Social Perspective Research Articles

PRESERVING AND MANAGING CHINESE SETTLEMENT HERITAGE TOURISM IN LASEM, INDONESIA

This research examines Chinese settlements' preservation and management strategies as heritage tourism in Lasem, Rembang, Indonesia. Ancient houses in Chinatown settlements are vulnerable and require a social resilience strategy as a solution. This study used a qualitative approach and data collection techniques through observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and focus group discussion (FGD). The informants were owners of ancient houses utilizing their buildings as heritage tourism destinations. The results of this study show that the community or owner in managing settlements or Chinese houses as tourist destinations should have three capacities in the social resilience perspective, namely 1) coping capacity, which includes resources, knowledge, skills, and learning; community as the main actor, community awareness, and social kinship system; 2) adaptive capacity which includes: community networks, human and environmental relations, and community participation; and 3) transformative capacity which includes community infrastructure, multi-stakeholder partnerships, technological innovation, diversity and economic innovation. This study concludes that the owners of ancient houses in Chinatown settlements who utilize their buildings as tourism destinations are quite resilient.

Flying high and breaking stigma: a social identity perspective on Chinese frisbee participants

ABSTRACT The growing popularity of frisbee sport in China has brought both recognition and stigmatisation. Rooted in the social identity perspective, this study employs in-depth interviews and participatory observation to explore this phenomenon, creating a multifaceted analytical framework that includes affective commitment, self-categorisation, group self-esteem and self-expansion. The study finds that the primary manifestations of frisbee stigmatisation encompass the heightened online attention and scrutiny, conflicts due to limited playing venues, misconceptions from one-sided sport perceptions, and controversies around its use for blind dates. Moreover, the study reveals that frisbee community members employ diverse strategies to counteract stigma, such as positive confrontation, ignoring or humorously resolving stigmatisation, selective online self-presentation, and converting opponents into supporters. This research contributes to the field of leisure studies by offering a deeper understanding of how leisure sports identities are negotiated in the context of societal prejudices. Furthermore, it provides practical insights for fostering resilience, promoting a positive sports culture, and encouraging a healthier approach to leisure sports among youth, potentially minimising the negative impact of stigma on emerging leisure sports activities.

Dynamic Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance and Financial Market Development on Forests and Timber in China: Economic and Social Perspective

This study investigates how digital inclusive finance, financial development, and technology influenced forest and timber outputs across 31 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021. The findings, derived from panel quantile regression analysis, indicate that digital inclusive finance significantly enhances forest economic output, particularly in regions with lower economic activity, by improving access to critical financial resources such as credit and investment. However, the positive effects diminish at higher levels of economic activity, suggesting potential diminishing returns. Through the marketization of credit distribution and diverse financial instruments, financial development is essential for promoting sustainable forestry practices and adopting new technologies. Based on the findings, the study suggests expanding digital financial services in areas with low forest activity to help people access credit and investments, boosting forest productivity. It also recommends improving financial markets and investing in new forestry technologies to support better forest management and timber production.

Mitigation measures for addressing gender bias in artificial intelligence within healthcare settings: a critical area of sociological inquiry

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) is often described as crucial for making healthcare safer and more efficient. However, some studies point in the opposite direction, demonstrating how biases in AI cause inequalities and discrimination. As a result, a growing body of research suggests mitigation measures to avoid gender bias. Typically, mitigation measures address various stakeholders such as the industry, academia, and policy-makers. To the author’s knowledge, these have not undergone sociological analysis. The article fills this gap and explores five examples of mitigation measures designed to counteract gender bias in AI within the healthcare sector. The rapid development of AI in healthcare plays a crucial role globally and must refrain from creating or reinforcing inequality and discrimination. In this effort, mitigation measures to avoid gender bias in AI in healthcare are central tools and, therefore, essential to explore from a social science perspective, including sociology. Sociologists have made valuable contributions to studying inequalities and disparities in AI. However, research has pointed out that more engagement is needed, specifically regarding bias in AI. While acknowledging the importance of these measures, the article suggests that they lack accountable agents for implementation and overlook potential implementation barriers such as resistance, power relations, and knowledge hierarchies. Recognizing the conditions where the mitigation measures are to be implemented is essential for understanding the potential challenges that may arise. Consequently, more studies are needed to explore the practical implementation of mitigation measures from a social science perspective and a systematic review of mitigation measures.

Negotiating autonomy, community, and divinity in urban Filipino young adults’ moral reasoning

Cultural approaches to examining the development of moral reasoning have been influential for decades. Still, gaps remain in understanding how individuals actively construct their moral reasoning within different sociocultural contexts and the period of young adulthood in the Filipino setting. Thus, this study examined the discourses used by urban Filipino young adults in reasoning about their moral conflicts and the ways they adopted and adapted these discourses in their reasoning. The study used a social constructionist perspective, informed by Shweder and colleagues’ ethics of Autonomy, Community, and Divinity and Jensen’s cultural-developmental approach. We conducted thematic analysis with attention to discourse on interviews with 12 urban young adults aged 21 to 29, producing three major discursive themes: harm and welfare, rules and roles, and liberal principles. The specific appropriation of these discourses suggests the dominance of the ethic of Autonomy. However, this often co-occurred with expressions of Community and Divinity, and the extent and manner of appropriation of these discourses varied according to individuals’ characteristics and experiences. By examining young adults’ negotiation of moral discourses in the Philippines, this research enriches understanding of moral reasoning in a sociohistorical context where young people increasingly contend with conflicts between traditional and global values.

Educational communities of rural schools in the arctic (on the example of the Murmansk oblast): A social justice perspective on inclusion

The article addresses the current problem of searching and substantiating mechanisms for the development of inclusive education. The research relevance is also determined by the Arctic context, which corresponds to the epistemological need of modern interdisciplinary knowledge in the development of inclusive education, the priorities of state policy, as well as to the expectations and demands of regional communities. The authors aim to study social interactions within rural schools in the Arctic from the standpoint of inclusion as an indicator of social justice (on the example of the Murmansk Oblast). To that end, rural schools are modelled and described based on the developed criteria. Difficulties experienced by the teachers in the course of inclusive educational process, including when using distance technologies, are typified. According to the results obtained, typical models of rural schools in the Murmansk Oblast include suburban schools and remote schools and their following variants: the school as a territorial cooperation, a border school, an isolated school, and an indigenous school. In all rural school models, under successful formation of external and internal social ties, a shortage of special education teachers is observed. The teachers face methodological, organizational, and social difficulties. In addition, the educational environment is not sufficiently accessible, which forms barriers to social justice. The revealed regional specificity of rural schools serves as a justification for a conceptual and substantive development of Arctic pedagogy. The results obtained are useful for further theoretical and empirical research in the field of inclusive education, as well as for the development of regional programs of inclusive educational practices, taking the differentiation of social conditions into account.

Land Ownership (Custom) Viewed from Historical Perspectives, Socio-Cultural and Tenurial Issues in Simalungun District

This study aims to examine the status of land ownership in Simalungun district in terms of historical, social, cultural and tenure perspectives. It is important to study this issue because until now the issue of land ownership has not been thoroughly resolved because there are migrants who claim that their customary land was found in Simalungun, whereas in reality their customary land was not found in Simalungun, but what was found was the king's land ( partuanon) according to the surname of the lord of the rest of the kitchen based on the custom of the tolu sahundulan lima saodoran. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative with purposive sampling technique. Data analysis begins with the process of collecting primary data through in-depth interviews with 13 informants. By using interview guideline research instruments combined with the results of library research. The results of the interview transcripts were collected, tabulated, analyzed, verified, and displayed until the conclusions of the research results were formulated. The results of this study showed that in Simalungun district there were no customary lands, customary forests and customary lands from migrant residents and ethnic Simalungun. The land in Simalungun district is the king's land (Partuanon), the people and migrants are only given the right to cultivate, not to own in accordance with the ruling king's clan, namely Sisidapur and Simalungun customary law based on the Tolu sahundulan lima saodoran custom. The transfer of rights and land tenure in Simalungun district occurred after the proclamation of 17 August 1945 and the social revolution in 1946. All land in the former autonomous region in Simalungun became state property, including all of PT. TPL Tbk's concession land in Simalungun district.

Heterogeneity in the development of differential reinforcement: examining predictive power of definitions and differential association from a social learning perspective

Social learning theory is a prominent framework for understanding the relevance of socialization processes for predicting behavior. While recent research has focused on placing these processes within developmental contexts, there remain gaps in understanding how differential reinforcement for involvement in antisocial behavior may develop across adolescence and emerging adulthood and how definitions and differential association predict development. All 11 waves of the Pathways to Desistance dataset were analyzed, comprising the responses of 1354 justice-involved youth across seven years post-adjudication. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify developmental patterns of differential reinforcement and regression modeling was used to examine predictors of development. Results indicated that a two-group model of development best fit the reinforcement data (High, Low). Greater endorsement of antisocial definitions and greater differential association with deviant peers and a significant and positive interaction between these constructs predicted increased odds of assignment to the High group.

A Quantitative Assessment Approach to Implement Pneumatic Waste Collection System Using a New Expert Decision Matrix Related to UN SDGs

An innovative decision matrix has been developed to guide the selection and implementation of Pneumatic Urban Solid Waste Collection Systems (PUSWCS) in smart city projects. This study comprehensively collects and analyzes data on the advantages and disadvantages of pneumatic collection systems from technical, economic, and social perspectives. A decision-making tool was created to address the complexities of evaluating the desirability of incorporating PUSWCS in municipalities or specific areas, using a holistic approach. The tool assesses the technical, economic, and social feasibility of implementing PUSWCS, aligning it with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specific variables are measured to assess compliance with the SDGs, distinguishing technical aspects from economic and social aspects. The methodology includes surveys of system users and technicians, expert assessments, and the development of a decision matrix that cross-references study variables and SDGs. The matrix assigns numerical values to the Magnitude (M) and Impact (I) of each variable, enabling quantitative interpretation. This holistic approach accommodates the complexities of waste management and diverse stakeholder perspectives. The results demonstrate the matrix’s effectiveness in accurately assessing the desirability of implementing PUSWCS. This confirms the matrix’s ability to optimally integrate with innovative smart city concepts and align with long-term sustainability goals. The study concludes that the design of the decision matrix allows the collection of information from experts, users, and stakeholders about economic, social, and environmental variables and relates them to the SDGs, to obtain a numerical result that allows to decide whether in a given urban environment it is advisable to implement a PUSWCS.

MSME taxpayer compliance in Pekanbaru from the perspective of tax understanding, tax sanctions and tax socialization

The tax authorities in Indonesia continue to make extensive efforts to increase tax revenue, which is the main source of state revenue. This extensification focuses on increasing individual tax revenue, especially in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector. This study aims to analyze the effect of tax understanding, tax sanctions, and tax socialization on the level of taxpayer compliance of MSMEs in Pekanbaru. The study uses a quantitative method with the Structural Equation Model (SEM) approach. Data were obtained through an online questionnaire survey from MSME business actors in Pekanbaru City. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 32 respondents as research samples. The sample criteria include business actors domiciled in Pekanbaru who calculate and pay taxes independently and meet MSME criteria based on applicable regulations. The study results indicate that tax understanding and tax sanctions positively affect the level of taxpayer compliance of MSMEs in Pekanbaru. However, tax socialization does not show a significant effect on taxpayer compliance. This study provides insight into tax compliance patterns outside Java that can be considered when making regulations by the tax authorities in Indonesia.

Ethical leadership and reporting behavior of employees: social cognitive perspective of morality on the bases of emotions

Ethical leadership and reporting behavior of employees: social cognitive perspective of morality on the bases of emotions

Rethinking War and Peace from a Social Work Human Rights Perspective

Rethinking War and Peace from a Social Work Human Rights Perspective

Dignity at Work: A Critical Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda

This article provides a narrative review of the literature on dignity at work with a focus on social justice perspectives, which informs the development of a conceptual framework to guide future theory, research, practice, and public policies. Dignity at work encompasses earned and inherent dignity; the capacity for autonomous action; the affirmation of diversity; access to decent and humane work conditions; freedom to organize and resist; and opportunities for contribution, meaningfulness, and achievement. The literature review highlighted the diverse disciplinary and conceptual frameworks that inform how dignity at work is defined and understood along with a review of relevant empirical literature exploring the nature, antecedents, and outcomes of dignity at work. We presented a critical conceptual model that includes macro-level, work-based and relational conditions, systems of oppression, and resistance as the context for understanding dignity at work and its outcomes. The paper concluded with directions for future research and implications for practice and public policy.

The role of teachers’ direct and emotional mentoring in shaping undergraduates’ research aspirations: a social cognitive career theory perspective

PurposeThis study investigated the influence of teachers on undergraduate students’ development of research aspirations and the mechanisms behind this process.Design/methodology/approachEmploying social cognitive career theory, the study gathered data from 232 undergraduates, developed a structural equation model via the maximum likelihood method and executed empirical testing.FindingsThe findings reveal that neither direct nor emotional mentoring independently satisfies students’ needs for self-efficacy and aspiration in research nor significantly influences research interest. Specifically, the study demonstrates that (1) research self-efficacy, outcome expectations and research interest significantly shape research aspirations; (2) an overemphasis on direct mentoring might impede research aspiration development and (3) a focus on emotional mentoring, while overlooking direct mentoring, could result in diminished research self-efficacy.Originality/valueThis research pioneers a comprehensive analysis of the role of teachers in shaping undergraduate research aspirations through the lens of social cognitive career theory. It underscores the critical need to both balance mentoring approaches and foster intrinsic research motivation.

Disentangling genetic and social pathways of the intergenerational transmission of cognitive ability – A nuclear twin family study

As cognitive ability accounts for large parts of the intergenerational transmission of advantage, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms driving the intergenerational transmission of cognitive ability itself. Social mobility research usually focuses on social mechanisms of intergenerational transmission. For the case of cognitive ability, this means that parental cognitive ability affects offspring ability via the family environment. However, parents do not only provide resources, but also pass their genes to their children. As social and genetic transmission are not mutually exclusive, it is crucial to disentangle the contribution of both to the intergenerational transmission of cognitive ability. Using data from the German TwinLife survey, we apply a nuclear twin family design to address this question. Using data from all four twin birth cohorts, covering an age range of 5–25 years, we further explore whether the contribution of both mechanisms varies over the life course. For all four cohorts, in any of the estimated models, social transmission is very small and not significant. Genetic transmission, in turn, seems to be the primary mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of cognitive ability and becomes increasingly important with age. Our findings challenge conventional social mobility perspectives, stressing the need to incorporate genetic transmission into sociological research for a more comprehensive understanding of intergenerational transmission of advantage.

Kegiatan Pengabdian Masyarakat sebagai Pembicara dalam Webinar Ngobrol Bareng Legislator “Berinternet Secara Sehat”

This community service activity is to provide an explanation regarding various health problems due to smartphone use in digital era. There were three speakers who presented various topics related to healthy internet usage. During presentation, various physical illness related to long-term use of mobile phones were mentioned. Negative aspects from a psychological and social perspective are also discussed. All are caused by a combination of long duration of use, awkward posture and static posture. In the end session, a few suggestions were given to reduce the negative impact of celluler phone usage on physical health. This webinar could be watched via youtube channel

Palestinian Lone Assailants, 2015–2023: Suicide, Legitimacy Communities and Duped Attackers

The article explores the main social, political and technological drivers that shaped the phenomenon of Palestinian lone assailants from 2015 to early 2023. The unprecedented number of attacks during this period provides a wealth of evidence based on Palestinian and Israeli media sources as well as new archival materials that allows for a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon. The evidenced drivers include the emergence of a young generation with new social and political perspectives; the impact of social media on the assailants’ sources of legitimacy and modes of operation; the notable prominence of personal motivations, and; the covert strategies Palestinian organizations are utilizing to deal with these shifts.

So-called essential but treated as disposable: Northern California farmworkers working under COVID-19

AbstractThe workplace emerged as a primary site of infectious disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in occupations having little to no social distancing or potential for remote work. The pandemic had a huge impact on the physical and mental health of farmworkers, and it exposed the labor-market inequities in the United States, exacerbated by the lack of preventive measures to protect these vulnerable workers. In this paper, we use a social constructionist perspective to explore the meaning of “essential worker” by interviewing thirty farmworkers who during the pandemic came to work in a labor market shaped by exploitation and oppression and related unsafe working conditions. We argue that these workers, who are considered “essential” but treated as disposable, work under structural racist capitalism, and our findings contribute to a better understanding of how these Northern California farmworkers perceive being essential under these working conditions.

Aprovechamiento de residuos: propuesta en la producción de abonos orgánicos - alimento animal en la Mini-industria La Guajira

The use of waste in the production of organic fertilizers and animal feed, in the La Guajira Mini-industry, in the agro-productive scenario of the CPA July 26; The result is inserted into the Project: Municipal climate governance and sustainable agroforestry production of foods with low emissions and adapted to climate change in Cienfuegos and Pinar del Río, Cuba; descriptive, explanatory, non-experimental study, using theoretical and empirical methods. Results: characterization of the Mini-industry, and design of the proposed actions. Conclusions: carrying out a characterization from a social, economic and environmental perspective of the La Guajira Mini-industry, facilitated the understanding of potentialities - weaknesses in the treatment of waste, showed the need to propose new alternatives to contribute to the adaptation to the climate change, the design of a proposal of actions that articulates with the objectives of the Projects and in synergy with the Territorial Social Economic Development Strategy, promotes alternatives for the productive chain in the use of organic fertilizers and animal feed, all of which recognizes the social economic value of the La Guajira Mini-industry, favoring the development of the agro-productive scenario of the CPA July 26.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practices Among Select Contractors: Insights from Social Media Analysis and Interviews

ABSTRACT This study provides a snapshot of DEI practices of construction contractors listed in the “ENR Top 400 contractors” list from a major social event perspective in the United States: Black Lives Matter (BLM). A three-step mixed-method approach was employed: publicly available statements on the contractors’ websites were analyzed, their official Twitter (now called “X”) accounts were examined using sentiment analysis, and structured interviews were conducted with a subset of the contractors’ DEI representatives. The results indicate that many companies may hesitate to support BLM publicly due to the political polarization surrounding the movement. While derived from a specific subset, the interview results also revealed that select contractors implement DEI practices within different organizational levels and are supported by high-ranking executives, which offers a foundation for further exploration. This study contributes to the construction industry by investigating the racial and cultural DEI practices of construction contractors in the U.S. and proposing practices that these companies can adopt to mitigate the politicized and polarizing effects of their commitment to DEI. These practices include bottom-up engagement programs with the workforce, open discussions with stakeholders, clearly communicating the purpose of their DEI commitments, and collaborating with organizations that facilitate a broader impact of DEI.