Research Process Research Articles

AI–Human Hybrids for Marketing Research: Leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) as Collaborators

The authors’ central premise is that a human–LLM (large language model) hybrid approach leads to efficiency and effectiveness gains in the marketing research process. In qualitative research, they show that LLMs can assist in both data generation and analysis; LLMs effectively create sample characteristics, generate synthetic respondents, and conduct and moderate in-depth interviews. The AI–human hybrid generates information-rich, coherent data that surpasses human-only data in depth and insightfulness and matches human performance in data analysis tasks of generating themes and summaries. Evidence from expert judges shows that humans and LLMs possess complementary skills; the human–LLM hybrid outperforms its human-only or LLM-only counterpart. For quantitative research, the LLM correctly picks the answer direction and valence, with the quality of synthetic data significantly improving through few-shot learning and retrieval-augmented generation. The authors demonstrate the value of the AI–human hybrid by collaborating with a Fortune 500 food company and replicating a 2019 qualitative and quantitative study using GPT-4. For their empirical investigation, the authors design the system architecture and prompts to create personas, ask questions, and obtain responses from synthetic respondents. They provide road maps for integrating LLMs into qualitative and quantitative marketing research and conclude that LLMs serve as valuable collaborators in the insight generation process.

Research on digital literacy literature: Topic mining and evolutionary analysis

The paper employs text analysis techniques to conduct a systematic quantitative analysis of literature in the field of digital literacy, aiming to recognize and organize the research topics and their evolutionary process within this field. The study selected literature data on digital literacy from the Web of Science database between 2004 and 2023 as research subjects, dividing them into 10 stages. Subsequently, the LDA2vec method was used to recognize research topics in the field of digital literacy, and the evolutionary process of these topics was analyzed from two aspects: the evolution of topic content and the evolution of topic intensity. The results indicate that scholars in the field of digital literacy primarily focus on research topics such as education, digital technology, digital practice, and cybersecurity. The research process of these topics can be summarized into three stages: exploration, practice, and expansion. In terms of the evolution of topic content, the identified types of evolution include division, merging, inheritance, disappearance, and generation. In the aspect of topic intensity evolution, it was found that changes in topic intensity are influenced by factors such as policy, research content, and the primary field of study. In the future, the topic of education and digital technology will remain the focus of research in the field of digital literacy. At the same time, the field will concentrate on conducting in-depth research into social topics such as health, aging society, and the challenges and risks associated with digital transformation.

Guiding principles for research advisors in the pharmacy resident research process.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Systematic Literature Review: The Influence of Discovery Learning Model on Students' Mathematical Representation Ability

The purpose of this Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is to highlight the effectiveness of the Discovery Learning model in improving students' mathematical representation ability. The research process involves the following stages: formulating research objectives, article collection using Publish or Perish 8, article sreening with the inclusion criteria used, and data evaluation where the article that selected were reviewed in depth. The review encompassed studies from various educational settings and consistently demonstrated the positive impact of Discovery Learning on students' ability to represent mathematical concepts and solve problems. The findings underscore the potential of the discovery learning model as a valuable approach to enhance students' mathematical representation ability and pave the way for further research and implementation in educational settings

Reflections on using Talanoa methodology to engage with Pacific youth in Aotearoa New Zealand about their sexual and reproductive health

Pacific understandings of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) encompass beliefs and practices reflective of Pacific values systems. These are integral to cultural understandings of safety, relationships, and intimacy. Research processes and practices that appropriately address these values and sensitives are scarcely available in the literature, leading to limited use and understanding of culturally appropriate methods and procedures. Pacific methodologies like Talanoa are useful in ensuring that cultural perspectives unique to Pacific youth are addressed and appropriately represented in the research. This paper describes how cultural factors associated with sexual and reproductive health influenced the Talanoa research processes in a study of Pacific youth and SRH education. Key cultural considerations are discussed focussing on the positionality of the researchers, cultural sensitivities and protocols, communication strategies and the role of flexibility in privileging Pacific youth voices.

Revolutionizing dental research in the Pacific Islands: the Pacific Islands dental research framework.

Traditional dental research paradigms often lack relevance in marginalized cultural contexts due to inherent biases and misalignment with local values. For Pacific Islanders, this issue is pronounced, as they face serious oral health challenges while remaining underrepresented in scientific discourse. In response, the authors developed the Pacific Islands Dental Research Framework (PIDRF), a culturally informed, community-driven model that directly addresses these limitations in conventional Western approaches. PIDRF supports indigenous priority-setting, reciprocal co-gauging, and cross-sector collaboration throughout the research process, guided by cultural relationship specialists and indigenous advisory boards. This framework expands diagnostic assessments to incorporate cultural and social determinants of oral health, combining holistic and culturally tailored therapies. By continuously integrating patient feedback, PIDRF fosters empathetic, effective support that aligns with Pacific values. PIDRF promotes knowledge-sharing, policy reform, and community-led advancements, enabling Pacific communities to lead in improving their oral health outcomes. This framework introduces an ethical, decolonized model for dental research, setting a new standard for culturally responsive research in Pacific contexts.

Inclusion in neurological research: empowering people living with neurological diseases.

The value of involving people living with diseases in the research process is increasingly recognized by professional associations and regulatory agencies alike. Patient contributions range from disease prevention and diagnosis to medication planning, and from advocacy to guideline production and clinical trial design. Thanks to the efforts of activists and advocates, new models of patient inclusion in medical research are being developed to replace outdated non-participative and tokenistic paradigms. New modalities of patient participation in research - for example, the introduction of patient experts, who work closely with researchers and clinicians - have progressively empowered individuals who are living with diseases. In this Perspective, we provide an overview of the current status of patient involvement in medical research, with a specific focus on neurology. We also discuss the existing and future roles of patient experts in neurological research.

Racism in German healthcare: uncovering the construction and silencing of the "other".

While the impact of racism on healthcare interactions has been researched extensively in many parts of the world, substantive studies on healthcare-related racism in Europe, and particularly in Germany, remain scarce. This paper builds on a study that applies Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and aims to explore healthcare users' experiences of racism within German healthcare. Community members were trained as peer researchers and given support as they conducted a total of six focus group discussions that involved a total of 14 study participants: these participants were organized into two subsamples of seven participants each (subsample one: Black, African, Afro-diasporic healthcare users; subsample two: healthcare users perceived or self-describing as Muslim), and each subsample had three focus group discussions. A democratic approach to qualitative data analysis was applied in the form of the DEPICT model. The data analysis developed iteratively, with inductive and deductive steps complementing one another. The study results illustrate how the collaboratively developed concepts of being treated as "other" and being made inaudible can advance our understanding of the forms, dynamics, and effects of racism in healthcare encounters. Because this paper focuses on the process of racialization, it helps illumine the mechanisms of subtle racism, which, as study results suggest, can damage healthcare users, cause a loss of trust in the system, and lead to invisibilization of racism in healthcare. By doing so, it draws attention to areas for change and transformation, to larger power structures that must be challenged in order to ensure responsive and equal healthcare for all healthcare users. The application of CBPR and, particularly, the engagement of racialized healthcare users in the research process offered pathways for analyzing the subtle, otherwise hard-to-detect mechanisms of racism, and for learning from the wisdom of situated knowledges.

Future elementary school teachers’ research culture formation employing individual assignments

In the modern dynamic society, quality education and the development of children’s creative abilities are the merits of successful teachers. The modern teacher must have independent learning skills, high motivation and developed research culture skills for effective teaching. The research aims to test the impact of individual student activity – future elementary school teachers, on the development of their research culture. The study was conducted employing various methods, using questionnaires to study the ability of future elementary school teachers to apply creative approaches and conduct pedagogical research in practice. The research participants were 32 teachers with more than 5 years of experience, a PhD degree, and 348 students – future elementary school teachers. Studied the level of motivation as a predictor of the research culture of students adapted and conducted a survey on the questionnaire of creative teaching, as well as self-assessment of students in solving research problems. Before the experiment, most students had low levels of motivation to learn online and self-study, as well as the results of creative teaching in the future, self-evaluation of the possibility of solving research. The introduction of the experimental factor in the learning process – students’ performance of independent assignments for three academic semesters, built on a gradual introduction to research activities, expansion and affirmation of knowledge about the need to find scientific ways to build lessons and learning process in general, the features and process of pedagogical research, had a positive impact on student’s motivation to learn, self-assessment of task capability and creative teaching ability in the bud The final ResCul survey shows students’ knowledge of research culture sufficiently formed. The results obtained apply to students who are studying in the speciality “Pedagogy and Methodology of Elementary Education”.

Academic integrity: peculiarities of popularization in Ukrainian universities

The study raises the problem of popularizing the culture of academic integrity in higher education institutions of Ukraine. The author analyzes the origin and meaning of the term "academic integrity", explores the international experience of implementing academic integrity as a moral and ethical value in a modern university. In the article, academic honesty is presented as an integral component of the entire process of learning, scientific research, and creativity. The author reveals the reasons for the growing attention to the problems of academic integrity in Ukraine and analyzes in detail the events dedicated to the problems of academic integrity that are actively held today in the educational and scientific Ukrainian academic environment, such as round tables, conferences, research and educational domestic and international projects, webinars, online courses, etc. A detailed analysis of domestic and international large-scale sociological studies on the problems of the academic culture of students and the reasons for its deformation deserves special attention. According to the results of the surveys, the author summarizes that academic dishonesty is quite widespread in Ukrainian universities, but it is quite comparable to student fraud in other countries. The rationalization of the reasons for academic dishonesty among Ukrainian students and students of higher education abroad is comparable. As a rule, students justify the violation of norms of academic integrity by external circumstances and referring to the lack of practical value of tasks for their professional training, the irrelevance and uninterestingness of such tasks. The author analyzes what measures modern Ukrainian universities resort that to develop and popularize the values of academic culture and establish high moral and ethical qualities of participants in the educational process, and what role the internal normative and regulatory documents of universities play in this. The author comes to the conclusion that a correct understanding of academic honesty and a high level of information culture are the basis of the functioning of a modern higher school.

Learning Performatively for Research with Marginalized Populations: Developing Informed Consent with LESLLA Learners

This paper is concerned with the process of generating informed consent from potential participants who have limited experience of formal education (LESLLA learners) and therefore limited background knowledge of an abstract, culturally-situated concept such as research. We argue that initial efforts to inform these marginalized and vulnerable populations need sharper focus as both these prospective participants and the researchers working with them may not fully appreciate the complex dynamics of researching with each other. Hence, we propose a performative approach to generate awareness and relationships among the researcher and prospective participants. Here, we describe the new materialist performative approach to introduce LESLLA learners to research dynamics through a board game designed to familiarize potential participants with interview situations, while also creating space for considering the agencies of other entities within the research process.

A dialogue on trust in ethics processes for creative practice research education

Purpose Securing ethical approval can be a frustrating and opaque experience for some creative practice research students who may find the processes required of them not well suited to their specific inquiry. This can lead to an erosion of trust between students and their institutions. This paper aims to synthesize perspectives representing both creative practice research supervisors and Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to develop recommendations for improving processes and supporting creative practice research training. Design/methodology/approach The authors used dialogical inquiry (Wells et al., 2021) to facilitate a dialogue between the authors, who represent different stakeholders in the ethical review process for creative arts research students. Focus topics for the dialogue were developed collaboratively based on existing literature. Findings Based on the dialogue, the authors make the following recommendations: frame ethics as part of project design alongside aims and methodology rather than as project logistics; structure ethics review processes to ensure ongoing engagement between research students and IRBs; and share exemplars and templates as part of research training. Additionally, the authors advocate for the need to create continuing opportunities for dialogue. Originality/value Previous work interrogating ethical review processes for creative practice research has adopted a clear position from either a creative practice researcher or an IRB member perspective. This dialogue facilitates a novel synthesis of these positions, ensuring the recommendations support the objectives of both IRBs and creative practice researchers.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in the research process – a survey of researchers’ practices and perceptions

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in the research process – a survey of researchers’ practices and perceptions

Systematic review meta-analysis protocol preparation and registration – A narrative review

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) help in decision making, especially on conflicting publication findings and quality. SRMA identifies the source of heterogeneity, reduces subjectivity and identifies and fills gaps in existing knowledge. However, conducting an SRMA requires a well-written protocol, which acts as a clear roadmap for the researcher and defines objectives, methods and expected outcomes. Predefined research questions and methods minimise bias, thus increasing the reliability of the results. The protocol ensures that the study team stays consistent in data collection, synthesis and interpretation. The SRMA protocol includes rationale, hypothesis, aims and methodology. A detailed protocol improves the overall quality of the research. All SRMA protocols must be registered and made available publicly. Protocol registration ensures transparency in the research process, which avoids the wastage of resources and prevents duplication. A well-planned protocol facilitates faster peer review and enhances the chances for publication. This narrative review primarily focuses on SRMA protocol preparation and its registration.

Respiratory surveillance and inward rectifier potassium channel expression in lung tissue within an experimental epilepsy model.

Epilepsy is characterized by neuronal discharges that occur as a result of disruption of the excitatory and inhibitory balance of the brain due to functional and structural changes. It has been shown in the literature that this neurological disorder may be related to the expression of ion channels. Any defect in the function or expression mechanism of these channels can lead to various neuronal disorders such as epilepsy. Epileptic seizures occur as a result of the accumulation of biological disorders in the circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems. In this study, we aimed to examine the changes in the expression of inward-directing potassium channels (Kir 3.1 and 6.2) in lung tissue and respiratory functions, considering that it will contribute to the elucidation of the mechanisms of sudden deaths thought to be caused by cardiorespiratory complications in epilepsy. In the study, 48 adult male Wistar albino rats weighing 250-300g were used in the study. During the research process, respiratory function tests were performed on epileptic rats induced with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) firing model, and then histopathological changes in lung and hippocampus tissues, and expression levels of the Kir (3.1 and 6.2) channels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Memantine and tertiapin-Q have been shown to protect epileptic groups from histopathological harm induced by PTZ application and also reduce HIF-1α, Kir 3.1 and Kir 6.2 expression. The findings imply that memantine and tertiapin-Q would be suitable options for treating epilepsy patients.

Development of a novel encystment medium: Enhancing diagnostic potential of Acanthamoeba spp.

Background and Aim: Acanthamoeba spp. are pathogenic microorganisms linked to severe infections in humans and animals, requiring a deeper understanding of their encystation process for effective diagnostics and research. This study focused on developing a novel encystment medium to induce synchronized encystation of Acanthamoeba spp. efficiently and rapidly. Materials and Methods: The study employed response surface methodology with a central composite design to optimize the encystment medium formulation. The key components included Tris-HCl, NaCl, glucose, and MgCl2. The optimized liquid medium was spray-dried to produce a dehydrated powder for practical application. The encystation efficiency of different Acanthamoeba strains was assessed using hemocytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Results: The optimized medium, comprising 3.152 g/L Tris-HCl, 5.55 g/L NaCl, 8% (w/v) glucose, and 5.0 mM MgCl2 at pH 9.0, demonstrated exceptional encystation efficiency with rates ranging from 99% to 100%. A spray-dried powdered version of this medium was equally effective, achieving a 98.77% encystation rate for A. castellanii American Type Culture Collection 50739 in glucose-free conditions. Notably, optimal glucose concentrations varied among Acanthamoeba strains, with certain strains reaching maximum encystation at 6–8% glucose. Conclusion: This study successfully developed an innovative encystment medium that promotes rapid and efficient cyst production in Acanthamoeba spp. The medium enhances laboratory research and diagnostic capabilities, paving the way for future advancements in understanding and managing Acanthamoeba infections. Keywords: Acanthamoeba, diagnostic tools, encystation, medium optimization, response surface methodology.

Generative AI in Academia: A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Implications for the Research Process.

Generative AI in Academia: A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Implications for the Research Process.

Cell culture research in aging and Alzheimer's disease: The strategic use/reuse of untreated controls and savings people's tax dollars

Cell culture is an essential tool in both fundamental and translational research, particularly for understanding complex diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). The use of cell lines provides the advantage of genetic homogeneity, ensuring reproducible and consistent results. This article explores the application of mammalian cell cultures to model AD, focusing on the transfection of cells with key genes associated with the disease to replicate the cellular environment of AD. It explains various transfection methods and challenges related to the process. These models offer a robust platform for investigating cellular biology, molecular pathways, physiological processes, and drug discovery efforts. A range of assays, including RT-PCR, western blotting, ELISA, mitochondrial respiration, and reactive oxygen species analysis, are employed to assess the impact of genetic modifications on cellular functions and to screen potential AD therapies. Researchers often design experiments with multiple variables such as genetic modifications, chemical treatments, or time points, paired with positive and negative controls. By using a consistent control group across all conditions and under identical experimental conditions, researchers can minimize variability and enhance data reproducibility. This approach is particularly valuable in AD research, where small experimental differences can significantly influence outcomes. Using a shared control group ensures data comparability across experiments, saving time and resources by eliminating redundant control tests. This strategy not only streamlines the research process but also improves the reliability of results, making it a sensible, resource-efficient method that ultimately conserves public funding in the pursuit of AD treatments.

Spatial suitability evaluation and layout optimization of emergency shelter: A case study in Tianhe District of Guangzhou City.

Emergency shelters are multifunctional spaces that provide safe refuge, essential life protection, and rescue command for residents in case of urban disaster. These shelters constitute crucial components of urban public safety. This study, with Tianhe District in Guangzhou City as a case study, used data from emergency evacuation sites and other socio-economic sources to construct an evaluation system for spatial suitability evaluation and layout optimization of emergency shelters. This paper utilized from GIS-based methods including Grey Correlation Method (GCM) and Entropy Weight Method (EWM), the research process of "suitability evaluation -evacuation gap analysis-site selection-site optimization"is established, and the suitability evaluation results are calculated from the combination of effectiveness, accessibility and safety; based on the principles of fairness, accessibility, safety and feasibility, combined with the analysis of the current situation of land use and evacuation demand, the layout of urban emergency evacuation sites is adjusted. Finally, the spatial layout optimization plan for emergency shelters in Tianhe District was obtained. The results show that: (1) the overall suitability of the 50 emergency shelters in Tianhe District is favorable: 21 shelters are classified as "suitable," 25 shelters as "slightly suitable," and four as "unsuitable." (2) Most significant evacuation gaps are located in the peripheral areas of Tianhe District. By adding five new evacuation sites to optimize the existing layout, the evacuation coverage increased from 68.4% to 85.2%. Consequently, the number of people in need of evacuation decreased from 387,900 to 80,100, so the reasonable allocation of evacuation space has been significantly improved. At the same time, the optimised scheme increases the density of emergency shelters and reduces the overlap of services to some extent. Evaluating the appropriateness and optimizing the spatial layout of urban emergency shelters can enhance disaster prevention and response capacity in megacities. This approach is of great practical value for the construction of resilient cities and the implementation of sustainable development strategies.

Choosing a Qualitative Research Paradigm for Social Sciences: A Literature Review for Educational Researchers.

Social science research is directed by qualitative research to gain insights into the context of participants’ lived experiences through examining the complex social and cultural process and interactions, that capture the in-depth understanding rather than breath. Human and social science researchers commonly use four qualitative designs which are phenomenological studies (that understand lived experiences), grounded theory (that develop theories based on data) ethnographies (that study cultures and communities), and case studies (that examine complex phenomena in their natural settings). The qualitative approach is immersed in the interpretative paradigm which views the world subjectively. The research design is a case study. The data is collected through the following instruments, interviews, document analysis, observations, and audio-visual materials. To avoid physical and psychological harm to participants’ human dignity, ethical considerations such as confidentiality, anonymity, consent, and privacy are observed in the study. Qualitative data collected is content and thematically analyzed, and for trustworthiness and rigor of data credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability are considered in the research. Triangulation is the use of multiple data sources or methods to validate findings, integrate member checking that involves participants in verifying findings, and prolonged engagement with participants to keep detailed records of research processes and decisions. The strengths of qualitative research are probing humanistic issues to provide a nuanced understanding of a social phenomenon that allows for the adaption of new findings as they emerge to amplify the voices and experiences of participants. It has challenges or criticisms based on subjectivity, as the researcher bias can influence the interpretation of findings, and data collection and analysis can be a lengthy process thus the findings may not be easily generalized to a larger population.