Sociological Background Research Articles

Frailty and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Narrative Review.

(1) Background: In a society with an advancing aging rate, medical systems are coming under pressure due to an increasing flow of older patients with multiple somatic diseases, exacerbated by their psychological and sociological backgrounds. We aimed to investigate the relationship between frailty and loneliness in older adults and to provide a holistic perspective on these concepts. Our research question was "Is there a link between the loneliness and frailty in older people?" (2) Methods: To assess the link between loneliness and frailty, we conducted a search accessing Index Medicus and PubMed; the timeframe of our research was from 2013 until 2023. Data regarding the study population, as well as loneliness and frailty assessments and approaches, were extracted. (3) Results: A positive relationship between loneliness and the appearance and progression of frailty in older adults is argued for. (4) Conclusions: Frailty and loneliness in older adults are often interconnected and can have a significant impact on their overall well-being. Early identification of frailty by assessing risk factors (including loneliness and/or social isolation) should become a standard of care for older patients. Appropriate combined interventions that effectively address both frailty and loneliness (physical exercises, psychological support, and social engagement) can promote healthier aging, prevent health deterioration, maintain independence, and reduce healthcare costs.

Energy Literacy of Economics Students in Rijeka: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Approach

The research problem of this paper is related to numerous open questions in the field of energy, its understanding, its use, and the challenges of the energy future. After the introductory part, in which a brief historical overview of energy literacy is provided, the paper focuses on energy literacy, its emergence, and the different approaches to its definition and measurement. The paper analyzes the energy literacy of students at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka based on their cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills. Their knowledge about energy, energy processes, and the energy efficiency of the objects they encounter on a daily basis is examined. Their personal attitudes and values are examined through various forms of personal initiatives and active participation in energy sustainability projects. Finally, the habits and behavioral patterns that the respondents have in their daily lives and their tendencies to save energy resources and find energy-efficient solutions are examined. Despite some positive findings, the current results are not satisfactory and point to the creation of adequate public policies with a particular focus on education and the role of the corrective mechanisms of the state, but also the need for joint negotiations between policy makers, regulators, scientists, representatives of civil society, and the business community. The particular contribution of this work is reflected in being the first research of its kind conducted among Croatian economics students, as well as among Croatian students in general; in the creation of a research instrument that is conceptually consistent with the findings from the existing literature, but with an original set of questions within each energy literacy skill adapted to the cultural and sociological background of the respondents; and in a kind of progress from previous research by taking into account the quantitative aspect (in addition to the qualitative) assessment of the respondents’ energy literacy.

The Influence of the Recitations (Qirāʼāt) on the Rulings in al-Jaṣṣās' Aḥkām al-Qurʾān: The Case of Chapter on Ṭahārah

The general subject of this study is the reflections of the recitations (Qirāʼāt) on the verses of aḥkām. The specific subject is how influential the recitations are in the verses that al-Jassās deals with under the title of Ṭahārah (Cleanliness) in his Aḥkām al-Qurʾān. This study is important in terms of the inevitability of its applicability in social life and in terms of seeing how the rulings of the three verses that al-Jassās deals with in the Ṭahārah section of his Aḥkām al-Qurʾān are interpreted differently due to the recitation. This study aims to reveal how the recitation in al-Jaṣṣās' Aḥkām change the rulings by exemplifying the verses in the chapter on Ṭahārah, and to reveal the motives of al-Jaṣṣās when he makes a choice between the two versions from a unique perspective by taking into account the traditional and sociological background. The focal point of this study is al-Jaṣṣās's Aḥkām al-Qurʾān, which has developed a unique methodology in terms of its approach and evaluation of the recitations among the Aḥkām tafsirs. While there are studies on the relationship between jurisprudence (fiqh) and Qurʾān in al-Jaṣṣās, the lack of a special study on the most famous verses on this subject, the " Ṭahārah chapter", has led us to research at this point. As a methodology, the three related verses are listed in their own order in accordance with the sequence in the Muṣḥaf. Each verse is given as it appears in the Muṣḥaf with the Hafs narration of Asim, and its meaning is presented. Other recitations and meanings of this verse are explained in the light of the information in the recitation sources. Subsequently, it is tried to reveal how the commentator (mufassir) analyzed this qiraat differences, which methods he developed, and which judgment he reached at the last point, together with the motives that pushed him to this judgment. When we see the Qurʾān as a book that contains all the authentic recitations, it is understood that it is essential to take into account the recitation differences when speaking on behalf of the Qurʾān. At the end of each verse, the verses were evaluated from the perspective of the present day, and it was concluded how applicable the provisions that emerged from recitation differences were actually applicable in life. It was seen that al-Jaṣṣās preferred the famous recitations in all three verses, but the reason that led him to this conclusion was not the theoretical classification of the recitation as ṣaḥīḥ. - shādh, but the sociological reflection of the existing traditional accumulation in the background of his mind along with the sectarian factor. By referring to the positive and negative aspects of the method, the contribution of this study to contemporary scholars in interpreting the tradition is also criticized. We have also investigated other chapters in al-Jaṣṣās' Aḥkām al-Qurʾān, such as the chapter on Ṭahārah, and concluded that there is a lack of studies on the reflections of the meaning and ruling dimensions on today's fiqh issues, social benefit and applicability to personal issues. Suggestions and wishes are made for those who will conduct academic research in this field. * This study is based on his Ph.D. dissertation titled "Reflection and Effects of Qirāʼāt on Aḥkām Tafsīrs" which is under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emrah Dindi.

Folklore in fashion- preserving intangible cultural heritage through fashion.

Folklore has been an integral part of Sri Lankan culture for centuries and the story of Kuweni is one such entrancing narrative with historical significance, since it is directly linked to the origin of the Sinhalese nation. Kuweni’s importance extends beyond folk narratives and is also evident in ancient literature, describing her as a superhuman being, yet her true identity remains shrouded in mystery. Her shape-shifting abilities, as described in various legends, make Kuweni a fascinating character worthy of contemplation from many perspectives. Folklore is distinct from mythology, as it contains factual elements such as practices and customs that have a solid sociological background. Therefore, it is essential to preserve them ensuring that future generations can benefit from the sociocultural and anthropological values embedded to narratives. Folklore in Fashion PhD study addresses the crucial question of how to preserve folklore in a way that resonates with contemporary society.

Does Sociological background influence the choice of Availing of Maternity Care facilities? A study on North-Eastern region of India using hybrid models of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Background: The north-eastern part of India, dominated by a population belonging to various tribal communities, possesses diverse socioeconomic characteristics. The variation across communities in terms of availing maternity care is linked to socioeconomic traits. Objective: To conduct a comparative performance appraisal of all 16 regions in North-East India regarding the availing of maternity care and explore the linkage between each state’s socioeconomic characteristics and its relative success in delivering maternity care. Methods: The study is based on the data from India’s National Family Health Survey (NFHS – 4). We considered a total of 16 geographical areas, 11 criteria of maternity care, and 17 socioeconomic characteristics. We utilized hybrid models of AHP-TOPSIS and Entropy-TOPSIS for the ordinal evaluation of the regions concerning the delivery of maternity care and socioeconomic attainments. Finally, we analysed the associations between the two. Results: The ordinal evaluations rank all 16 regions regarding socioeconomic attainments and the delivery of maternity care. The study finds that Manipur, as a state, excels in delivering maternity care, while Meghalaya is the poorest performer. Female literacy, female educational attainment, male literacy, and female fertility are critical factors significantly impacting women’s availing of maternity care.

Language Blending in Tanzanian Adverts: Codeswitching between Swahili, English, and Kiswahili cha Mtaani

This study interrogates the strategic use of code-switching involving Standard Swahili, English, and Kiswahili cha Mtaani in audio-visual advertisements by telecommunication companies (Telecos) in Tanzania. A purposive sampling method was used to gather the data: codeswitched advertisements for the purpose of demonstrating the blending of codes. The data on advertisement was gathered from audio-visual advertisements by selected Telecos in Tanzania on social media platforms. Underpinned by theories of codeswitching, this study establishes that beyond codeswitching between Kiswahili and English as a language choice for advertising by Telecos in Tanzania, an emerging trend is the use of codeswitching between Standard Kiswahili and Kiswahili cha mtaani (an urban youth variety of Kiswahili); also, some adverts feature three-way codeswitching involving Standard Kiswahili, English and Kiswahili cha mtaani. The study further argues that codeswitching in the advertisements is carefully thought of, intentionally blending the languages in a strategic way to attract customers from different linguistic, economic, and sociological backgrounds as well as different age groups, making this kind of codeswitching distinct from codeswitching which occurs in natural conversation.

Sociological Background of Living With The Other

Öteki, tarih boyunca sosyal bilimlerin temel konularından bir tanesi olmuştur. Modern dönemde kavramın kendisine yüklenen anlamlar çerçevesinde şekillenerek öne çıktığı görülmektedir. Küreselleşen dünya düzeninde farklılıkların yoğunlukla görülmesi beraberinde öteki kavramı ve bu kavram üzerinden üretilen dışlama, ayrımcılık, yabancı düşmanlığı, ötekileştirme gibi negatif içerikli olgu ve akımlar da sosyal bilimlerin gündemine girmiştir. Bu çalışma kapsamında öteki kavramına dair genel çerçeve çizilerek öteki ile beraber yaşama sürecinde rol oynayan faktörler ele alınmış, farklılıkların bir arada yaşamaları ile ilgili olarak en fazla öne çıkan siyasi politikalardan çokkültürcülüğe değinilmiştir. Çalışmayla amaçlanan, ötekiye dair teorik çerçeveyi genel hatlarıyla özetlemek, öteki ile iletişimi etkileyen faktörleri, ötekiyle beraber yaşama ile ilgili süreçleri ve meselenin siyasi yönü olan çokkültürcülükle ilgili temel değerlendirmeleri ortaya koymaktır. Çalışma kapsamında öteki ile iletişimin ve ötekiliğe dair toplumsal süreçlerin temel belirleyenleri olan kalıpyargı, önyargı ve grup ayrımlarına da değinilerek karşılaşılan problemler ve çözüm önerileri sunulmaya çalışılmıştır.

Falusi fiatalok identitásának szociális reprezentációja


 
 
 In this paper, we investigate the local and self-identity characteristics of socio-cultural groups based on social representation theory and one of its methods (association method). Carried out on a sample of rural youth, the analysis focused on the relationship between the four groups, distinguished by their social representations of identity, with different intensities of meaning and the sociological background variables. In addition to the expected results, the hypothetical explanation for the contradiction in the emotional attachment and mobility variables can be further empirically confirmed.
 
 

Gwendolyn L. Wright, Lucas Hubbard, and Darity William A., Jr. eds. The Pandemic Divide: How COVID Increased Inequality in America

This anthology of 11 short essays, bracketed by an excellent introduction and a punchy conclusion, is based on a wealth of scholarship and statistics that use the COVID-19 pandemic as a lens to expose the enormous racial disparities in American society—disparities that were simply magnified by the challenges and tragedies of the crisis. While the authors acknowledge race is a social construct with no firm biological definition, they proclaim its powerful impact on all aspects of existence: health care, education, employment, finances and even leisure. Only one of the authors is identified as a historian (Joe William Trotter, the Giant Eagle University Professor of History and Social Justice at Carnegie Mellon University); his essay on labour history shows how the racialised population was predisposed to greater harm through the social determinants of health. Most of the 27 other authors are experts in public policy with backgrounds in sociology, education, psychology finances, anthropology, and health care. Nevertheless, they open their specific chapters with historical narratives that pre-date the pandemic often by many years going back to slavery—narratives that illustrate how the greater impact of COVID-19 on racialised communities was a predictable product of structural racism in the USA.

Autistic Intelligence: Interaction, Individuality, and the Challenges of Diagnosis

Autistic Intelligence: Interaction, Individuality, and the Challenges of Diagnosis by Maynard and Turowetz (2022) addresses the importance of exploring language used in interactions during the diagnostic process of autism spectrum disorder. The authors analyze interaction in order to clarify the ambiguity in understanding autism that exists across several fields of study. Drawing on their sociological backgrounds, the authors use an ethnomethodological conversation analytic approach to show that interaction has been overlooked in the autism diagnostic process. This research makes an important contribution to existing conversation analytic and psychological literature by reframing autism spectrum disorder as a difference rather than a deficit.

“STATÜ TOPLUMU”: GÖBEKLİ TEPE VE KARAHAN TEPE’Yİ TOPLUMSAL TABAKALAŞMA BAĞLAMINDA SOSYOLOJİK DÜŞÜNMEK

Göbekli Tepe and the Neolithic sites around Urfa, which were identified by surveys, provide rich data for the transition of human beings from hunter-gatherer groups to settled and semi-settled agricultural societies. It is possible to trace most of the institutional foundations of today's societies to this transition period. Social theory, which was heavily influenced by the "Neolithic revolution" paradigm, ignored this transitional period. Sociological thought categorizes societies as hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies starting from the back and moves from the axiom that hunter-gatherer societies are egalitarian and agricultural societies are hierarchical. On the other hand, archaeological studies, while addressing the hierarchical "nature" of Neolithic societies, do not sufficiently benefit from the relatively rich theoretical background of sociology. As a result, it becomes important that the two disciplines work in cooperation. This study will emphasize that egalitarian hunter-gatherer groups lived in a relatively long transition period before class-based stratification originating from the economy, and that they went through a hierarchical social order based on social prestige rather than economic inequality during this transition period. For this, Weber's concept of status, which emphasizes different inequalities, rather than Marx's conceptualization of class division based on the ownership of the means of production, will be taken into consideration. Göbekli Tepe society was a classless society, but a hierarchical society based on status. It is possible to define societies that share Göbekli Tepe culture as "status society" in which individuals and groups have prestigious status on an ideological basis. In this scenario, some people had a more prestigious position than others because they monopolized the mythological narrative that made the world meaningful, causing social differentiation. Unlike the main claim of social conflict analysis, the article will argue that the symbolic world, which expresses the social hierarchy in Göbekli Tepe culture, has important functions that enable the Neolithic lifestyle, besides providing a meaningful explanation of the social world rather than causing an exploitation mechanism against a part of the Neolithic society.

Sociological Dynamics of Technological Change in the Context of Society 5.0

Abstract This article presents a critical analysis of Society 5.0 in the context of the East-West conflict. Society 5.0, which emerged with Japan’s claim of dominance over the world and leadership over the West, envisages the construction of a new community in which advanced technologies are integrated into social life. The authors evaluate the changes based on westernization, modernization, and risk society in the first section of the article, taking into account Japan’s historical process. The second section discusses the effects of technological changes and advancements on social structure. The third section examines the targets proposed by Society 5.0 within the context of all these points. In this direction, comparative perspectives were considered. According to the study’s findings, Society 5.0 is more in line with the goals of global actors and may cause new structural problems for non-Western societies due to differences in the establishment of the social structure and their sociological background.

Kangrga , "We" and "They". Critique of Everything in M. Kangrga and Disrupt Dialogue between the Church and Marxists in Croatia

A public communication between the Catholic Church and radical left in Croatia today is burdened with misunderstandings that are reflections of a deeper ideological confrontation that has historical and sociological background. In this paper, we considered a philosophical work of Milan Kangrga, representative and one of founders of Praxis school to confirm an assumption that we need to reestablish a dialogue between the Church and political left since the prewar dialogue between the theologians and Marxists had his lacks. The dialogue between the Church and Marxists before the war had certain success, although the open and constructive discussion about themes that could be relevant for both sides did not continue after the war, not only due to the war conflicts and its consequences, but political polarization also. We considered the critique of political and social situation in Croatia by Milan Kangrga since his opinions were widely misunderstood, and taken in context of ideological conflict, although we presented how in certain questions regarding the relation toward modernity, civil rights, freedoms, and rule of law, he was not far from critical voices in Catholic Church. The dialogue between the Church and political left can be reestablished and continued in which we need to observe how to overcome a barriers that were, during the long time unnoticed and neglected.

Who becomes a teacher and why?

AbstractThis paper reports on a comprehensive review of international evidence, synthesising the findings of some of the strongest empirical work on the main factors influencing people's decisions to be teachers or not. Four search engines, including Google and Google Scholar and five electronic databases identified 517 studies of which 212 were included in this narrative synthesis. These studies highlighted three main motivating factors: intrinsic, altruistic and extrinsic, although the order of the ranking varies with subjects, phase of education and gender of teachers. In general, these studies reported that women are more likely to report being motivated by intrinsic and altruistic reasons, while men are more likely to cite extrinsic reasons. Across all cultures, men are reported to be more strongly influenced by social norms and expectations and were less likely to choose primary and early years teaching. Women are also more likely to experience higher levels of career satisfaction and less social dissuasion than men. Research on motivation to teach is also often focused only on those who have already made the decision to teach. Therefore, policies based on these studies might only be attracting those who are already persuaded. This paper argues that to improve recruitment of under‐represented groups (e.g., males and STEM subject graduates), attention should instead be on those who might otherwise have gone into teaching, but have not. For this group, the review found that it is the status of the profession, the working environment and salary over the long term that are important. Context and implicationsRationale for the studyThe widespread shortage of teachers is a global concern. There are particular challenges in attracting and retaining men, STEM subject teachers and ethnic minority groups to teaching. There is currently no systematic synthesis of international evidence on how to get under‐represented groups into teaching.Why the findings matterOur findings matter because recruitment and retention of teachers is a pressing issue facing many countries. Our review considers a much more comprehensive range of factors than previous research. We weight the strength of evidence of each study so that policies to address shortages of under‐represented groups are based on the strongest evidence.Implications for policy makersOur review found that the strongest determinants of who go into teaching or not are the individuals' sociological background and choice of subject at school. Therefore, policies to attract more into teaching should focus on those who are still in school. For men and STEM subject graduates, extrinsic factors (status, prestige and working conditions) matter. Therefore, policies to recruit under‐represented groups should focus on these factors. Most previous research on this topic excludes non‐teachers, resulting in misleading results. This has implications for future research and government policies. Policies to attract people into teaching should consider the career drivers of those who might have otherwise gone into teaching, but did not.

The Relationship Between Saul Bellow’s Creations and the Chicago School of Sociology

Saul Bellow was determined to be engaged in literary creation at the age of ten but he majored in sociology and anthropology in university. When he was a postgraduate student, his mentor told him that he lacked suitability to be engaged in social science research because his essays were easily turned into fictional works, and his intellect was suitable for some areas full of creativity and imagination. Surely enough, he was the first novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature among Jewish American writers in 1976, hence he became worldly famous as his mentor expected. Researchers had paid much attention to his literary achievement, but few studies tried to contact his accomplishment with his sociological background. In this paper, I will analyze the influence of Social Science in Chicago on his literary creations and the tendency of sociology in his works, on the basis of his academic background of sociological studies.

The Relationship Between Saul Bellow’s Creations and the Chicago School of Sociology

Saul Bellow was determined to be engaged in literary creation at the age of ten but he majored in sociology and anthropology in university. When he was a postgraduate student, his mentor told him that he lacked suitability to be engaged in social science research because his essays were easily turned into fictional works, and his intellect was suitable for some areas full of creativity and imagination. Surely enough, he was the first novelist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature among Jewish American writers in 1976, hence he became worldly famous as his mentor expected. Researchers had paid much attention to his literary achievement, but few studies tried to contact his accomplishment with his sociological background. In this paper, I will analyze the influence of Social Science in Chicago on his literary creations and the tendency of sociology in his works, on the basis of his academic background of sociological studies.

What Does Generation Z Believe? The Religiosity and Spirituality of Contemporary Czech Youth in Practical-Theological Reflection

Abstract The study deals with the religiosity and spirituality of contemporary Czech youth. Czech Republic is characterized by a high level of secularization. Are the expectations that religious faith will increasingly disappear in each generation coming true? How do Czech practical theologians reflect on the current situation? The study explores these questions against a background of generational theory and religious sociology. It has four parts. First, it introduces Mannheim’s theory of generations and applies it to the setting of Christian churches. In the second part, it characterizes the current Czech generation of youth with the help of generational typologies. In the third part, it presents the religiosity and spirituality of Czech youth based on recent sociological research. In the fourth part, it focuses on how Czech Catholic and Protestant theologians reflect on youth-work. The conclusion offers practical-theological suggestions that are relevant for pastoral work with youth in secularized contexts.

SOSYO-KÜLTÜREL DEĞİŞİMİN DİN YORUMUNA ETKİSİ: KABİR ZİYARETLERİ BAĞLAMINDA BİR ÖRNEKLEM

Religion is an important phenomenon that directs human life and adds meaning to it. From this point of view, religion, as a sociological phenomenon, shapes the social structure and provides institutionalization. When it comes to religion, its effect on the individual and society is emphasized, but the effect of society on religion is mostly ignored. Individuals and societies, which are the primary addressees of religion, have their own characteristics and ways of understanding, and these characteristics can change and transform in the historical process. At this point, it is an important question whether the structural characteristics of societies and the law of change affect the interpretation of religion. Does the phenomenon we call the understanding of religion consist of the religious texts themselves? Is it possible for religions to remain as they emerged forever? Can religious interpretations also change depending on the changing conditions in the historical process? Are there historical dimensions of fiqh or theological provisions? In this study, the effect of social change on religious interpretation is tried to be discussed in the context of grave visits. The historical and sociological background of the visits to the graves, which have become an important topic of discussion, especially in Hanbali-Salafi circles, and the provisions regarding the actions taken during this period are examined. In this context, the effect of social structure on religion or religious interpretation is tried to be examined rather than the effect of religion on society.

Sociological background and emotional experiences in selected Yoruba traditional musical forms

This study explores the distinguished characters and emotional experiences of selected traditional Yoruba musical forms and focuses on the sociological background and events which have contributed to the emotional experience of traditional Yoruba musical forms. Therefore, the paper clarified the relativity of evoking associations which determines the musical forms in the traditional music-making of the Yoruba people. Music is omnipresent and it is appreciated and respected within the traditional Yoruba society. The goal of this micro-sociological and ethnographical research in Yoruba music was to produce as detailed distinguished character description and emotional experience of the potential social impacts in the Yoruba music structures. The application of context analysis to investigate Yoruba traditional music is intended for a complete and an in-depth understanding of the music. The theoretical framework for this study is the Aristotle’s theory of art as an imitation of life. The study brought to fore the various circumstances, religious, ritual beliefs, environmental factors and cultures of Yoruba people as determinants of musical forms. In consequence, the following are the Yoruba musical forms; responsorial and recitative forms, General chorus form, incantation call and response form, round form, proverbial free form, free song form, nonsense syllable form and historical song form.

Semiological analysis of obsession in Annie Ernaux’s “Passion Simple”: etude of a dysphoric masculinity

Annie Ernaux, one of the influential female authors of French literature, has become the focal point of the interdisciplinary studies of the 20th century, due to the sociological background of her writings. The simplicity of her language and the strikingness of her realism make the author popular in both individual and social identity studies. In her writings, she conveys to her readers with all sincerity: the woman, the conflict between generations, briefly being the other in a community and the burden it brings. In her novel “Passion simple” (Eng. Simple Passion), the author describes her interest and passion for a married man with all its simplicity and realism in an autobiographical structure. In the novel, Ernaux reveals forbidden love, obsession, the logic of irrationality, the conflict of power and willpower. For this reason, the novel in question has been examined in a social and psychological context where woman is at the centre. The aim of this study is to deal with the other part of the narrative, the man. In the context of the "Masculinities" theories put forward by R.W. Connell, it is aimed to reveal the structure of this other less-mentioned hero of the novel and the obsession it carries in the light of semiotic data. After the analysis of the hero as an individual, it is envisaged to explain and provide the role of this character, who is the focus of passion, in the social structure. In this context, it will be important to examine the adaptation of the man in the novel to gender roles, his contribution to the definition of this role, and how the intersection of culture and identity structures the phenomenon of masculinity. Consequently, the article, drawing on sociologically informed concept of masculinity, aims at bringing a new dimension to the gender-oriented literary criticism on the novel that has hitherto revolved around women, by offering reading focused on the constitution of the identities of men.