Research Practice Research Articles

Humboldtian Science and Humboldt's science.

This article investigates why Humboldtian Science, as a heuristic concept, has gained prominence in the historiography of science and requires clarification. It offers an ideal-type model of comparative research and exact measurements across vast spaces, which Susan F. Cannon and others tied to Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859). Yet, he himself was less "Humboldtian" than this concept suggests. The article proposes to disentangle Humboldtian Science from Humboldt's science, which constituted a set of individual research practices that defied the ideal of precision. Humboldt's science was often impromptu, marked by epistemological and personal insecurities, and embedded in the protagonist's peripatetic way of living and frequently erratic writing style. Historicizing Humboldt's science undermines the exceptionalism that elevates the Prussian savant above his contemporaries and casts him as a singular figure. This critical reflection encourages biographical approaches to the history of science, balancing heuristic generalizations and attention to individual research styles.

Delta voices of climate crisis: Community Digital Storytelling in Bangladesh and Vietnam

This article explores the audiovisual research method Community Digital Storytelling (CDST) as developed for a project documenting Indigenous delta voices in Bangladesh and Vietnam. Centred on the co-production and collection of community stories, this interdisciplinary method incorporates smartphone filmmaking, environmental storytelling, community-based participatory research, and Indigenous methodologies. Addressing community participation, power dynamics and fieldwork challenges, CDST is presented as an adaptable method capable of capturing eco-imaginaries, fostering dialogue on socioecological challenges, and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities. The article contributes a valuable guide to participatory media production with communities in various contexts, offering insights for scholars and practitioners seeking inclusive, respectful, and impactful research practices.

Consent and Inclusion of People Living with Dementia (PLWD) in Research: Establishing a Canadian Agenda for Inclusive Rights-Based Practices.

People living with dementia (PLWD) may want to participate in research, but the guidelines and processes enacted across various contexts may prohibit this from happening. Understanding the experiences of people with lived experiences of dementia requires meaningful inclusion in research, as is consistent with rights-based perspectives. Currently, the inclusion of PLWD in Canadian research is complex, and guidelines and conceptual frameworks have not been fully developed. This research note outlines a three-year proof-of-concept grant on the inclusion and consent of PLWD in research. It presents a brief report on some of the contradictions and challenges that exist in legislation, research guidelines, and research practices and raises a series of questions as part of an agenda on rights and inclusion of PLWD in research. It suggests conceptual, legal, and policy issues that need to be addressed and invites Canadian researchers to re-envision research practices and to advocate for law and policy reform that enables dementia research to align and respect the rights and personhood of PLWD.

The Landscape of Research Method Rigor in the Field of Human Resource Development: An Analysis of Empirical Research from 2016 to 2023

Using various types of research methods yields breadth and depth in knowledge creation. Replying to calls for more research employing diverse research methods, this study examines research method trends, rigor, and emerging research methods within the field of human resource development (HRD). We created a research method coding scheme to capture the rigor of empirical research among empirical articles published in three specifically selected HRD journals from 2016–2023. Out of 488 selected studies, quantitative ( n = 269) and qualitative ( n = 185) methodologies were dominantly used in empirical studies with only 7.0% being mixed methods research ( n = 34). The study findings provide implications and reflections on (1) the current status of published scholarly research; and (2) the research practices in the field. To move the field of HRD forward as a mature, effective, and evolving discipline, it is imperative to incorporate multiple approaches, including interdisciplinary investigation of emerging research methods, and development of clear guidelines for the rigor of research methods.

Machine learning identifies risk factors associated with long-term opioid use in fibromyalgia patients newly initiated on an opioid

ObjectivesFibromyalgia is frequently treated with opioids due to limited therapeutic options. Long-term opioid use is associated with several adverse outcomes. Identifying factors associated with long-term opioid use is the first...

Fuzzy cognitive mapping in participatory research and decision making: a practice review

BackgroundFuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) is a graphic technique to describe causal understanding in a wide range of applications. This practice review summarises the experience of a group of participatory research specialists and trainees who used FCM to include stakeholder views in addressing health challenges. From a meeting of the research group, this practice review reports 25 experiences with FCM in nine countries between 2016 and 2023.ResultsThe methods, challenges and adjustments focus on participatory research practice. FCM portrayed multiple sources of knowledge: stakeholder knowledge, systematic reviews of literature, and survey data. Methodological advances included techniques to contrast and combine maps from different sources using Bayesian procedures, protocols to enhance the quality of data collection, and tools to facilitate analysis. Summary graphs communicating FCM findings sacrificed detail but facilitated stakeholder discussion of the most important relationships. We used maps not as predictive models but to surface and share perspectives of how change could happen and to inform dialogue. Analysis included simple manual techniques and sophisticated computer-based solutions. A wide range of experience in initiating, drawing, analysing, and communicating the maps illustrates FCM flexibility for different contexts and skill bases.ConclusionsA strong core procedure can contribute to more robust applications of the technique while adapting FCM for different research settings. Decision-making often involves choices between plausible interventions in a context of uncertainty and multiple possible answers to the same question. FCM offers systematic and traceable ways to document, contrast and sometimes to combine perspectives, incorporating stakeholder experience and causal models to inform decision-making. Different depths of FCM analysis open opportunities for applying the technique in skill-limited settings.

Analgesia for Donor Hepatectomy: Recent Perspectives

Background: Donor hepatectomy is a complex surgical procedure associated with significant postoperative pain, which can impact both short-term recovery and long-term outcomes. Adequate pain management plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of the living liver donor and optimising their overall experience. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current practices and emerging strategies in analgesic management for donor hepatectomy. Methodology: To find relevant material, searches were conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar. The evaluation took into consideration review articles, clinical trials, retrospective studies, observational studies, and case-control studies. Results: The conventional approach to pain control involves a multimodal strategy combining opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and regional anaesthesia techniques. However, concerns regarding opioid-related side effects and potential complications have prompted a re-evaluation of analgesic protocols. Alternative methods such as thoracic epidural analgesia, transversus abdominis plane blocks and continuous wound infusion systems have gained attention for their potential to minimise opioid requirements and enhance recovery. Recent advancements in the field of pain management, including the utilisation of enhanced recovery, after surgery protocols, personalised analgesic regimens, and novel pharmaceutical agents, are explored in this review. Additionally, the impact of psychological factors and patient-centred care on postoperative pain experiences is discussed. Conclusion: The review concludes by emphasising the importance of tailoring analgesic strategies to individual patient needs and characteristics. It highlights the potential benefits of incorporating innovative approaches to enhance pain control, reduce opioid consumption and ultimately improve the overall outcome and satisfaction of living liver donors undergoing hepatectomy. Future directions in research and clinical practice are also suggested to further refine and optimise analgesic management in the context of donor hepatectomy.

The effects of computer‐assisted interactive reading model on higher‐level and lower‐level text processing skills and cognitive load

Lay DescriptionWhat is already known about this topic Previous research has shown digital reading involves multiple cognitive processes. Higher and lower‐level text processing skills are positively correlated. What this paper adds The study provides empirical evidence for the interactivity effect in digital text processing. Learners can use different text processing strategies dynamically and nonlinearly, leading to cognitive benefits. Implications for practice and/or policy CALL practitioners and researchers can use the insights from this study to design effective digital reading interventions. Learners may benefit from using different strategies depending on the task at hand.

Emerging Medications and Strategies in Acute Pain Management: Evolving Role of Novel Sodium and Calcium Channel Blockers, Peptide-Based Pharmacologic Drugs, and Non-Medicinal Methods.

The present investigation evaluated integration of novel medication technology to enhance treatment options, while improving patient outcomes in acute pain management. In this regard, we focused on determining the role of development and utilization of cutting-edge pharmaceutical advancements, such as targeted drug delivery systems, as well as non-pharmacologic interventions in addressing acute pain states. Further research in this area is warranted related to the need for increased patient comfort and reduced adverse effects. Recent innovations and techniques are discussed including pharmacologic drugs targeting sodium and calcium channels, peptide-based pharmacologic drugs, and non-medicinal methods of alleviating pain such as soothing music or virtual reality. The present investigation included review of current literature on the application of these innovative technologies, analyzing mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and clinical effectiveness. Our study also investigated the potential benefits in terms of pain relief, reduced side effects, and improved patient adherence. The research critically examines the challenges and considerations associated with implementing these technologies in acute pain management, considering factors like cost, accessibility, and regulatory aspects. Additionally, case studies and clinical trials are highlighted which demonstrate practical implications of these novel medication technologies in real-world scenarios. The findings aim to provide healthcare professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape in acute pain management while guiding future research and clinical practices toward optimizing their use in enhancing patient care.

Parental Perceptions of the Impact of a Child’s Complex Chronic Condition: A Validation Study of the Impact on Family Scale

The diagnosis of a child’s complex chronic illness may impact family relationships and cohesion. The Impact on Family Scale (IFS) is an instrument used to assess the parental perception of the effects of children’s chronic illness on family life. With a sample of 110 mothers and fathers between the ages of 29 and 50 who have a child with a complex chronic illness, we examine evidence of the validity of the IFS for use in Portugal within this specific family configuration, (1) comparing its factor structure with the original one; (2) assessing its reliability; and (3) evaluating its relationship with life satisfaction and family cohesion/acceptance. As expected, CFA analysis showed that IFS is a one-factor reliable instrument with 12 items (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.910), which are negatively correlated with satisfaction with life (r = −0.229, p = 0.016) and positively correlated with family acceptance and cohesion (r = 0.363; p < 0.001). The results support the validity of the IFS in families with children and adolescents with a complex chronic illness. The implications of the use of this instrument for research and professional practice is analyzed.

Stakeholder engagement in managing systemic risk management

AbstractThis paper employs the interpretative lens provided by stakeholder theory to garner novel insights for research and managerial practices within the framework of high‐reliable organizations (HROs). It proposes an interpretative matrix for analyzing and explaining how stakeholders’ behaviors and interactions can transition from a “strategic” to a “responsibility” approach in the context of risk management. The paper adopts a qualitative methodology based on a case study of the Italian Civil Protection—an HRO—during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Through the analysis of institutional sources and reports, we apply two theoretical frameworks to examine how the organization's engagement strategy changed in response to an unexpected event. This case serves to illuminate the main implications and practical applications of shared conceptual reflections. The principal implications are traced in terms of theory, practice, and policy, focusing on the joint examination of organizational reliability and stakeholder engagement theory, the potential utility of the proposed case study, and the feasible policy actions. The main limitations of this study lie in the purely qualitative methodology employed, the nature of the organization analyzed, and the territorial scope of the study. Future works will address an empirical investigation of the theoretical relations uncovered herein, as well as the expansion of the spectrum of analysis (e.g., private organizations) and a cross‐country widening of the level of analysis.

Hypercriticism: A Case Study in the Rhetoric of Vice

This article traces the history of a scholarly vice of little renown: hypercriticism. Focusing on classical philologists and biblical scholars in nineteenth-century Germany, it examines how Hyperkritik developed from a technical philological term into a pejorative label that was widely invoked to discredit the latest trends in classical philology and, especially, biblical scholarship. Methodologically, this broad use of the term challenges historians’ preference for treating scholarly virtues and vices as norms tied to scholars’ research practices. The article therefore develops a rhetorical approach, complementary to the praxeological one, in which scholarly vice terms are interpreted as parts of a repertoire of scholarly “don'ts” on which both specialists and nonspecialists could draw in addressing the perceived ills of scholarly work.

Designing and Planning of Studies of Driver Behavior at Pedestrian Crossings Using Whole-Vehicle Simulators

The paper presents a proposed methodology for designing and planning research on driver behavior at pedestrian crossings using whole-vehicle simulators. It was assumed that dedicated research should be conducted in specific problem contexts. The problems identified were the identification of hazards and the risk of accidents involving vulnerable road users. The purpose of this identification is to determine the determinants of safety at pedestrian crossings, which should constitute guidance when designing new solutions for safety support systems at pedestrian crossings. A number of hazard factors were identified; divided into categories, including types of crossings, location, and surroundings; behavior of vulnerable road users; and attention (focus) distractors, both inside and outside the vehicle. A method for defining and selecting research scenarios and selecting a group of research participants was proposed. Additionally, it was proposed to conduct repeatable test scenarios for different driving speeds and different weather conditions. With respect to the publications on this topic, this work focuses on the process of designing and planning dedicated simulation studies, which may provide a source of guidance and good practices for other researchers. This is an example of how interdisciplinary research involving human factors, traffic organization, and ITS systems can be planned and implemented.

Reclaiming accountability through collaborative curriculum enquiry: New directions in teacher evaluation

AbstractTeacher evaluation and teachers' professional learning are too often confined to separate areas of research and professional practice. Rather than approach evaluation and enquiry as distinct or irreconcilable, this paper applies the ideas of Stenhouse to explore new possibilities for the reappropriation of mandated appraisal in ways that support teachers' professional growth. Illustrative case studies of laboratory schools in the United States and England are used to examine the interaction of local and lateral forms of professional accountability with external and hierarchical regulatory frameworks. The article reports the design and enactment of change in two schools (a US kindergarten through twelfth grade school and a UK high school) connected through the International Association of Laboratory Schools (IALS) that purposively redesigned appraisal over a three‐year period to build capacity for collaborative curriculum enquiry. Attention is afforded to the space for manoeuvre between advisory and mandatory guidance, and the challenges to relational trust and collective responsibility posed by performance‐based accountability systems. The findings provide new insights into how teacher‐led collaborative enquiry (curricular co‐design) can address the unintended consequences of test‐based accountability and rubrics‐based observation as principal drivers of educational improvement.

Guide to ethical research and design practice when working with vulnerable participants and on sensitive topics

The purpose of this paper is to establish a set of guidelines for student designers and design researchers when working with vulnerable participants or/and on sensitive topics. This paper explores several case studies of design research projects where vulnerable participants have been involved at various stages and to varying degrees. The case study analyses key questions such as when is it/ not appropriate to involve participants? What are the most useful methods to work with participants? When are alternative methods of research and testing sufficient? How can expectations be managed? And what is the payback for people to participate? The paper concludes by collating the key lessons into a ‘living’ guide to which design practitioners, design educators and researchers can refer.

PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE KCCQ–12 IN A EUROPEAN COHORT OF PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE

Abstract Background Despite medical advances, patients with heart failure continue to suffer from poor quality of life due to worsening symptoms and functional limitations. Therefore, it is important to understand the multidimensional facets of quality of life in these patients. The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire is a commonly used quality of life assessment tool worldwide. However, However, there is still a lack of knowledge about its psychometric properties. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the KCCQ–12 and its measurement invariance in a cohort of European patients with heart failure. Methods Participants (n=510, median age=72, IQR=18, 58% males) completed the KCCQ–12 alongside measures of clinical psychosocial severity. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to establish factorial validity; internal consistency was determined using the Omega coefficient and the model–based internal consistency coefficient. Zero–order correlations between the KCCQ–12 scores and clinical and psychosocial measures were performed to test convergent validity. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test measurement invariance across patients with preserved vs reduced ejection fraction. Results Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a four–factor solution, with the domains of physical limitations, symptom frequency, quality of life, and social interference. Internal consistency was excellent (Omega coefficients ranging from 0.83 and 0.90, and internal consistency index of 0.94). The KCCQ–12 scores significantly correlated with ejection fraction, New York Heart Association class, quality of life, anxiety, depression, symptom burden, and the KCCQ–23 Overall Summary score, which adequately supported the convergent validity of the KCCQ–12. Measurement invariance was confirmed at the partial scalar and strict level. Conclusions These findings support the validity and reliability of the KCCQ–12, both in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. Hence, this version can be confidently used both in research and clinical practice to measure quality of life of heart failure patients.

Will We Ever Stop Calling for Larger Trials and Finally Change Research Practice?

Will We Ever Stop Calling for Larger Trials and Finally Change Research Practice?

Paclitaxel - a Product of Fungal Secondary Metabolism or an Artefact?

Taxol (common name: paclitaxel) is an extremely important component of drugs for the treatment of various cancers. Thirty years after the discovery of its effectiveness, a metabolic precursor of Taxol (10-deacetylbaccatin III) is still primarily extracted from needles of European yew trees. In order to meet the considerable demand, hopes were pinned on the possibilities of biotechnological production from the very beginning. In 1993, as if by chance, Taxol was supposedly discovered in fungi that grow endobiotically in yew trees. This finding aroused hopes of biotechnological use to produce fungal Taxol in large quantities in fermenters. It never came to that. Instead, a confusing flood of publications emerged that claimed to have detected Taxol in more and more eukaryotic and even prokaryotic species. However, researchers never reproduced these rather puzzling results, and they could certainly not be applied on an industrial scale. This paper will show that some of the misguided approaches were apparently based on a seemingly careless handling of sparse evidence and on at least questionable publications. Apparently, the desired gold rush of commercial exploitation was seductive. Scientific skepticism as an indispensable core of good scientific practice was often neglected, and the peer review process has not exerted its corrective effect. Self-critical reflection and more healthy skepticism could help to reduce the risk of such aberrations in drug development. This article uses this case study as a striking example to show what can be learned from the Taxol case in terms of research ethics and the avoidance of questionable research practices.

Physical Activity, Sleep, and Risk of Late-Onset Severe Mental Illness: A Prospective Cohort Study From UK Biobank.

Previous studies have found that both physical inactivity and poor sleep are deleteriously associated with severe mental illness (SMI). The aim of current study was to investigate the joint association of physical activity (PA) and sleep with late-onset SMI (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) risk. A total of 340187 (for schizophrenia)/340239 (for bipolar disorder) participants without schizophrenia or bipolar disorder from the UK Biobank were included. Baseline PA levels were categorized as high, intermediate, and low according to the total volume of PA. Sleep was categorized into healthy, intermediate, and poor according to an established composited sleep score of chronotype, sleep duration, insomnia, snoring, and daytime sleepiness. We derived 9 PA-sleep combinations, accordingly. After an average follow-up of 13.2 years, 814 participants experienced schizophrenia and 846 participants experienced bipolar disorder. Both low PA level, intermediate, and poor sleep were independently associated with increased risk of SMI. PA level and sleep had additive and multiplicative interactions on SMI risk. Compared to those with high PA level and healthy sleep, individuals with low PA and poor sleep had the highest risk of SMI (hazard ratio: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.02-3.70, P < .001) for schizophrenia; (hazard ratio: 3.81; 95% CI: 2.35-6.15) for bipolar disorder. A higher PA level may attenuate the detrimental effects of poor sleep. Both low PA and poor sleep was associated with increasing risk of late-onset SMI. Those with low PA and poor sleep had the highest risk of late-onset SMI, suggesting likely synergistic effects. Our findings supported the need to target both PA and sleep behaviors in research and clinical practice.

Speculative foresight: A foray beyond digital transformation

AbstractAs the discourse regarding digital transformation has developed, we see an opportunity to extend the concept of becoming digital into an as‐of‐yet unrealized future. By examining the foundational assumptions of digital transformation, we reveal two frontiers that expand the current transformation discourse into futures where their implications and outcomes will reside. A conceptual frontier suggests that we begin to conceptualise the worlds in which future organisations and people observe digital technologies and their enactments as an unexceptional and quite mundane aspect of their daily lives. We initiate conceptualising being digital as an outcome of the transformations our current research studies. A second analytic frontier embraces world‐making in current theorizations and the development of future‐leaning conceptualization of alternative worlds. Speculative foresight is an approach for staging new concepts and relationships, critiquing current research practice and theory boundaries, and creating novel and generative theorizations. An example speculative foresight scenario illustrates onto‐epistemic assumptions and ambiguities in current theories of digital transformation regarding how future ethics will be conceived. The implications and limitations of this approach are discussed in the context of the need for IS research to develop orientations that can contribute to understanding digital transformation processes and both positive and negative transformation outcomes that will constitute yet unrealized futures.