Semi-structured Interview Form Research Articles

Determining the Opinions of Parents with Children with Special Needs on Digital Games

With the development of technology, interest in digital games has increased in children with typical development and children with special needs. Many digital games with different contents are played by children with special needs. The research was carried out with the parents of diagnosed children aged 6-13 years. The aim of the research is to determine the views of parents of children with special needs on digital games. The research was designed with phenomenology (phenomenology), one of the qualitative research methods, and the data were created and analyzed using content analysis. A semi-structured interview form and a questionnaire containing demographic information were used in the research. As a result of the data, codes were created and thanks to them, themes and sub-themes were reached. In the research, digital game theme and sub-themes were reached. In consequence of them, it was obtained that children with special needs mostly prefer war games, their purpose of playing games is entertainment, they mostly prefer mobile phones while playing games, and they play games for at least two hours a day. In addition to the findings that digital games contribute positively to the educational processes, skills and development of children with special needs, there were also findings that digital games have negative effects such as children not being able to spare time for their lessons and spending all their time in digital games.

Opinions of Individuals Exposed to Earthquake Regarding Their Psychological Rigidity

This is a qualitative study conducted to evaluate the thoughts of individuals who were exposed to the earthquake that took place on 06.02.2023, centered in Kahramanmaraş, regarding their psychological rigidity. A phenomenological approach was adopted in the study. 14 participants were included in the study. Data were collected by audio recording with a semi-structured interview form. Content analysis technique was used to analyze the data. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that individuals exposed to the earthquake avoided the emotions of joy, happiness, love, sadness, anger and fear. It was determined that thoughts are suppressed and thoughts about the loss of family members are avoided. However, there are also participants who do not have avoidant thoughts or behaviors. Individuals exposed to earthquake reported situations such as fear of loss, nightmares, anxiety, hopelessness, rumination, powerlessness, failure, fear of punishment, burnout, embarrassment, claustrophobia, crying spells, eating problems, increase in alcohol/cigarette use, sleep problems, social isolation, excessive cleaning, staying away from entertainment, and disruption of social relations. In this study, after the trauma experienced, some individuals stated that they became aware of the value of life, created new options, had positive changes in social relations, and change in the perception of self. Considering the results, it is evaluated that practices aimed at increasing psychological flexibility will reduce the negative effects of traumatic experiences and increase psychological resilience in individuals.

The effect of cognitive flexibility on students’ spatial visualization abilities and computational thinking skills in a three-dimensional design and coding training

ABSTRACT Aim and background Today, students are encouraged to develop spatial visualization ability to meet the challenges of digital technologies impacting their daily life and education when exposed more time to a virtual 3D environment. This study investigated the effect of cognitive flexibility levels on students’ spatial visualization abilities and computational thinking skills in three-dimensional design and coding training. In addition, this study examined the effect of the training on the spatial visualization abilities and computational thinking skills of the students. Method The study employed a one-group pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design. A total of 60 university students (51 female and 9 male) participated in this study. University students received three-dimensional design and coding training by using Tinkercad. The Spatial Visualization Test, the Cognitive Flexibility Scale, the Computational Thinking Scale and semi-structured interview form were used to collect data. Paired samples t-test and one-way ANCOVA were used for the data analysis. Results and discussion Results from the training indicated that the students’ spatial visualization abilities improved. Their spatial visualization abilities and computational thinking skills were related to their cognitive flexibility levels. The training also improved the spatial visualization abilities and computational thinking skills of students with high cognitive flexibility. 3D design and coding education could be more effective for students with high cognitive flexibility. The qualitative findings supported the results of the study.

Navigating Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness: Insights from Middle Managers in Norway

Middle managers play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between senior leadership and employees, often navigating competing demands and pressures. This study investigates experiences of autonomy, competence, and relatedness among middle managers serving as department heads in the University and University College (UUC) sector in Norway. The study adopts a qualitative approach in the form of semi-structured interviews with six participants. The findings underscore the significance of autonomy, trust, and support in facilitating the effective execution of middle managers’ roles as executive and inclusive leaders. Autonomy emerges as crucial, which aligns with the principles of the Nordic work–life model. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of internal motivation and the support provided by the immediate leadership in enhancing middle managers’ performance. Personal competence in one’s subject areas and relatedness emerge as key factors ensuring employee confidence and fostering a positive work environment. The implications of these findings suggest that nurturing autonomy, competence, and relatedness may mitigate the perceived stress associated with being a middle manager in the UUC sector. By addressing these fundamental needs, organisations can potentially enhance the well-being and effectiveness of middle managers, ultimately contributing to organisational success.

Green Core Competencies, Green Process Innovation, and Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Sustainability Consciousness, a Mixed Method Study on Golf Hotels

Sustainability of biological, social, and economic systems is crucial for protecting our common future and preserving the balance between nature and humans. Environmental concerns should be adopted by all units of society and sustainability awareness should be adapted to all processes through optimum technologies both in daily life and in business management. The basic objective of this article is to determine the effects of green core competencies, green process innovation, and firm performance variables on each other and to examine the moderating role of sustainability consciousness on these effects. A survey and semi-structured interview forms were preferred as data collection methods. In the analysis of the survey data, AMOS was adopted to test the hypothetical model and the Hayes Process macro was employed to determine the moderating effect. The data of interview forms were analyzed with the bag of words model. The research results show that green core competencies positively affect green process innovation and green process innovation positively affects firm performance. In addition, the moderating effect of the attitudinal and behavioral dimensions of sustainability awareness on the impact of green process innovation on firm performance is supported, while the moderating effect of the sustainability knowingness dimension is not supported.

A Research on Transportation Opportunities Between Container Ports and Logistics Focuses of Kocaeli City

Similar to world trade, container transportation and the tendency to transport various cargoes with containers is increasing in Turkey. Moreover, in a world where production centers will be relocated during Covid-19, it can be said that Turkey's production will increase and over and above expectations, container traffic in its ports will expand. We can foresee that Kocaeli City's container ports and logistic focuses will require more container transportation, due to the fact that where containerization is increasing in Turkey and around the world. In our study, transportation possibilities between container ports and logistics centers of Kocaeli city have been examined. The adequacy of the existing transportation opportunities, the needs of the sector in this context, and the perspectives of the stakeholder company managers on an alternative transportation method were examined through a semi-structured interview form. The data collected in the research were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis H test in the IBM SPSS 22.0 program, and the hypotheses were questioned. Reconsidering alternative opportunities in transportation for the development of Kocaeli ports and logistics stakeholders in a competitive structure, increasing the road and railway transportation capacities between the ports and Köseköy Logistics center will be appropriate, a new/alternative transportation method will have a positive impact on the efficiency of the port/logistics business, inland waterway/canal to the logistics center. It has been concluded that integration with transportation may be beneficial in the future and may have a moderate impact on business volume and productivity.

The Influence of Pre-school Literacy Preparation Studies on Primary School Literacy Instruction

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of literacy preparation activities conducted during the pre-school period on primary school literacy instruction from the perspective of classroom teachers. The design of the study was determined as a case study, which is one of the qualitative research types. The research group was determined through purposive sampling. In order to ensure maximum diversity, interviews were conducted with a total of 14 teachers, consisting of one male and one female from each of Türkiye seven regions. Considering the aim of the study, it was taken into account that teachers should have experience in literacy instruction. Therefore, teachers who had conducted teaching activities in first grade elementary school classrooms for at least three times were included in the study. A semi-structured interview form was used as the data collection tool in the research. The interviews were analyzed using a data analysis software. As a result of the analyses, 4 themes, 13 categories, and 58 codes were identified. According to the findings of the study, the teachers believe that literacy preparation activities conducted during the pre-school period have a positive impact on primary school. It is also among the general opinions of those teachers that literacy preparation activities are more effective and functional in pre-school compared to previous years. The classroom teachers expressed that pre-school teachers should not deviate from the curriculum, and teaching literacy in pre-school may lead to some difficulties in primary school. Finally, the classroom teachers believe that beyond academic skills, imparting social adjustment and self-regulation skills to children during pre-school is more crucial for readiness in primary school.

Determination of Opinions on HPV Infection and HPV Vaccine among Nursing Students by Focus Group Discussion.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine nursing students' opinions about human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccine. Methods: This is a qualitative focus group discussion study, in which a state university in Western Turkey, undergraduate nursing students are recruited through purposive sampling. The research data were collected on an online platform with the focus group interview method by using the Participant Information Form and Semistructured Interview Form. Results: Three main themes (HPV infection/vaccine perception, severity perception, and suggestions and requests/facilitators) and eight subthemes were developed based on the thematic analysis of the research findings. Conclusions: According to the findings, it was concluded that nursing students' opinions on HPV infection and HPV vaccine were affected by factors related to cultural, religious, and sexual behaviors. Based on study results, it is suggested to organize national cervical screening programs to increase public's knowledge and awareness on the subject in accordance with the sociocultural norms of the society with the agreement and cooperation of educated health service providers, policy makers, and educators.

Early Field Experiences of PTEs in ELT Programme of a State University in Türkiye

Teaching programs in Türkiye consist of a 4-year process. Internship practice takes place in the last year of this process, each in two separate terms. Prospective teachers observe, evaluate, prepare course content, and teach under the guidance of in-service English teachers in public schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education and with the support of supervisors at the faculties and complete their internship. However, the timing of the process is thought to be too late, which is carried out during the 4-year education period and where prospective teachers will be actively involved in schools/real teaching environments and gain experience. "Early Field Experience", which is also found in the world literature and has exemplary applications, has been implemented in some private universities in Türkiye today but has not yet found its place in state universities. This current research studies the subject of “Early field experience”. The present study focussed on the effects of "Early Field Experience" practice in a state university in Türkiye. The study analyses the reflections of Early Field Experience (EFE) on prospective teachers' anxiety and makes the voices of prospective teachers heard. In this convergent mixed method study, STAS (Student Teacher Anxiety Scale - Hart, 1987) was used as a quantitative data collection tool, and a semi-structured interview form consisting of open-ended questions was employed for the qualitative part. In the study, prospective teachers of English had an EFE implementation process covering 10 weeks of observation and internship. The results of the quantitative data showed that there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores for the level of anxiety of PTEs (t=4.16; p< .05) in favour of the post-test. Findings of interviews revealed that the prospective teachers' concerns were in the areas of teaching, students’ background, classroom management, readiness to teach, and burnout before the EFE; and after the EFE, they experienced improvements in classroom management, appropriate language use, readiness to teach, experience and teaching content.

Organizational Effects of the Hubris Syndrome and the Ways of Solution

Hubris syndrome is defined as a managerial disease caused by the power possessed by people in managerial positions, and gives rise to positive and negative outcomes in organizations. For this purpose, the banking sector was chosen as the research area due to the fact that banking sector is one of the areas where the hubris syndrome can most commonly be seen due to the known characteristics of the sector such as tough working conditions and working goals. Data were obtained via interviews carried out with 12 managers working in the field of banking with a semi-structured interview form using the phenomenology experience research pattern, which is one of the qualitative research models. Maxqda 2022 data analysis software was used for data analysis. Study results according to data received from managers revealed that the characteristics of people suffering from hubris syndrome are seeing oneself as perfect and superior, believing that anything can be done with authority, the utopical goals given to lower-level employees and disregarding opinions of others. The reasons for the emergence of the syndrome are the problems in the institutional structure and functioning, bullying and exclusion experienced in the past and the lack of clarity about the authority and responsibilities of people within the organization. When the organizational impacts of Hubris syndrome are taken into account, two types of impacts are observed, such as the impacts on the organization and the impacts on the employees. People with the hubris syndrome harm the organization, prevent the emergence of new ideas and decrease the motivation of employees.

An Investigation of Science And Mathematics Teachers’ Thoughts on STEM Education

This study examines the views of high school physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics teachers on STEM education. The research uses a phenomenological research design. The sample involved three public high schools and eight teachers. Participants had prior experience and knowledge of STEM education. The experience of the participating teachers ranged from approximately 9 to 30 years. Data for the study were collected using a semi-structured interview form. The interview form consists of eight questions. As a result of the analysis of the interviews, 8 themes and 67 codes were categorized. Results reveal that the implementation of STEM will greatly contribute to the development of students and teachers. Many teachers think that STEM applications will be extremely effective in creating an environment where teachers can be motivated, develop projects and discover their students’ talents. Results show that many teachers do not get enough information about STEM seminars held at universities. In addition, it reveals that teachers have problems with time, equipment and classroom control during STEM practices.

Professional values gained in postgraduate nursing education from the perspectives of master's and doctorate graduates: A mixed-methods study.

To determine the professional values of graduates of master's and doctoral programs in nursing and their views on the contribution of postgraduate education to their professional values. In postgraduate education, which is an important catalyst of professional identity development, a professional is expected to specialize in a field, get into more depth professionally, internalize professional values, and reflect and strengthen these values. To shed light on this expectation, more information is needed to assess the impact of postgraduate education on professional values. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. Data were collected for the quantitative part of the study for 385 graduates of postgraduate nursing education programs in Turkey who were selected using the snowball sampling method, while the maximum variation sampling method was used to collect data from 12 individuals for the qualitative part of the study. The Nurses Professional Values Scale (NPVS) and a Semi-Structured Interview Form were used to collect data in October-December 2022. The quantitative data obtained in the study were analyzed using the SPSS software, and the qualitative data were analyzed using the MAXQDA software. The mean total NPVS score of the participants was 130.32±21.34 (possible range: 31-155). Among all dimensions, the highest mean score of the participants was in the caring dimension, followed by professionalism and activism. There were significant differences in the NPVS total and subscale scores of the participants based on their views on the contributions of age, institution where they worked, marital status, position at work, and postgraduate education to the acquisition of professional values. In the qualitative dimension of the study, two main themes were identified. One of these themes was the theme of professional values in postgraduate nursing education that covered the categories of professional values gained through postgraduate education, professional values that a nurse who has completed postgraduate education should have, and professional values in postgraduate nursing education. The second theme was the theme named recommendations for providing nurses with professional values through postgraduate education. The integration of data from both components indicated that the qualitative interviews enriched the quantitative findings. It was concluded that postgraduate nursing education programs contribute greatly to the professional values of graduates and strengthen their professional values. Forthe future of nursing, increasing professional strengths and visibility is significantly associated with professional values. This situation requires nurses with strong professional values. Graduate education programs in nursing should be developed in this direction and focus on development of professional values.

Attitudes towards and health consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting: A qualitative study among Somali and Kurdish immigrants and descendants in Denmark

ObjectivesThere is lack of in-depth knowledge of how immigrants who originate from countries where female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) historically is practiced, perceive the practice after migrating to Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the attitude towards FGM/C among immigrants and descendants and the health consequences of living with FGM/C. Study DesignQualitative methods were used in the form of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Female and male immigrants and descendants in Denmark from Somalia or Kurdish of Iraq/Iran participated in the study. The interview/focus group discussion guides were developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality. Purposely sampling was used, and participants were recruited by use of snowballing through gatekeepers and women’s societies working within the Somali and Kurdish communities. Results:Sixteen persons participated in the study. No descendants had been cut, but all female immigrants had been cut prior to migrating and did not wish to pass on the practice. FGM/C was perceived as a harmful practice with severe sexual and mental health consequences. Women with Somali origin experienced that the practice was falsely associated with their origin, which led to stigmatisation. Women with Kurdish origin lacked healthcare support when suffering sexual consequences of FGM/C. It was generally perceived that the Danish healthcare system lacked cultural sensitivity. ConclusionFGM/C is negatively perceived among Somali and Kurdish immigrants and descendants in Denmark and not practiced among these groups. The Danish healthcare system should adopt a more culturally sensitive approach when addressing sexual health among immigrants and descendants. Denmark and other European countries should work towards destigmatising the immigrant communities when it comes to FGM/C. Larger European studies with primary data are needed to generalise the findings of this study.

Designing positive emotional experiences of wearable medical technology for type 1 diabetes

AbstractWith the current strain on the healthcare service, wearable technology presents a solution. However, there is a lack of adoption from user groups due to a focus on clinical and financial factors. This study explores the implementation of positive design in medicine, outlining contributing factors to positive emotional experiences. Using a qualitative methodology in the form of semi-structured interviews with users and experts, a construct was defined consisting of five key psychological needs, including control, stimulation, competence, social factors, and purpose & growth.

Perception of Leisure in Prisoners

This study aimed to identify the leisure needs of prisoners and the significance of leisure activities in prisons. The research is a qualitative study designed using a phenomenological approach. Participants were selected using criterion sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods. The study group for this research consists of 21 male prisoners who have been incarcerated and are currently serving time in Manisa Open Prison. The researchers obtained the data using a semi-structured interview form, which was then analysed using content analysis methods. In terms of credibility, transferability, consistency, and confirmability of the research, direct quotations were used, the research process was explained in detail, and the agreement rate was calculated as 0.83 using Miles and Huberman” 's (1994) reliability formula. All data were kept ensuring verifiability. The findings revealed that most participants associate the concept of time with life and define it as the period between birth and death. Similarly, freedom is perceived as living freely and being with loved ones. The concept of obstacle or constraint is associated with being in prison. In their leisure, participants expressed a desire to spend time with their family and children when they are not incarcerated. Leisure activities in prisons are important, but also insufficient. Leisure activities should adequately contribute to working life after release.

Investigating consumer preferences and experiences of telehealth services in Australian allied health practice: a study protocol

IntroductionTelehealth service provision and uptake has rapidly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing healthcare to be delivered safely and reducing non-essential face-to-face (F2F) contact. In Australia, the expansion of subsidisation...

Social Studies Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions of Historical Concepts

Concepts, which are the basic building blocks of knowledge, play an important role in history education. This study was conducted to reveal the perceptions and misconceptions of social studies teacher candidates about historical concepts. The study was carried out using qualitative research method. Purposeful sampling method was used for selecting the research participants. Equal numbers of female and male Social Studies teacher candidates studying at a state university were selected as research participants in the study. A semi-structured interview form was used to reveal the participants’ perceptions about the concepts under scrutiny. Descriptive data analysis technique was used to analyze the collected research data. As a result of the data analysis, it was found that the pre-service teachers had difficulty in giving scientific definitions of the historical concepts examined in the study, and they defined the concepts on the basis of the connotations and analogies in their minds. It was also found that most of the pre-service teachers could not fully define the concepts, and they experienced confusion and misconceptions about some historical concepts. The reasons for their misconceptions are attributable to their incomplete and incorrect knowledge about concepts or their inability to associate the concepts with each other within the context of the relevant subject learned.

BEHAVIORS RELATED TO PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS' CRISIS MANAGEMENT SKILLS: IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FEBRUARY 6TH 2023 EARTHQUAKE

In the face of the unpredictable nature of crises, it is expected that school principals exhibit behaviors aimed at maintaining the psychological well-being of teachers, students, and parents along with the educational processes. The sudden occurrence of the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, has presented an important crisis situation in which school principals are expected to display the desired behaviors. This research aims to reveal to what extent school principals demonstrated their crisis management skills in the context of the February 6, 2023 earthquake and what behaviors they exhibited during crisis management processes, based on teachers' opinions. The research was carried out with a mixed method approach in which quantitative and qualitative research methods were used together. The sample of the research consisted of 295 teachers, and the study group consisted of 18 teachers selected from the same sample by purposeful sampling method. Quantitative data of the research were collected using the crisis management scale, and qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. According to the quantitative results of the research, it was determined that the crisis management skill levels of school principals were "mostly" in the pre-crisis and post-crisis periods, and "sometimes" during the crisis period. When teachers' opinions were examined, it was seen that school principals were unprepared for crises arising from natural disasters such as earthquakes and that they mostly followed the Ministry of National Education guidelines and therefore lacked initiative. School principals who were able to take initiative took action to support the psychological health of teachers, students and parents by meeting their needs and gained their trust. Keywords: crisis management, school principals' crisis management behaviors, February 6th,2023 earthquakes.

We Read but How: Research on Reading and Reading Comprehension Skills

Reading and reading comprehension skills are among the most basic language skills. Therefore, these skills should be acquired at an early age. Although there are studies in terms of reading in Türkiye, it was seen that reading comprehension skills are insufficient in the exams. This study investigated how reading and reading comprehension activities were carried out at the primary school level and how this situation reflected on students. This study was designed as a case study to reveal the subject to be examined in depth. The participant group of this study, which was carried out at the primary school level, consisted of 207 students and eight primary school teachers. Data were collected from students with a reading comprehension test and teachers with a semi-structured interview form. The data obtained from the achievement test are presented descriptively. The interviews with the teachers were analyzed by content analysis. According to the data obtained, it was seen that the teachers preferred the reward method in gaining the habit of reading, and they carried out activities that would improve the students' cognitive skills for their reading comprehension skills. The result that 70.53% of the students in the research made the profound understanding question wrong was also a remarkable situation.

EXAMINATION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON MEDICAL PERSONNEL WORKING IN THE FILIATION TEAM: A MIXED METHOD STUDY

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the psychological effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on medical personnel working in the filtration team, and to examine the possible effects in depth. Methods: The research was conducted using the exploratory sequential mixed pattern between February 2022 and February 2023 on the medical personnel working in the filiation team in A District Health Directorate. In the quantitative stage of the research, the population consisted of 248 medical personnel working in the filiation team, and the sample consisted of 181 participants who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. The quantitative data of the research were collected using the “Personal Information Form” and the “Impact of Event Scale”, and the qualitative data were collected using the “Semi-Structured Interview Form”. Results: In the study, it was found that 30.4% of the medical personnel working during the filiation process were psychologically affected. In the in-depth interviews, it was determined that there were categories of fear, anxiety, loneliness, sleep problems, stigma, trauma, changes in affectivity, stress, deterioration in social relationships, fatigue and strain under the theme of psychological effects. Conclusions: The study found that about a third of the medical personnel working in the filiation process were psychologically affected by the pandemic, and they experienced psychological effects such as fear, anxiety, loneliness, sleep problems, stigma, trauma, changes in affectivity, stress, deterioration in social relationships, fatigue and strain.