Research Study Research Articles

Kaleidoscopic Inquiries: Queering Approaches to Organizational Diversity Work

This multi-site qualitative research study utilizes a queer theoretical framework to analyze norms and normativity in organizational diversity work. The findings suggest that diversity work contributes to an ontological bifurcation of the individual and organization that foregrounds the individual and casts the organization to the background as an accessory to personal development. To understand how this ontological bifurcation emerges, the analysis traces three metaphors as focal points of norm inquiry related to diversity work – journey, container, and table – and considers them alongside the practices of training, data collection, and positional leadership. The persistent bifurcation of organization and individual helps to reinstate the very inequities that diversity work seeks to address, suggesting to both scholars and practitioners the need for a more durable disruption of the status quo in diversity work.

Impediments to the Implementation of Criminal Penalties in Sharia and Law: A comparative study

This research study aimed to identify the obstacles to the implementation of penal sanctions in Islamic Sharia law and Jordanian penal law, by examining these obstacles from the texts of the Quran, the Prophetic Sunnah, and the opinions of jurisprudential schools, in comparison with Jordanian penal law. The study concluded that Islamic Sharia differs from some of the legal impediments stipulated by the Jordanian legislator, although it agrees with most of these impediments, especially regarding the avoidance of punishment based on suspicion, the necessity of verifying the elements of the crime, the suspension of punishment in cases of necessity, self-defense, and forgiveness by the victim.

Hacker education and transformative agency: an empirical study in hacker communities and in the school case of Conexão Escola-Mundo

ABSTRACT This paper investigates how particular aspects of hacker education are perceived as drivers of transformative agency in hacker communities and a brazilian school by applying a qualitative study of a broader mixed-method research. The analysis revealed a multidimensional understanding of hacker education, pointing to elements of a transformative activist stance based pedagogy in digitalized societies. Six dimensions emerged: inquietude, action-fun, collective, society-community, sharing and the humanistic-technological dimension. The findings indicate that in both contexts, the co-creative process, in addition to strengthening the sense of community, is what drives participants to act as transformative agents through the artifacts they can create.

A Study of Influence of Creativity of students and Socio-Economic status of their Parents on Academic Achievement at Higher Seconday Level

Given the conditions prevailing in the contemporary period, performance in education matters most. Life in general and for or a student in particular has become highly competitive. Today there is no place for a mediocre student, there is a limited room at the top, that room too only for the best. Today's society is more complex with huge knowledge base and much more complex and huge situations. A child in turn can not simply learn all these things through observation of his/her parents. To import the knowledge a school has become more essential and crucial. Thus, in a way the performance of an individual in an educational institution is relatively depended on the personal trends, quality of educational institution and the society as a whole. Thus, the present research work titled "A study of influence of creativity of students and socio-economic status of their parents on academic achievement at higher secondary level of Western Odisha" was undertaken. Present research study to as implications derived from the study, in this chapter an attempt was to capture holistic view. Educationists and psychologists have focused on discrete elements of reading and writing skills. Such a skill- based approach conceptualizes literacy as an autonomous variable whose impact on society and cognition flows from its intrinsic character. This model tends not only to make claims to universals but also privileges the text and the teacher, totally ignoring the knowledge the learner brings to the learning situation. It doesn't concern itself with the questions of power distribution and authority relations in society nor does it deal with the politics of literacy

Examining the Role and Perspectives of Stakeholders in the Implementation of NEP 2020 for Inclusive Education in India

With an emphasis on promoting inclusive education in India, this research study critically examines the roles played by various stakeholders in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's implementation. This study also examines how different stakeholders—policymakers, educators, parents, and community members—have shaped the inclusive education environment. This study in conceptual and review based. The findings of this analysis provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and advocacy groups striving to navigate and enhance the inclusive education paradigm in India

What do parents of nonverbal and minimally verbal autistic children think about genomic autism research?

In Summer 2021, a genomic study of autism, Spectrum 10 K, was paused due to backlash from the autistic and autism communities. This raised important questions about how these communities perceive genomic research. The Personal Experiences of Autism and Perceptions of DNA-based research study was established to address this issue among a range of sub-groups within these communities. Twenty parents of nonverbal or minimally verbal autistic children took part in the current study. Data were provided in diverse formats including online interviews, telephone interviews, and writing. This approach was co-produced with autistic experts by experience and involved a parent of a minimally verbal autistic child. Data were analysed using reflexive Thematic Analysis. We found that participants were supportive of autism research, including some genomic research, as long as it is designed to support autistic people and is ethical and transparent. However, while some believed that polygenic scores, genomic predictors of the statistical probability of being autistic, would be helpful, others argued that this would only be true in an ideal world and that the world is too far from ideal. Participants felt excluded from the autistic and autism communities and that the dominant voices in those communities do not represent them or their children. We concluded that genomic researchers need to work with the autistic and autism communities to design future work, and that it is important to ensure a representative range of voices are heard.

Introduction: Student Experiences of COVID-19 Around the Globe: Insights from the Pandemic Journaling Project.

The COVID-19 crisis has taken a significant toll on the mental health of many students around the globe. In addition to the traumatic effects of loss of life and livelihood within students' families, students have faced other challenges, including disruptions to learning and work; decreased access to health care services; emotional struggles associated with loneliness and social isolation; and difficulties exercising essential rights, such as rights to civic engagement, housing, and protection from violence. Such disruptions negatively impact students' developmental, emotional, and behavioral health and wellbeing and also become overlaid upon existing inequities to generate intersectional effects. With these findings in mind, this special issue investigates how COVID-19 has affected the mental health and wellbeing of high school and college students in diverse locations around the world, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, China, and South Africa. The contributions collected here analyze data collected through the Pandemic Journaling Project, a combined research study and online journaling platform that ran on a weekly basis from May 2020 through May 2022, along with complementary projects and using additionalresearch methods, such as semi-structured interviews and autobiographical writing by students. The collection offers a nuanced, comparative window onto the diverse struggles that students and educators experienced at the height of the pandemic and considers potential solutions for addressing the long-term impacts of COVID-19. It also suggests a potential role for journaling in promoting mental wellbeing among youth, particularly in the Global South.

Exploring the Relationship Between Workload, Leadership and Turnover Intentions among Taiwanese Army Personnel A Research Study

Abstract This study investigates the relationship between workload, leadership and turnover intention among personnel in the Taiwanese Army, with leadership as a mediator. The research subjects are personnel from the grassroots battalion units of the army, with a total of 415 valid responses collected. The collected data were statistically analyzed using descriptive analysis, reliability and validity analysis, discriminant validity analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and Sobel test to understand the associations between workload, leadership and turnover intention. The findings reveal that workload has a significant positive impact on turnover intention, while it has a significant negative impact on leadership. Leadership in turn, exhibits a significant negative impact on turnover intention, with partial mediating effects. The emphasis of this research lies in fostering open communication between supervisors and subordinates, fair task allocation, adequate support and the establishment of a positive work environment and atmosphere to mitigate turnover intention among personnel. Subsequent recommendations are proposed for relevant military authorities and scholars to consider. Keywords: Workload, Leadership, Turnover Intention.

Journalistic Construction of Reporting on Covid-19 in Online Media

The Covid-19 pandemic is a global outbreak that has significantly changed people's social lives. The complexity of this issue has caused the coverage of Covid-19 to be dominant with negative news. Negative news can produce various psychological disorders that make readers avoid the news. The news media thus has a significant role in bridging society's adaptation to new patterns of life during the pandemic and adaptation to inconsistent government policies in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is important for the news media to be able to bridge government policies with the psychological conditions of people affected by the pandemic. In this research study, constructive journalism can be one solution to overcome this problem. Through constructive journalism, the journalist's job is not only to focus on negative things but also on solutions and positive sides when covering news. Quantitative content analysis was used in this research by applying six elements of constructive journalism to 7 covid-19 articles published by CNN.com in 2020-2022. The research results show that news articles about Covid-19 on CNN.com are not constructive. All elements of constructive journalism found in these articles are below 50%. The element with the highest percentage found was The Rosling (47%) The lowest element found in covid-19 articles on CNN.com was the co-creation element at 9%.

Critical Qualifications for Students Looking for an Internship in Therapeutic Recreation: Evaluated by Agency Supervisors and Academic Supervisors

This research study was conducted to ascertain what qualities agencies seek when selecting interns in relation to the qualities higher learning institutions stress. To date, academic and agency internship supervisors in Therapeutic Recreation (TR) have done no study to identify the critical attributes necessary for successful student internship placement. Because these attributes have not been identified, gaps exist between what agencies expect and what schools teach. To fill these gaps, data collected from both agency and academic supervisors were analyzed using importance by performance analysis (IPA) techniques. The findings of the study showed that both commonalities and differences were present in the actual perception of importance between agency and academic internship supervisors. This study provided recommendations to practitioners, educators, and researchers based on the study findings.

THE USE OF KAHOOT! IN INCREASING THE MOTIVATION OF PUPILS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING

The Malaysian Ministry of Education has ensured equality of education for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) in learning English in schools. Despite the passing years and a significant investment in teaching the English language, there are still several pupils who have not yet reached a high level of language proficiency. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent of the use of the Kahoot! application! contribute to motivating SEN in learning English. The study used a quasi-experimental design. Plus, quantitative and qualitative methods are used in the study. Fourteen SEN pupils from Sekolah Kebangsaan Paya Rumput, Melaka were selected as sample studies through purposeful sampling techniques. Data collection procedures are implemented with the permission of the Education Policy Planning and Research Division (eRAS) and study schools. Next, pre-test and post-test as well as teaching using the Kahoot! module conducted after a pilot study was conducted at the study site. In the data analysis, the data obtained from the post-test is compared with the results of the pre-test to identify the level of SEN achievement. Followed, the qualitative feedback was analyzed thematically to determine the level of motivation of the treatment group in learning English. Therefore, the results of the pre-test and post-test are used to identify the level of SEN's motivation in learning English. The results show that the motivation level of SEN is high with the use of Kahoot! in learning.

The impact of online lesson study on students’ achievement in mathematics in China

ABSTRACT Chinese education has been striving to enhance student achievement in mathematics, and one approach that has shown promise is the improvement of teacher preparation. However, the implementation of formalized Lesson Study (LS) in China necessitates the establishment of new and effective structures to facilitate its practice. Additionally, due to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, distance education has become increasingly prevalent. To investigate the potential benefits of combining LS with online education, the authors conducted an action research study of classroom practices. This mixed-method study aimed to determine whether the use of O-LS (Online Lesson Study) among in-service secondary mathematics teachers would improve student performance in mathematics and to explore the factors that influenced teachers’ pedagogical practice. For the quantitative research component of the study, a sample size of 68 was selected from two intact mixed-ability classes in a secondary school population, with 34 participants in each of the experimental and control groups. This action research study highlights the significance of O-LS in the context of Chinese society and demonstrates the successful integration of online education with LS to improve student achievement in mathematics.

A Thin Line between Education and Certification: A Battle of PhD Supervision in South African Universities

This study sought to critically review and demystify the postgraduate research supervision in South African universities. There is unnecessary discrimination among scholars concerning the certification of lecturers in South African universities. Some lecturers are not recognized as academically fit to supervise doctoral students even when there is evidence that they have the capacity to supervise doctoral research. While there is a lack of recognition of some lecturers with regard to doctoral research supervision, others support this lack of recognition with the argument that it is not fair for doctoral research to be supervised by a lecturer who is still a doctoral candidate. However, this paper argued that it is irrational to think that all lecturers with no PhD completely lack knowledge about academic research. This becomes more irrational if the lecturer in question has some published research works and has shown the skill through conference presentations. Against this backdrop using analytic theory, this study sought to challenge the status quo of how doctoral research is perceived in universities. This study utilized a conceptual desktop form of qualitative research and all sources used are adequately acknowledged. At the core of this paper, the researcher sought to appeal for co-supervision as recognition of those lecturers who are still pursuing their PhDs but already show the capacity to contribute to doctoral research supervision. In its entirety, this desktop conceptual research study found that the lack of recognition in South African universities is a neglect of upcoming researchers and it is recommended that lecturers who are upcoming researchers be involved in postgraduate/ doctoral research supervision. This study’s contribution is to motivate collaboration in doctoral supervision and mentorship for lecturers who are upcoming scholars in South African universities. Keywords: Doctoral Research, Lack of Lecturer’s Recognition, Universities Irrationality, Academic Experience

Detection of the infective Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes by RT-qPCR assay from a malaria-endemic region of Northeastern India

IntroductionThe diagnosis of infectious reservoirs in malaria (gametocytes) is necessary, especially in low-density infections and asymptomatic malaria patients. The gametocyte stage is a surrogate marker for infection of P. falciparum malaria in healthy individuals. The early detection of infectious gametocytes and treatment will strengthen our efforts in curbing transmission. The nested PCR and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) methods have been demonstrated for the diagnosis of infectious gametocyte reservoirs. In this study, RDT, blood smear microscopy, and nested-PCR were used for the detection of P. falciparum and P. vivax, and compared with RT-qPCR detection of Pfg27 gametocyte biomarker gene.MethodsIn the present cross-sectional study, 356 human blood samples were collected from endemic areas of Kokrajhar Assam (asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria patients) for malaria diagnosis.ResultsA total of 8.42%(30/356) incidence of malaria was observed. Malaria patients were observed to be both symptomatic, 80%(24/30; 13Pf+11Pv), and asymptomatic, 20%(6 (4Pf +2Pv)). More than 64%(11/17) of Pf and 92.3%(12/13) of Pv infections were observed in children and the adolescent population (age <20 years) by RDT, microscopy, nested PCR, and RT-qPCR methods. The prevalence of Pf infection was 4.77%(17/356) by RT-qPCR method. Of 16 the Pf positive samples 81.25%(13/16) were symptomatic and 18.75%(3/16) were asymptomatic. One asymptomatic individual was found positive for Pf infection by the RT-qPCR method.ConclusionThe findings from this research study revealed that the routine microscopy and RDT methods are insufficient for detecting all asymptomatic malaria and gametocyte infectious reservoirs. The early detection of infectious P. falciparum gametocytes and the treatment of patients will be helpful in preventing the transmission of malaria.

Clinical decision-making processes among graduate nurses, specialist nurses and nurse practitioners A collaborative international study.

To explore clinical decision-making by comparing the processes used by three groups of nurses in the emergency departments of three hospitals: in Norway, Finland and Ireland. Clinical decision-making in an emergency department environment is a complex process often occurring in times of crisis. It is an important aspect contributing to the quality of care. However, empirical research is limited regarding the decision-making process in different nursing roles. In accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research, a qualitative and observational study was conducted to explore clinical decision-making by comparing the processes used by three groups of nurses in the emergency departments of three hospitals: in Norway, Finland and Ireland. Six Registered Nurses, six Nurse Specialists and six Nurse Practitioners were observed. A total of 40hours of observation was made at each setting according to a structured observation guideline, followed by clarifying questions. The data material was analysed by means of a qualitative manifest and latent content analysis. Three themes arose: acting in accordance with routines, previous experience and intuition; considering patient experience; and facilitating new alternatives based on critical thinking. The Registered Nurses mainly used the first approach, the Nurse Specialists used the first and the second approaches, and the Nurse Practitioners used all three approaches. The results highlight the differences in decision-making processes between these groups. Nurse Practitioners were the only group that facilitated and evaluated new alternatives using their clinical autonomy, such as stepping up and making independent and collaborative decision-making. The results can be used in countries developing advanced practice nursing education and defining their scope of practice to inform stakeholders.

<i>Re</i>-evaluating the Use of Corpus-Based Instruction in a Language Teacher Education Context

This paper presents a replication study of research published 16 years ago by one of the authors (Farr, 2008). At that time, research into the use of corpus-based approaches in teacher education was sparse. This has changed somewhat, but is still limited. Existing research shows that teachers identify a number of reservations to the integration of corpus-based approaches in their teaching, including time-related obstacles, and a lack of confidence, awareness and training (Boulton & Tyne, 2014). Clearly there are still challenges to be overcome and further insights to be gleaned from research into the integration of corpus linguistics into teacher education programmes. As with the original study, this paper reports the ways in which corpus approaches have been integrated into a 1-year MA in TESOL programme. It outlines findings from survey results, which explore the student teachers’ perspectives on their experiences of using corpora, both as a language awareness tool for professional development and research, and as a resource for materials development. Additionally, it discusses the potential issues foreseen by practitioners in relation to using such an approach in their careers. The investigation leads to the conclusion that there is generally a positive predisposition towards the use of corpora.

‘If you had to write a short diversity statement about yourself, what would you say?’: using diversity statements and introductory stories to develop holistic understandings of participants’ intersectional identities

ABSTRACT There is an increasing focus on collecting more diverse demographic data from research participants but standard methodological approaches still hinder such efforts. This paper addresses the need for methodological improvements by advocating for the inclusion of self-written diversity statements in demographic surveys as a form of epistemic justice. Using examples from a large qualitative research study, I demonstrate the depth and richness of data that can be obtained through self-written diversity statements. In particular, I highlight the benefits of combining open-ended demographic questions and self-written diversity statements into holistic introductory stories to help capture the complexity of participants’ intersectional identities. Therefore, I argue that using such an approach gives participants the agency to choose how they are represented in research.

Diet quality and blood pressure among pregnant women with overweight or obesity: A secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials.

Maternal obesity is a significant risk factor for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. High diet quality may protect against this, yet data regarding the relationship between diet quality and blood pressure among pregnant women with raised body mass index (BMI) is limited. This is a secondary analysis (n = 543) of women with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 from two randomized controlled trials; PEARS (Pregnancy Exercise and nutrition Research Study with smartphone application support) and ROLO (Randomized cOntrol trial of LOw glycemic index diet to prevent macrosomia in euglycemic women). Blood pressure was measured at 10-18 weeks and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Mean arterial pressure was calculated as (diastolic blood pressure [systolic blood pressure diastolic blood pressure]). Diet quality was assessed using 3-day food diaries, and Alternative Healthy Eating Index for Pregnancy (AHEI-P) scores were generated, quantifying alignment of food intakes with dietary guidelines in first and early third trimesters. The cohort was divided based on AHEI-P tertiles to explore differences at an alpha significance value of <0.05. The mean age of the group was 32.21 ± 4.39 years with a median body mass index (BMI) of 28.13 (IQR 3.47) kg/m2. Mean arterial pressures in the first and third trimesters were 81.07 ± 9.00 mmHg and 82.33 ± 7.53 mmHg, respectively. Rates of elevated blood pressure (≥120/80 mmHg) were 22.33% in trimester 1 and 24.48% in early trimester 3. Mean AHEI-P scores in trimester 1 and early trimester 3 were 53.90 ± 10.43 and 54.05 ± 10.76, respectively. There was no correlation between AHEI-P score and blood pressure and no differences in blood pressure between AHEI-P tertiles at either timepoint (all P-values <0.05). A higher proportion of those with elevated early third trimester blood pressure had a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 compared with those with normal blood pressure (40.31% vs 28.64%, P = 0.016). While diet remains an important factor in maternal health and wellbeing, we did not find a relationship between diet quality as measured by AHEI-P and blood pressure among pregnant women with BMI ≥25 kg/m2. High BMI remains a risk factor for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The development of the research on the history of libraries: a handful of reflections from the French perspective

Studies on the history of libraries as a research field within a domain of the French historiographic tradition first appeared towards the end of the 1980s. Its theoretical underpinnings were in fact provided by the existing studies on the history of books and the founding works by Henri-Jean Martin (1924–2007). Despite a sizeable number of publications following the publication of the Histoire des bibliothèques françaises (Paris, 1988–1992, 4 vols.), this particular research area somehow failed to take advantage of the dynamics generally attributed to works on the history of books. Largely focusing on institutional and present-day issues, a substantial portion of the study on the history of libraries continued for a long time to be isolated and dominated by library-based authors only. A change in this situation came as late as the first decade of the 21st century and was greatly influenced by the works of the recently deceased historian Frédéric Barbier (1952–2023). Since that time, we have been witnessing a significant widening of perspectives, very much in line with the wish expressed by F. Barbier himself in his Histoire des bibliothèques en Occident (ed. I, Paris, 2013). This area of research (history of libraries) attracts interests of more and more researchers and has become a transnational domain at the pan-European level. The present research study documents these cultural and timeless transitions (challenging the perceived divisions between the Middle Ages and the Ancien Régime, and the Ancien Régime and modern times), and thus becoming multidisciplinary as well as interdisciplinary studies that integrate a number of disciplines (political history, social history, history of culture, architecture, etc.). At the same time, research on the history of libraries retains a strong relationship with studies on the history of books and media. The position and standing of libraries, that went through profound transformations due to both cuts in their budgets and the implications of the digital revolution in the first years of the 21st century, seems to be endangered, both as an institution and a place. However, their purpose in modern democracy is not outdated and they still perform a significant mission by making it possible for all to have equal access to cultural resources and media. Libraries provide non-vertical mediation (i.e. cataloguing and metadata creation, classification and storage …), that is still essential to make data and documents available. They continue to accommodate in one cultural space – that becomes more and more comfortable and friendly – both readers and visitors that learn to “live together” within this space, conforming at the same time to applicable rules and regulations. Despite their seemingly disadvantageous situation, one may though assume that modern libraries will continue to provide fresh and stimulating material for historical research for long years to come

Financial Literacy in Promoting Financial Investment Planning: A College Level Study

Purpose&#x0D; The objective of this research study is to find out Impact of financial literacy in promoting financial investments among college students.&#x0D; Design/methodology/approach:&#x0D; The study approaches Qualitative research using descriptive research method.&#x0D; Findings:&#x0D; The most influencing variables on the investment planning are financial knowledge, financial risk perception, Cost of investment &#x0D; Practical implications&#x0D; – The practical implications are about giving information about the financial curriculum framing for the college students which might have impact on financial investments&#x0D; Originality/value: After initiating primary data collection using questionnaire with measuring and ranking scales the variables such as financial knowledge, risk perception, cost of investment was found out.&#x0D; Paper type: Empirical Research Paper&#x0D;