Furthermore, participants with low aggressiveness, low empathy and low achievement motivation were rated as more suitable for a study. Additionally, participants with a high extraversion showed a higher social adaptation. The results contribute to the knowledge of the impact of personality in extremely demanding environments and provide first evidence for the identification of an ideal personality profile predicting performance of bed rest study participants.

Parents and service providers’ perspectives about social inclusion of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities in Qatar: investigation of financial transactions and personal status laws

The current study aims to explore parents and service providers’ attitudes towards the social inclusion of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities into society, through exercising their rights in various financial transactions and personal status matters in the State of Qatar. Additionally, the study aims to explore any differences in the participants’ attitudes towards social inclusion based on their role, gender and the child’s disability type. Eighty-two service providers (46 Female) and sixty-five parents (40 Female) of children with Intellectual Disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder participated in this study. They completed the Attitudes towards social inclusion of people with disabilities (ASIPD) Scale. Findings showed that the participants believe that the Shari’ah (Islamic law) places a high premium on the social inclusion of the people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and predates various modern theories on the subject. In addition, the Islamic law permits the persons with mild neurodevelopmental disabilities to engage in many contracts in the realms of financial transactions and personal status. Parents and service providers have neutral to positive attitudes towards social inclusion of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities in terms of performing some financial transactions and some personal status rights like marriage and divorce according to severity of disability. Results were discussed and further recommendations were provided.

Неформальное гражданское участие населения в развитии малых и средних городов Европейского Севера России (на примере некоммерческих организаций и городских интернет-сообществ)

This article explores the informal public participation in the development of small and medium-sized cities in the European North of Russia. It focuses on two main aspects: the impact of nonprofit organizations (NGOs) and the activity of residents on social networks, particularly in discussions and solutions to local socio-economic issues. The study reveals that NGO activities create significant opportunities for addressing local concerns raised by residents to municipal authorities. An analysis of the official pages of local governments on the VKontakte social network shows that, compared to larger cities, residents of these smaller cities are more engaged in dialogue with local authorities, demonstrate higher loyalty to published content, and actively share information of interest. The research also finds that while residents of small and medium-sized cities actively discuss urban problems in informal online communities and participate in various kinds of socially beneficial events, their participation is generally prompted by external organizers. The level of self-organization to address broader citywide problems remains relatively low. However, when dealing with personal household matters, citizens actively communicate through urban online communities. The study also highlights a high level of trust among residents, as evidenced by their strong response to calls for help in the comments. The scientific novelty of this research lies in its first-time analysis of public participation and the assessment of resident involvement in the management and development processes of small and medium-sized cities, through mechanisms such as NGOs and urban Internet communities.

Did the Prophet practice Ijtihad? An Inquiry into the Prophet's Personal Opinion-Based Juridical and Judicial Ruling

This research paper delves into the intriguing question of whether the Prophet Muhammad practiced Ijtihad, issuing personal opinion-based juridical or judicial rulings without explicit divine revelation. It explores the varying perspectives of jurists and Muslim scholars on this matter, with some permitting the Prophet's reliance on his intellect and understanding for issues related to worldly affairs, such as politics, war, agriculture, and judicial cases but not religious matters. The distinction between purely religious and public affairs is supported by numerous texts and narrations. The paper discusses the controversy arising from conflicting interpretations of Quranic and Hadith texts regarding the Prophet's reliance on divine revelation versus his judgment. While some argue that all the Prophet's statements are revelations from God, others point to instances where his opinions were not based on revelation but on Ijtihad. Furthermore, this study underscores the narrower application of Ijtihad in strictly religious matters compared to its broader use in non-theological affairs, adapting to changing situations and times. This controversy prompts a reevaluation of the rigid adherence to the Prophet's tradition in all aspects of Muslim life. It raises questions about the adaptability of these traditions to contemporary situations influenced by politics, technology, culture, and social values. The paper concludes by advocating for a thoughtful categorization of the Prophet's traditions, such as Fatwahs, judicial, theology, politics, personal matters, social, and cultural issues, to determine their relevance and obligatory status for the Muslim community. This categorization, the paper argues, would provide a solid framework for applying the Prophet's tradition, taking into account the dynamic nature of public affairs.

Personality matters in consumer preferences for cultured meat in China

This study extends our current knowledge of consumer preferences for cultured meat. We explored if personality traits have a role in affecting Chinese urban consumer choice behavior for cultured meat. We performed a choice experiment (CE) and used cultured chicken breast as a case study. The results indicate that personality traits (i.e., agreeableness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness) influence consumer preference for cultured meat. Our findings provide valuable insights into the psychology of consumer preferences and attitudes that can help to effectively communicate the nature of cultured meat to the public. They also have relevant implications for cultured-meat producers, and policy makers.

Differences in wayfinding inclinations among women and men: a matter of personality and affect, not just gender

Women report different levels of wayfinding inclinations than men. This study is an exploration of whether individual factors such as personality traits and affect can provide insights into the gender differences observed in wayfinding inclinations, such as in the attitudes toward exploring and spatial anxiety. The study involved 454 adults (271 women) who completed questionnaires on personality traits, affective state, attitudes toward exploring and spatial anxiety. Women reported lower positive attitudes toward exploring and higher spatial anxiety than men. Openness and positive affect were associated with positive attitudes toward exploring places in both genders whereas extraversion was associated with attitudes toward exploring places among men. Higher levels of extraversion were linked to lower spatial anxiety in both genders, higher levels of negative affect were associated with greater spatial anxiety among men, and lower levels of emotional stability were associated with greater spatial anxiety among women. Therefore, gender does not play a singular role in explaining differences in self-reported wayfinding inclinations. Instead, negative affect (at least for men) and low emotional stability (at least among women) tend to hinder such inclinations whereas openness and positive affect contribute to their promotion. These results provide insights into how the patterns of relationships among wayfinding inclinations, personality traits, and affect vary between men and women, with possible implications for assessment and intervention.

Examining Microfinance Loan Repayment Challenges and Procedures by Small Business Owners: The Case of Vikenge Village, Morogoro, Tanzania

The research surveys the factors affecting the ability of small business owners in Vikenge village to refund microloans. This study uses institutional theory framework to investigates the constraints encountered by these firms, their means for handling these constraints, and offer hints for improvement. Applying a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were performed with 13 small business proprietors. Participants were purposively selected due to their experience in microfinance lending and efficient reimbursement. Through thematic analysis, substantial issues concerning repayment challenges, techniques, and recommendations for enhancement were proven. The survey reveals a variety of obstacles that influence the repayment of loans, for instance; unexpected events, personal and familial matters, fluctuations in the economy, seasonal fluctuations in business, and complications with cash flow. Methodologies to repayment include strategies like saving money daily, options for flexible repayment, clear communication, and seeking outside financial assistance. Survey respondents also offered supportive recommendations, such as using loans for their intended purposes, decreasing interest rates, allowing more flexibility in repayment schedules, providing enhanced customer education and support, ensuring loan amounts are appropriate, and improving monitoring and collection procedures. This research survey enhances value to the current body of knowledge by delivering detailed analysis on the repayment of microfinance loans in small businesses in Vikenge village. The results proposed practical recommendations for microfinance institutions to acquire tailored repayment strategies that meet the varied requirements of borrowers, eventually leading to improved financial accessibility and long-term viability.

Leading with care: how health-promoting leadership drives innovation in the Middle East

PurposeLeveraging the job demands-resources (JD-R) theory, this study proposes and validates a mediation model depicting the impact of health-promoting leadership (HPL) on innovation performance (IP), with the relationship partially mediated by two health-related factors: psychological well-being (PWB) and positive conflict (PC).Design/methodology/approachEmploying a structured questionnaire developed from validated scales sourced from the existing literature, the study collected data from a sample of 310 employees across various organizations within the service sector of the United Arab Emirates. The dimensionality, reliability, and validity of scales were assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The study’s seven hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling in AMOS and mediation analysis using the Hayes process model in SPSS.FindingsSupport was found for all seven hypotheses, demonstrating that HPL exerts both a direct and an indirect effect on IP, with PWB and PC serving as partial mediators.Research limitations/implicationsDistinct from the traditional leadership literature, which often views an employee’s psychological health as a personal matter, this study highlights the organizational role in promoting psychological well-being. It also provides significant theoretical contributions to the underexplored area of conflict management within the context of innovation.Practical implicationsBy promoting employees' PWB, HPL can optimize human capital within organizations. Additionally, leaders can leverage the potential of PC to foster an environment conducive to innovation, resulting in enhanced organizational performance.Originality/valueThe findings enrich the leadership and IP literature by identifying inter-relationships between the three health related antecedents of IP.

Between personal and social matters: identifying public perceptions of childfree decisions in Indonesia

The decision of couples or individuals to not have any children or to be childfree has recently stirred up heated controversy in Indonesia, especially after some prominent social media influencers endorsed views regarding the benefits of choosing to be childfree. This endorsement led to various debates as to whether childfree is considered an appropriate decision, specifically in a society such as Indonesia. We conducted this study to explore Indonesians’ perceptions in general towards childfree decisions through qualitative research. We collected responses from 53 participants aged 20-59 recruited online through various social media platforms. We limited our participants to a minimum age of 19, which was considered mature enough to have well-informed opinions regarding marriage and reproductive health issues. Findings were developed through thematic analysis and examined childfree decision making dynamics with a focus on knowledge, personal opinions, attitudes towards being childfree, stigma towards childfree people, and comparisons by gender. Implications and areas for future research are discussed.

Personality matters – The interplay between consistent individual differences and mouse welfare in female C57BL6/J mice

To ensure good welfare of animals in human hands, it is essential to modify housing conditions according to the animals’ needs. Traditionally, the effects of such modifications are studied by means of group-level comparisons, thereby widely neglecting consistent inter-individual differences (i.e., so-called ‘animal personalities’). However, as animals with distinct personality types might differ in their environmental needs and hence react differently to the same environment, such systematic inter-individual differences might have important welfare consequences. This becomes particularly apparent under laboratory conditions, where animals are typically housed under highly standardized and barren environments. Against this background, we here aim to investigate personality-dependent welfare consequences in response to different housing conditions in laboratory mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were characterized for their personality type in exploration behavior and the most and the least explorative individuals were set up in either simple or in highly complex housing conditions that included constantly changing environmental enrichment items. We monitored individual welfare by studying behavioral, physiological, and immunological outcome measures. Besides personality-dependent differences in immune parameters and overall improved welfare under complex housing conditions, we indeed found hints that individual mice were differently affected in their welfare depending on the specific combination of personality type and housing condition. Specifically, highly explorative mice appeared to be more adversely affected by simple housing, but also profited more from complex housing compared to low explorative mice. These findings indicate that welfare promoting adjustments do not necessarily benefit all individuals equally and therefore, call for a shift of perspectives in the evaluation of animal welfare.

Employees’ mental health: The secret behind business success

In today’s business world, the focus of many organizations is heavily skewed toward tangible assets – including profitability, revenue growth, cash-flow- as the primary drivers of success. However, another equally important area is frequently overlooked and deserves more attention, namely, employee mental health.The main aim of this review is to explore and better understand the ripple effects of employee’s mental states on firms’ outcomes. To meet this objective, we followed a specific methodological approach, initiating our research by scrutinizing the most recent and relevant scientific publications in several academic literature databases, in order to delve into the various ways in which mental health states can shape employee’s overall work functioning and firms’ outcomes, including productivity, performance, turnover rates, absenteeism, and much more. Following our analysis, we have concluded that employee’s mental health state isn’t just a personal matter, but it’s, on contrary, a strategic imperative for thriving businesses. Nurturing mentally strong minds in the workplace is a must, to evade substantial losses, and to prevent the deepening of mental illness.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS’ VIEWS ON PATIENT HANDLING, WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, AND THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF TARGETED EXERCISE IN PREPARING FOR OCCUPATIONAL DEMANDS

Purpose and backgroundNearly 70% of UK physiotherapists experience work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) during their career, with a significant proportion occurring in the back and being attributed to patient handling tasks. Evidence suggests that manual handling training alone is ineffective and interventions among nurses indicate that a tailored approach, including targeted exercise (TE), can reduce WRMSD rates. This study aimed to explore physiotherapists’ perspectives of WRMSDs, patient handling, and the role of TE in reducing WRMSDs among physiotherapists.Methods and ResultsKey informant interviews were conducted with 4 physiotherapy operational leads and 1 manual handling trainer from NHS Grampian. Interviews were transcribed and Framework Analysis was utilised to identify key themes, including challenges, barriers, and facilitators. Following this, two online focus groups were conducted with 7 qualified NHS physiotherapists across the UK. Views of manual handling training varied across specialities, with some finding it comprehensive and adaptable, and others finding it less applicable to patients in their speciality or community setting. Physiotherapist views on fitness for work varied, with some highlighting the necessity of TE to ensure workforce health whilst others considered exercise to be a personal matter. Facilitators to implementation identified by participants were having support from management and a strong justification for the exercise content. Varied work schedules and facilities were identified as barriers to implementation of a work-based TE intervention.ConclusionVarying perspectives on TE interventions and barriers to implementation were identified. This work will inform future research to develop TE interventions in consultation with key stakeholders.Conflicts of InterestNo conflicts of interestSource of FundingNHS Endowment Research Grant 22/001

Do personal political ties matter in SOEs’ access to bank credit? Evidence from China

The role of personal political ties in State-owned enterprises (SOEs) remains under-investigated due to the difficulty of disentangling these ties from SOEs' inherent political connections. Leveraging China's anti-corruption campaign, this paper distinguishes between personal and inherent political ties within SOEs to explore the effect of personal political ties on access to bank credit. Using ordinary least squares and difference-in-difference models, we find that SOEs whose executives lose personal political ties receive significantly less bank credit, resulting in more severe financing constraints. In an attempt to compensate, these SOEs employ tax avoidance strategies, though these measures prove insufficient. Consequently, such SOEs reduce their investment in long-term assets while increasing investment in research and development. Furthermore, our study reveals that the negative impact of severed personal political ties on access to bank credit is more pronounced in SOEs with high state ownership. The reduction in personal political ties among SOEs following the anti-corruption campaign helps mitigate the misallocation of bank credit. Overall, this study identifies personal political ties as a key factor influencing SOEs' access to bank credit and provides new evidence on the effectiveness of China's anti-corruption campaign by categorizing SOEs' political ties into personal and inherent connections.

The right to health through international cooperation

Until only a few decades ago health had mostly been regarded as a personal matter, implying a reciproca! relationship between patient and physician, as codified in the hippocratic oath. Today, however, health is considered a human right, with complex philosophical, ethical, social, economic, political and legal implications. Additionally, a child has his own fundamental rights, such that the problem of children's right to health becomes a concrete issue within humanitarian law.

Does personality matter: examining the value of personality insights for personalized nudges that encourage the selection of learning resources.

Nudging is a mechanism aimed at influencing people's behavior while maintaining the individual's freedom of choice. Nudges have been adopted in learning contexts where individuals are responsible for shaping their learning and, at the same time, receive guidance from the system. Not everyone responds to nudges in the same way. While social science research indicates that individual differences play a crucial role in peoples' nudgeability, there has been little research examining computational approaches that explore how individual differences affect user responses to nudges (especially in a learning context). Two studies were conducted to explore how individual differences, specifically focusing on personality, can affect nudge response in the context of healthcare education, where individuals use resources as a part of their informal learning and professional development. Different nudges, designed based on personality characteristics, were provided to draw individual users' attention to educational resources to encourage user engagement. The findings indicate that personality insights can be a predictor for nudge selection, suggesting that different nudges may be more effective when recommending learning resources to people with different personality characteristics.