Social-cultural Context Research Articles

Changing human–nature relationships: Insights from Guinea‐Bissau woodlands

Abstract The ecological impacts of landscape changes resulting in significant simplification of natural systems have been extensively studied worldwide. Yet, few studies have examined how such biophysical changes affect the value local communities place on nature and their relationships with it. In this study, we delve into the case of Guinea‐Bissau, where woodland cover has been increasingly replaced by commercial cashew plantations. Using a sociocultural valuation approach, our empirical research provides a comprehensive assessment of the woodlands' contributions to local communities as well as the potential disruptions caused by the ongoing biophysical changes on the woodlands. We focused on 20 villages of four different ethnic groups—Manjack, Balanta, Mandinka and Fulani—and used a combination of focus group discussions and walks‐in‐the‐woods. The study's participants identified 19 nature's contributions to people from the woodlands, which revealed a combination of instrumental, relational and intrinsic values in ways that reflect their subsistence needs and social–cultural contexts. We also found that these values are being impacted, mostly negatively, by the ongoing biophysical changes in the ‘natural’ landscapes tied to regional and global dynamics. Moreover, our study reveals that local communities are aware of ongoing biophysical changes in their woodlands and perceive them as having negative ecological and psychological consequences for them. Synthesis and applications: Our study highlights the significance of using a sociocultural perspective to investigate how changes in the landscape affect local peoples' values of nature and their relationships with it. This information can help shape policies and management decisions towards creating better futures that are meaningful for both humans and non‐humans. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Sustainable financial institution in Indonesia: An empirical analysis of social-cultural context, nepotism, and moral hazard on the shaping of non-performing loans

This study investigates the complex relationships among social and cultural contexts, nepotism, moral hazard, and non-performing loans (NPLs) within Indonesian financial institutions. Using survey data from a sample of these institutions, it employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze these relationships. The findings reveal significant paths: social context significantly influences nepotism (β = 0.345 or 34.5%) and moral hazard (β = 0.347 or 34.7%), while cultural context has notable effects on nepotism (β = 0.157 or 15.7%) and NPLs (β = 0.379 or 37.9%). Nepotism (β = 0.168 or 16.8%) and moral hazard (β = 0.325 or 32.5%) also directly impact NPLs, highlighting their roles as mediators between social and cultural contexts and loan portfolio quality. These results underscore the pivotal roles of these factors in shaping organizational behavior and risk management practices. The study provides critical insights for practitioners, policymakers, and scholars focused on enhancing the sustainability and integrity of financial institutions in Indonesia. However, its reliance on cross-sectional data and self-reported surveys, and the focus solely on Indonesian institutions, may affect the generalizability of the findings. Despite these limitations, the study underscores the importance of addressing issues like nepotism and moral hazard to improve financial stability in the region.

Analysis of Chinese Political Discourse: The Belt and Road International Summit Forum as an Example

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative is conducive to exchanges and cooperation among countries, injecting new momentum into world economic growth and opening up new space for global development. And discourse analysis can reveal how people use real language in the process of daily communication, the relationship between social-cultural context and discourse construction, and the linguistic phenomena and features revealed by large units of discourse. The proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative is a new model and new idea to promote international cooperation in the context of globalization and regionalization, which is closely related to China’s excellent traditional culture and the historical continuity of China’s cultural exchanges with the world. Therefore, this paper takes the Belt and Road International Summit Forum as an example, and utilizes discourse analysis to elaborate its impact on China and related countries, so as to provide reference for China to take countermeasures as well as to enhance its own international discourse power.

Cultural Adaptation of Indonesian Muslim Women Students in Europe

Cultural adaptability in the context of international students' intercultural communication has affected how communication works. Indonesian students, especially those who display their identity as Muslim women, have their challenges in adapting to both academic and social-cultural contexts. This study discusses the cultural adaptation of Indonesian Muslim women students to societies in Europe. All informants who are scholarship awardee students have obstacles in adapting, especially when communicating with the societies. This study aims to discover how Gudykunst’s Anxiety and Uncertainty Management theory interprets the experience phenomena around individuals in adapting to Societies in Europe through intercultural communication. The study uses a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. Five informants in this research have gone through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The results of the study show that the experiences are related to academic and social experiences adapting to the local community’s culture (cultural), adapting to individual personality (sociocultural), and adapting to interpersonal perceptions (psycho-cultural). Indonesian Muslim women students need to be familiar with the local community, open to accepting differences in society, and able to interpret the meaning of accepted in intercultural communication context.

Fostering Pedagogical Excellence: Theoretical Foundations for Designing a Teaching Module on Chinese Ancient Poetry Art Songs for Undergraduate Students in China

This paper explored the fundamental theoretical aspects involved in creating a comprehensive teaching module tailored for undergraduate students in China, with a specific emphasis on Chinese ancient poetry art songs. The process of constructing an effective teaching module was intricate, demanding a thorough exploration of various models and educational theories that laid the foundation for its development. The paper offered an overview of the theoretical framework employed in this undertaking, incorporating the ADDIE Model and key educational theories such as Jean Piaget's Constructivist Theory, Lev Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory, and Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences. The ADDIE Model provided a structured approach to module development, guiding the systematic design, implementation, and evaluation phases to ensure that teaching materials were well-organized, efficient, and adaptable to diverse learning environments. Furthermore, the paper delved into the educational theories influencing the design of the teaching module. Piaget's Constructivist Theory emphasized active learning through hands-on experiences, Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory underscored the role of social interaction and cultural context in learning, emphasizing collaborative learning experiences, and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory recognized the diversity of students' cognitive strengths, emphasizing the need for varied instructional strategies to cater to different learning styles. Through the integration of these theoretical foundations, this research aimed to develop a comprehensive, engaging, and effective educational resource tailored to the unique needs and learning preferences of students. The anticipated outcome of the teaching module was to enable educators to cultivate a greater understanding and appreciation of Chinese ancient poetry art songs among students.

Interdependence of Science and Social Context Through Lens of Banjar Culture Activities (Batimung): Convergent Model

The integration of culture into science education serves as a bridge of knowledge, ensuring that students develop a comprehensive understanding of the scientific and social context and possess literacy as potential educators. The research objectives are to determine the following: 1) the topics that students are most interested in discussing in the context of "diversity," 2) the perspective of students on cultural integration in science learning, and 3) the interdependence of the context of science and the Batimung culture that is characteristic of South Kalimantan. The research methodology relies on a mixed-method with convergent model. Students in the 2020-2023 class of chemistry education comprised the sample. The data collection techniques comprise interviews, questionnaires, and literature reviews. According to the results, the scientific and social contexts are interconnected. The quantitative technique employed is a questionnaire that encompasses diversity aspects comprising a variety of topics. The results indicate that 1) the most desired subject matter for discussion is "the impact of the environment on an individual," with a 59% response rate; 2) cultural integration in science education is a critical endeavour; and 3) the Batimung culture demonstrates that the context of science and social (culture) are not only related but also mutually influential. The conclusion is that the context of science and social, particularly cultural aspects can be the most recent presentation in the teaching and profound interpretation of science through a cultural lens.

The Tihei Rangatahi Research Programme: tailoring a community-based youth empowerment programme for rangatahi Māori

Empowering Indigenous youth in their communities and within their own social-cultural contexts is an essential approach to developing their capacity as community advocators. We adapted an established youth empowerment programme for use among 51 Indigenous New Zealand youth. The key learnings of the programme reported: (a) youth highly rated their understanding and confidence across various social-health contexts based on the programmes’ stance of developing the youths’ knowledge and social change in understanding their own health and well-being as community catalysts; and (b) incorporating Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) worldview to their understandings of mental wellness was important because it enabled youth to understand mental health issues in a culturally relevant and safe way, this was positively compounded by having a strong identity as Māori. This study adds to a small body of literature on the use of empowerment programmes for improving the health and well-being of Indigenous youth.

Opinion Identification using a Conversational Large Language Mode

The paper focuses on testing the use of conversational Large Language Model (LLM), in particularchatGPT and Google models, instructed to assume the role of linguistics experts to produce opinions. Incontrast to knowledge/evidence-based objective factual statements, opinions are defined as subjective statements about animates, things, events or properties in the context of an Opinion (Speech) Event in a social cultural context. Taxonomy distinguishes explicit (direct/indirect) and implicit opinions (positive, negative, ambiguous, or balanced). Contextually richer prompts at the LLMs training phase are shown to be needed to deal with variants of implicit opinion scenario types.

Examining health apps and wearable use in improving physical and mental well-being across U.S., China, and Singapore

Health apps and wearables are touted to improve physical health and mental well-being. However, it is unclear from existing research the extent to which these health technologies are efficacious in improving physical and mental well-being at a population level, particularly for the underserved groups from the perspective of health equity and social determinants. Also, it is unclear if the relationship between health apps and wearables use and physical and mental well-being differs across individualistic, collectivistic, and a mix of individual–collectivistic cultures. A large-scale online survey was conducted in the U.S. (individualist culture), China (collectivist culture), and Singapore (mix of individual–collectivist culture) using quota sampling after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB-2021-262) of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. There was a total of 1004 respondents from the U.S., 1072 from China, and 1017 from Singapore. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and negative binomial regression. The study found that income consistently had the strongest relationship with physical and mental well-being measures in all three countries, while the use of health apps and wearables only had a moderate association with psychological well-being only in the US. Health apps and wearables were associated with the number of times people spent exercising and some mental health outcomes in China and Singapore, but they were only positively associated with psychological well-being in the US. The study emphasizes the importance of considering the social determinants, social–cultural context of the population, and the facilitating conditions for the effective use of digital health technologies. The study suggests that the combined use of both health apps and wearables is most strongly associated with better physical and mental health, though this association is less pronounced when individuals use only apps or wearables.

Exploring the decision-making process of female genital cosmetic procedures in Iranian women and constructing and validating a results-based logic model for a healthy public policy: a study protocol

BackgroundFemale genital cosmetic procedures have grown rapidly in most parts of the world. Professional organizations have issued warnings about the complications and long-term consequences of these practices. To be able to adopt the right health policies, it is necessary to know why women decide to perform these procedures. Therefore, the present study will be aim to discover the decision-making process involved in performing female genital cosmetic procedures for Iranian women and construct and validate a results-based logic model for healthy public policy.MethodsThe present study was conducted in three phases. In the initial phase, a qualitative study will be conducted with the Corbin and Strauss ground theory approach. The participants in the study will be healthy women who desire or have undergone female genital cosmetic procedures without medical indications. In this phase, purposive and theoretical sampling will guide recruitment and data collection. The data will be collected via semi-structured interviews, field notes and observations of individual interactions. The data will be analysed using the approach of Corbin and Strauss (2015). MAXQDA 2007 software was used for managing the process of data analysis. In the second phase, the development of a results-based logic model for a healthy public policy is performed based on the findings of the first phase of the study, interviews with key informants and a review of the results of the literature in this field. Finally, validation of the designed program will be performed by the nominal group technique with the presence of a group of experts in the third phase.DiscussionThe findings of this study, by identifying women’s main concerns related to the studied phenomenon, the existing context, participants’ reactions and the consequences of the adopted reactions, can be very important in designing a program that fits Iran’s cultural characteristics. In this research, a program using a logical model will be presented that is suitable for policymakers, planners and healthcare service providers to be implemented in the social-cultural context of the study.

Toward a multi-level approach to the study of the intergenerational transmission of trauma: Current findings and future directions.

A central goal in the field of developmental psychopathology is to evaluate the complex, dynamic transactions occurring among biological, psychological, and broader social-cultural contexts that predict adaptive and maladaptive outcomes across ontogeny. Here, I briefly review research on the effects of a history of childhood maltreatment on parental, child, and dyadic functioning, along with more recent studies on the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Because the experience and sequelae of child maltreatment and the intergenerational transmission of trauma are embedded in complex biopsychosocial contexts, this research is best conceptualized in a developmental psychopathology framework. Moreover, there is a pressing need for investigators in this area of study to adopt dynamic, multi-level perspectives as well as using developmentally guided, sophisticated research methods. Other directions for research in this field are suggested, including the implementation of collaborative interdisciplinary team science approaches, as well as community-based participatory research, to increase representation, inclusion, and equity of community stakeholders. A greater focus on cultural and global perspectives is also recommended.

The role of the social environment on dementia caregivers' pre-death grief: A mixed- methods systematic review.

This systematic review examined the role of social environment in pre-death grief experiences of dementia caregivers. Ninety-three Chinese and English articles were included from a comprehensive search of empirical studies using nine databases. Six social environment domains were generated: the person with dementia, dyadic relationship, family members and the wider community, health and social care services, place of care, and social-cultural contexts. A complex interplay between caregivers and their social environments that aggravate and attenuate pre-death grief experiences is evident. Research has focused mainly on the effects of people with dementia and dyadic relationships and has paid modest attention to the effects of family, relatives, and health and social care services. Caregivers' experiences with their friends, fellow caregivers, the wider community, and social-cultural norms are influential but understudied. Future research could adopt a systems thinking approach with sociological perspectives to generate a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of pre-death grief experiences.

The socialcultural context of the formation and implementation of the sociological education models in Russia

The article considers historical aspects of the formation and implementation of the sociological education models in Russia. The model developed by N.I. Kareev and M.M. Kovalevsky at the end of the 19th century was to teach sociology to students of all areas of university training. In 1901, sociologization of social sciences started at the Russian School of Higher Social Sciences in Paris, and in 1908 it was improved at the departments of sociology of the V.M. Bekhterev Psychoneurological Institute and A.L. Shanyavsky Moscow City People’s University. In 1918, P.A. Sorokin developed a professional model for training sociologists; until 1921 this model was implemented at the faculties of social sciences of the Moscow, Petrograd and Yaroslavl State Universities. In 1922, the implementation of both models was suspended due to the introduction of centralized plans to teach the basics of MarxismLeninism to students. The creative potential of two historical models became in demand during perestroika , in the late 1980s - early 1990s, and new versions of the educational and professional models were introduced in the higher education in favorable conditions for the reinstitutionalization of sociology. However, since 2010, there has been a gradual reduction in the number of sociological departments and faculties in Bachelor’s-Master’s programs. Today educational and professional models are unevenly represented in the Russian higher education; their implementation remains questionable due to the idea of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to return to training students on the basis of the enlarged groups of specialties, i.e. sociology curriculum will have to be coordinated with curricula for regional studies, international relations, tourism and political science.

Translation Strategy Through Pragmatic Lens: Speech Act Analysis on The Campaign Media

Communication plays an essential role in transporting messages, feelings, ideas, or even an influence. They are transmitted both verbally and non-verbally. This study elaborates on the use of speech acts in campaign advertising, specifically on billboards and posters as a means of conveying a candidate’s message through written communication in non-English languages in Tasikmalaya City. The capacity to use language in an assortment of settings while reflecting the relationship between the speakers and social cultural context of the situation is known as pragmatic competence. This research is a descriptive qualitative study; data analysis was conducted in two steps. firstly, it was carried out through a translation process which was done by English Education Department students in varied study grades; furthermore, the translation result was analyzed by the researcher to seek Chesterman's translation strategy through the lens of Pragmatics. The writer applied Miles and Huberman's data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing to analyse the data. The data reduction categorized the message into several categories of illocutionary acts using the translations that have been organized, then it was continued by classifying them according to Searle’s theory of speech act. This study shows that coherence change at 42.3%, trans editing at 23.1%, explicit change at 19.2%, cultural filtering at 11.5%, and illocutionary change at 3.8%; those reflect the translation strategy usage. Furthermore, the illocutionary act shows assertive 58.3%, directive 25%, and commissive 16.7%. Moreover, the pedagogical implications of the analysis are leading students to the awareness that translation can be done using various strategies, enhancing students’ understanding of translation strategies, and sharpening students’ critical thinking.

Strategic manoeuvring of argumentation in Chinese corporate public relations discourses

Undertaking chairmen’s letters as data, the article discusses strategic manoeuvring of argumentation in Chinese corporate public relations discourses from the perspectives of topical potential, audience demand and presentational devices. Popular topics chosen were explored, including corporate commerciality, legitimation, entrepreneurship and approachability. Additionally, argumentation move structure and schemes such as symptomatic argument, analogy argument and causal argument were analysed. Inference modes undertaking priori, empirical and evaluative knowledge to respond to audiences’ rational, credibility and affective appeals were investigated. Presentational devices including allusion, metaphor and hypallage were also discussed. These findings were attributed to institutional and social-cultural contexts of the discourse. Hopefully, the study can enhance the explanatory power and applicability of the Pragma-Dialectics in corporate discourse studies and facilitate the research on Chinese corporate communication in general.

Unveiling the Construction of Overall Meaning: A Social Semiotic Analysis of the Anti-War Discourse in Lynn Nottage’s Ruined

Lynn Nottage’s drama, Ruined, depicts the profound and far-reaching consequences of warfare on both individuals and communities. With deliberate emphasis on the harrowing experiences of Congolese women, this play is concerned with the intricate web of human rights challenges that plague conflict-ridden regions. Halliday’s social semiotics understands and analyzes how meaning is constructed in various discourses, which can provide a framework for probing the relationships between language, communication, and society, and how these entities interplay to convey meaning and mediate social interactions. This paper delves into the discursive cues that construct the overall meaning of Ruined through the lens of Halliday’s social semiotics, and further explores the social-cultural contexts constructed by Nottage as well as the anti-war keynote embedded within her play. By examining the ideational, interpersonal, and textual expressions throughout the text, this analysis suggests that the adopted framework can provide valuable insights into understanding how discursive strategies serve character development, relational dynamics between characters, and the underlying message of the targeting play, which can also be taken as an attempt at multidisciplinary interpretations on literary works.

Examining the Attitudes and Perceptions of Students and Tutors towards the Integrated Approach Pedagogy (IAP) in the Ghanaian Language Classroom

This investigation examined integrated approach pedagogy as a progressive educational framework that emphasizes the interconnectedness of various subjects and promotes active learning and critical thinking. This paper will be insightful as it will support students to appreciate their culture and accommodate other students in Ghanaian Language classroom. One of the significances is students would build communication confident and collaborative skills. In the context of the Ghanaian Language Classroom, this study aims to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of both students and teachers towards the integration of subjects within language instruction. This research employs qualitative interviews, to explore the experiences of students and tutors with the integrated approach. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants, one hundred and fifty (150) students and teachers were selected from different regions and socio-economic backgrounds. Bono region fifty (50), Central region fifty (50), Western region fifty (50). The qualitative phase involves in-depth interviews with selected students and teachers to gain deeper and fuller insights into their personal experiences, perceptions, and recommendations related to the integrated approach pedagogy (IAP). The findings of this research contributed to the existing literature on pedagogical methods in the Ghanaian education system, shedding light on the effectiveness of the integrated approach pedagogy (IAP) in the context of language learning. The theory that underpinned this study was sociocultural theory by Lev, Vygotsky. This theory emphasized the role of social interaction and cultural context in learning.

The process of frame-building regarding climate change in Indonesia

This study examines the frame-building process regarding climate change in Indonesia, an emerging country in the Global South that produces significant carbon emissions and is one of the nations most affected by the climate crisis. Through a quantitative content analysis of press releases from the Indonesian government and environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and media coverage of climate change, this study identifies three frames promoted by policy actors and five frames used by in-house journalists from print and online media organizations in Indonesia. A comparison of these frame sets shows that journalists often use frames on climate change that are not promoted by either political actors or NGOs. Nevertheless, the government is the most important source for journalists on climate change reporting. Next, a second step investigates how different contextual conditions influence the collaboration between journalists and their sources in the frame-creation process to examine it in more detail. Hence, this study relies on the hierarchy of influence (HI) and intereffication (IE) models. To this end, journalists, academics, and PR officers from Indonesia’s government organizations, environmental NGOs, and palm oil lobby organizations are interviewed. The results show that organizational structure, financial resources, and personal networks influence how successfully PR officers disseminate their frames, while journalists’ frame selection is influenced by their media affiliations, routines, professional experience, and interests. This study also discusses how macro conditions in Indonesia influence these micro- and meso-level processes, such as the social system and distinct cultural and historical contexts.

Linguistics of Ghanaian Language: A Platform to Embed Formal Education in Culture

This study examined the linguistic landscape of Ghana as a rich and diverse, reflecting the country’s cultural heritage and its linguistic complexity. This explored the significance of incorporating Ghanaian languages into the formal education system as a means to preserve and promote cultural identity while enhancing educational outcomes. Ghana is a multilingual nation with over 80 languages spoken across various regions. However, English has traditionally been the dominant language of instruction in formal education, often overshadowing indigenous languages. This approach has had unintended consequences, leading to a disconnection between students’ cultural backgrounds and the education system. This investigation took into consideration descriptive design. The approach adapted for the investigation was qualitative. One hundred (100) participants were involved in this investigation. Purposive sampling was its technique. Interview, observation and focus group discussion were the data collection instruments to elicit significant information to support the analysis. The investigation revealed that it enhances the academic performance of students. It was identified that it fosters a sense of inclusivity and promotes equity in education, as it reduces language barriers that marginalized communities may face. The theory that buttressed the investigation was Vygotsky (1930) sociocultural theory. This theory emphasizes the role of social interaction and cultural context in children’s cognitive development

Patients', families' and healthcare providers' perspectives on end-of-life communication in Chinese hospital settings: A qualitative study protocol.

Perspectives of key stakeholders should be fully considered to enhance culturally appropriate strategies in end-of-life communication and strengthen healthcare service delivery. So far, little research evidence is available on Chinese patients', families', and healthcare professionals' experiences with and perspectives of end-of-life communication in hospital settings. The current study aims to explore experiences, perceptions and suggestions of end-of-life communication among Chinese terminally ill patients, their families and healthcare providers. The phenomenology qualitative approach will be adopted. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions will be used to collect relevant data. Eligible terminally ill patients, family caregivers and healthcare providers will be recruited in two hospitals in Mainland China via purposive sampling. Thematic analysis will be performed to analyse data. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist will be followed for reporting. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05734781). This qualitative study is, as far as we are aware, the first to specifically address patient/family-provider end-of-life communication in the Chinese social-cultural context. The results hold the potential to enrich current knowledge of end-of-life communication, navigate culturally appropriate communication strategies, and inform the development of related training programs for healthcare providers in hospital settings.