Social Research Research Articles

Gaining Traction on Social Aspects of E-Biking: A Scoping Review

E-biking is alluring for its various physical, environmental, and financial benefits and the ability to travel farther and faster, and being physically easier to ride than astride an analog (traditional) bicycle. E-bikes are also a source of controversy, especially in places where analog bicycles have been allowed but e-bikes represent a “slippery slope” of technology permissions and/or in situations where the function of e-bikes may increase concerns about safety. Despite an increase in use and conversation about such use, academic literature focused on e-bikes’ social aspects remains sparse. The objective of this work is to describe the existing literature on the characteristics of social aspects of e-biking, particularly in leisure contexts. Analyzing the literature on e-bike social research is crucial considering e-bikes’ rapid rise in popularity and potential effects on access, inclusion, leisure, and sustainability. As e-bike prevalence and use increases worldwide, it is important to understand what topics characterize the existing e-bike literature, and, particularly in leisure-focused studies, to ascertain where studies may lend insight toward aims of inclusive and sustainable access, and related policy considerations. The Integrated Recreation Amenities Framework (IRAF) provides a conceptual framework for considering this question, as it focuses on the topical, spatial, and temporal scales of outdoor leisure-related activities toward sustainable conditions and explicitly provides an opportunity for emergent and case-specific factors to be considered alongside established ones. In this work, we explore the following: (1) How are e-bikes discussed across disciplines? and (2) How are e-bikes discussed in leisure-focused articles? Using a scoping review approach, we analyzed a corpus of 279 peer-reviewed articles relevant to the social aspects of e-bikes. Primarily using the IRAF for conceptual framing, our results center the geographies and contexts, topical areas, interdisciplinarity, and emergent additional social considerations of e-biking in general and in leisure-specific studies. The results enable us to connect interdisciplinary topic discussions and suggest where foundational and connective studies are warranted. This can inform decision making related to e-bike adoption, encourage multi-scalar thinking, and extend interdisciplinary research.

When a gatekeeper denies a researcher access: circumstances of gate closure in social work research

Social work research often requires the exploration of sensitive topics that concern hard-to-reach populations. In order to gain access to these groups, researchers are often forced to rely on gatekeepers during the research process. Gatekeepers become intermediaries who help the researchers to establish this access. In this article, we focus on institutional gatekeepers and the circumstances under which they deny access to research participants. And how the researchers themselves react to this situation in the context of Czech social work research. We used qualitative research, in particular semi-structured interviews with researchers. Based on the research, we identified three main practices of researchers when gatekeepers refuse access. These are conducting research despite denial, making changes to methodology and conducting covert research. The identified procedures bring with them a number of ethical questions that need to be addressed.

Block structure-based covariance tensor decomposition for group identification in matrix variables

In research fields such as financial market analysis and social network research, understanding variable grouping relationships is fundamental to effective data analysis. This study describes the concept of the covariance tensor and emphasizes its significant role in analyzing matrix variable groupings through block structures. We propose a novel tensor decomposition-based method to exploit these structures for group identification. In addition, we explore the asymptotic properties of our estimators, focusing on the precision of the estimation of the number of groups and the asymptotic convergence of classification error rates to zero. We validate the effectiveness of the method through extensive numerical simulations across diverse data volumes and complexities, affirming its capability in variable grouping.

Foreword for the Collection of Papers from the Workshop on the Analysis of Census Noisy Measurement Files and Differential Privacy

The 2022 Workshop on the Analysis of Census Noisy Measurement Files and Differential Privacy brought together research experts from many domains of social sciences, demography, public policy, statistics, and computer science to address key challenges in the use of the differentially private Census noisy measurement files to support social research and policy decisions.

Challenges and opportunities in teaching and learning in AskALibrarian chat: differences across subject domains

PurposeThis analysis of chat reference transcripts assesses differences in how librarians and graduate assistants (GAs) incorporate teaching strategies in responding to chat reference inquiries in social sciences, health sciences, humanities, STEM and business/economics at a large, public R1 university in the United States.Design/methodology/approachResearchers with disciplinary assignments in five different subject domains conducted qualitative analysis of a purposive sample of 982 transcripts of chat interactions during four semesters in 2021 and 2022.FindingsSome form of information literacy instruction (ILI) occurred in 58% of the transcripts, with slightly less teaching occurring in social sciences inquiries than in other subject areas. Of transcripts that included teaching strategies, search procedures predominated, followed by a mix of concepts and procedures, and the least with concepts only. Chat providers taught concepts specific to social sciences, health sciences and humanities, but not to STEM or business.Research limitations/implicationsThe study compares transcripts at one institution; findings may be most applicable to large, research institutions that seek to incorporate ILI in online reference services.Practical implicationsChat reference training should include best practices for ILI relevant to specific subject domains for providers without background in those disciplines and recommendations for referrals to subject specialists.Originality/valueExisting ILI literature does not address the question of how chat providers teach concepts rooted in a specific subject domain or offer a comparison of teaching strategies employed in different disciplines, by librarians versus GAs or staff.

Adapting Education: Navigating Hybrid Classrooms in The Post-Pandemic Era

Hybrid classrooms are designed to support collaborative learning experiences. This concept encourages students to actively engage within learning communities. This study investigates the applicability of hybrid classrooms in a university. Researchers utilized a CoI questionnaire adapted from Swan et al., (2008). It contains 36 items, all measured on a 4-point Likert scale. The questionnaires measure the three components of the CoI model. The participants consisted of accounting students who enrolled in Taxation courses in 2023, totaling 140 individuals. This result finds that students have effective social interaction, active engagement, and critical inquiry in the hybrid classroom. Students expressed a positive sentiment towards the hybrid classroom. The hybrid classroom undeniably has great potential for a flexible learning model for both students and educators in the future. While this study offers valuable insights into the perceptions of students regarding the hybrid classroom, the limitations, lack of demographic data, reliance on self-report measures, and absence of qualitative data, must be acknowledged when interpreting the findings.

The experiences of minority language users in health and social care research: A systematic review.

The planning and management of health policy is directly linked to evidence-based research. To obtain the most rigorous results in research it is important to have a representative sample. However, ethnic minorities are often not accounted for in research. Migration, equality, and diversity issues are important priorities which need to be considered by researchers. The aim of this systematic review (SR) is to explore the literature examining the experiences of minority language users in Health and Social Care Research (HSCR). A SR of the literature was conducted. SPIDER framework and Cochrane principles were utilised to conduct the review. Five databases were searched, yielding 5311 papers initially. A SR protocol was developed and published in PROSPERO: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020225114analysis. Following the title and abstract review by two reviewers, 74 papers were included, and a narrative account was provided. Six themes were identified: 1. Disparities in healthcare; 2. Maternal health; 3. Mental health; 4. Methodology in health research; 5. Migrant and minority healthcare; 6. Racial and ethnic gaps in healthcare. Results showed that language barriers (including language proficiency) and cultural barriers still exist in terms of recruitment, possibly effecting the validity of the results. Several papers acknowledged language barriers but did not act to reduce them. Despite research highlighting cultures over the past 40years, there is a need for this to be acknowledged and embedded in the research process. We propose that future research should include details of languages spoken so readers can understand the sample composition to be able to interpret the results in the best way, recognising the significance of culture and language. If language is not considered as a significant aspect of research, the findings of the research cannot be rigorous and therefore the validity is compromised.

The Role of Interactional Processes in Mental Health Disparities: A Narrative Review of Existing Research and Recommendations for Providers.

Mental health disparities between racial/ethnic minority groups and non-Latinx Whites in the United States persist despite significant efforts aimed at decreasing these disparities. Efforts to address mental health disparities have largely focused on individual (e.g., stigma, help-seeking, health behaviors) and structural (e.g., public policy, interventions, addressing poverty) level factors. In contrast, this paper considers how processes at the interactional level (i.e., interactions between patients and providers) are also an important contributor to racial/ethnic disparities in mental health. Specifically, social psychological research has demonstrated how biases, including stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, can affect patient-provider interactions and contribute to mental health disparities. This narrative review of empirical studies that examine interactional processes between patients and mental health providers identified eleven studies to be included. Concepts represented in the studies are summarized and additional frameworks that can help explain how disparities are maintained are proposed. Last of all, practical suggestions for mitigating provider bias during patient-provider interactions are provided based on the findings from the narrative review.

Standardizing “green” extractivism: Chinese & Western environmental, social, and governance instruments in the critical mineral sector

As societies attempt to transition to low-carbon energy and reduce fossil fuel dependencies, mineral extractivism is reaching new heights globally. This trend is accompanied by a surge of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) standards used to justify a perceived just transition. Through an analysis of 13 widely used international instruments and the ways mining companies adopt them, this article develops a comparative examination of Western and Chinese ESG practices, with a focus on guidelines and standards aimed at mitigating the socio-environmental impacts of extractivism. Despite conventional portrayals of Western and Chinese governance standards as disparate or in competition, we find their standards evolve in tandem and conversation in the context of the rush for critical minerals, underscoring the need to move beyond a Western-Chinese binary. This research also challenges the notion of China attempting to set global standards. Chinese companies increasingly embrace ESG principles due to reputational risks, national standardization efforts, and international partnerships. They, however, focus more on downstream stakeholders, while Western counterparts lean towards upstream considerations. Notably, guidelines are employed similarly by Western and Chinese companies, albeit influenced by geographical, material, and political considerations. We conclude with future directions for critical and social science research on climate-related extraction.

Intersecting public management and social equity Introduction to the special issue of Public Management Review

ABSTRACT This introduction to the special issue stems from the assumption that the field of public management is the necessary, missing catalyst to make tangible progress towards social equity. We begin by outlining the concept of social equity and highlighting the value of improving the field’s understanding of how we can use the foundations of public management to advance social equity principles, practices, and theories, across all forms of oppression. A brief overview of the papers in the special issue follows and we draw out key themes, which hopefully will inspire public management scholars to engage with social equity research.

Artificial intelligence and computer-mediated communication: the text analysis and undergrad’s class observation

The term “computer-mediated communication” (CMC) describes the transmission of messages and information using computer technology. With the extensive use of email, instant messaging, social media, and other digital platforms in Nepal in recent years, this style of communication has grown in popularity. The article examines how computer-mediated communication (CMC) and artificial intelligence (AI) have grown in significance in Nepal’s undergrad English education. This article allows students to collaborate on projects and tasks, which improves their learning experience, by examining the potential of AI and CMC. The facts of Nepal’s education have been examined using the four different basic literature reviews. Despite the need for further literature on artificial intelligence and computer-mediated communication in Nepal’s English classes for undergrads between 2018 and 2023, the studies reviewed shed light on the possibilities of technology and AI in language acquisition. Undergraduate class observation, self-administered text analysis, social information processing theory and experimental research, which involves adjusting variables to see how they affect learning results, were used to gather data. The study’s findings also demonstrate how using CMC platforms encourages students to practice their digital literacy. They gain knowledge on how to move through online spaces, efficiently communicate with a variety of digital tools, and assess the reliability of information sources. Students can communicate with their teachers outside of the classroom via video conferencing software and online discussion boards. This may result in more in-depth discussions and debates as well as greater student engagement.

Methodological bias in social work education: the silence of quantitative approaches in students’ research in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT This study examines the factors contributing to the low utilization of quantitative research approaches among social work research students. A census sampling technique was employed to conduct a survey of 1268 students who had completed their final year research dissertations. The descriptive statistics revealed that 81% (n = 1022) of social work students employed qualitative research, 16% (n = 208) used mixed methods, and only 3% (n = 38) utilized quantitative approaches. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed factors that were statistically significant (ρ<.05) in predicting low utilization of quantitative approaches that include; the supervisor’s preference, the student’s secondary education, training in research methods, competency in statistics, methodological flexibility and suitability, resources constraints, professional assistance, and fear of failure. These findings prompt recommendations for social work training institutions to enhance their research capacity, adopt co-supervisions, advocate for quantitative research, and prioritize continuous research mentorship in statistical tools.

Mapping review of ‘proof-of-concept’ in mental health implementation research using the TRL framework: a need for a better focus and conceptual clarification

BackgroundProof-of-concept (PoC) development is a key step in implementation sciences. However, there is a dearth of studies in this area and the use of this term in health and social...

A Comparative Analysis of Recruitment Methods to Reach Emerging Adults Outside the Clinical Setting.

Emerging adults are a hard-to-recruit population for health researchers, as many do not routinely access health care services and are best recruited outside clinical settings. Social media and research volunteer registries (e.g., ResearchMatch) offer great potential among this population, yet a comparison of these two recruitment methods has not been done. To compare participant enrollment and completion rates, participant demographics, and recruitment costs between recruitment methods (social media advertisements compared to ResearchMatch) deployed with a sample of female-bodied emerging adults. Female-bodied emerging adults were recruited from October to November 2022 via ResearchMatch and social media (Instagram and Snapchat) advertisements. This analysis involves a subset of recruitment data from a larger institutional review board-approved study. Enrollment and survey completion rates were calculated using the number of individuals contacted and survey completion data from Qualtrics. Chi-square and independent t-test analyses were used to compare demographic data. Advertisement data collected included total cost, cost per click, link clicks, and paid impressions. Two hundred and forty-five emerging adults completed the survey, and 24 completed follow-up interviews. ResearchMatch and social media enrollment rates differed (58% and 39%, respectively). Survey completion rates for both methods were the same (~93%). Participants' ages and levels of education were significantly different. Social media resulted in recruitment of younger participants (18-21 years), and ResearchMatch garnered participants with a higher level of education. Differences in race were also significant, as social media recruited higher numbers of White participants. Lastly, the researcher-incurred cost per survey was $0 for ResearchMatch versus $13 for social media. While social media and ResearchMatch are both successful tools for research recruitment, each provides distinct benefits for recruiting specific populations. ResearchMatch offers a lower-cost option and access to an older emerging adult population with higher education, while social media provides access to a younger emerging adult population. This knowledge can be imperative for deciding which recruitment methods best fit research study needs. Future research should explore differences in race by recruitment method to highlight potential sampling biases or recruitment opportunities.

Examining Paradigmatic Shifts: Unveiling the Philosophical Foundations Shaping Social Research Methodologies

Research is a systematic process involving collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data using appropriate methods and tools to investigate a specific problem or question, leading to a deeper understanding of the issue. The framework and execution of research are inherently tied to the philosophical paradigms that underpin it. The philosophical paradigm in research encompasses fundamental elements, namely ontology, epistemology, axiology, and methodology, shaping the presumptions, norms, beliefs, and values inherent in the research process. This study aimed to delineate the shifts in philosophical perspectives within social research, utilizing content analysis. The examination and interpretation of document contents highlight the prevalence of positivist and post-positivist paradigms as traditional frameworks predominantly advocating quantitative research. In contrast, newer paradigms such as interpretivist/constructivist, critical, postmodern, and multiparadigmatic philosophies emphasize qualitative and mixed research designs advocate for qualitative and mixed methods research. This study highlights the significant influence of philosophical paradigms on research design and processes, emphasizing the need for researchers to understand these paradigms thoroughly. This understanding is crucial to ensure clarity, relevance, and authenticity in research. By delineating the shifts in philosophical perspectives within social research, this study provides valuable insights into how these paradigms shape research endeavors.

Analysis of the Influence of Personal Selling Media Promotion on Purchasing Decisions for MSMEs in Badung District (Case Study at Studio Umah Trisna, Jimbaran)

This research aims to determine the influence of personal selling promotions via social media Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook partially and simultaneously on purchasing decisions among MSMEs in Badung Regency (Case Study at Studio Umah Trisna). Ninety clients who use Umah Trisna studio services are the subjects of this research. The sampling method uses the census method. This research uses a quantitative approach, and the data sources are primary and secondary. Data was collected through questionnaires. SPSS version 27.0 was used to process the collected data. Analysis was carried out using multiple linear regression, coefficient of determination, and hypothesis testing. The results of data analysis show that the social media variables Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and research have a positive and significant effect on purchasing decisions for Studio Umah Trisna Jimbaran MSMEs partially and simultaneously. The implication of this research is that this research found an analysis of the influence of personal selling media promotion on purchasing decisions among MSMEs in Badung Regency.

Making ethical judgement calls about qualitative social media research on sensitive issues

ABSTRACT Social media provides a repository of qualitative data relevant to difficult to research sensitive issues. Researcher practices vary in terms of how to ethically collect such data. Some argue that public social media posts can be collected without the informed consent of the authors. Others agree researchers can collect public posts but suggest anonymizing them to protect authors. For some, however, much social media activity consists of private conversations occurring in public that can only be researched with informed consent. This article contrasts confessional posts on support forums with confessional vlogs on YouTube to highlight how the affordances, norms, and genre of digital platforms require researchers to adopt different ethical practices in relation to data collected from different platforms. The article argues that researchers should familiarize themselves with a platform when they evaluate whether they are observing private conversations occurring in public or creative productions meant for widespread dissemination.

Introducing the brief reverse correlation: An improved tool to assess visual representations

AbstractThe reverse correlation is an innovative method to capture visual representations (i.e., classification images, CIs) of social targets. However, this method necessitates many trials to compute high‐quality CIs, which poses important practical and economic challenges. We introduce a new version of the reverse correlation method, namely, the Brief‐RC. By increasing the number of stimuli (i.e., noisy faces) presented at each trial, the Brief‐RC improves the quality of individual (and average) CIs and lowers the overall task length. In two experiments, assessments by external judges confirmed that the new method delivers equally good (Experiment 1) or higher‐quality (Experiment 2) outcomes than the traditional method for the same number of trials, time length and number of stimuli. The informational values of CIs were also compared using a more objective metric (infoVal). Because the Brief‐RC facilitates the production of higher‐quality individual CIs, social psychology researchers may more easily address a series of relevant research questions.

Creative writing and storyworld possible selves

ABSTRACT The presence of creative writing in higher education poses the need to strengthen its academic foundations with novel contributions which enhance its growing practice-informed body of knowledge [Earnshaw, S. 2014. The Handbook of Creative Writing. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; Kroll, J., and G. Harper, Eds. [2012] 2019. Research Methods in Creative Writing. London: Red Globe; Morley, D. 2007. The Cambridge Introduction to Creative Writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; Phillips, R., and H. Kara. 2021. Creative Writing for Social Research: A Practical Guide. Policy Press]. The present study suggests that storyworld possible selves theory [Martínez, M. A. 2014. “Storyworld Possible Selves and the Phenomenon of Narrative Immersion. Testing a New Theoretical Construct.” Narrative 22 (1): 110–131. doi:10.1353/nar.2014.0004; Martínez, M. A. 2018. Storyworld Possible Selves. Berlin: De Gruyter; Martínez, M. A. (forthcoming). “Storyworld Possible Selves.” In Routledge Companion to Literature and Cognitive Studies, edited by J. Alber and R. Schneider. Abingdon: Routledge] can enrich the epistemological foundations of creative writing and of its practice-based research and teaching, both by highlighting the importance of accounting for readers’ feelings of personal relevance through the activation of their self-schemas and possible selves, and by pinpointing the role of certain linguistic expressions of cognitive activity, frequent in fictional narrative discourse, which serve to prompt perspective sharing with narrative focalisers. In my study I argue that attention to the affordances of the concept of storyworld possible selves can not only help improve amateur writers’ skills, but also afford increased opportunities for related linguistic, narratological, and empirical research into creative writing in academic settings.

"It's all about setting the stage." The nurse facilitator trial: perceived outcomes and implementation issues. A qualitative study among ICU clinicians and nurse facilitators.

For the first time in France, a randomised controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of a nurse facilitator on family psychological symptoms. We sought to explore the implementation of the intervention, how it was experienced by clinicians, as well as the barriers and facilitators to implementing the change. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians and facilitators involved in the trial. Interview questions focused on participants' perceptions of the intervention and its outcomes, including the effect of the intervention on patients, families and the health care team, and barriers and facilitators to its implementation. Interviews were conducted by two social science researchers, audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Twenty-three clinicians were interviewed from the five participating ICUs. Three themes emerged, capturing clinicians' perspectives on implementing the intervention: (1) improved communication and enhanced care for families and the ICU team, albeit with some associated risks; (2) active listening and support, both for families and ICU clinicians but with certain limitations; (3) barriers to implementation including lack of organizational readiness, exclusion of under-represented groups, and facilitator challenges including role ambiguity and the need for role support. Participants believed the facilitator intervention potentially improved families' experience. However, they also highlighted emotional difficulties and tensions with some members of the participating teams, due to competing territories and ambiguous role definitions. Facilitators' failure to affect decision-making suggests their role in enhancing goal-concordant care was inadequate within the setting.