Theoretical Dimensions Research Articles

CRiTical Race Information Theory as Innovative Pedagogy, Act One: Harder Than You Think, It's a Beautiful Thing

This first act of a two-act counterstory introduces CRiTical Race information Theory (CRiT) as a rapidly developing iteration of Critical Race Theory (CRT) applied within information settings. Act one offers a detailed introduction of CRiT, which includes the articulation of the CRiT framework and tenets, most notably the CRT seminal tenets and tools along with information-specific tenets. CRiT also has a three-dimensional infrastructure consisting of CRiT as Pedagogy, CRiT as Praxis, and CRiT as Theory (including the process and nuances of theory building). Therefore, this first part includes an explanation of the pedagogical, praxis, and theoretical dimensions. Thus, the first act provides the teaching philosophy, learning theories, and delivery method of the pilot CRiT-designed course. What is equally important is that both acts of CRiT as Innovative Pedagogy meet the responsibility of sharing authentic reflections in a manner that respects the critical race counterstory legacy, thus also documenting the journey of lived experiences that go with actively engaging in CRT-based scholarship. Both acts assist those looking to design similar curricular content.

The Impact of Law on Human Rights and Civil Liberties

This investigation is pertinent as it illustrates that legal norms play a dual role—safeguarding the adherence to human rights and freedoms while concurrently imposing specific constraints and, in certain instances, transgressions upon them. The objective of this article is to scrutinize the theoretical and practical dimensions surrounding the influence of law on human rights and civil liberties. It aims to analyze the legal framework and confront pertinent issues by delving into both national and international legislative practices. The focus is on regulatory and legal framework governing the impact of law on human rights and civil liberties. The utilized methodologies encompassed the historical method, structural and functional method, analytical method, comparative method, statistical method, and sociological method. The presence of a legislative rule without effective implementation or with implementation in contravention of rights and civil liberties poses a significant challenge. Resolving current issues demands concerted efforts, rendering this problem of paramount importance and warranting further research and examination. Each state is tasked with harmonizing its national legislation with internationally ratified instruments at both the regulatory and practical levels. A comprehensive exploration of the practical and theoretical dimensions of gaps in legislative processes as a pressing global issue in Ukraine is imperative to ensure the observance of rights and freedoms, and to mitigate the adverse consequences arising from the negative impact of law. 

Reconciling the soil stewardship paradox: Knowledge without care, care without knowledge

Soil stewardship has emerged as a guiding principle shaping the conservation practices adopted by agricultural stakeholders on their lands. Some scholars have advocated a holistic perspective on stewardship, contending that it relies on both “care” and “knowledge”. Our study sought to investigate the degree to which agricultural stakeholders' knowledge of soil science shapes their sense of responsibility and care toward the soil. There is limited prior research that empirically explores the correlation between individuals' soil science knowledge and their degree of soil care. This underscores the originality and innovation of our research. We designed scales to measure individuals' soil knowledge and their sense of soil care. Our sample comprised 150 agricultural stakeholders from geographically distinct regions of Chile (the south, center, and north), enhancing the generalizability of our findings. Our analysis revealed a direct relationship (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) between the theoretical and practical dimensions of soil science knowledge. However, we also observed an intriguing inverse relationship between theoretical soil science knowledge and the degree of soil care (−0.16, p < 0.05), as well as between practical soil science knowledge and the level of soil care (−0.24, p < 0.01). In essence, greater knowledge of soil science did not correlate with a greater sense of soil care, contrary to the expectations set by existing literature. In our study, agronomists, who mostly come from urban areas and currently residing in such environments, showed extensive soil science knowledge but relatively lower levels of soil care. In contrast, participants without professional degrees or with non-agricultural degrees, who predominantly hailed from rural backgrounds and currently reside in rural areas, exhibited greater levels of soil care despite having lower levels of soil science knowledge. These observations shed light on the soil stewardship paradox observed in our study, showing a disparity between knowledge without a corresponding sense of care and care without a corresponding level of knowledge. This study emphasizes the importance of adopting a more holistic and nuanced perspective in soil conservation research, acknowledging the intricate relationship between knowledge and care, as we seek to promote sustainable land management practices.

Emerging Developments in DNA Technology and Their Potential Implications for the Criminal Justice System of Pakistan

DNA-based evidence has collected substantial trust in the Criminal Court system. DNA evidence possesses the utmost probative value among all reasonable and accurate claims in the realm of personal identity. An example of a standard step in a DNA investigation is comparing evidentiary samples, such as semen in the case of rape, with a known or reference sample, such as blood from the suspect. Utilizing forensic tools such as DNA profiling could significantly enhance the fairness of the justice system by ensuring equitable treatment for all individuals in court. Both scientific and legal communities have reached a consensus on the truth of this matter, as evidenced by their extensive literature that delves into its theoretical and practical dimensions. Frequently, courts have concurred with the DNA evidence. In recent years, Scientific and Expert Testimony has gained increased utility in complex and specialized domains. Undoubtedly, the assistance of a professional is vital when it comes to resolving a criminal case.

Integrating Health and Smartness—New Sustainable Paradigms for the Urban Environment: A Case Study in Lianshi Town (China)

The concepts of healthy cities and smart cities are popular in emerging research in the 21st century. This study focuses on the existing interrelations between the two notions in terms of socio-spatial quality, technology, and innovation, particularly regarding industrial sites that no longer have a role and constitute ‘urban voids’ with high volumetric concentrations. The fast expansion of cities and the de-industrialization phenomena have resulted in such void-producing blights that compromise public health; environmental quality; and social, economic, and living conditions. Therefore, the authors intend to emphasize the relevance of citizens’ and communities’ engagement in shaping new healthy and smart urban environments. The present method relies on a literature review to describe the current theoretical and practical dimensions of such topics, identifying synergies and trade-offs. After this, a case study in China is presented to support the discussion. The site, a former granary, is located in Lianshi, a traditional water-edge town in the central area of the Yangtze River Delta. The proposed example enhances solutions that meet healthy and smart requirements, transforming the former industrial area into a social catalyst, acting as an effective motivator for urban development. One such theoretical approach is exemplified by a project that won a national architecture competition in 2018, the ‘Taihu Cultural Heritage Rehabilitation Competition’. The latter is then validated through practical solutions in a real-world context by analyzing the ‘Cuckoo’ project developed in 2021 for the same area. Overall, the integration of healthy and smart elements is proposed by the authors as an effective method to achieve more holistic and sustainable city development from both theoretical and practical points of view.

Universality of human rights: theoretical dimension

The article is sanctified to theoretical research of the concept of the universality of human rights as a process of establishment of corresponding norms and mechanisms of universal character with the aim of defence and providing of human rights, and also concept of universality - as an achievement of certain perfection in the protection of human rights. This universality shows up as a transcendent aspect. Universal rights are rights everybody has that as personality, regardless of legal space or historical time. Consideration of this aspect is very important for the ground of absoluteness of human rights. The idea of universality of human rights is based on position that human rights have exterritorial character and that their realization and defence are not business only of the separate states, but is the article of general interest. Universality of human rights arises out of universality of human nature. Quality of practical changes in development of the modern states largely depends on ideas about universality of human rights and reasons of optimization of human rights.&#x0D; Problem of the general understanding of concept of universality of human rights, causes much violation of human rights and freedoms, and her it costs to decide through the search of ways of understanding of universality of rights and freedoms, through description of basic elements that determine maintenance of the modes of human rights, by finding out of all totality of descriptions each of elements - right and moral, social and other terms that can come forward as a stimulant or vice versa, their realization prevent. The most frequent misunderstanding in relation to understanding of universality of human rights arises up when speech йдеться about countries that develop, that not only feel different difficulties of economic, social and cultural character in realization of that or other convention on human rights but also in relation to different reasons does not welcome omnifying of human rights or, at least up to a point, behave to her with a carefulness. It is in-process carried out research of theoretical analysis of different conceptions of understanding of universality of human rights, discussion and discussion of opinions of supporters of cultural relativism and universalism.&#x0D; Today by a reference-point in the difficult and contradictory situations of the modern world, there must be universal human rights, that would express the clear limits of his freedom, place in society, to intercommunication with the state or with other individuals. Must yield to no doubt in the modern world, judgement, that human rights are an inalienable, inalienable achievement of all humanity.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Health of Nation Outcome Scales for schizophrenia patients.

INTRODUCTION: The HoNOS scale was designed for the assessment of psychosocial impairment in various domains. While it is widely used in psychiatric settings, it has not been validated in Spanish for use in patients with schizophrenia. To examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the HoNOS scale in a sample of schizophrenia patients. A total of 194 individuals aged 18 to 65 with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses were evaluated using the HoNOS. Illness severity and level of functioning were also assessed. The HoNOS showed moderate internal consistency, good inter-observer reliability and good test-retest reliability. Factor analysis revealed an internal structure consisting of four factors, with item distribution differing from the theoretical dimensions proposed for the original scale. The Spanish version of the HoNOS scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychosocial impairment in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, further research is needed to determine its internal structure more accurately. The HoNOS scale provides researchers and clinicians with a valid measure of impairment in twelve different domains, which can facilitate and guide the treatment of schizophrenia patients.

Exploring Antibiotic Self Medication Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study among Patients in Multiple Hospitals

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the multifaceted impact of self-medication with antibiotics, delving into its implications for public health. The potential repercussions of self-medication extend beyond individual well-being. This study investigates the broader consequences, including the wastage of crucial healthcare resources, the development of antibiotic resistance, adverse reactions, delays in seeking appropriate medical care, and the exacerbation of common illnesses. By understanding the complexities surrounding self-medication, particularly with antibiotics, we aim to contribute valuable insights to inform public health strategies, medical interventions, and educational campaigns.&#x0D; The research seeks to identify patterns, motivations, and behaviors associated with self-medication, shedding light on the factors that drive individuals to bypass professional medical advice. With a focus on antibiotics, a class of drugs critical for treating bacterial infections, the study aims to highlight the potential risks and challenges posed by unsupervised antibiotic use.&#x0D; Methodology: This cross-sectional study, conducted from September 13 to September 25, 2022, investigates self-medication with antibiotics among 300 patients from five hospitals. Employing a confidential 20-question questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews, the research aims to understand prevalence and patterns of self-medication. Quantitative data analysis utilizes parametric Z-tests through SPSS Software (version 21). Ethical considerations include obtaining approval, ensuring informed consent, and maintaining confidentiality. Limitations include potential selection and recall bias associated with convenience sampling and self-reported data, respectively.&#x0D; Findings: Among the 300 participants, 47% were male, and 53% were female. The majority were adults aged between 20 to 40 years, with 64% from Rawalpindi. Over 50% of participants had matriculation or higher education. Ninety-seven percent of people had used antibiotics at least once in their life, with 63% practicing self-medication. Notably, 49% self-medicated 1-5 times in the past year. The primary reasons for self-medication included convenience (47%), personal experience (34%), and previous doctor's prescriptions (32%). Only 36% completed the prescribed antibiotic course. A significant percentage (71%) never changed the dosage of antibiotics, while 22% sometimes altered the dosage. Switching antibiotics during the course occurred in 21% of cases, primarily because the initial treatment was ineffective. Additionally, 51% of participants believed they could successfully treat common infections with antibiotics. Most participants (63%) stopped taking antibiotics if they experienced side effects during the course. A majority (62%) did not complete the antibiotic course after early symptom relief. Regarding dosage, 74% of participants believed that larger antibiotic doses did not guarantee quicker action. Furthermore, 36% of participants occasionally gave prescribed antibiotics to sick family members, and 10% always did.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: This research significantly advances our understanding of antibiotic self-medication across theoretical, policy, and practical dimensions. The study intricately explores the prevalence and nuanced patterns characterizing patients' self-medication behaviors with antibiotics, thereby contributing to the refinement of existing theoretical frameworks in healthcare behavior. The comprehensive insights gained from this research provide a foundation for a more sophisticated understanding of the intricate interplay of factors influencing patients' decisions regarding antibiotic use. This understanding enables the formulation of targeted policies aimed at mitigating the potential risks associated with unsupervised antibiotic use, contributing to broader public health initiatives combating antibiotic resistance and ensuring the well-being of communities.

Validation of the inventory: lockdown and its impact on the university Community

BackgroundSignificant consequences of COVID-19 within academic/professional life are, at the psychological level, related to worry, tension, stress; coping strategies and lifestyle changes. This study describes the process of design and validation of an inventory (QPIC), which aims to assess the psychological impact that a situation of confinement can produce among university students and teachers.MethodsDesign of the instrument and psychometric tests. A sample of 862 students and 229 professors affiliated to Spanish and Colombian universities was used. Data were collected in April 2020 with the request of the favourable Bioethics Committee IR/2020.ResultsSix experts carried out the content validation. A confirmatory factor analysis of the theoretical dimensions proposed for the scales was performed and the internal consistency of each of the three initial scales was confirmed (0.866, 0.813 and 0.834).ConclusionA rigorous and reliable instrument is achieved, consisting of two final scales: (a) Worry, tension and stress scale (b) Coping scale, which helps to measure individual psychological effects in housebound situations. It is an instrument designed, constructed ad hoc to assess the impact of confinement and subjected to validation. The factor structure and reliability of the instrument are examined and good psychometric properties are obtained. The application of this inventory will make it possible to assess the impact on people’s mental health during a period of confinement.

Capitalism as “the best of all possible worlds”: a marxist critique of Boaventura de Sousa Santos' postmodern political thought

The general aim of this work is to critically analyse certain conceptions and political positions of Boaventura de Sousa Santos on the problems of Western modernity and postmodernity. For the Portuguese sociologist, Western modernity is going through an unprecedented crisis of civilisation that can be identified through three fundamental dimensions: the epistemological dimension (the problem of Western scientific knowledge), the theoretical dimension (the problem of the Marxist theory of social emancipation) and the political dimension (the problems of the liberal social contract, social fascism and the disunity of left-wing forces). Postmodernity, however, represents the possibilities and opportunities for overcoming that crisis in view of the epistemological (the ecology of knowledge), theoretical (the new emancipatory political culture) and political (high-intensity democracy) renewals that are underway. The main hypothesis to be presented is that Boaventura Santos' political conceptions and positions – in parallel with his limited understanding of Marxism, the main interlocutor and target of his often mistaken criticism – correspond to the postmodern ideology, which can be characterised, according to Marxism, by epistemological scepticism, contempt for history and political defeatism. In this vein, the theoretical framework adopted here necessarily comes from Marxism, understood, according to Michael Löwy, as a social worldview, that is, an organic, articulated and structured set of values, representations, ideas and cognitive orientations about man in his relationship with nature, society and history, internally unified by a determined perspective and a certain socially conditioned point of view.

The dimensionality of the Conflict Resolution Styles Inventory across age and relationships.

Close interpersonal conflicts between parents and children, marital or romantic partners, and between friends are common, and adjustment in youth and adults depends on how these conflicts are managed. While conflict management is important for relationships and adjustment, the structure of conflict management in adults or in youths has rarely been examined. Knowing how conflict management is structured, and whether this structure changes with age and relationships, is important to understanding what factors influence the development of conflict management skills, and how to intervene. In the current study, we explored the unidimensional vs. multidimensional structure of conflict management in family relationships, friendships and romantic relationships across adolescence and adulthood. The sample consisted of 497 Dutch adolescents (57% boys, Mage = 13.03, SD = 0.46, 11-15 years old) who were followed over 11 years in 9 measurement waves, and their parents, siblings, best friends (six waves), and romantic partner (three waves). First-order factor analyses (CFA) showed that the structure of conflict management is similar for adolescents and adults, across relationships. The results of second-order models, including the theoretical higher dimensions positive/negative conflict management and engagement/disengagement, showed no support for these higher dimensions. The results of bifactor models showed differences between adults and youths: while positive problem solving was part of the general factor of conflict management in adults, it was not part of this general factor in adolescents. The general factor was linked to increases in internalizing and externalizing problems, and with decreases in prosocial behavior. Overall, the bifactor models increased the interpretability and validity of the conflict management measure.

The Historical Projections of Poverty Trapped in the Hegemony of the Capitalist Ideology within the Frame of the World Bank's Quasi-War on Poverty

The World Bank is an important international institution that plays a role in forming the perception of global poverty and the fight against poverty. Since its foundation, the Bank's approach to the concept of poverty and the policies it proposes to eliminate poverty have undergone radical changes. The study aims to reveal the theoretical and practical dimensions of the Bank's approach to poverty with their evolutionary reflections. In the study, different definitions of the World Bank regarding the concept of poverty will be included in the axis of poverty concept and different depictions of the transformation of poverty-related policies over the years. The development approach the Bank has developed for the last 40 years is likely connected to the neoliberal policies loyal to mainstream (neoclassical) economics principles. Therefore, the emphasis on the problem of poverty put by the Bank for the last few decades consists of representing the same political prescriptions to the world economies to solve the problem. In this context, it can be argued that the policies created by the Bank regarding poverty rely on ideological concerns rather than reality since it is clear that the development discourses effectuated by the Bank over the years and the policies for the elimination of poverty generated accordingly cannot be evaluated independently of the dynamics arising from the efforts of the US to perpetuate its hegemony over the international capitalist system.

Difficult Opacity: On Reading Difference

This article argues for a redefinition of difficulty in relation to the inextricable violence of modernity and examines the consecutive challenge to notions of understanding and interpretation — of a text, of language or of the other — that this repositioning brings. To this end, the article offers a nuanced rereading of Steiner’s canonical fourfold categorization of difficulty, in dialogue with, first, Édouard Glissant’s opacity and, second, Jonathan Pugh and David Chandler’s theorizations of ‘abyssal thought’, an approach emerging from Caribbean and critical Black studies, exploring the key challenge it poses to forging an unmasterful, after Julietta Singh, comparative literary practice. With an equal attention to the theoretical and pedagogical dimensions of reading difficulty, the article emphasizes the importance of the accretive and embodied nature of the reading process and offers a repositioning of textual difficulty, as a meeting site of opacities, and a reformulation of a difficult, unmasterful reading practice, after catastrophe and with others.

The Wagner Group in Africa. The sham battle of Russian mercenaries against terrorism

In recent years, the Wagner Group has significantly increased its presence in several African countries. Russian mercenaries have become involved in many conflicts in an effort to expand their influence. One of their main tasks was to fight against terrorism. The analyses carried out, in which the author used qualitative methods and sources relating to the theoretical and practical dimensions of the issue at hand, indicate that the Wagnerists have been posing as their operations in order to maintain military presence on the African continent. Intensifying the Wagner Group’s presence is a long-term strategy of the Kremlin, which pursues interests along two tracks – benefiting from cooperation at the state level and engaging mercenaries. Countries of the wider West (members of the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union) are also seeking to develop cooperation with African partners. Terrorist organisations also intend to fight for influence on the continent. In this regard, it is necessary to constantly monitor Russia’s proactive foreign policy aimed at the rivalry as it affects the presence of Poland and its allies in Africa.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Daily living self-efficacy scale into brazilian portuguese

To carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Daily Living Self-Efficacy Scale into Brazilian Portuguese. This is a methodological cross-cultural adaptation study. The following stages were followed: translation; synthesis of translations; back-translation; review by a committee of judges; and pre-test. The Concordance Index was used to analyze equivalence and the Content Validity Coefficient was calculated for clarity of language, practical pertinence and relevance; and Fleiss' Kappa for the theoretical dimension. The stages of translation, back-translation and review by the committee of judges showed brief modifications, aimed at grammatical changes, inversion of words, replacement of terms with synonyms, exclusion of words and inclusion of articles and prepositions. The analysis of equivalences between the judges resulted in a concordance rate of over 80%. The practical relevance and theoretical relevance obtained a Content Validity Coefficient of 0.99 and clarity of language of 0.88, while the theoretical dimensions had a Fleiss Kappa of over 0.80. A pre-test was carried out with 30 participants. The cross-cultural adaptation of the Daily Living Self-Efficacy Scale into Brazilian Portuguese allowed the instrument to be adapted to the Brazilian context, showing properties for measuring self-efficacy in the daily life of stroke survivors.

SCALE OF INJURIES RISK DUE TO XEROSIS IN HOSPITALIZED ELDERLY PEOPLE: DEVELOPMENT AND EVIDENCE VALIDITY

Objective: To describe the construction process and validation evidence of the risk assessment scale for the development of lesions associated with cutaneous xerosis in hospitalized elderly people. Method: Methodological study based on Pasquali’s psychometric validation through theoretical, empirical, and analytical analysis. Operationalization occurred in three stages: scope review, scale construction, and content validation by expertises. Results: The instrument is structured in 14 items, with an overall score ranging between 15 (low risk) and 53 (high risk), and presented a content validity coefficient of 0.926 based on the aspects theoretical relevance, theoretical dimension, clarity of language, and practical relevance. It also presented a general Cronbach’s alpha of 0.815, as well as a McDonald’s omega of 0.942, which reveals excellent internal consistency. Conclusion: The instrument showed evidence of validity and could contribute to nurses’ practice when integrating the skin care process for elderly people.

Does the Equal Opportunities Committee make democracy work (better) in academia?

The democratization of organizations is studied in this article with reference to the university system. In recent years, Italian universities have followed the European trend in redesigning themselves as organizations attentive to performance, excellence, and achievement. This has resulted in the enhancement of mechanisms of ‘adverse selection' for women, both in career advancement and in access to decision-making positions. But compared to other European countries, Italian universities have lagged behind in policies to promote gender equality. However, they have for some time been endowed with bodies, the Equal Opportunities Committees (Comitati Unici di Garanzia, CUGs), established in order to reduce discrimination and to promote greater participation in the academic organization. The functioning of the CUGs, which varies greatly at local level, is linked to the possibility of benefiting from resources of various kinds. Research shows that the resources that central governance makes available to a CUG are important. So too are the relational networks in which the members of the CUG are involved and which increase their visibility, legitimacy, and motivation. The interaction between top-down and bottom-up resources furnishes an analytical framework useful for interpreting the variable effectiveness of the CUGs in the democratic quality of Italian universities. It also helps to conduct more detailed specification of some theoretical dimensions already brought to the attention of scholars in the perspective known as ‘fixing the organizations'.

In situ three-dimensional reconstruction of laser powder bed fusion parts by light field camera

The assessment of output quality in the laser powder bed fusion process entails the analysis of the three-dimensional morphology of the manufactured parts, which plays a crucial role in quality control to prevent metallurgical defects. This study proposes a novel approach of three-dimensional reconstruction for laser powder bed fusion parts using a light field camera. Initially, a consistency method for high-precision camera calibration was explored to determine the virtual camera pixel size and coefficient of effective focal length of light field camera. Subsequently, the model based light field epipolar-plane image Unet is designed to obtain disparity information without any data augmentation techniques. By leveraging both binocular and light field optical paths, a robust mapping relationship of the disparity, depth, and visually coherent three-dimensional contour was established. Finally, the three-dimensional contours of laser powder bed fusion parts were reconstructed by the established mapping with a single exposure of the light field camera. The proposed method enables three-dimensional contour visualization of laser powder bed fusion parts from multi-view perspectives, which facilitates in situ monitoring of the spattering distance, three-dimensional spatial points and lines of the printed layers and contours of printed parts. With a calibration error of 50 μm and resolution of 180 μm for the light field camera (Lytro illum camera), the maximum relative and absolute errors between reconstructed three-dimensional spatial points were 4.33 % and 260 μm respectively when compared with theoretical dimension, and 0.5 % and 210 μm respectively when compared with manufactured dimension. The maximum root-mean-square error of reconstructed three-dimensional contour surfaces was found to be 1.55 mm. This study represents the first application of a light field camera for in situ three-dimensional reconstruction of laser powder bed fusion parts, which notably can be obtained from only a single round of calibration and exposure, enabling seamless monitoring of their surface morphology and facilitating online quality control. These advancements have vast potential for enhancing high-end additive manufacturing.

The Pedagogical Model And Its Contribution To University Academic Competencies In Ecuador

Universities need to develop sustainable pedagogical models to meet growing strategic demands. The progress of human development requires trained professionals who actively contribute to the well-being of their communities. This study aims to evaluate how the pedagogical model contributes to the university academic competencies of students at the Technical University of Babahoyo (UTB). It is a non-experimental research that combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies from a descriptive and correlational perspective. The design is exploratory and transversal in nature. A comparison was made between eight theoretical dimensions on the topic. The pedagogical model and university academic competencies are statistically related. The more comprehensive and better structured the pedagogical model is, including its foundation, its design, its substantive articulation and its monitoring and evaluation, the greater the effectiveness in the development of university academic competencies through knowledge, abilities, skills and attitudes.

Status of prosody in the practices of speech-language pathologists in France: A survey on theoretical and clinical dimensions

PurposeMany populations in the scope of speech and language pathologists (SLPs) are at risk of prosodic disorders that can impact communicative ability. While a few studies have examined the importance of prosody in the clinical practice of English-speaking SLPs, there is a lack of similar research in non-English-speaking countries. The current study aimed to establish an overview of the situation in France and to determine factors that might be associated with assessing and treating prosody. MethodWe collected data about the theoretical and clinical dimensions related to prosody from SLPs in France using an online survey. ResultsOne hundred and twenty-eight valid responses were analyzed. Results suggest that both emotional and linguistic prosodies are examined by SLPs. Some aspects of prosody seem to be mastered better than others. While they are aware of the major prosodic difficulties in various pathologies and their negative impact, most SLPs in France rarely or never assess prosody. They feel more uncomfortable with it than with other speech-language domains and often do not consider it as a therapeutic target. Importantly, the perception of prosody as a therapeutic tool is associated with the frequency of assessing and addressing prosodic impairment. ConclusionsFurther studies should focus on identifying the factors that could improve practices and developing comprehensive assessment tools and evidence-based intervention methods in French. Providing better training in prosody and setting up more collaborations between SLPs and researchers in linguistics and psycholinguistics would be keys in developing this field.