Policy Discourse Research Articles

Student and Instructor Perceptions and Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) applications have recently become more powerful and accessible. There has been much discussion about the potential impacts of AI on learning and sample applications. Yet, little research exists on how and to what extent AI is being used in educational contexts. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine and compare students’ and instructors’ perceptions and uses of AI in educational settings. Method A sample of 113 undergraduate students and 71 instructors at a public university completed an online survey in which they reported how and how often they use AI for educational and instructional purposes and their views of its potential benefits and detriments to learning. Results Students and instructors reported relatively low AI usage, similar views on potential benefits and detriments to learning, and similar views on acceptable academic use. However, their perceptions diverged in several important ways. Conclusion This research highlights the need for policy, transparency, training, and nuanced discussions about how to use AI effectively and responsibly to promote learning goals. Teaching Implications The survey instruments developed for this study may be useful tools for facilitating conversations, clarifying expectations, and expanding understanding of AI uses in psychology programs.

Weaving The Fabric of True Korean Through Media Exposure Among Youth in Korea

Objective: This research aims to identify distinct perception typologies of national identity among Korean adolescents, focusing on the interplay of ancestral ties, cultural heritage, birthplace, residence, and civic responsibilities. It also examines the role of media portrayals of foreigners in shaping these identity constructs. Theoretical Framework: Guided by Anderson’s “imagined communities” concept, the study employs media framing and priming theories to explore how media influences adolescent perceptions of national identity. Method: Utilizing data from the 2021 Multicultural Acceptance Survey conducted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, this study applies latent class analysis to assess responses from 5,000 Korean middle and high school students. The survey includes factors such as ancestry, cultural heritage, and civic engagement, with media exposure to foreign volunteers and criminals rated on a five-point Likert scale. Latent regression analysis incorporates media exposure as covariates to evaluate effects on identity formation. Results and Discussion: Five perception types emerge—Ethnic, Pluralistic, Civic, Cultural, and Holistic identities. Media portrayals significantly influence Civic and Pluralistic identities, underscoring media’s formative role in adolescent identity perception. Research Implications: The findings offer insights for multicultural education and identity policy, supporting frameworks that acknowledge diverse youth identities. Originality/Value: This study provides a unique contribution by focusing on adolescents and using latent class analysis for a nuanced understanding of national identity perception types. It further underscores the influential role of media in shaping youth identity, contributing to both media studies and identity policy discourse.

Mapping stakeholder role and influence: Malik ISCs model for sustainable provision of low-income housing

AbstractHousing provision is an integrated network of stakeholders, resources, institutions, and regulations. This study explores the stakeholder analysis approach through grounded theory to rationalize the stakeholder influence and role in developing collaborative frameworks for the sustainable provision of low-income housing in Pakistan. This study aims to theorize the Institutional Stakeholder Collaborations (ISCs) conceptual framework derived from institutional, stakeholder, collaboration, and resource dependence theories. The research also presents an interesting feature, i.e. stakeholder-resource cross-tabulation in achieving the research objective to develop the ISCs theory by placing core categories against stakeholder categories and resource domains. Stakeholder mapping plotted the influence against attributes of power, legitimacy, and interest (PLI) within the context of low-income housing in Punjab, Pakistan. The new theory was generated from the grounded data as a collaborative model for the sustainable provision of low-income housing, i.e., the Malik ISCs Model. This informed discovery of collaboration through the Malik ISCs Model for effectively providing low-income housing projects suggests some key points for the broader global policy discourse of housing development, emphasizing the low-income segment.

Persepsi Masyarakat terhadap Kebijakan Hukuman Mati dalam Kasus Narkotika di Indonesia: Analisis Kuantitatif melalui Survei Nasional

The death penalty remains one of the most contentious policies in addressing narcotics crimes in Indonesia. While implemented as a stringent measure to combat drug trafficking, the policy often sparks debates regarding its effectiveness and implications for human rights. This study aims to analyze public perceptions of the death penalty policy for narcotics-related offenses, focusing on how demographic factors such as age, education, and residence influence public support. Using a quantitative approach, this research employed a nationwide survey involving 1,500 respondents selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection combined online and offline methods to ensure broad representation. The findings reveal significant demographic variations in support for the death penalty. Younger and middle-aged respondents (25–40 years old) showed the highest levels of support (70%), particularly in urban areas (70%) compared to rural areas (55%). Educational attainment also influenced perspectives, with higher education levels correlating with increased support for the policy. The study concludes that public perceptions of the death penalty are shaped significantly by demographic and socio-cultural factors. These findings underscore the need for targeted communication strategies to address varying public concerns, particularly in rural areas where access to information may be limited. The research contributes to policy discussions by providing empirical insights into public opinion on this controversial issue. It recommends integrating public education campaigns and alternative rehabilitative measures to enhance public understanding and acceptance of narcotics policies. By grounding policy development in evidence-based research, this study aims to support more equitable and effective approaches to addressing drug-related crimes in Indonesia

Science at the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority: post-normal science for recalibration of policy instruments.

Post-normal conditions require post-normal resolutions. When stakes are high and values are disputed, policy discussions and decisions cannot rely on science alone. Such discussions require post-normal science, which centralizes the qualitative value of diverse knowledge groups. We discuss the usefulness of post-normal science in the context of the work of the Secretariat at the International Seabed Authority. In particular, we explore the need to expand the understanding of science and knowledge – the key components informing deep-seabed policies. Marine science encompasses a broad range of research topics and interests – from blue humanities with analyses of human-Ocean relations, to physics of particulate matter, to marine policy research. The increasing number of disciplines applied to marine science demonstrates growth in our collective knowledge of the Ocean and, in turn, increased realization and appreciation of the limitations of what we know. Such knowledge challenges are discussed among natural and social scientists. The Secretariat depends on broad expertise, from natural sciences, social sciences, civil society and beyond. In short, we argue that post-normal science can help metaphorically recalibrate policy-shaping instruments (the practice) so that decision-making processes and policy agendas are implemented for transformative actions.

A Matter of Minutes: Unexpected FOMC Communication and Fed Credibility

Abstract Unexpected revelations in the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes may provide critical information and hinder the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) credibility. Our analysis explores the impact of unanticipated content on FOMC policy discussions, revealing that more-hawkish-than-expected minutes reduce daily stock market returns by raising the risk premium. We also find a non-linear relationship between the unexpected minutes’ sentiment and the Fed’s credibility: surprise hawkish revelations can worsen credibility, with larger deviations further de-anchoring long-term inflation expectations from the 2 % target. Our findings suggest that the Fed should continue refining its communication strategies to avoid the damage of unexpectedly hawkish minutes in its credibility.

Mapping urban health policies: A scoping review of environmental, behavioural and socioeconomic determinants of health

Researchers have consistently shown that determinants of health—factors beyond healthcare, including the built environment and socioeconomic conditions— significantly impact health outcomes. This understanding has led to a growing trend in recent decades towards policy discourse that links determinants of health with health outcomes. However, the scientific community's access to these policies in a structured and systematised manner remains limited. The importance of this gap cannot be overstated, as information about which determinants of health are discussed and prioritised in policy agendas is spread across various documents from different organisations, making it difficult to address relevant policy questions promptly. A scoping review of urban health policies was conducted following JBI guidelines to bridge this gap. The aim was to create a structured framework that outlines the environmental, behavioural, and socioeconomic determinants of health included in policy agendas, as well as how they are understood and prioritised, their relationships with each other and with health outcomes, and how they vary across different geographic and governance levels. Using content analysis methods, 128 policy documents from intergovernmental, national, regional, and local governance levels were analysed, covering the World and European region and the cities of London, Lisbon, and Copenhagen from 2010 to 2022. The review identified 83 determinants of health employed in policy discourse, categorising them into nine priority themes: healthy diet; drug, alcohol, and tobacco; social cohesion; physical activity; safety; active travel; natural and open spaces; environmental exposures; and basic services. These determinants of health were organised in a structured framework to illustrate their perceived relationships with each other, the priority themes, and health outcomes, as well as their prioritisation in policy discourse based on their frequency of use in urban health policy. This review represents the first comprehensive scope of how determinants of health are employed in policy discourse. The resulting conceptual framework offers a remarkably comprehensive mapping of the systemic relations between determinants of health and health outcomes, which forms a valuable tool for guiding research and practice on the policy-suggested complex multivariate causal pathways between variables. This framework provides a foundation for systematically exploring previously challenging questions, such as how research evidence is being translated into policy discourse and which aspects of this discourse are being implemented into action. Moreover, the scoping review and content analysis protocol can be replicated in other geographic regions, providing insights into potential outcome variations.

Rights of nature and the protection of Antarctica’s intrinsic value: seeking inspirations from discourses in international environmental law and policy

ABSTRACT Despite the explicit recognition of Antarctica’s intrinsic value in the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, the value is barely reflected in environmental protection measures and policies adopted under the Protocol. Little discussion has also been conducted towards the meaning and interpretation of the intrinsic value of Antarctica. Without examining the latter in detail, this article rather takes these deficiencies as a point of departure and seeks to explore the potential of Rights of Nature (RoN) initiatives to strengthen the recognition of Antarctica’s intrinsic value and possibly promote its protection. In doing so, it focuses on the conceptual linkages and interconnections between RoN approaches and intrinsic value. Drawing on various international initiatives, including the Antarctica Declaration, the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth and the Universal Declaration of Oceans Rights, we argue that such efforts, which aim to recognise both the intrinsic value and legal standing of nature, provide a theoretical background from which the recognition and the legal protection of Antarctica’s intrinsic value can similarly be enhanced.

Sustainability in the prosecution of the crime of aggression: reflections in the wake of Russia’s initiation of a war of aggression against Ukraine

The long period of sidelining the crime of aggression in the international legal policy discourse is over. On the contrary, in the wake of Russia’s initiation of a war of aggression against Ukraine, there is strong and widespread rhetoric in international politics suggesting that a critical moment in history has been reached with respect to the prosecution of the crime of aggression. However, to ensure the sustainability of such prosecutions, powerful rhetoric is not enough. As regard the resolve to match words with deeds, the odds are still out. At the time of writing, it remains an open question whether a critical number of State leaders will be prepared to rise to the historical challenge before them and eventually pave the way for sustainable prosecution of the crime of aggression. The crucial test is whether States Parties to the ICC Statute are ready, within the immediate future, to overcome the debilitating jurisdictional restraints that govern the Court’s exercise of jurisdiction over the crime of aggression.

Securitized trust: on the multiple guises of the UK policy agenda during the Covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Against the backdrop of the uncertainty that characterized the COVID-19 pandemic, trust emerged as a key term employed by public officials and policymakers in the UK to represent the existence or dissolution of state–society relationships. Despite its ubiquity, trust remained ambiguous in its precise meaning and multiple in its usage. Through an analysis of key policy documents published since the onset of the pandemic, we look beyond the definition of trust to explore its various roles in the UK policymaking at the national level. Drawing on the work of Vivien Schmidt (2008, 2010), we bring attention to the relationship between the cognitive (or instrumental) and normative (or valued-based) functions of trust in contradicting domains of community and security. We argue that the multiplicity of trust in policy discourse creates a false unity across conflictual domains of the government agenda, obfuscating the workings of an increasingly austere state. ‘Securitized trust’, we propose, is produced when the language of trust is mobilized through policies that work to enforce compliance with government agendas, to monitor organizing at the community level, to manage personal data, and to enhance policing.

Defense Policy Shaping and Security Governance: The Role and Impact of Defense Industry and Military Contractors

This research explores the pivotal role of defense contractors in shaping defense policy and their significant impact on national security dynamics. Using qualitative research methods, with an emphasis on secondary data analysis, the study synthesizes findings from government reports, academic literature, and industry analyses. Key findings reveal the considerable influence of defense contractors’ lobbying activities on defense budget allocations and procurement policies, often redirecting resources toward projects that align with their technological expertise and profit motives. Additionally, defense contractors play a crucial role in shaping defense research and development priorities, driving innovation in areas such as cybersecurity, missile defense systems, and unmanned technologies. Ethically, the revolving door phenomenon between defense contractors and government officials raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, undermining impartial decision-making and public trust. This research offers a comprehensive understanding of the strategic implications of contractor influence on defense policy, highlighting the need for greater transparency, accountability, and balanced competition in defense procurement. By illuminating these dynamics, the study contributes to policy discussions aimed at promoting ethical governance and ensuring the integrity of national security.

Social inclusion and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa

PurposeThe poverty puzzle persists in sub-Saharan Africa decades after some other regional bodies have recorded substantial gains in their poverty reduction efforts. This study seeks to explore the extent to which social inclusion influences poverty outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe study constructs a social inclusion index and its sub-indices using principal component analysis and employs the Lewbel instrumental variable estimation method to test the impact of the computed social inclusion indices on poverty outcomes for 19 sub-Saharan African countries.FindingsThe results have shown that social inclusion reduces the proportion of the poor and the depth of poverty within sub-Saharan Africa significantly. We also observe a U-shaped relationship between social inclusion and poverty outcomes; thus, social inclusion’s poverty-reducing effect sees a reversal when it hits a certain threshold.Practical implicationsThe study provides the evidence needed to inform the policy discourse on the poverty problem, which continues to plague sub-Saharan Africa.Social implicationsWith sub-Saharan Africa’s position as the region with the worst poverty statistics, the results of this study will prove useful in tackling poverty to ensure improved quality of life.Originality/valueThis study presents original evidence on social inclusion and its relationship with poverty.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-08-2023-0640

Medicalization without legalization: the European policy for medical and recreational cannabis use

Abstract Aim Cannabis, unlike other illicit drugs, possesses medical properties. This unique characteristic necessitates a distinction between its clinical and legal status, prompting an inquiry into the nature of the relationship between these two dimensions. Countries are adopting one of three clinical policies regarding medical use (opposition, pharmaceuticalization, and medicalization) and one of three legal regimes regarding recreational use (prohibition, decriminalization, and legalization). This study examines the correlation between the clinical policy and the legal regime for cannabis in European countries. Subject and methods We used data from 39 European countries to classify every country’s clinical policy and legal regime. Then, we employed chi-squared and Spearman correlation tests to assess the relationships between the clinical and legal dimensions. Results The chi-squared test results indicate a strong and statistically significant relationship between the clinical policy for cannabis and the legal regime for recreational cannabis (p < 0.01). Spearman correlation test results also reveal a positive, strong, and significant relationship (p < 0.001). We found that medicalization as a clinical policy is associated with decriminalization as a legal regime (68% of medicalization countries decriminalize recreational use). Conclusion This study proposes a novel perspective that separates the concepts of medicalization and legalization, challenging previous assumptions about their interconnectedness. We argue that medicalization and decriminalization of cannabis are closely associated, likely because decriminalization facilitates patient access and fosters a medical cannabis market while avoiding the extremes of prohibition or full-scale legalization. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of cannabis policy development in Europe and suggest that policymakers should consider the complex interplay between clinical and legal approaches when formulating cannabis policies. This research provides valuable insights for future policy discussions and highlights the need for further investigation into the long-term implications of these policy choices.

Racial diversity, interracial trust, and mental distress in post-apartheid South Africa

ABSTRACT The emerging difficulties and tensions in establishing inclusive and multicultural societies in the contemporary globalised world have necessitated the generation of ample empirical evidence in support of the socioeconomic and health benefits of racial diversity. This study contributes to the scholarly and policy discourses by examining the effect of racial diversity on mental distress in post-apartheid South Africa after several decades of racial segregation. We used all five waves (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2017) of the National Income Dynamics Survey (NIDS). After addressing the endogeneity problem in the racial diversity–mental distress nexus, our findings show that an increase in racial diversity is associated with a decrease in mental distress across the 52 districts of South Africa. This finding is consistently established when different quasi-experimental methods and alternative conceptualisations of racial diversity are employed to generate the results. We also found that racial diversity decreases mental distress more among females and urban residents. Further analyses revealed that interracial trust serves as a potential pathway through which racial diversity transmits to mental distress. We argue that people living in highly racially diverse neighbourhoods have the potential to experience a decrease in their mental distress through improved interracial trust.

Effectiveness of History and Cultures Curriculum for Students’ Parents and Preschool Teachers

This research explores the critical need to integrate history and culture into preschool education, an area often overlooked in educational policy discussions. Drawing from the insights of Chinese history and culture curriculum in primary, secondary, and university levels, this study addresses the deficiencies in preschool education reform and policy. The study emphasizes the value of incorporating historical and cultural by Lee, W. O., Hao, N., & Zhou, Q. (2020), highlighting aspects such as cultivating aesthetic taste, showcasing cultural characteristics, and fostering cultural inheritance. The paper delves into the significance of history and culture curriculum in preschool education, focusing on children's development, patriotism, social fairness and justice, cultural inheritance, and unity between heaven and man for a harmonious life. Based on Piaget's child development theory and Confucianism's foundational principles, it elucidates the importance of aligning preschool education with cultural and historical contexts. Given preschool children's limited understanding and cognitive abilities regarding history and culture, the study proposes methods for integrating these themes into pre-education. It advocates for policy reforms in preschool education, emphasizing curriculum guidelines that reflect philosophical, psychological, pedagogical, sociological, and anthropological dimensions. Through a case study at Grace School in Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province, China, employing survey methods and case analysis, the research outlines goals for preschool history and culture curriculum. It incorporates Confucian concepts such as "harmony without diversity" and "endless life" to guide curriculum design and implementation, addressing evaluation criteria and curriculum content (Bahtilla, M., & Xu, H. 2021). In conclusion, the paper stresses the necessity of enhancing theoretical research levels in preschool education history and culture curriculum, advocating for improved training and implementation strategies. It envisions a collaborative effort among families, schools, and communities to foster continuous cultural learning and development among children.

A Fourier-based approach to understanding the impact of dairy farming on red meat prices: evidence from the Turkish case

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the drivers behind the notable increase in red meat prices in Turkey, attributing the rise primarily to policy interventions within the dairy industry which result in a reduction of farm capacity for dairy farmers.Design/methodology/approachTo analyze the factors that determine the price of carcass red meat, cattle fattening feed is identified as a variable that directly affects carcass pricing, while the ratio of farm gate milk prices to milk feed prices is assumed to have an indirect impact. Monthly data from January 2011 to December 2022 are used in the analysis. The time series examined is influenced by time-dependent nonlinear Fourier trends that are computed for use in the estimation part.FindingsThe study reveals that fluctuations in cattle fattening feed prices have an immediate impact on carcass prices, while changes in the ratio of raw milk prices to milk feed prices exhibit a time lag. Although short-term interventions to the farm gate milk prices can initially suppress carcass prices, it is important to consider their medium and long-term effects, as these can manifest as a decrease in the number of animals available.Originality/valueThe research sheds light on the intricate interplay between policy interventions in the dairy sector and their ripple effects on the broader red meat market, contributing valuable insights to both academic and policy discourse.

COVID-19 and Weekly Hours Worked in Single-Person Households in the United States

AbstractIn early 2020, single-person households constituted 17% of the labor force in the United States. How did these single-person households fare in terms of their weekly hours worked following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic? To answer the question, this paper used panel data from the Basic Monthly Current Population Survey and worked with a balanced panel of 2,659 single-person households that were consecutively surveyed in February, March, and April of 2020; that is, a period including the outbreak, as well as the first peak of the pandemic. In terms of the change in total hours worked per week, the paper recorded decreases across most demographic groups. Particularly, the paper documented that single-person households in any of the groups of Black, Hispanic, high school graduates, those aged less than 25, those aged between 31 and 35, and those between 46 and 50 were among the most severely negatively affected groups. Moreover, whether fixed or random effects models were used, the study concluded with a positive effect for teleworkability (the capability to work remotely) as well as with a positive effect for essential jobs on total weekly hours worked. Finally, the author included the need for safeguarding teleworkability in a broader policy discussion, as well as the need for developing coping mechanisms against disruptions of weekly hours worked especially under extreme hardships and crises.

Social protection comparison across the world: a study of fiscal, structural and institutional performance discrepancies

PurposeSocial protection states the public-mandated (strategies and programmes) to address the vulnerability and risk among poor and near-poor households. Social protection must not only help people meet their basic needs but also contribute to the long-term well-being and broader societal goals of equity, social justice and empowerment. The role of social protection in achieving these goals has not been adequately documented. This paper examines the performance of the social protection mechanism from the perspective of the regional structural and institutional performance indicators. Social protection outlay dynamics are synthesized in the structural and institutional conducts.Design/methodology/approachA world regional comparability is made by considering the panel dataset for the time interval 1995–2020. In empirics, the unconditional and conditional ranks are constructed, and regression analyses are made subject to (1) the fiscal constraint of social protection, (2) structural performance indicators and (3) the institutional performance indicators of the targeted regions across the globe. The fully modified-ordinary least square (FM-OLS) method is used to construct the ranks.FindingsThe rank analysis demonstrates that the developed regions (i.e. Europe, Central Asia and North America) have relatively good welfare standards and fiscal capacity for social protection drives compared to the developing/underdeveloped regions (i.e. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia). The structural/institutional performance indicators have shown their significance in determining/utilizing their budget for social protection and maintaining welfare standards. Interestingly, most developed regions are relatively reluctant to maintain the structural/institutional performance for the determination/execution of the funds for social protection as compared to the developing and underdeveloped regions.Practical implicationsIn policy discourse, this research suggests that governments must make some market operations to enhance their regions’ structural and institutional performance to get better outcomes of social protection spending in the form of attractive welfare standards.Originality/valueMultiple studies have been done considering the social protection dynamics at nano, micro and macro levels, while this study considered the mega dataset across the globe to analyse the social protection dynamics in consideration of structural and institutional performances.

Do ESG Practices Promote Financial Performance? Comparison of English, Chinese, and Korean Papers Through Bibliometric and Meta-Analysis

Companies engaged in ESG practices to enhance financial performance and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable development. However, the relationship between ESG and financial performance remained unclear, as prior studies were replete with contradictory paradoxes. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the evolution of ESG practices and their impact on financial performance by comparing English, Chinese, and Korean papers. This study employed a mixed-methods approach and conducted a bibliometric analysis on 2659 ESG-related papers to unveil temporal trends and conduct a meta-analysis. Stratifying by language, linguistic and cultural nuances influencing the relationship were identified. The bibliometric analysis revealed a significant turning point in ESG research around 2019, marked by a surge in publications across languages. Keyword co-occurrence networks highlighted distinct focal points, with financial performance appearing in all the research themes. The meta-analysis indicated a low overall positive correlation between ESG and financial performance. However, Chinese and Korean papers demonstrated a moderate correlation, while English papers showed no significant correlation. This study informed scholarly, managerial, and policy discourse on sustainable business practices, contributing to the evolving ESG landscape.

A Call for Afrocentric Decolonial Endogenous Marketing and Public Policy Research and Practice: Toward Sustainable Peace and Well-Being in African Societies

Africa experiences one-third of all conflicts globally, resulting in the diminishment of human, social, and economic well-being; high levels of insecurity; poverty; and disrupted marketing systems. Drawing on the experiences of African countries, the article illuminates the ways in which the slave trade and, later, the colonization of the African continent fomented the social and economic convulsions that continue to erupt into continuing cycles of social conflict. Today these are manifested in the neocolonial influence of public policy on the continent by international organizations, funding bodies, and local and international institutions that control the public policy discourse and resources. The authors argue that if marketing systems are to enhance well-being and reduce social conflict, marketing policy makers need to contest failed “external to Africa” policy frameworks and look to endogenous policies better suited to contemporary African challenges. A case study of Rwanda illuminates how endogenous, “home-grown” decolonial and Afrocentric policy can create enduring peace and improve marketing systems and well-being. The authors call for research at the nexus of public policy and African marketing systems that adopts decolonized, endogenous, and Afrocentric perspectives to address this lacuna in marketing and public policy research and practice.