Social Reality Research Articles

Distinguishing social virtual reality: Comparing communication channels across perceived social affordances, privacy, and trust

Social virtual reality (SVR) attempts to allow for connections akin to face-to-face communication (Ftf). Yet, it is unclear whether the technology successfully mimics Ftf or more closely resembles other mediated communication channels. This study empirically compares SVR and other communication channels in terms of perceived social affordances, privacy, and trust through a between-subjects online survey (n = 743). Findings indicate that SVR and Ftf are similar regarding some perceived affordances (e.g., personalization) but differ with respect to others (e.g., anonymity, presence). Additionally, SVR is perceived as significantly distinct from one or multiple mediated channels for almost every measured social affordance. While SVR is seen as offering relatively greater levels of affordances that benefit interpersonal interaction, privacy concerns and a lack of trust in other users were found to often characterize the current user experience. This study provides theoretical insights for affordance research and practical implications for SVR designers.

Resistance from the Margins: ‘Untouchable’ Women’s Voices vis-à-vis the Gorkha Identity and the Gorkhaland Movement

Abstract One of the most conspicuous features of the Gorkhaland movement is the development of a strong sense of community that has subsumed many diverse voices within the dominant discourse of ethnicity. However, such ethno-nationalism is also problematic as it often results in the erasure of intersecting identity markers such as class, caste, and gender. In addition, the exclusive nature of the over-encompassing Nepali or Gorkha identity has led to harmful consequences for marginalized groups, particularly the lower castes. This paper thus brings to the fore alternative voices and perspectives, particularly those of women who come from the margins of caste society or who have been labelled as ideological adversaries. This paper further illustrates their unique experiences and perspectives, which are often ignored in mainstream discussions about the social reality of the Gorkhaland movement.

Transforming the rhetoric of Just Energy Transition Partnerships into reality: The devil lies in the details

Urgent political action is required to arrest the rise in global temperature within the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. Rising to this challenge, a series of Just Transition Energy Partnerships (JETPs) was launched between individual Global South and a group of Global North countries since COP 26 in Glasgow. Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union (International Partner Group or IPG countries) have established plurilateral partnerships with individual countries like South Africa, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Senegal in each JETP. These partnerships aim to help IPG countries provide long-term support to partner countries in the Global South to disengage from coal and convert to renewables for electricity generation. However, though ’just transitions’ and ’partnerships’ are potent ideas to drive such processes, it is challenging to translate these ideas from political rhetoric to policies. This paper argues that JETPs are treading on a narrow edge with a high chance of re-instantiating some of the criticism of partnerships between Global North and Global South countries that can detrimentally affect the chances of just transition. Based on academic literature on partnerships and just transition, the paper concludes that the devil lies in the details. Formalizing processes that deliver a just and fair energy transition should align with the Global South countries’ social, economic, and political realities.

Sociocultural discourse of the theory of socialist realism and its reflection in village prose

In the work, in the light of the dominant ideas of modern cultural studies, the issues of reflecting the principles of socialist realist art in the artistic texts of the so-called “village prose”, in particular, in the works of V. Shukshin, are considered. Based on the analysis of the early Shukshin stories, it is shown that, contrary to established ideas, the canons of the theory and practice of the art of socialist realism did not restrict the creative freedom of the bright Soviet novelist, did not conflict with his author's will and creative task. It is demonstrated that Shukshin’s stories of the 1960s and 1970s, unlike the avant-garde trends of underground literature of those years, remained in the general mainstream of socialist realism literature, without opposing it. On the contrary, in the historical situation of the heyday and strengthening of socialism, the rustic writer continued to work in the tradition of realistic literature, on the one hand, inheriting classical foundations, on the other hand, at the creative level expanding the boundaries of ideological, thematic and moral-psychological principles of socialist realism literature.

Development and validation of maternal social capital assessment tool in northwest Ethiopia

ObjectiveTo develop and validate a social capital assessment tool that considers the cultural and social realities of north-western Ethiopia. MethodsA mixed-methods approach was applied through rigorous phases. Existing measurement approaches for social capital are reviewed. Additionally, a qualitative study was conducted for domain and item identification. The domains and their items were given to panel experts and rated for content validity. Cognitive interviews were conducted with mothers who gave birth in the previous year. For psychometric validation of the tool, 400 mothers who lived in South Gondar zone participated from January 2 to 27, 2023. ResultsFive factors of structural social capital were extracted. These include group participation, emotional, social, financial, and informational support. The content validity index of the scale was 0.88, indicating that 88% of the experts rated the items of the scale as relevant. The loading of the items ranged from 0.505 to 0.858, exceeding the threshold of 0.50. For cognitive social capital, factor analysis grouped 43 items into four subscales: trust in social networks, trust in institutions, trust in the health care system, and social cohesion. The loadings of the items ranged from 0.507 to 0.913. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was excellent, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.901. ConclusionThe Maternal Social Capital Assessment Tool is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring social capital during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The application of such a tool could allow us to decipher the influence of social capital on maternal health.

Articulation of Hadith in Minangkabau Socio-Religious Contexts: A Study on the Collection of Speeches by Sheikh Abdul Lathif Syakur (1882-1963)

The collection of speeches (CoS) written by Sheikh Abdul Lathif Syakur (SALS), a scholar who experienced both the colonial and old-order eras, serves as a thematic compilation of hadith reflecting the mid-20th century Minangkabau writing tradition. Through this collection, SALS demonstrated his expertise as a hadith scholar by analyzing the context of his era and interpreting social realities based on hadiths pertinent to society. This article aims to delve into the socio-religious vision that SALS constructs through the themes articulated in his speeches. Using a descriptive-historical method and thematic analysis, this article reveals that SALS founded his socio-religious vision on four main pillars: renewal, community integrity, moderation, and the roles of women in public life. SALS's ability to adapt hadith to his time, combined with his inclusive and human-centered approach, portrays him as a progressive scholar, challenging the rigid stereotype of hadith scholars.

Integration of the legal conception into legislation and social reality

The article is devoted to the issues of implementing a legal conception into legislation and social reality. Specifically, it explores the path that legal conceptions take from their creators' consciousness to legal doctrine, lawmaking, and law enforcement. The oral or written publication of a concept elicits an appropriate response from the environment – positive, negative, neutral, or mixed. The recognition of a legal conception determines its integration into legal doctrine (an indicator of such recognition is primarily citation). It is emphasized that legal concepts are vulnerable to plagiarism, as copyright law excludes concepts from the scope of its legal protection. From legal doctrine, a legal conception moves into the normative base and practical realm. Generally, it initially enters legislation and then societal reality, but there are exceptions. For instance, the history of Ukrainian law knows other cases where a legal conception was implemented in societal life without prior integration into legislation. A recognized legal conception can determine the content of all or specific provisions of a law (including the constitution or code), international treaty, subordinate normative-legal act, interpretative act of a constitutional jurisdiction authority, judicial or administrative decision, etc. A legal conception, projected onto social relations through the intermediary of legislative text, is usually not fully reflected in them. It should be understood that the norm of the legislation is applied in social life, and its content in most cases corresponds to the provisions of the concept partially and limitedly. The brevity and fragmentary nature of the text of a normative-legal act sometimes lead to misunderstanding or incorrect application of the concept's provisions, on which it was based. Specific examples of the influence of legal conceptions on legislation and social practice in Ukraine and other countries are highlighted. The example of H. Kelsen and the historical significance of his conception of constitutional justice are considered. Certain directions of influence on the modern legal system of Ukraine by scientific conceptions of representatives of the Faculty of Law of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv are shown

Nationalism on Social Media: The impacts of comments on ASEAN Football Pages on mental health

Background: As a modern communication medium, Facebook provides a new place to people who live far apart to interact and discuss on the same topic, such as football. This research examines how the nationalism is generated through Facebook. From the perspective of social realities, Facebook is observed as a channel of communication utilized by football lovers. However, communication through Facebook also causes conflicts among its users. Aims: This study aims to investigate how nationalism is expressed through communication on Facebook and how conflicts affect mental health but can also build and perpetuate a sense of nationalism and strengthen group identities. Methods: To achieve the objectives, content analysis is used to examine the manifestation with regard to the context of generating a spirit of nationalism through the communication interaction process of Facebook users. Data collection in this study was conducted through ASEAN football page on Facebook. Posts, images and comments left under the related posts were then selected when they are regarding only the spirit of nationalism. Results: Results show that Facebook is not only a social medium but also, a means of generating nationalism through conversations. As nationalism is expressed both in a positive and negative way on ASEAN football page, it, of course, leads to conflicts because of the differences in the orientation of values and interest when the conflicting sides hold different background. Conclusion: By exploring how nationalism is expressed through Facebook comments on ASEAN football page, the research provides insights into how digital platforms shape and amplify nationalistic sentiments. This understanding is crucial in an era where social media plays a significant role in public discourse and it also highlights the mental health impacts of online nationalistic comments. This is significant for developing strategies to address and mitigate the negative psychological effects that such interactions can have on individuals. Received: 31 July 2024, Reviewed: 4 August 2024, Revised: 22 August 2024, Accepted: 24 August 2024.

O conceito de território na perspectiva dos estudos agrários sobre povos e comunidades tradicionais: Diálogos e reflexões

The paths taken by the concept of territory in the field of the history of geography are marked by social, political and theoretical-methodological influences that affected the ways of thinking about geography and the role played by territory in social dynamics. In this sense, authors such as Haesbaert (2019), Saquet (2020), Gottmann (2012), Claval (1999), Andrade (2004), among others, discuss in depth the paths taken by the concept of territory in geography, bringing elements that help us understand the approaches that the concept has obtained throughout the history of geography, which are influenced by more structural conjunctures, such as the epistemological changes and transformations generated in the scope of social reality, as Claval (1999) points out. That said, the objective of the present research is to analyze the approaches to the concept of territory in research that discusses indigenous peoples and quilombola communities in selected texts. In the methodological scope, we highlight that the research is based on the content analysis, according to Bardin (2022), of works published in the annals of the International Symposium on Agrarian Geography (SINGA), between the years 2003 and 2019, totaling nine editions analyzed. In the field of research results, we identified the presence of different approaches to the concept of territory in the research, notably from multidimensional, relational and integrative conceptions of the concept of territory proposed by different geographers, such as Rogério Haesbaert, Claude Raffestin, Marcos Aurélio Saquet, Milton Santos, Ariovaldo Umbelino de Oliveira, Bernardo Mançano Fernandes, Joël Bonnemaison, Maria Geralda de Almeida and Carlos Walter Porto-Gonçalves, among others. Finally, in the framework of the conclusions of the research, we detected that within the research framework adopted, there is a centrality of the concept of territory as an important element in the study of indigenous peoples and quilombola communities, a fact that, in a way, reflects the importance that the concept has been gaining in the field of agrarian studies.

Social virtual reality: systematic review of virtual teamwork with head-mounted displays

PurposeSocial virtual reality (SVR) has emerged as a solution for the facilitation of remote and distributed teamwork, promising to overcome challenges faced in virtual 2D communication channels. The purpose of this study is to systematically review empirical articles dealing with the application of SVR with head-mounted displays (HMDs) in teams.Design/methodology/approachThis study reviewed 40 empirical papers on teamwork that address the application of SVR using HMD in teams. The authors present results from the extracted data and identify themes that indicate the current state of research in this field.FindingsBased on data obtained from the journal articles, the authors identified three themes underlying current research. They are features and applications of SVR technology, collaboration dynamics and team performance in SVR and educational and professional training and learning. The results show that SVR enhances team collaboration and collaborative learning.Practical implicationsSVR can aid in improving teamwork and team outcomes. In its current stage, SVR is complementary to 2D technology and not likely to replace traditional tools. Findings suggest that the technology is promising for collaboration and learning in organisations, especially in collaborative design tasks and simulations.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first studies to look at research emerging from the nascent area of SVR and summarise the current state of research. This study provides managerial implications and identifies future research areas for SVR in teamwork and learning.

Taiwan democracy and the conceptualization of ideological security in Tsai administration’s discourse

Utilizing the theoretical lens of securitization and the Taiwan Democracy Ideology Securitisation conceptual framework (the TDIS), this article explains how the Tsai administration (Republic of China) transforms Taiwan democracy into the issue of security by conceptualizing Taiwan’s ideological security. In this study, I employ Tsai’s administration’s governmental discourses concerning the issues of democracy and national security to understand how political language and words support an interpretation of the social realities in which Taiwan democracy could be treated as a national security object.The findings show that the Tsai administration conceptualized ‘ideological security’ to bring the issue of democracy security to the public. The conceptualization was handled in three main ways: forming Taiwan democracy as a dominant political ideology; spiritualizing Taiwan democracy as a political asset and revolutionarily ‘hard-earned’ achievement; and shaping Taiwan’s ideological security. Furthermore, the paper quantitatively demonstrated that the majority of the Taiwanese public agreed with the government’s transforming Taiwan democracy into ideological security.

Reinventing the Wheel: Novel Scholarship on Libya’s Armed Actors, Corruption, and Diplomacy Produced in a Vacuum

ABSTRACT Violence and Social Transformation in Libya presents groundbreaking research on the experience of post-Qadhafian armed conflict in Libya’s regions. Ibrahim’s contribution excels in conveying local flavor. Stocker and al-Fallani present a comprehensive treatment of the history, social realities, myth-making, and intercommunal struggles in the Fezzan. The book’s final chapter by Thornton invents a novel periodization of international engagement in Libya’s post-2014 wars that explains how a flawed mediation approach elevated rogue armed groups into “legitimate” interlocutors. Despite these strengths, the volume tries to reinvent the wheel by ignoring previous scholarship on state-owned enterprises, militia mapping, or the interplay between armed actors and corruption. Post–October 7, many are now looking down at academics as purveyors of immoral reductionist black and white ideologies. This volume points to a grimmer reality, where the academy has become a place where a sustained multidecade-long conversation among neutral scholars to build up cumulative expertise is no longer valued.

Kaidah ‘Am dalam al-Qur’an: Kajian terhadap Surat al-Ahzab Ayat 59 Serta Implikasinya terhadap Ketentuan Berhijab bagi Perempuan Muslim

The commandment of hijab for Muslim women is often a significant topic in religious and social terms around the world because women are always in the spotlight in social realities. However, the obligation of hijab in QS. Al-Ahzab (33): 59 has become problematic to fashion trends. This study analyzes the rules and meanings in QS. Al-Ahzab (33): 59 and its implications for the provisions of hijab for Muslim women. This study uses thematic interpretation and content analysis methods to explore the message contained in the verse. In addition to discussing the command to use the hijab as an identity, this article also discusses QS. Al-Ahzab (33): 59 from the historical context of the verse's revelation, interpretations from various tafsir scholars, and its relevance in the modern context. The results show that the command to wear hijab in this verse aims to maintain the honor and identity of Muslim women, as well as protect them from unwanted actions. The implication of this verse on the provision of hijab emphasizes the importance of hijab as a symbol of obedience and religious identity that must be maintained by every Muslim woman. It is hoped that this research will be able to become a pivot to be studied further and in depth for further researchers.

Domestic and Existential in Stories of Vasily Shukshin and Boris Yekimov

The shared worldview of the so-called “village” writers often obscures the questions regarding their differing evaluations of social reality, interpretations of historical changes, and understandings of humanity’s place in the world. In this context, the task of comparative analysis of their similar artistic solutions appears both relevant and novel. This article examines the case of different scales of a seemingly analogous plot situation. The stories analyzed are Vasily Shukshin’s “The Boots” and Boris Yekimov’s “A Pair of Autumn Shoes”. It is demonstrated that the protagonists of Shukshin and Yekimov manifest themselves within narratives of varying existential intensity, addressing distinct challenges. Despite the apparent similarity in plots, their narrative differences are evident. Shukshin’s characters understand how life should be, yet often deviate from their ideals, fearing kindness; thus, in the writer’s world, the existential is frequently devalued. Vasily Shukshin, who captures the disintegration of the existential within the hero’s inner world, illustrates in “The Boots” that overcoming the mundane is an act of heroism and a personal triumph. Conversely, Boris Yekimov places fundamentally different emphases: within a superficially similar situation, he addresses a transpersonal challenge. The essence of the plot realized in “A Pair of Autumn Shoes” serves to remind readers of spiritual and communal values that may be lost amid everyday concerns.

The ‘service user’ label through critical constructivist lenses

Mindful of the risk of seeming to cover ‘old ground’, this article strives to open new ground, or make old ground fresh again, by regarding the ‘service user’ label through critical constructivist lenses. Specifically, this article seeks to demonstrate how the agentive, self-determining qualities attached to ‘service users’, as opposed to ‘clients’ or ‘customers’, are complicated by more pejorative connotations ascribed to the term in everyday, social work and neoliberal discourses while highlighting how words matter. Not only do tensions between and within discourses register and generate tensions in practice, but, especially, language also constitutes social reality and the people and things making it up. Although frightening, yet inescapably ‘normal’, instances of structural violence and harsh austerity measures must be regarded in the context of discourse, albeit while not being determined by it, questioning common-sense discourses and the practices they index may produce possibilities for creating alternate languages and practices.

Theoretical and General Philosophical Foundations Operational and Investigative Support of Criminal Prosecution.

This article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of theoretical and general philosophical foundations of operational and investigative support of criminal prosecution. Various aspects of this activity are considered, including philosophical concepts, theoretical approaches, ethical aspects, epistemological and axiological foundations. The paper provides an overview of the contribution of Soviet, Russian and Central Asian scientists to the development of the theory of operative-search activity. Special attention is paid to the concept of V.A. Lukashov, who expanded the understanding of operational and investigative support to the entire system of law enforcement agencies. The study relies on a number of methods, including dialectical, hermeneutic, system analysis and comparative approach. As a result, the concept of the philosophical and legal foundations of operational and investigative support is formulated, key theoretical approaches to its understanding are identified, a system of ethical principles is developed and an epistemological model of information acquisition is proposed. Operative and investigative support is considered as a complex phenomenon that integrates elements of various philosophical concepts and legal theories. The importance of the balance between public safety and protection of individual rights is emphasized, as well as the necessity of constant rethinking of ethical principles in the context of society and technology development. The article analyzes informative-cognitive, preventive-prophylactic, procedural-security and other approaches to the understanding of operational and investigative support. The issues of integration of operational and investigative support into the system of social control and crime control are considered. Special attention is paid to the influence of technological progress on the development of methods and means of operative-search activity. The conclusion is made about the need for continuous theoretical understanding and practical improvement of operational and investigative support of criminal prosecution in the context of changing social, technological and legal realities.

Lahure as a Transnational Subject in Daulat Bikram Bista’s Chapaiyeka Anuhar

This paper investigates Lahure as a transnational subject in Daulat Bikram Bista’s Chapaieka Anuhar (Chewed Faces) that portrays a Gorkha soldier’s mobility across national boundaries. The novel is about a Nepali youth’s narrative of his experiences during the Second World War, portraying the psychology of a lahure through his mental conflict between the ‘local’ and ‘global’. In particular, the novel revolves around the protagonist Ananta’s perceptions unfolding the Nepalis’ interactions with geographical, political, cultural, social, and economic realities abroad. The protagonist’s unprecedented encounter with strangers unravels his perception, assessment, and analogy between Nepal and Germany in particular and Asia and Europe in general. This paper, therefore, concludes that lahure is a transnational subject who sticks to his local identities on the one hand and blurs the traditional notions of identity and belonging on the other.

Ecological sustainability program in the development of environmental awareness of high school students

This study examined the attitudinal behavior of high school students who participated in an educational program to promote environmental awareness. The program was implemented with an intervention group, while a control group followed traditional teaching methods for comparison. The intervention group engaged in practical activities and community projects, enabling them to interact directly with social and environmental realities. The results indicated that although the control group demonstrated some level of environmental awareness, their commitment was not as strong as that of students who actively engaged with nature. The results suggest that the developed program has proven to be effective in improving both the didactic approach and the environmental commitment of the students.

To the Journal, the American Sociologist

AbstractSociology is a field that examines the social construction of various aspects of human life, including gender and sexuality, and explores how these are produced and perceived by individuals, groups, and institutions. In Italy, despite resistance to institutionalization, Gender Studies have significantly enriched sociology by identifying new research areas and generating innovative analytical categories. Initially linked to second-wave feminism, Gender Studies gained momentum in the Western world from the mid-1970s, exploring the nature-culture-society relationship and its impact on bodies, sexuality, and identity within specific cultural contexts. The Gender Studies section within the Italian Sociology Association was established in 2012 after a prolonged accreditation process. While gender issues entered Italian social sciences in the late 1970s, their integration varied across research areas. Sociology, with its broad analytical frameworks, has played a crucial role in understanding and addressing gender disparities in a country marked by a discriminatory welfare system. The integration of gender perspectives into sociological research has fostered a deeper understanding of Italian social reality and reshaped scientific paradigms. Moreover, sociology’s comprehensive approach to studying social inequalities has been instrumental in highlighting the importance of gender studies within academia. Recent years have witnessed increased attention to Gender Studies in Italian universities, reflecting legislative mandates and evolving cultural attitudes. More scholars, including men, are engaging with gender issues, expanding research beyond women’s status to encompass diverse sexual and gender identities. Approaches like intersectionality promise to broaden the scope of Gender Studies within Italian sociology, offering new avenues for exploration and analysis. The collaboration between sociology and gender studies continues to enhance the academic environment and contributes significantly to the evolution of Italian society.

Public Witness through the Church as the Disciple Community in the Context of Christian Nationalism

In Central and Eastern Europe, some branches of the Church have formed alliances with nationalist politics characterized by fundamentalism and fanaticism. To identify this phenomenon, Czech theologian Tomaš Halik coined the term “f-word pseudoreligion.” Pavol Bargár suggests that such an approach to one’s faith and public witness is one of the most serious challenges the church’s mission in CEE must face. First, the other tends to be viewed as a menace rather than a precious gift. Second, its adherents can fall prey to idealized traditionalism rather than drawing from the treasures of Christian tradition, the gospel itself. After defining Christian nationalism, I will focus on the Visegrád nations: Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. In response to this missional challenge, I argue for public witness through the church as a disciple community. Discipleship as apprenticeship to Jesus does not lie in affiliation to an established church representing a particular national identity. Such idealized traditionalism found in settled religious forms can be called temple spirituality. The apostle Paul did not focus on temple spirituality or church planting; he nurtured disciple communities toward maturity in Christ. While Biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism define a certain kind of evangelical piety, the church as a disciple community is both pilgrim and indigenous. When the telos of loving communion with God and neighbor shapes the disciple community’s identity and mission, churches can engage biblical resources and traditions to serve social realities in ways that bring hope, reconciliation, and healing.