Theoretical Framework Research Articles

The complexity of integrating global englishes (GE) in ELT: a case study of an English teacher’s investment and identity construction

Purpose Although there is growing critical awareness in ELT around the rise of English as a global language, studies on teachers’ investment in critical pedagogy remain limited in mainstream ELT curricula, and the impact of such investment on teachers’ identities is not clear. To address this gap, with the inclusive paradigm of Global Englishes (GE), the paper presents a case study of an English teacher’s investment in GE at a middle school in China. Design/methodology/approach This study employed a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interview was conducted with the participant – May, focusing on her reported practices and her understanding of her roles during the investment in GE. The interview process was guided by an interview protocol which was designed based on related literature on GE, the theoretical framework, and the research context. A content analysis method was utilized to generate descriptive categories concerning participant’s identities and investment in GE. Findings Analysis of interview data reveals that through investment in GE, May not only constructed her identity as an English teacher, but also explored identities as a student inspirer, and a peer mentor. These identities exploration and construction were primarily driven by her increased cultural and social capital, despite facing challenges such as high-stakes test policies, native-speakerism ideology, institutional requirements, and limited resources. Research limitations/implications Future research incorporating triangulating data such as interviews, and classroom observations, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of English teachers’ identities, and investment in GE. Besides, the findings of this study are primarily from one teacher, they may not fully represent the broader population of English teachers in China. Practical implications The findings have several implications for English teaching and teacher education. First, elementary schools, the lower grades of middle schools (grades 7 and 8), or the after-school programs may have opportunities for teachers to integrate GE in teaching. Second, teacher education programs should be designed to provide more chances that enable student teachers to invest in their learning and teaching of GE. Third, proposals for incorporating GE practices in the classroom must adopt a critical perspective, so as to to expose, deconstruct, and reconstruct power dynamics that influence teachers’ investment in GE. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in its exploration of English teachers’ investment of GE in their teaching, and the impact of this investment on their identities as English teachers. By investigating these aspects, the study addresses the research gaps in English teachers’ practice of integration of GE in mainstream ELT curricula and provides insights on how to encourage English teachers to incorporate a GE-aware perspective in their teaching.

Unveiling the potential of digital human avatars in modern marketing strategies

PurposeThis study aims to develop a theoretical framework that marketing practitioners and scholars can adopt to enhance their understanding of how firms can effectively deploy and use digital human avatars as part of their global digital marketing strategy. By doing so, we inform investors of ongoing digital transformations of marketing practices that will equip marketeers to provide scalable, tailored, reliable and relevant digital self-service interactions to users, consequently improving the user/customer experience.Design/methodology/approachThematic analysis was used to discover factors to enable the successful implementation of digital human avatars, drawing on in-depth interviews with fourteen executives of digital human avatars developer companies worldwide and analysis of ten podcasts and webinars with artificial intelligence (AI) experts.FindingsDigital human avatars revitalise the international dynamic marketing capabilities (IDMCs) of firms by integrating advanced technologies that transform user interactions, improve engagement and facilitate knowledge acquisition, dissemination and usage across various sectors and business units globally. This integration promotes a dynamic approach to international brands, customer relationships and marketing knowledge management capabilities, offering profound value to users and firms.Research limitations/implicationsOur first limitation is a lack of diversity in data sources. As digital human avatars are an emerging field, we had to limit our study to 14 experts in AI and 10 podcasts. While this method provides deep insights into the perspectives of those directly involved in the development and implementation of digital human avatars, it may not capture the views of end-users or consumers who interact with these avatars, which can be an avenue for further research. Our second limitation is the potential bias in the interpretation of our interview data and podcasts. This study’s approach to data analysis, where themes are derived from the data itself, carries a risk of subjective interpretation by the researchers. Future studies are encouraged to investigate the impact of digital human avatars across different organisational contexts and ecosystems, especially focusing on how these technologies are integrated and perceived in various international markets.Practical implicationsThe novel framework has direct implications for innovators and marketing practitioners who aim to adopt digital human avatars in their marketing practices to enhance the effectiveness of international marketing strategies.Social implicationsThe adoption of digital human avatars can alleviate loneliest elderly and vulnerable people by being a companion. The human-like characteristics can impact sense of presence and attachment.Originality/valueThe novelty of our study lies in exploring the characteristics of technologies and practical factors that maximise the successful adoption of digital human avatars. We advance and contribute to the emerging theory of avatar marketing, IDMCs and absorptive capacity by demonstrating how digital human avatars could be adopted as part of a firm’s global digital marketing strategy. We focus specifically on six dimensions: outcomes and benefits, enhancements and capabilities, applications and domains, future implications, foundational elements and challenges and considerations. This framework has direct implications for innovators and marketing practitioners who aim to adopt digital human avatars in their marketing practices to enhance the effectiveness of international marketing strategies.

Beyond Semiotic Representation: A Study of Emotion in Ukrainian Children’s Paintings

<p>As part of the project of Ukrainian children support, <em>Mom, I See War</em> presents, on its official website and social media, more than 4,000 drawings by children from war-affected areas (mainly Ukraine). Based on the artworks in this platform, the study goes deeper from the mere symbolic interpretations, and discusses the various stages of emotional expression within. Through a close-reading of different aspects within the drawings, the study is performed within the theoretical framework of emotion study, political and cultural theory. While each painting contains a complex combination of various personal emotion, the paper makes a general outlining of all the paintings as a whole, and analyses the various stages of emotional expression among the whole group. In a reaction towards war conditions, four stages of emotion are presented, including fear, pain, anger and hope.<strong></strong></p>

Effect of the uncertainty of autocorrelation estimation on trend analysis

Autocorrelation is ubiquitous in real-life time series. For trend analysis, positive autocorrelation mainly increases the statistical uncertainty of the detected trend. The theoretical framework has been established to quantify how the autocorrelation can impact trend analysis if its characteristic is known precisely. However, if the autocorrelation is also uncertain like that estimated in real-life data, then the consequences are yet unclear. The situation is further complicated by the concurrence of both short- and long-range correlation (SLRC), e.g., in air temperature. In this study, we use an appropriate minimal model with one short-range autoregressive parameter and one long-range fractional parameter to account for such SLRC, and then accordingly propose a framework to integrate the effect of the uncertainty of autocorrelation estimation into trend analysis, on the basis of the detrended fluctuation analysis and Akaike weights. This framework can also obtain a joint probability density function of the estimated autoregressive and fractional parameters for measuring their uncertainty, identifying their combined optimal estimates, uncovering their strong interdependence, and determining their two-dimensional confidence region. The effectiveness and applicability of the proposed framework are verified by a numerical experiment and a case study of daily air temperature anomalies at the Potsdam station. This study can provide a solid theoretical basis to underpin our understanding of the autocorrelation effect on trend analysis in theory and applications. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Born digitals entry mode choice from a target market institutional and digitalization perspective

Purpose The rise of digital technologies has led to the emergence of born digitals, which are firms distinguished by their digital business models and an early digitalization of their value chains. Despite the growing importance of these firms, their internationalization strategies, including the crucial choice of the most-suited foreign entry mode, have only been analyzed marginally by the extant literature. This paper aims to examine how born digitals select their entry mode and which context-specific modes are preferred. Design/methodology/approach By advancing the institutional entry mode approach of Meyer et al. (2009) with the digitalization conditions of the target market, the authors propose a theoretical entry mode framework for born digitals, in which the institutional market support and the digitalization degree simultaneously affect the entry mode decision. Findings The authors conclude with two main propositions, arguing that a joint venture and a digital entry are preferable under weak institutions and acquisitions and greenfield projects otherwise. Depending on a high digitalization degree, digital and greenfield entry modes are beneficial. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by creating an entry mode framework for born digitals and by introducing a digital entry mode.

An investigative study on the effective utilization of process hazard analysis (PHA) and safety instrumentation system (SIS) in chemical process industries

AbstractThis research paper focuses on effectiveness of process hazard analysis (PHA) and safety instrumented systems (SIS) interventions during process design and implementation which prevents accident and loss in chemical process industries. An initial preview was conducted to analyze the accidents and incidents in case of industrial and chemical process industries which enabled to define the research question in a scientific way. The research was conducted using a survey questionnaire developed with the help of focus group and was based on theoretical and conceptual framework developed for the study. The survey received responses from 36 participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The validity and reliability were established using confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and Cronbach’s Alpha. The data analysis methods were used to answer the research questions to test the hypotheses. From the results it is observed that PHA and SIS were in an agreeable range. However, the performance factors grouped based on barrier controls and organizational behavior were have moderate positive relationship. This showed there exists a gap in the PHA and SIS contributing factors which may directly or indirectly cause industrial accidents in the chemical process industries.

Optimal metacognitive decision strategies in signal detection theory

AbstractSignal detection theory (SDT) has long provided the field of psychology with a simple but powerful model of how observers make decisions under uncertainty. SDT can distinguish sensitivity from response bias and characterize optimal decision strategies. Whereas classical SDT pertains to “type 1” judgments about the world, recent work has extended SDT to quantify sensitivity for metacognitive or “type 2” judgments about one’s own type 1 processing, e.g. confidence ratings. Here we further advance the application of SDT to the study of metacognition by providing a formal account of normative metacognitive decision strategies – i.e., type 2 (confidence) criterion setting – for ideal observers. Optimality is always defined relative to a given objective. We use SDT to derive formulae for optimal type 2 criteria under four distinct objectives: maximizing type 2 accuracy, maximizing type 2 reward, calibrating confidence to accuracy, and maximizing the difference between type 2 hit rate and false alarm rate. Where applicable, we consider these optimization contexts alongside their type 1 counterparts (e.g. maximizing type 1 accuracy) to deepen understanding. We examine the different strategies implied by these formulae and further consider how optimal type 2 criterion setting differs when metacognitive sensitivity deviates from SDT expectation. The theoretical framework provided here can be used to better understand the metacognitive decision strategies of real observers. Possible applications include characterizing observers’ spontaneously chosen metacognitive decision strategies, assessing their ability to fine-tune metacognitive decision strategies to optimize a given outcome when instructed, determining over- or under-confidence relative to an optimal standard, and more. This framework opens new avenues for enriching our understanding of metacognition.

Social tolerance and success-biased social learning underlie the cultural transmission of an induced extractive foraging tradition in a wild tool-using primate

The last two decades have seen great advances in the study of social learning (learning from others), in part due to efforts to identify it in the wild as the basis of behavioral traditions. Theoretical frameworks suggest that both the dynamics of social tolerance and transmission biases (or social learning strategies) influence the pathways of information diffusion in social groups. Bearded capuchins ( Sapajus libidinosus ) inhabiting the semiarid seasonal caatinga biome of the Serra da Capivara National Park (SCNP) form highly tolerant societies that possess the largest “tool-kit” described for monkeys, a feat likely facilitated by social learning. Here, we used social network analysis and an open diffusion experiment using an extractive foraging task to identify the occurrence of social learning and describe the pathways of social transmission of information in two wild primate populations. The dynamics of social tolerance outside of task introductions predicted opportunities for social learning, but it was tolerance during task introductions that predicted the actual pathways of social information diffusion. Our results also indicated that the capuchins mainly learned from others via direct observation and naïve individuals exhibited an observation bias toward successful males. This study supports the claims of cultural transmission in robust capuchins and empirically supports the role of social tolerance and social learning strategies in human and nonhuman primate cultural evolution.

Behavioral Intentions in Sports Tourism: Meta-Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling

This paper addresses fragmentation in sports tourism research, specifically concerning factors influencing behavioral intentions, focusing on key psychological and situational variables. Through a meta-analysis of 18 studies comprising 14,495 observations, drawn from an initial screening of 967 articles listed in the Scopus database, this study investigates the effects of perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, nostalgia, satisfaction, percieved benefit, and percieved risk, on behavioral intentions among general sport tourists. Two distinct theoretical frameworks were examined to uncover the core drivers of intentions. In the first framework, the analysis revealed that perceived behavioral control (effect size = .58), subjective norms (effect size = .50), and nostalgia (effect size = .43) have a stronger influence on behavioral intentions than attitude or image. This finding suggests that the participatory and socially embedded nature of sport tourism amplifies the impact of practical and social factors. Nostalgia emerged as a particularly strong emotional motivator, as it fosters attachment to past sport experiences and enhances future engagement. Among the components of the Theory of Planned Behavior, perceived behavioral control highlights the significance of practical considerations, such as ease of access and affordability, in shaping tourists’ intentions. The second framework underscored satisfaction as the most influential predictor of behavioral intentions (effect size = .77), consistent with Expectancy-Disconfirmation Theory, where experiences that meet or exceed expectations lead to future engagement. Perceived benefit (effect size = 0.50) also played a significant role, indicating that anticipated rewards, such as enjoyment and social connections, positively affect decision-making. In contrast, perceived risk (effect size = -0.25) showed a negative effect on behavioral intentions, in line with Prospect Theory, which emphasizes how potential losses deter engagement, particularly in unfamiliar or high-risk settings. These findings have practical implications for sport tourism management. Enhancing nostalgia, facilitating easy access, and fostering social connections can significantly boost behavioral intentions. Additionally, strategies that prioritize high-quality experiences to maximize satisfaction, while emphasizing perceived benefits and minimizing perceived risks through transparent safety measures, can further encourage positive engagement. Future research should explore specific conditions, such as familiar destinations, group dynamics, and satisfaction-driven contexts, that might enhance the influence of these key factors.

Without morals in a moral world—the expanding moral circle of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

As video and computer games get increasingly more advanced, the immersive experience for the player of these games also follows this trajectory. In these games, one aspect that has been explored to the greatest extent is that of choice and player agency. Often, these choices and acts are of a moral character, whether it be choosing what to do on an ambiguously formulated questline with multiple branches or how to approach different creatures within the game world. The game The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt provides a case of a game that uses many mechanisms to explore issues related to moral and morality. Through a qualitative textual analysis of the game, this article explores how players are faced with the game’s moral order. Utilizing Singer’s idea of the expanding moral circle, this article explores the game world’s establishing of moral issues, including who and what are included in the expanding circle and in what way this is conveyed within the game. Relying on the dual nature of the gameplay, where players are role-playing as the Witcher Geralt of Rivia as well as experiencing what unfolds in the game in front of a screen, this article discusses how these moral orders–the one in the game world and the one in “real” life—intertwine the moral underpinnings of a digital game. This article also discusses how encounters with non-human animals often leave the player with very few choices regarding which to act, which is not presented as moral issues at all. Furthermore, this article discusses further development of the theoretical framework as a possible vantage point from where to understand morality and how it emanates in different game worlds.

Analysing crab syndrome through the perspective of life history theory

Purpose: This research aims to explain the relationships among crab syndrome, stress caused by uncertainty and organisational commitment (affective-continuance-normative) and explores unknown aspects of crab syndrome. Crab syndrome is a metaphor that depicts how emotions and personality are shaped, focusing on competition for access to resources in which others are viewed as threats.Design/methodology/approach: Research hypotheses were proposed and tested using structural equation modelling. Data were collected through an online questionnaire administered in the hospitality sector in Turkey.Findings/results: The results indicate a positive significant relationship between stress caused by uncertainty and crab syndrome. Crab syndrome has a positive significant impact on affective and continuance commitment. It mediates the relationship between stress caused by uncertainty and organisational commitment (affective-continuance).Practical implications: The theoretical framework draws on life history theory to address crab syndrome. Stress caused by uncertainty was a key factor affecting individual’s behaviours. Crab syndrome and organisational commitment are outcomes of stress caused by uncertainty. The results show hospitality employees can support their businesses in taking a step forward in competition. In addition, this research contributes to the extension of the crab syndrome literature. The longitudinal effects of variables could not be assessed because the study was cross-sectional in design. However, it only included the hospitality sector, and the convenience sampling method was used.Originality/value: This research expanded the existing crab syndrome literature and provided new contributions to research in the hospitality sector in the Turkish context.

Theoretical Frameworks for Integrating Sustainability Factors into Institutional Investment Decision-Making

This paper explores key theoretical frameworks instrumental in understanding the relationship between sustainability and institutional investment decisions. The study identifies and analyzes various theories, including Behavioral Finance Theory, Modern Portfolio Theory, Risk Management Theory, and others, to explain how sustainability considerations increasingly influence investment choices. By examining these frameworks, the paper highlights how investors integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors to optimize financial outcomes and align with broader societal goals.

Workplace Diversity and Human Resource Performance Among Non-Teaching Staff of Selected Private Universities in Ogun State

The proliferation of privately owned institutions in Nigeria has led to a range of challenges, including the issue of workplace diversity. The observed phenomenon is a naturally occurring event that can have varying effects on worker performance, depending on the effectiveness of its management. Numerous research studies have demonstrated the significant impact of non-teaching personnel management on their performance in private university settings. This study investigates the influence of workplace diversity on the efficacy of human resource management, expanding on the existing theoretical framework. The study utilised a survey research method, specifically targeting private universities in Ogun State that have obtained approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC). A representative sample of respondents was selected. The data was collected using a meticulously designed questionnaire. Regression analysis of ordinary least squares (OLS) and Pearson product correlation were used to analyse workplace diversity and human resources performance among non-teaching staff in a selected private university in Nigeria. The regression analysis conducted in this study revealed a statistically significant association between workplace diversity, encompassing factors such as age, education, and gender, and employees' performance in Nigeria. Ethnic diversity has a detrimental effect on workplace diversity. The study indicates that it is important for organisational management to establish and implement policies that support diversity in the workforce, considering the varied backgrounds of all individuals involved.

Insight Into the Role of Fiber Diameter on Electrospun Polysulfone Mats

ABSTRACTFiber electrospun mats created using cylindrical collectors have been extensively studied as effective membranes for water treatment. However, the relationships between the properties of electrospun mats and the characteristics and performance of membranes are not well‐established. This research examined two samples with average fiber diameters of 1.8 ± 0.49 μm and 0.47 ± 0.26 μm, which were evaluated as supporting substrates for the separation of MgSO4 ions. The variation in fiber diameter resulted from consistent conditions of voltage, distance, and collector rotation speed, while the injection rates were different, set at 2 mL/h and 0.8 mL/h, respectively. The resulting thin‐film composite (TFC) membrane consists of three layers: the first layer is a mesh polyester that underlies a middle hydrophobic electrospun support layer made from a 20 wt.% polysulfone solution. The third layer is a polyamide layer created through interfacial polymerization, involving a reaction between piperazine (PIP) monomers at a concentration of 2% by weight and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) monomers at a concentration of 0.2% by weight. Due to its hydrophobic nature, PSU repels water monomers from its surface during polymerization. Consequently, surface modification using plasma treatment alters the surface characteristics from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, resulting in the formation of a superior polyamide layer. The results indicate that membranes with larger fiber diameters exhibit a rougher texture. Additionally, the increased void space between the fibers in these membranes leads to an increase in pure water flux that is 92% higher compared to membrane samples with smaller fiber diameters; this higher flux is due to larger pore size. Furthermore, membranes with smaller fiber diameters possess a finer pore structure, resulting in a polyamide layer with fewer defects than membranes with larger fibers. This improved structure achieved a separation efficiency of 68% ± 1.02% for MgSO4, while the membrane with an average fiber diameter of 1.80 ± 0.49 μm demonstrated a separation rate of 20% ± 2.26%. These findings provide a step forward in the development of a theoretical framework for engineering TFC membranes with electrospun mats as supports.

PUBLIC POLICIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to identify the impact of public policies on economic development through a systematic review method. Theoretical Framework: The paper emphasizes the role of decentralization in allowing governments to implement efficient public policies that drive economic development, referencing Kitchenham’s guidelines for systematic literature review. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) based on 55 selected studies. Data were extracted and synthesized to answer 8 research questions related to the impact of public policies on economic sectors and development. Findings: The review identified that public policies significantly impact economic development, particularly in the industry and environment sectors. Countries like China are leading in policy application for growth. Decentralization enhances policy effectiveness by allowing local adaptation. However, gaps remain in understanding the influence of public policies in less-explored sectors, highlighting the need for further research. Research, Practical & Social Implications: The study suggests that public policies play a critical role in shaping economic development, particularly in sectors like industry and environmental policy. Future research should focus on extending these findings to other sectors. Originality/Value: This research adds to the growing body of knowledge by synthesizing existing studies and identifying key sectors and metrics for evaluating the impact of public policies on economic development.

Influence of WhatsApp Online Phishing Messages on Data Security among Undergraduates in Anambra State

Due to the widespread sharing of phishing emails on WhatsApp, university students face a high risk of data breaches. This study examines the impact of WhatsApp phishing messages on data security among students at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam, Anambra State. The research collected survey data from 375 students out of 17,055 based on their population and adopted Social Cognitive Theory as the theoretical framework. The findings indicate that most students are aware of these phishing messages, with scam emails and fake login pages being the most common forms. Additionally, most students believe these messages threaten their data security. The study suggests holding regular educational campaigns to address this problem. This study sheds light on the alarming risks of online phishing, revealing the vulnerabilities that university students face every day. The study aims to educate, empower, and protect students from cyber threats, fostering a safer digital campus community.

An Empirical Study on Advanced Marketing Practices, Sustainability, and EVM Strategies for Business Growth

In the modern business landscape, sustainable marketing strategies have become crucial for success. Companies are increasingly allocating substantial resources to these initiatives. While consumers expect businesses to adopt sustainable practices, their primary motivation remains fulfilling personal needs. This creates a gap between corporate sustainability efforts and consumer expectations. This study proposes a viable framework for sustainability strategies that businesses can implement to bridge this disconnect. Key findings include: First, sustainable marketing significantly enhances brand image development. Second, brand awareness plays a vital role in customer loyalty within the modern marketplace. Third, a strong brand image amplifies the appeal of sustainable purchasing intentions. Fourth, customer retention serves as a critical tool for boosting long-term purchase expectations. Fifth, elevating consumer expectations is essential for driving sustainable buying behaviors. Notably, sustainable marketing acts as an effective mediator between customer engagement and brand perception. Additionally, corporate social responsibility (CSR) strengthens the link between a company's reputation and sustainable purchase intentions. This research provides both a theoretical framework and practical recommendations for the modern business environment, emphasizing the importance of sustainable marketing campaigns as a precursor to organizational success

HUMAN INTERACTION AND EMOTIONAL POLYMORPHISM

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the behavior of emotional polymorphism in individuals through the execution of basic tasks. Theoretical Framework: It was found that individuals exhibit various components or variants of emotions within an emotional state, influenced by various external factors classified as general and task-specific. In the first case, the emotional state was composed of Contextual Emotions (EmC), and in the second by Induced Emotions (EmI). Nevertheless, each state comprised a variety of emotional components, even with different valences reported by self-reporting individuals, which was termed Emotional Polymorphism (PEm). Method: A controlled experiment was designed where participants performed two basic tasks using controlled time work systems and perception. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted through self-reporting, where participants were asked for statistical data as well as a description of their emotional valence. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that there are variations in the emotional components (CEm) that make up each emotional polymorphism, considering an initial state comprised of EmC and a final response made up of EmI. Implications of the Research: Managing error through the study of the components that may amplify it can assist in improving the design of interfaces and work systems that are important in the daily lives of users, such as ATMs. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by exploring the behavior of the components of Emotional states, as a result of contextual factors and specific tasks.

University-to-work transition and work placements: evidence of heterogeneous pay dynamics

ABSTRACT This study contributes theoretically and empirically to our understanding of students’ transition from work placement to the graduate labour market, by exploring earning differentials due to heterogeneous job transitions. We developed a theoretical framework that underpins the relationships between work placement, job transition and graduate earnings. Based on this framework, we established three hypotheses of pay dynamics: the gain of a pay premium for graduates who remained with their placement employer (‘foot-in-the-door’ effect); the persistence of low pay as students transition from work placement to graduate employment (low-pay persistence effect), and the pay progression as students transition from low-pay work placement to higher-paid graduate employment (low-pay stepping-stone effect). We tested these hypotheses by performing regression analysis on matched data from students’ records, work placements and graduate surveys, for a sample of economics graduates who completed a work placement. The results confirmed our hypotheses, providing evidence that graduates stand to benefit from remaining with their placement employer. In addition, our theoretical framework and empirical analysis can inspire further research into a largely unexplored area, the dynamics of transition from university to work.

The High-Resolution Archaeology of Shared Courtyards at Old Dongola (14th–16th Century a.d., Sudan): an Intensive Approach to Domestic Open Spaces

ABSTRACT Identifying the dynamics of domestic open spaces remains a challenging task. This research applies an adjusted theoretical framework of activity areas to characterize domestic open spaces in the 14th–16th century a.d. in Old Dongola, Sudan. Activity areas were defined as sedimentations of residues of recurring cycles of changing actions rather than stable components of space. To identify domestic space, this research utilizes high-resolution methods: analyses of multiple chemical elements, spatial distribution of objects, and botanical remains of courtyard occupational surfaces, combined with spatial statistics using local Moran’s I autocorrelation. The relationships between the remains of human and non-human actions are discussed in terms of the material affordances affecting their deposition within the archaeological layers. Application of these methods allowed for the identification of areas of domestic tasks related to high concentrations of elements, as well as clusters of tools located on their edges. Botanical data corroborated often vague identifications of activities based on geochemistry.