Opinion Survey Research Articles

Judicial Decisions, Backlash and Secessionism: The Spanish Constitutional Court and Catalonia

Abstract We exploit a unique quasi-experiment to study the effects of judicial decisions on sensitive issues on political attitudes. In 2010, the Spanish Constitutional Court partially overruled the new Catalan Constitution—the Estatut—that granted further decentralisation. Our identification strategy relies on the fact that this ruling occurred amid a public opinion survey. We find that the ruling increased support for independence by 5 percentage points. We interpret this result as evidence of judicial backlash on political attitudes: a judicial decision that limited further autonomy triggered a shift in attitudes towards even more autonomy. Moreover, the ruling decreased trust in the courts and satisfaction with democracy. This backlash of political attitudes extends to other spheres: Catalans increased their national identification with their region and the support for pro-decentralisation parties. Finally, we show that the ruling increased polarisation around the partisan and identity cleavages.

Breaking the stigma: the joint effort of the government, print media, and citizens toward transgender education equality (2018–2022)

The issue of transgender education and equality has long been neglected in Pakistan, leading to a lack of awareness and acceptance of the transgender community. The present study focuses on the joint effort of the government, print media, and citizens toward breaking the stigma and promoting transgender education and equality. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative content analysis of articles from three prominent Pakistani media outlets with a quantitative public opinion survey to evaluate the extent of media coverage and public attitudes toward transgender education and equality. This coverage helped create awareness and understanding of the transgender community. The government also took significant steps (Transgender Act 2018) by passing policies favoring the transgender community. Furthermore, the study showed that citizens have a positive attitude toward transgender equality, a sign of creating an inclusive society. The study also concluded that joint efforts between the government, print media, and citizens can help people break the stigma and promote transgender education and equality. This approach will pave the way for a more inclusive society that recognizes and values the rights of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.

Pengaruh Politik Minoritas di Indonesia dalam Pilpress 2024 (Relevansi Konsep Fairness John Rawls)

The focus of this research examines the relevance and implications of John Rawls' concept of fairness in the context of minority politics in Indonesia, especially in the 2024 presidential election. John Rawls, in his A Theory of Justice, proposes the concept of justice as fairness, which is based on two principles: the same basic freedoms for all citizens and fair equality of opportunity. This study analyzes how this concept can be applied to Indonesia's political situation, where ethnic and religious minorities are often marginalized in the political and policy-making process. Through literature analysis and public opinion survey methods, this study evaluates how the 2024 presidential election reflects Rawls' principles of justice, particularly in terms of fair treatment, distribution of opportunities, and inclusion. The findings show that the Prabowo-Gibran presidential ticket received widespread support from various religious groups, including minorities, indicating the potential for inclusivity and acceptance in the context of this election. However, the study also underlines the risk of polarization and discrimination in political campaigns, emphasizing the need to maintain plurality

Thinking Through Targeting: Social Media an Effective Tool for Influencing People and Society

Every day, a wide range of stakeholders target us on social media platforms in an attempt to influence our decisions and behaviour. These stakeholders might be politicians hoping to win over support from the public and secure votes, organizations trying to convey the benefits of their decisions and actions to us as citizens, or commercials trying to sell us something. We absorb new media content, and it can be difficult to distinguish between fake and real news in this redundant environment with widespread data invasion. Beginning with the INSCOP opinion survey from 2023, which investigates Romania's exposure to propaganda and disinformation, our goals are to analyse how audiences were affected by the disinformation narratives in Ukrainian war context, and look at the current social media trends related to this topic using the analytical techniques made available by new media instruments. We want to highlight how social media is the main channel used in Romania for disseminating false information, and we also want to draw attention to the connections that can be made between those who spread false information and the traits of the individuals they are trying to reach. The present paper is part of a larger PhD research program that focuses on consolidating a society’s security culture through better institutional strategic communication; therefore, all the findings will be used to this end.

Management of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy in India: A review of current practices and challenges

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a major global health concern that can lead to difficulties for both the mother and the foetus, especially in pregnant women. The physiological demand of iron during pregnancy increases threefold to support fetoplacental development and maternal adaptation to pregnancy. This study aimed to identify gaps in current IDA management, limitations of conventional oral iron therapy, and the need for effective and well-tolerated treatments.The objective of this study was to understand the gap of current treatment options in IDA management, its limitations, and possible effective strategies for better management.A questionnaire-based opinion survey involving top gynecologists across India was conducted. The survey aimed to gather data on the challenges faced with conventional oral iron therapy, the desire for a change in oral iron salts, and the preference for novel oral iron prescriptions for their patients.Data obtained from the survey showed that 82% of gynecologists and obstetricians noticed challenges with conventional oral iron therapy. 86% wanted to change the oral iron salts, and 70% would like to prescribe novel oral iron for their patients. Ferric maltol, a novel form of chelated oral iron, was introduced as a potential solution for IDA management. It has been studied in various clinical indications, such as IDA associated with inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, and pulmonary hypertension, showing significant improvements in hemoglobin and iron indices with good tolerability throughout treatment duration.The study results demonstrate that ferric maltol is a suitable and convenient treatment option for individuals seeking long-term, convenient, and well-tolerated management of IDA.

Stakeholder perceptions in mangrove management in the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka

Mangroves are recognised as social-ecological systems where ecological dimensions constantly interact with human dimensions. In the Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka, mangroves constitute the primary forest type. However, a destructive civil war spanning over 25 years, heavily affected the local vegetation and local inhabitants. Large patches of mangrove forests were damaged and remained inaccessible for a considerable time, compelling most of the population to temporarily abandon their land. This study aimed to investigate the main mangrove goods and services that the local population benefits from and gather opinions of mangrove management stakeholders regarding mangrove conservation in the Jaffna Peninsula through a mixed methods approach. Ethnobiological surveys were conducted with coastal communities, along with Q methodology, expert opinion surveys and additional semi-structured interviews with mangrove management stakeholders. Ethnobiological surveys revealed a significant distancing of local communities from mangrove goods and services. The Q methodology identified three discourses: community-oriented, government-oriented, and mangrove conservation oriented. Expert opinion surveys highlighted encroachment and pollution as major threats to mangroves. Issues raised in the semi structured interviews include challenges regarding land ownership permits during and after the war, weak interactions among different stakeholders with overlapping jurisdiction, failed replantation efforts and scarcity of scientific data for mangrove management. Addressing these issues is crucial not only for fostering effective mangrove management and conservation in the Jaffna Peninsula but also for potentially benefiting other districts in Sri Lanka and beyond.

Preferences for growth strategies in advanced democracies: A new ‘representation gap’?

AbstractWhile research on the economic characteristics of growth models across countries is now extensive, research on their politics is in its infancy, even though governments routinely pursue different strategies to generate growth. In particular, we lack evidence on (1) whether citizens have coherent preferences towards growth strategies, (2) what growth strategies citizens prefer and (3) what shapes their preferences. We address these questions through a new survey of public opinion in Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom, which exemplify different economic models. We find that preferences for growth strategies are consistent with other policy preferences and are meaningfully structured by class, retirement status, and to a lesser extent, sector of employment. At the same time, differences across class and sector are small, and a large majority of respondents across countries favour wage‐led growth. This hints at a possible ‘representation gap’ since this growth strategy is in crisis everywhere.

Implementing a challenge-based learning experience in a bioinstrumentation blended course

BackgroundBioinstrumentation is essential to biomedical engineering (BME) undergraduate education and professional practice. Several strategies have been suggested to provide BME students with hands-on experiences throughout the curriculum, promoting their preparedness to pursue careers in industry and academia while increasing their learning and engagement. This paper describes the implementation of challenge-based learning (CBL) in an undergraduate bioinstrumentation blended course over the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe CBL experience was implemented in a third-year bioinstrumentation course from the BME program at Tecnologico de Monterrey. Thirty-nine students enrolled in two sections formed fourteen teams that tackled blended learning activities, including online communication, lab experiments, and in-person CBL activities. Regarding the latter, students were challenged to design, prototype, and test a respiratory or cardiac gating device for radiotherapy. An institutional student opinion survey was used to assess the success of our CBL implementation.ResultsStudent responses to the end-of-term survey showed that they strongly agreed that this course challenged them to learn new concepts and develop new skills. Furthermore, they rated the student-lecturer interaction very positively despite the blended format. Overall, students assessed their learning experience positively. However, implementing this CBL experience required a substantial time increase in planning, student tutoring, and constant communication between lecturers and the industry partner.ConclusionThis work provides an effective instance of CBL for BME education to improve students’ learning experience despite decreased resource efficiency. Our claim is supported by the student’s performance and the positive feedback from our industrial partner.

Trust in Iran and Türkiye: A Comparative Study of Interpersonal, Institutional, and Social Trust

Human beings are social creatures in their nature, as Aristotle stated 2400 years ago. Society needs trust for economic and social development as it shapes interactions and relations among individuals and groups. Opinion surveys offer global comparisons of trust levels and show heterogeneity. For example, in countries such as Sweden and Norway, more than 60% of respondents reported that 'most people can be trusted.' On the other hand, in countries such as Türkiye, Iran, and other Middle East countries, less than 15% think this is the case. This study offers an overview of trust in Iran and Türkiye. It examines types of trust utilizing the World Values Survey data. Citizens in Iran and Türkiye have the highest trust in close groups such as their families. On the other hand, trust in outgroups such as people from another nationality or different religions could be higher to moderate. Moreover, the Iranian and Turkish public consider institutions such as the armed forces more trustworthy, whereas international institutions such as the IMF and WHO are less trusted.

Technology-Mediated Learning in Higher Education Physiology Classes: The Use of MeGli App to Teach Glycemic Control

Glycemic control is a fundamental physiological concept in diabetes and obesity. Proper training of healthcare professionals in this content is essential for disease prevention and management. Active learning methods, including technology-mediated learning (TML), are important for effective education and student engagement. Given the complexity of physiology, educational technology can facilitate the visualization of its dynamic processes. Thus, we've developed the MeGli smartphone application as an educational tool to teach glycemic control and related conditions, aimed at undergraduate students in health and biological courses. Our hypothesis is that the use of MeGli in Physiology classes promotes student learning and satisfaction. MeGli ( https://t.ly/crEwT ) is a didactic simulator for glycemic metabolism, allowing users to observe postprandial and fasting events, interact with objects, and explore cellular processes. The aim of this study was to conduct and evaluate a TML class using the app and its impact on students' outcomes in Biological Sciences Physiology classes at University of Campinas (n = 23). We analyzed pretest-posttest knowledge questionnaires using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test (p ≤ 0.05) due to non-normal data (Shapiro-Wilk normality test). Additionally, we applied a Likert scale opinion survey. Prior to the intervention, students provided informed consent, ensuring anonymous participation. The use of MeGli in a non-expository class, where students consulted the app in an active-learning process for answering and discussing questions, led to a significant improvement in their performance on the topic of glucose metabolism and diabetes (pretest mean 5,739± 0,3784 versus 8,652± 0,2142 on posttest; p < 0.0001). In terms of student feedback, opinion questionnaire results were overwhelmingly positive. All students agreed that the app was useful for learning and helped in their understanding of diabetes mechanisms. 87% understood the importance of healthy eating and physical exercise through the app. 91.3% reported a higher acquisition of knowledge due to the app's use and found the app-integrated class more stimulating and engaging. These findings strongly support the effectiveness of the MeGli application in facilitating physiology education, leading to a more motivating educational experience. Consequently, this study is significant in introducing an innovative tool that mediates active learning with technology, enhancing physiology teaching strategies and improving the education of future healthcare professionals. CNPq (441028/2020-9), FAPESP (2018/26080-4), CEPID (2013/07607-8). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Izolacja osób z niepełnosprawnościami w kontekście prawnych, ekonomicznych, społecznych i technologicznych skutków pandemii COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the functioning of many social groups in Poland. Scientific publications addressing this issue in the field of social sciences focused primarily on the situation of organisations in the context of remote work and technological transformations associated with new challenges arising from isolation. The literature review conducted identified a knowledge gap, characterised by a limited number of publications addressing the effects of isolation on people with disabilities, particularly the shift in power dynamics in the broader environment that affects the lives of this social group. The research problem was formulated in the form of a question: What are the consequences of isolation for people with disabilities from the legal, economic, social, and technological dimensions of the pandemic? The study results revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge to the healthcare system regarding people with disabilities. The research methods included literature review, an opinion survey, tools, PEST analysis, and statistical analysis.

Identity and audiovisual language: the case of autism in film and television in three high-impact products

ABSTRACT Audiovisual representation models in film and television influence the public constitution of people's identity and lifestyles. This is particularly important in minority groups or those with some type of disability, since both representation and learning about said condition are assumed by the majority. For this reason, this article analyses the representation of three high-impact audiovisual products: the film Rain Man (1988), the medical drama The Good Doctor (2017) and the legal series Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022), which include autistic protagonists, and assume a certain discourse on this condition in view of the general public. In this sense, the analysis of their content and an opinion survey of a sample of viewers in the Peruvian environment are developed. All this, with the purpose of analysing the degree of representativeness that these audiovisual products have regarding autism, its characteristics and/or the construction of stereotypes.

How to follow up patients with brachial plexus birth palsy in the long term: a survey of expert opinion.

There is no generally accepted diagnostic, treatment and follow-up algorithm for brachial plexus birth palsy in the current literature. This study evaluates the opinion of experts in the field of brachial plexus birth palsy surgery, to provide a follow-up guideline. A total of 35 experts attending an international meeting with a mean of 21.5 years (SD 10.1) of experience in the field filled out a questionnaire to evaluate the following: (1) the surgeons' background; (2) clinical follow-up; (3) radiological follow-up; and (4) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains. A mean of 40 new brachial plexus birth palsy patients were seen per year by each expert, of which 36% needed surgery. In total, 27 experts scheduled a regular follow-up every year and the majority (83%) believed that standardized long-term clinical follow-up is necessary. However, standardized radiological follow-up is not necessary. Only 13 of 34 participants used patient-reported outcome measures to investigate ICF domains.Level of evidence: V.

Current practices and opinions on auditory training in adult cochlear implant recipients

ObjectiveTo examine current practices and opinions of cochlear implant (CI) providers with respect to post-implantation auditory training. MethodsA survey was submitted to the American Cochlear Implant Alliance membership that reviewed current practice and opinions with respect to post-implantation auditory training for adult CI recipients. Main outcome measuresReview of respondent practice, center volume, role on CI team, and current usage and opinions surrounding auditory training, including resources used and schedule of use. ResultsMost (79 %) of the 79 CI providers surveyed reported working at academic centers, 34 % at high-volume centers (>150 CIs/year), and 38 % were surgeons. Nearly all (99 %) respondents recommend auditory training for new adult CI recipients. Just over half (52 %) provide auditory training resources to the patient in the form of a broad list of patient-directed exercises from which a patient could select. A specific training resource, generally a computer-based auditory training program (e.g., AngelSound™), is recommended to patients by 30 % of the respondents.Regarding timing of rehabilitation, median preferred start time was 0 months (interquartile range [IQR] 0–1) post-activation. Sessions were preferably performed for a median of 3 h per week (IQR 2–4) and continued for a median of 12 months (IQR 6–12).Recommendations for auditory training were fairly consistent between surgeon and non-surgeon providers and by center volume. Non-surgeons more often had specific recommendations on training resources, benefits of music, and training condition (e.g., contralateral ear plugged). ConclusionsDespite a lack of clinical guidelines for adult post-implantation auditory training, a cross-sectional survey of providers' current practices and opinions demonstrates that these services are widely recommended and regarded as valuable. Training is almost universally patient-directed and believed to be most beneficial if started soon after activation. Interestingly, specific recommendations for which training approaches to use are not common, suggesting a gap in provider knowledge of which resources are most efficacious.

Teachers' Perceptions about Distributed Leadership Practices in South Asia: A Case Study on Academic Activities in Government Colleges of Bangladesh (BY IJISRT)

The concept of teacher leadership is relatively a new entry into the educational terminology and interpretation in the context of developing countries. The distributed perception on leadership may pave attention about activities orientation, not in position of teacher.  Aims & Objectives In a government college in Bangladesh, this study investigates the perspectives of faculty members regarding the implementation of distributed leadership practices in academic affairs. Furthermore, it investigates the perspectives of educators regarding the challenges associated with the implementation of distributed leadership within that particular institution. This study aims to investigate teachers' perspectives on distributional leadership and the obstacles that hinder its implementation in the academic activities of government colleges in Bangladesh.  Methodology In order to accomplish the research objectives, this study employed qual-quant methods, specifically an opinion survey and interviews with teachers of a government college in Bangladesh who were selected for the study. Participants were purposefully selected from among the teachers who possessed expertise in distributed leadership. Document review for three-dimensionality verification is another method of data collection. Analyzing qualitative data, this investigation employs thematic analysis. Result- The study identifies several obstacles that hinder the implementation of the distributed leadership approach in all academic activities at the chosen government college in Bangladesh. These challenges include a lack of employee commitment to the organization, limitations in management, apprehension regarding power loss, and cultural factors.  Contribution The findings indicate that distributed leadership has been implemented in certain academic activities, and instructor opinions indicate that this leadership style should be utilized in additional activities.

Zdanie pracodawców na temat potencjału osób z niepełnosprawnościami Wyniki wywiadów bezpośrednich z pracodawcami

Employers' opinion on the potential of persons with disabilities. Results of direct interviews with employers People with disabilities are exposed to difficult living and working conditions, which is related to their poorer health and can result in lower income and greater job insecurity. Meanwhile, the inclusion of these people in professional life is an opportunity to use their potential (e.g. skills, competences, talents), which can provide employers with e.g. competitive advantage. The article presents the results of a survey of employers' opinions on the potential of employees with disabilities, conducted using the method of direct interviews with the participation of 25 employers. The vast majority of survey participants declared that people with disabilities have the same potential as other employees. Employers defined this potential as: skills, experience and motivation to work. Most of the respondents claimed that they had knowledge about supporting people with disabilities in the workplace, but at the same time would like to expand it – preferably using a special mobile application. Although the employers spoke positively about the potential of disabled persons, a further in-depth analysis of their opinions is needed in comparison with the opinions of disabled persons, which have a different opinion on the use of their potential in the workplace. Keywords: disabled employee, employee potential, using the potential of a disabled employee, employer

FACTORS INFLUENCING MARKETING OF TOMATOES IN JALINGO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, A CASE STUDY OF CBN REDESIGN OF NAIRA NOTES.

This study was carried out to analyze the factors influencing tomato marketing in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State: A case study of CBN redesign of naira notes. Public opinion survey design was adopted for the study; multi-stage technique was used to select 100 respondents. Data for the study were collected from primary source with the aid of questionnaire. Descriptive statistic and multiple regressions were used to analyzed data. Results of the multiple regressions indicated that the major factors that significantly influenced the marketing of tomato are: annual income (0.390), scarcity of money (-989.943), low patronage (-6130.114) and high transaction charges (-205.636). During the redesign of the new Naira notes in Nigeria, various mediums of buying and selling were observed, as reflected in the provided table 1. The predominant mode of transactions (buying and selling of tomatoes) by tomato marketers was through cash transfer 96.0%. The result further showed that the major constraints faced by the tomato marketers were naira scarcity (100.0 %), low patronage (91.0%), transportation cost (94.0%), and failed cash transfer (93.0%). Also, the major medium of buying and selling tomatoes explored by tomato marketers during the period of new Naira redesign are cash transfer (96.0%) and cash payment (90.0%) in the study area. It was concluded that tomato marketing was negatively and significantly influenced by the CBN redesign of naira currency which led to scarcity of money. It was recommended that government should be discouraged from formulating policy that will bring about scarcity of naira currency in the country as it affects marketing of tomatoes and also policymakers and stakeholders in the tomato marketing sector should focus on strategies to enhance income levels, address challenges related to low patronage, and provide financial support to mitigate constraints during periods of Naira redesign.

Geosocietal Support for Democracy: Survey Evidence from Ukraine

We examine why public support for democracy in Ukraine increased after Russia’s 2014 intervention and surged after Russia’s 2022 invasion—despite concerns that the wartime quest for security would diminish support for political freedoms. We statistically analyze original data generated as part of annual opinion surveys by the Institute of Sociology at Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences in 2017 (N = 2,199), 2018 (N = 1,800), and a 2021–22 panel survey with the same respondents (N = 475) interviewed before and after Russia’s invasion. Our findings indicate that wartime support for democracy is in significant respects geosocietal—arising from the mobilization of civic national identity conditioned by salient geopolitical threats. Civic pride, attribution of threat to an external authoritarian aggressor, and war onset were the strongest and most robust predictors of multiple democracy support indicators, overriding personal loss and stress. The findings call for more attention to the interaction of geopolitical and social contexts shaping political attitudes, with implications for democratic futures globally.

Local perspectives on heritage reconstruction after conflict: a public opinion survey of Aleppo

ABSTRACT The destruction of heritage in conflict has emerged as a key challenge to global security and the prospects of peace. In response, the international community has undertaken several large-scale heritage reconstruction projects on the assumption that they would foster development and promote cohesion. However, to date very little is understood about how local populations value their heritage, how they perceive its destruction, whether they view reconstruction as a priority, and the extent to which they support foreign efforts to rebuild. This article addresses this lacuna by focusing on the case study of Aleppo and documenting the results of an original public opinion survey of 1600 residents. The results hold several implications for heritage projects in Aleppo, namely that locals prefer that heritage reconstruction: not be privileged over security, development and peace; includes the rebuilding of their local religious sites as much as significant non-religious sites; transforms sites into more useful structures for the community; and they want domestic control and agency over the future of their heritage. The article concludes by noting that such findings hold important implications for heritage projects in other (post-)conflict contexts where mass heritage destruction has taken place.

A Features Based Machine Learning Prediction Model for Sentiment Analysis on Social Media

Sentiment analysis is discovering the current ideology opinion of a group of people and their thoughts. The Sentiment analysis based onthe natural reaction of people on social media platform to reflect their mantel status and state. The main poupose of sentiment analysis is to dealing with society's environment and its impact effects towards the media world and surrounding environment. However, this is the key task of understanding every part of the world. The evolution of feeling simulates the sentiment behaviours to shows different direction of reactions and feeling across time. It can help users obtain a more advanced and detailed understanding of the views and attitudes represented in the content provided by users. The development of social media platforms, such as journals, forums, blogs, micro-blogs, Twitter, and social networks, has fostered sentiment analysis. Competitive advantages for organizations are collecting corporate social media and implementing machine learning algorithms to get valuable insights. In this study, our tasks are to show Bag of Words (BoW) and Term-Frequency-Inverse-Document-Frequency (tf_idf) feature-based machine learning prediction models that can help with sentiment analysis and figure out what their customers need and want from company items. Market research is perhaps the most important field for sentiment analysis applications, aside from brand perception and customer opinion surveys and feedbacks. This study results analysis shows the crucial way of classifying social media tweets feedback into positive or negative categories via using the classifier as a baseline to demonstrate in what manner comments are important based on features for any business model and their result.