Specific Body Of Knowledge Research Articles

Transformational accounts of students’ undergraduate education are evoked by their engagement with knowledge

AbstractThere are strong concerns about students perceiving their undergraduate education in instrumental, rather than transformational, ways. However, it is not clear whether seeing education instrumentally undermines students’ capacity to see their education as transformational. Based on data from a 7-year longitudinal study of chemical engineering students from three countries, this article shows that all students focused on instrumental outcomes from education in their first year of study. However, by their final year, students tended to give instrumental accounts of what they had gained from their overall university experience and transformational accounts of what they had gained from studying their subject. This suggests that, depending on the context evoked, most students can describe instrumental or transformational relationships to their education. However, developing transformational accounts on their education appeared to be dependent on studying knowledge-rich degrees that supported them to engage with the world from the perspective of a particular body of knowledge. This raises serious questions about educational policies that imply that instrumental outcomes are the most important outcomes from students’ educational experiences as such policies obscure the importance of transformational knowledge-focused relationships that change the way that students engage with the world.

Towards an Understanding of Successes of the Psychiatric Nurses in Caring for Children with Mental Health Problems: An Appreciative Inquiry.

Psychiatric nurses have a specialized body of knowledge and skills in providing care to persons with mental health challenges. The literature provides scanty evidence on child psychiatric nursing practices. This paper explored the successes of psychiatric nurses in caring for children with mental health problems using appreciative inquiry (AI). A qualitative exploratory and descriptive design was used to allow for new ideas that can fundamentally reshape the practice of child psychiatric nursing. Purposive sampling was used to select psychiatric nurses caring for children with mental health problems. Focus groups were used to generate data. The results indicate both positive and negative prospects for psychiatric nursing practice. The positive possibilities included commitment, passion and dedication of staff to the children. The negative aspects that need urgent attention include lack of specific, integrated child mental health within the mental health care services, shortage of resources and not-fit-for purpose infrastructure. Appreciative inquiry verified the commitment of psychiatric nurses in caring for children with mental health problems and the potential for dedicated child psychiatric institutions in realizing the needs of such children. The needs of children with mental health problems must be addressed through positive care in the health system.

Kereke Ya Sephiri: A Study of a Secret Society in Botswana and South Africa

The difference between esotericism and exoterism is unlike the difference between circles and rectangles. It is also not the difference between the size and relevance of a specific body of knowledge in circulation. It is rather the extent of the circulation, acceptance, understanding, and meaning of a particular body of knowledge, philosophy, or worldview, over the spiritual and socio-political life of diverse categories of people in society. The infancy of the academic study of esotericism, as well as its interdisciplinary nature, militate against the crystallization of a universally accepted definition of the term 'esotericism'. The various definitions of the term by researchers consistently relate to their research interests. In line with Faivre's concern with the forms of thought of esoteric movements (Faivre 1996), as well as the preoccupation that Versluis has with gnosis generation in esoteric movements (Versluis n.d), our study of Kereke ya Sephiri in Botswana and South Africa examines a) the cultural and religious contexts in which Frederick Modise, a gnostic in his own right, generated the underlying gnosis of his secret society, and b) the import of the content of this visionary mystical revelation in the spiritual and social lives of members of this secret society1. The study of the Setswana term, Kereke ya Sephiri (church of a secret, referring to a Christian-based secret society), is a study of African esotericism in South Africa and Botswana. The principal academic interest in the study of esotericism lies in our quest to identify the fundamental tenets of the worldviews of the specific esoteric society, the eclectic nature of its philosophy, and how this philosophy relates to the orthodoxy of the day (Christianity in this instance). We do so by concentrating on the form of thinking, engendered by esoteric practices. Esoteric groups do not appear or exist within cultural voids. For this reason, by identifying the eclectic or syncretic nature of the fundamental philosophy (gnosis) of these groups, we trace the cultural influences involved in the emergence and consolidation of these worldviews and philosophies. This study shows that African esotericism is not always antithetic or subversive of dominant or institutionalized Christianity.

Leveraging the balanced scorecard to reformulate the strategy of a performing arts theater: a stakeholders' perspective

PurposeThis study expands the performance management literature by developing a strategy map and balanced scorecard (BSC) for a large performing arts theater (PAT).Design/methodology/approachFirst, interviews with significant stakeholders identify key success factors (KSFs). Next, a survey is administered, and a structural model is employed to determine the importance of each KSF and their interdependent causal relationships within the PAT. Each KSF's controllability and room for improvement are also measured to facilitate implementation strategies.FindingsThe results reveal that the Financial Perspective plays a critical role in the PAT's success, while significant changes can be enacted by focusing on the Internal Processes Perspective. Regarding the individual KSF, the following emerge as the most critical: excellent reputation, attendance growth, increasing sponsorship and donation, and supporting the local arts community; however, PAT managers will have to be creative to enact change through these KSF as some are difficult to control or have little perceived room for improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe data were collected prior to, or at the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Post-pandemic priorities for the organization may have changed.Practical implicationsBy highlighting the relationships between different KSFs, this study provides PAT managers with a frame of reference for developing their BSC and performance metrics. It also offers PAT's managers a structured and adaptable approach for prioritizing their strategic choices and developing implementation plans for improved outcomes.Originality/valueThis study exemplifies the need for applied BSC studies in various sectors, including nonprofit organizations. Specifically, this study extends the performance management literature by providing an example of a large PAT's performance measures, the inter-relationships among KSF and the resulting strategy map. The results are significant because arts management is a unique discipline based upon a specific body of knowledge (Weinstein and Bukovinsky, 2009).

The undergraduate ‘corridor of uncertainty’: teaching core concepts for managing clinical uncertainty as the ‘special technique’ of general practice

ABSTRACT McWhinney’s first principle of family medicine states that GPs ‘are committed to the person rather than to a particular body of knowledge, group of diseases, or special technique’. While indeed committed to the person, we propose that the ‘special technique’ of general practice exists in the form of core clinical concepts for managing uncertainty (e.g. time as a tool, therapeutic examination, safety netting and doctor as drug). Managing clinical uncertainty calls for GPs (and trainees) to operate in a ‘corridor of uncertainty’, a cricketing analogy where the batter is unsure whether to play a defensive or attacking shot. For students to recognise and value these concepts requires longitudinal learning and simulation. Here we describe a GP module at Brighton medical school where core concepts are ‘drip fed’ through small group sessions across year 4. Formative simulated surgeries constitute a ‘corridor of uncertainty’ where simulated patients drive students into using concepts in practice (e.g. through shared management plans). Although recognised in postgraduate training, these concepts should be taught formally within the undergraduate curriculum. Doing so helps students distinguish general practice from hospital generalism and prepares them for clinical placements in general practice. These concepts are inherently ‘soft’ and founded upon the GP paradigm of understanding medicine. In the eyes of the specialist, they risk being unacknowledged, misinterpreted as ignoring guidelines or, worse still, as bad medicine. Soft core concepts constitute the tools to prepare students for managing clinical uncertainty and serve to inscribe the art of medicine within the undergraduate curriculum.

Is Clinical Engineering an occupation or profession?

In this paper, we examine the practice level of engineers and discuss whether Clinical Engineering is a profession or an occupation. Many think that occupation and profession are synonyms, but are they? One must explore the difference, if it exists, between these terms, and to accomplish that, clarification of these terms is being offered and established first. We conducted a review of the terms and proceeded to identify if the tenants that are expected to be associated with professional standing are included in applying clinical engineering practices and to what level if it is. Engineering is a profession that improves the quality of living and for the common good. The professional education of engineers requires the education to contain a body of specialized knowledge, problem-solving skills, ethical behavior, and good analytical judgment in the service of all people. The engineering education domains aim to form individuals who are intellectually trained, practically adept, and ethically accountable for their work. Especially within the healthcare delivery system, engineering work engages problem-solving dependent upon sufficient body of knowledge to deal with practical problems by understanding the why, knowing how and identifying the when. There are various levels of the expected body of knowledge within the clinical engineering field ranging from engineers with formal academic training at undergraduate and graduate levels to clinical engineering technologists and technicians having graduated from between 1-4 years of academic training. Engineers may further select to publicly proclaim their adequate preparation and mastering of knowledge to conduct their work through a credentialing process that can confer the term professional, registered, or certified engineer if successfully achieved. Once the differences of working characteristics and obligations between occupation and profession are understood, it is clear that clinical engineers must continuously commit to pursue and fulfill these obligations. Therefore, every professional engineer is called on to achieve a certain degree of intellectual and technical mastery and acquire practical wisdom that brings together the knowledge and skills that best serve a particular purpose for the good of humanity. Clinical engineers and technologists are critical for sustaining the availability of safe, effective, and appropriate technology for patient care. It is as important for their associations to collaborate on compliance with professional obligations that their jobs require.

The Journal – a Critical Development in the Professional Journey of the College

In the professional journey of the College in February 2006 I was a participant in early meetings of a Federal Councilendorsed Steering Committee to develop the College’s own professional journal. The thinking behind this initiative centred on thefundamental belief that a professional body should have, under its auspices, a peer reviewed professional journal with a focus on its particular body of knowledge.....

Professions, Professionalism, and Professional Identity

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> Professions are characterized as having a specific body of knowledge, professional authority, society authorization, a code of ethics, and a specific culture. Professional identity and attributes of professionalism are acquired during the professional education process. Multiple methods for teaching professionalism may be incorporated into curricula for medical laboratory science professionals, including mentoring, reflection papers, and specific communication skills required to work in interprofessional teams. The acquisition of professionalism concepts is critical for novices to become fully functioning medical laboratory professionals.

PERFILES Y COMPETENCIAS DE LOS PROFESIONALES DE LA FORMACIÓN PARA EL EMPLEO: ESTUDIO DELPHI EN EL CONTEXTO ESPAÑOL

INTRODUCCIÓN. La Formación Profesional para el Empleo (FPE), por lo que se refiere a sus profesionales, se caracteriza en España por contar con una formación breve, un estatus menos reconocido y un cuerpo de conocimientos menos especializado. Al igual que otros niveles y ámbitos de la formación, precisa de un referente de competencias para sus profesionales, que contribuya a la definición de su identidad desde los perfiles profesionales y para la propia evaluación de su desempeño. En este contexto se plantean los objetivos de la investigación: identificar los perfiles profesionales de la FPE, definir el marco de competencias específicas para cada perfil profesional, describir las unidades de competencia y las actividades profesionales para cada uno de ellos y determinar el marco de competencias transversales. MÉTODO. Para alcanzar dichos objetivos se ha utilizado el método Delphi; se han aplicado dos rondas sucesivas con la participación de 60 expertos en el ámbito de la FPE. RESULTADOS. Ahondando en los hallazgos de esta investigación cabe destacar que se han impuesto tres perfiles profesionales —el gestor de la formación, el formador y el orientador— con sus respectivas competencias, que se convierten en referentes para el diseño de un programa adaptado al marco de cualificaciones profesionales de la FPE. DISCUSIÓN. La delimitación de este referencial permitirá concebir la Formación Profesional para el Empleo como una profesión que ocupa un espacio en el campo de actividades profesionales de la sociedad, brinda un servicio de acuerdo a unas normas contextuales y deontológicas, previene el intrusismo profesional y, por último, permite fijar los niveles de cualificación, certificación y acreditación para reclutar a profesionales competentes.

A Coxian Critical Reflexive Lens as a Methodological Tool for Analysis in Liberal Peacebuilding Research in Sri Lanka

There is an ongoing debate between the neo-positivist researchers who insist that IR research should follow positivist methodologies and the post-positivist researchers in subfields such as feminist and critical studies in IR who insist that the very selection of a methodology is a positioning of power and a validation of a truth through the knowledge the methodology enables. The selection of methodology, the process used to create knowledge, is therefore a decision to position a particular body of knowledge over another. The selection of a particular method over another is an act of enabling a body of knowledge, a truth, and therefore an act of power that can disrupt an entrenched order or destabilize it. This paper explores Coxian critical analysis in IR research and discusses the use of Coxian analysis in exploring the Sri Lankan conflict in a setting of liberal peacebuilding critique. The paper concludes that a critical methodology such as Coxian analysis enables a researcher to question the epistemological and ontological assumptions that have been prevalent in analyzing the Sri Lankan conflict.

Pedagogy and State: An Archaeological Inquiry into Classic Maya Educational Practice

Education is notoriously difficult to identify archaeologically, but crucial for understanding the inner workings of any society. Strikingly, in Mesoamerican archaeology, more seems to be known about the transmission of crafting skills than about practices of statecraft. Elsewhere in the ancient world, much evidence speaks to various social and institutional contexts in which specialized knowledge of histories, literacies, civics, and sciences was generated and taught as vital to state-making projects. Yet these same contexts among the Classic Period Maya (ad 200–900) remain poorly understood and under-theorized. Pulling from comparative research alongside recent work at the site of Xultun, Guatemala, this article explores how educational systems may have worked in Classic-era Maya polities—assessing evidence for educational loci, the different forms that education might assume, and the varied curricula that likely existed across different cities and particular demographics. Through this discussion, I seek to shed some light on the actors, gendered exclusions and diverse arrangements of pedagogy in Maya society, and grant further insight into how specialized bodies of knowledge (transmitted within formal educational institutions) were built into the very fabric of the Classic Maya states of which they were part.

Apreciação da base nacional comum curricular e a educação física em foco

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-8042.2016v28n48p61O presente artigo analisa o manuscrito da Base Nacional Comum Curricular e compreende a concepção de Educação Física por ele proposta. Identifica a concepção atribuída à educação física pela Base Nacional Comum Curricular. Metodologicamente, utiliza a análise bibliográfica e documental (Base Nacional Comum Curricular), a dialética como método e aplica a análise de conteúdo, para tratar os dados. Constata que a Base Nacional Comum Curricular localiza a educação física na área da linguagem e a filia a um ecletismo no que diz respeito a sua concepção e corpo de conhecimento específico, gerando dada incoerência nos conteúdos e nos processos formativos deste campo de conhecimento. Concluiu que o manuscrito concretiza uma aliança entre educação e capital, defendendo os interesses dos grupos hierárquicos centrais, transformando o direito à educação em serviço mercadológico.

Επαγγελματισμός και Ιατρικό Επάγγελμα

The aim of this article is to describe the concept of professionalism, resulting from the practice perspective of a profession. Special reference will be placed on the medical profession and its dynamic role in the health system. Theoretical approaches regarding professionalisation, as a process through which a profession is achieving professionalism, as well as, mechanisms that contribute to the exclusion of other professionals to practice a profession are included in this article. Moreover, issues concerning the specific body of knowledge, autonomy, power and control, code of ethics and the regulation of entry by self-governing bodies, as well as the wide acceptance of society are all important in a distinctive occupational identity. Regarding the medical profession, the fact that decisions are made on patients behalf, results in a higher status among caring professions. On the contrary, for the same reasons there is criticism about the quality of its professionalism.

On Integrating the History of Women into the Narrative of the Early Republic: A Forty-Year Perspective

This essay assesses the degree to which the field of nineteenth-century U.S. Women’s History has had an impact on the basic narrative of U.S. History as presented in general survey courses and associated textbooks over the last four decades. What methods did scholars in the 1970s envision to mainstream this new body of specialized knowledge into the curriculum? How successful has that project been?

Impact of social changes on teacher’s role and responsibilities in the educational system

1 IntroductionThe last twenty years has brought rapid social, political and economic changes which have transformed the structure of society in many countries around the world, and especially in our region. A brief overview of these changes is sufficient to explain and justify attempts in recent years to reform education in most European countries. After the society clearly and profoundly changed it became necessary to reform education systems to be flexible, compatible with contemporary issues, and able to successfully tackle these challenges and the new realities.Education plays the most important role in the development and progress of an individual. It affects their social status and is the most important factor in economic prosperity and social emancipation. From a sociological point of view, the improvement of education does not happen solely because of individual needs, but originates and develops to meet the needs of the society. The educational system of any society is important for the overall social system. In static societies, the key function of the educational system is the transmission of cultural heritage to future generations. However, in today's modern world, education must respond to a number of other challenges and needs that it faces on a daily basis.Regardless of the level of development of society, education should be one of the most important social activities. Quality education is the main driving force of social progress. Today however, it is recognized that the most developed countries invest much more in education and different types of research in comparison to developing countries or underdeveloped countries.2 Changes in Educational SystemsCompetition for economic, military, and other forms of domination led to continuous analysis and re-evaluation of educational systems and the adoption of specific strategies for improvement with the aim of survival in the race for dominance. One of the most striking examples that authors constantly refer to is the competition between the United States and Russia in space exploration, especially after the Russian launch of Sputnik.Education is a key factor in social development. Social changes come with the collective transformation of individuals. Education is a process that allows all individuals to effectively participate in social activities and to contribute to social progress. Education systems then, have incalculable importance. Bringing about social change has a number of challenges however: professional, technical, social, moral, etc. These challenges require new standards and new approaches to training teachers both during faculty training as well as during their continuous professional development, because they have to be continuously trained in order to successfully face all the new challenges.After analysing the existing educational system, experts suggest specific needs for the transformation and harmonization of education systems, to new demands caused by social changes. Underscoring these needs, Patil (2012) suggests the following very common deficiencies in the current educational systems:(1) The present education does not generate or fortify the type of knowledge that is relevant to our changed society.(2) The technology associated with a particular body of knowledge is inappropriate to our stage of development in terms of its employment potential or investment demands.(3) Education has failed to provide a value-framework which may prepare committed politicians, bureaucrats, technocrats, and professionals, on whom our nation can depend for a sophisticated system of support services, which will take the country to the highest level.The European concept of the new society, and its gradual application of those needs for the users of new educational services along with modern understanding of the role of education prepare teachers to face new demands within the education system. …

A tribute to Frank Veith: Founding Editor-in-Chief

As the journal Vascular approaches nearly one decade since inception, it has achieved a reputation for presenting noteworthy, innovative, and fascinating articles. Much of the journal’s success is attributable to its founding Editor-in-chief, Dr. Frank Veith. Dr. Veith stepped down from this role at the beginning of 2013 after eight years managing the journal. On behalf of the Associate Editors and the Editorial Board, I want to express our immense gratitude to Dr. Veith for his tireless work. We feel privileged and honored to have worked with him in this endeavor. It is befitting to review some of the details of Dr. Veith’s selfless contributions of time and energy to the journal. After being appointed as Editor-in-Chief in 2004, Dr. Veith reinvigorated Cardiovascular Surgery into the journal Vascular that we know today. This transformation included not just a change in name, editors and publisher, but also a change in the emphasis and scope of the publication. The changes presented an opportunity to refresh the journal and maintain relevance in an ever-changing medical world. Dr. Veith’s stated objective was to make the journal ‘‘a significant, global voice in vascular surgery.’’ In addition, he hoped to create a unique journal that would publish opinion pieces and other articles that were important to practicing Vascular Surgeons and Vascular Surgery as a whole. In a risky initiative, Dr. Veith also hoped to include controversial articles so that readers could make their own informed decisions on certain topics. He encouraged submission and publication of articles focused on novel endovascular techniques and treatments. In short, Dr. Veith’s vision was for Vascular to be a groundbreaking journal that would provide information not otherwise found in existing, traditional publications. After eight years of successful publication, it is clear that his vision has become a reality. At the outset of Dr. Veith’s journey with Vascular, Vascular Surgery as a specialty was in the midst of a transitional phase; it was undergoing a decade-long evolution into a separate and discrete field with its own specific body of knowledge, skills and training programs. The emergence of Vascular Surgery as its own distinct specialty was the evolutionary development that prompted Dr. Veith to initiate the transformation of Cardiovascular Surgery into the more specific journal Vascular. The new journal served as the official

Creating a Provincial Heart Failure Competency, Assessment, Planning and Evaluation (CAPE) to Guide British Columbia's Heart Function Clinic Registered Nurses Practice

Under the auspice of British Columbia's Provincial Heart Failure (HF) Strategy, health authorities are opening new Heart Function Clinics (HFC) and hiring novice HF nurses into the clinician roles. Assessing nurse's knowledge to ensure the hiring of competent specialty HF nurses has been a challenge as there are no standardized HFC HF competences. Once the nurse is hired into the role, they are also struggling with identifying their HF knowledge gaps and assessing learning needs as there is no provincial standardized resource that outlines their specialized body of knowledge.

Understanding International Negotiation and Conflict Management Strategies in Diplomacy

This study describes the lived experiences of leader diplomats that have effectively negotiated agreements and solved conflicts. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the strategies diplomats use in international negotiations and conflict management. A qualitative phenomenological descriptive approach was used to achieve this purpose. Seven senior leaders and diplomats from five countries and cultures, with a total of 250 years of experience in the field, described the trajectories they experienced in different international negotiation and conflict situations. Transcriptions of interviews were used as the primary source of data in this study. This study found specific bodies of knowledge that influence success in negotiation and conflict management. Results show that diplomats implement different strategies while they negotiate, culture and social skills, including emotions, are very important ingredients in international negotiation that significantly influenced effective negotiation processes and conflict management outcomes. This research can serve as guidance for leaders negotiating complex deals and managing difficult conflicts. This study aspires to contribute to the body of best practices for diplomats across the world.

Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation: Special report

Development of any new profession is dependent on the development of a special body of knowledge that is the domain of the profession. Key to this is research. Following sustained lobbying, the Queensland Government agreed to establish an emergency medicine research fund as part of an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement in 2006. That fund is managed by the Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation. The present article describes the strategic approaches of the Foundation in its first 3 years, the application of research funds, and foreshadows an evaluative framework for determining the strategic value of this investment. The Foundation has developed a range of personnel and project support funding programmes, and competition for funding has increased. Ongoing evaluation will seek to determine the effectiveness of the current funding strategy on improving the effectiveness of research performance. It will also evaluate the clinical and organizational outcomes.

Lower Extremity Orthoses in Children With Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy

Understanding trends in the prevalence of children with cerebral palsy is vital to evaluating and estimating supportive services for children, families, and caregivers. The majority of children with cerebral palsy require lower extremity orthoses to stabilize their muscles. The pediatric nurse needs a special body of knowledge to accurately assess, apply, manage, teach, and evaluate the use of lower extremity orthoses typically prescribed for this vulnerable population. Inherent in caring for these children is the need to teach the child, the family, and significant others the proper application and care of the orthoses used in hospital and community settings. Nursing literature review does not provide a basis for evidence in designing and teaching orthopaedic care for children with orthoses. A protocol for orthoses management has been developed to assist caregivers to accurately care for children with lower extremity orthotic devices.