Theory-based Content Analysis Research Articles

Unfeeling or Uncontrolled? PCL-R Subfactor-Specific Anomalies in Psychological Processing During Criminal Behavior.

Psychopathy has been linked to insensitivity to negative affect as well as to a self-regulatory deficit. However, studies on these associations rarely involve real-life behavioral data. Using a theory-based content analysis of offense descriptions in criminal verdicts, the affective and regulatory processes that male German prison inmates (N = 109) displayed during criminal norm-violations were coded. Their PCL-R scores were split up into the interpersonal-affective (F1) and the lifestyle-antisocial (F2) factors. As expected, F1 was associated with positive (as opposed to negative) activation affect during criminal behavior (τ = .32, p < .001), while F2 was not. In contrast, F2 was associated with impulsive reactivity (τ = .14, p = .03), while F1 was not. No differential association was found with angry emotionality. Overall, the bifactorial nature of the PCL-R psychopathy construct seems to be reflected in psychological processing during real-life criminal behavior. This might indicate differential criminogenic processes.

Can technology be good for health? Investigating health-promoting strategies in the private sector.

This research investigates what might motivate tech companies and impact-driven investors to adopt a health-promoting strategy in their product development and capital allocation strategies. Participants were recruited for semi-structured interviews through purposive and snowball sampling. From 83 outreach attempts, thematic saturation required 19 completed interviews out of the 46 consumer technology executives and impact-focused investors who responded. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory-based content analysis. Seven coding categories resulted from inductive coding, with 83 sub-codes. The primary themes were: product-based health impact is magnified when matched to user demographics (making an equity mindset important); stakeholders are eager for reliable health metrics, especially those that hold across industry verticals; when capturing health impact, it is critical to include positive (i.e., economically beneficial) externalities. These results allowed for the creation of a logic model with a recommended theory of change for the private sector to develop health strategy. Intentional integration of impact strategy with business priorities will allow teams to design products that promote health, driving buy-in and resource allocation while attracting investment and double returns. For policymakers, it is clear that tech policy and regulation for corporate reporting need to keep pace. These findings are limited by the purposive recruitment of participants, introducing potential bias and risk to generalizability.

Promoting institutional collaboration through a joint project-based learning course: a case study of upper secondary school and university students’ experienced relevance

There is a great need to develop research-based models for supporting collaboration between educational institutions. Collaboration models are needed, for example, to assist the transition from lower educational level to higher education or from higher education to working life. In this research, collaboration was conducted through a joint course between upper secondary school and university, which addressed global challenges by using a project-based learning approach. There is a shortage of research exploring students’ perceptions of collaboration. Therefore, the main purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the relevance of the joint course for upper secondary school students and university students. The research was guided by the following research question: What kind of relevance did the students experience in the joint project-based learning course? The data were gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and reflective study reports. The data were analyzed via theory-based content analysis, where research-oriented relevance model was used as the analysis framework. The analysis framework enabled categorizing experienced relevance on individual, vocational, and societal dimensions. Altogether, the analysis produced seven relevance categories for upper secondary students and nine for university students. According to the analysis, upper secondary school students felt that the course offered the most on an individual relevance dimension, whereas university students experienced the vocational relevance dimension a the most diverse. As the main conclusion, this research produced new insights on the experienced relevance of upper secondary level and higher education cooperation from the students’ point of view. The acquired knowledge can be useful for everyone developing new cross-institutional collaboration models.

Polarized framing of scientific uncertainty during COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco

ABSTRACT Examining the representation of COVID-19-related scientific uncertainty in Moroccan media, this paper investigated how legacy and social media’s framing of scientific uncertainty contributed to shaping public opinion regarding public decision-making orientations. For this aim, Al Ouala TV and 2 M TV were selected among traditional media channels for their wide viewership and governmental stance. Additionally, various social media platforms were selected based on their active role in COVID-19 discourse. Using a purposive sampling method, a qualitative analysis was conducted on media coverage of COVID-19, focusing on the framing of uncertainties surrounding virus transmission, face mask usage, and vaccination between March 1, 2020 and July 30, 2022. Drawing on framing theory-based content analysis, the study found that the media framing did not allow for resolving the complexities involved in communicating scientific uncertainty and corresponding public decisions. The active use of social media has actually fostered affective polarization in the related context of fear, worry, and distrust, increasing resistance to public decision-making orientations and negatively impacting perceptions and motivations to respond to COVID-19 measures. Implications for public health communication and policy are discussed.

Kohti parempaa viranomaisten disinformaatiotilannetietoisuutta

Towards Better Public Authorities’ Disinformation Situational Awareness Maintaining situational awareness is crucial for public authorities, as many societal functions rely on their ability to form the appropriate decisions and solutions. In this article, we analyze how public authorities form and maintain disinformation situational awareness and the challenges that come with it. Our research is based on interviews with public authorities, which were analyzed using a theory-based content analysis. Our results suggest that public authorities possess disinformation situational awareness and understand the impact disinformation has on their official duties. In public authority organizations, disinformation is monitored regarding the use of resources, goals, operating methods, and decision-making processes. However, closer cooperation and coordination among Finnish authorities is essential to form shared situational awareness. This helps to better prepare for the risks of disinformation and anticipate its potential impact.

A PRIDE-theory-based analysis of a positive learning environment in a Finnish vocational education and training (VET) institution

The aim of this study was to analyse Finnish students’ perceptions of a positive learning environment. Because of the reform of Finnish vocational education and training (VET) and the recent decrease of students’ well-being, it is important to study how students’ well-being and learning can be enhanced. This study applied the PRIDE theory to describe the positive learning environment. The acronym PRIDE is derived from these words: positive practices, relationship enhancement, individual attributes, dynamic leadership, and emotional well-being. The data was collected with semi-structured student interviews (N=12) from a northern Finnish VET institution. The interviews were analysed with a theory-based content analysis leaning on the PRIDE theory. The research provided important information of the positive learning environment from the students’ perspective, through which learning environments that support students’ well-being and learning can be designed and developed in VET. In addition, the study provided an example of how to use the PRIDE theory for analysing positive learning environments and education.

Contextualising thesis process digitalisation at a university in Ghana

This study utilised thesis process as a case to investigate how its digitalisation can improve operational and pedagogical processes. A thesis management system (Wihi), developed during thesis process digitalisation in a Finnish university, was piloted at the University of Ghana. The purpose was to see if the system supported the thesis process at the University of Ghana and if good practices were transferable. A total of 44 system users from the University of Ghana participated in the pilot to develop a more fluent and effortless thesis process for students, supervisors and coordinators. Eight of them were selected as informants for the study through interviews and a focus group. The data were coded and analysed using theory-based content analysis. The study’s findings reveal that the manual thesis process in use was laborious and dispersive, resulting in supervisors and coordinators frequently losing track of students’ work progress. The digitalisation improved the administrative and educational experiences of all the parties concerned, helping students and supervisors to maintain a transparent thesis process-based discussion and to better plan writing schedules. Additionally, coordinators were able to use data from thesis processes to support their decision-making. The results demonstrate that the good practices of thesis process digitalisation can be transferred across these two universities. Implications for practice or policy Universities should prioritise user-friendly digital tools that improve thesis work processes and provide valuable data for educational and administrative decision-making. When assessing technology acceptance in cross-cultural work settings, decision-makers can focus more on common core processes than cultural factors thanks to the increasing effects of globalisation and digitalisation. University leaders should offer appropriate training for education staff to promote smoother technology adoption, which can effectively reduce resistance to change.

Rehtorien toimijuus johtamisen tavoitteissa ja käytännöissä

Principals' agency in leadership goals and practice This interview study examines the leadership goals and practices embodied in principals' professional agency. The framework of the study consists of agency and broad-based pedagogical leadership. The analysis used data- and theory-based content analysis. Based on the data three leadership styles embodying agency were created: survival, construction and development leadership style. The study shows that in all leadership styles, agency does not manifest itself as broad-based pedagogical leadership. This is due to the concentration of the leadership style in the day-to-day management of maintaining school activities. However, the realization of broad-based pedagogical leadership requires management of the symbolic and cultural sphere as well. Examining agency as a part of broad-based pedagogical leadership shows that leadership must be constantly developed.

Teacher agency in using students’ questions in climate change education

This study investigates teacher agency when teaching about climate change (CC) using a question-based approach. The study was implemented as part of an international project in which teachers’ CC teaching was supported by teacher educators. Teacher agency was studied using semi-structured interviews, which were coded using theory-based content analysis. The study demonstrates that all theory-based agency factors can be identified using this data. In addition, teacher agency was shown to be affected by (a) teachers’ background, especially their sustainability and environment-related background, (b) cultural interaction, (c) the learning environment, (d) discourses in society, and (e) teachers’ thoughts regarding useful principles of CC teaching. We suggest that teacher education should support teachers and schools in the collaborative planning of challenging topics, such as CC. In addition, as teachers possess valuable knowledge and ideas on CC teaching, they should be participating in curriculum planning.

Exploring English as a Multicultural Language in Pakistan: A Sociolinguistic Profile

This study aims at exploring Pakistani English as a multicultural language and the importance of grasping the reality of intercultural competence in English language teaching (ELT). It conceptualizes Pakistani English as a multicultural language in terms of the Three Concentric Circles model suggested by B. B. Kachru (1985). Innovative changes and deviations have been recognized as indigenized features of Pakistani English that emerge due to the influence of L1 and the Pakistani cultural context. This is a theory-based content analysis of textbooks of English taught at IX and X grades in schools of the four provinces in Pakistan. An analysis of lexical stereotypes in Pakistani English is carried out to explore a multicultural dimension of Pakistani English. Recruiting the notion of Pakistani English as a multicultural language this study suggests that representation of Pakistani culture in the textbooks elevates intercultural competence to fill the gap in cultural diversity using English in ELT.

Towards digitally mediated social work - the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on encountering clients in social work.

In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the globe. The viral outbreak was followed by rapid changes in people’s everyday and working lives. Because of the wide-scale societal restrictions that took place to prevent the pandemic, social work was forced to take a digital leap. In this article, we examine Finnish social workers’ experiences of extending the use of digitally mediated social work (DMSW) in working with clients during the first wave of the pandemic, the spring of 2020. The data consist of 33 social workers’ personal diaries, which are analysed using a qualitative theory-based content analysis. Henri Lefebvre’s theory of spatial triad will be utilised in theorising how social workers represent DMSW through three dimensions of space, that is, how they perceive, conceive and live digital spaces when encountering their clients and how physical, mental and social spaces are embodied in the representations. The results suggest that the three dimensions of space 1) basis of, 2) conceived and 3) lived DMSW intertwine closely together. The results reveal how the physical space, including IT infrastructure, its functionality and applicability, along with the organisational contexts, form a bedrock for the social workers’ DMSW practice and had a decisive impact on their experiences. Second, the conceived space consists of workers’ cognitive and emotional elements, such as competencies, preconceptions and attitudes towards ICT. Finally, the third dimension of spatiality concludes with the social and relational aspects of the user experiences and encounters between clients and social workers.

Flow With Nature Treatment for Depression: Participants' Experiences.

This study examined Flow with Nature (FWN) treatment, which is an integrative intervention (rehabilitation) based on eco and environmental psychology, psychotherapeutic theories and professional psychological practice. FWN is intended for depression rehabilitation with the help of social support, nature environments and FWN exercises. Exercises encourage sensing the environment, mindful awareness, psychological processing and focusing on the future. The FWN treatment proceeds in separate stages (horizon, growth and path), which emphasise nature, group (social support) and FWN exercises differently. This study focused on the experiences of the participants in the FWN treatment. Finnish adults who had been diagnosed with clinical depression took part in the FWN treatment (N = 82) and answered feedback questions (by paper, electronic questionnaire or phone discussion). Answers were analysed using theory-based content analysis. Data were collected between spring 2019 and spring 2020. The majority of the participants were women (82%) and on average 44 years old. Content analysis revealed that the participant feedback answers were in agreement with the central theoretical themes of FWN. The participants emphasised the significance of nature, social support and exercises differently. Moreover, the significance of these ingredients differed according to the stages of treatment: in the horizon stage restorative (e.g., fascination) and comprehensive nature experiences (e.g., connectedness with nature), in the growth stage social support (e.g., peer support) and in the path stage environmental self-regulation (e.g., nature as a part of life) were emphasised. These results are in accordance with the objectives of the stages and seem to support the phase-based rationale. The participants’ experiences of the key elements of the intervention, social support and nature environment were experienced mainly positively, which supports their inclusion in future intervention versions. In the future, FWN exercises should be developed to better enable participants’ possibilities for concentration and being present in the moment (mindfulness). Exercises should also be simplified to match the target group’s cognitive abilities.

Defining the systemic development of the Finnish pulp and paper industry’s business network

Companies operate in a nested and complex system where global challenges shape their environments and put pressure on business activities. Systemic understanding of the past and ongoing changes within a national industry help to analyze the global influences and identify phenomena that reshape business collaborations. To address this issue in the case of a forest sector, this study constructs a systemic picture of the historical development of the Finnish pulp and paper industry’s business network and analyzes it qualitatively through the Actors-Resources-Activities framework. Books discussing the history of the Finnish forest industry were used as secondary data, which were analyzed with a theory-based content analysis method. The analysis revealed four development phases during which the network has evolved from rather simple one emphasizing cooperation organizations (1st) to a more complex one with stronger roles of the state and individual influencers (2nd), and then emphasizing export and advocacy associations (3rd), before returning to be rather simple, based around three large multinationals and the EU playing an important role (4th). The industry is concerned about securing its key resources, with varying foci. Research and technological innovation activities play an important role together with cooperative interactions. Overall, actors favor a business-as-usual strategy, which is overruled only by a radical change in the operating environment, leading to notable changes in the network. Thus, a suggestion for all actors within the forest sector is that actively detecting and interpreting change signals in the whole environment can help actors in pursuing sustainable activities.

Analysis of a dream series by the Dream Coding System developed by Ulrich Moser.

This paper serves psychotherapeutic process research and shows the process of change in a psychodynamic, individual psychological psychotherapy by means of a theory-based content analysis of the dreams reported in this therapy. The analysis of the patient’s dreams is carried out according to the dream coding method by Ulrich Moser and Vera Hortig (2019). The guiding question is about changes in positioning and interactions of the dream elements, how can they be determined and how (within the framework of the underlying dream generation theory) the influence of these changes on the patient’s ability to regulate affect can be assessed. Dream coding according to Moser and Hortig uses only the manifest dream and can be regarded as a research tool that rests, among other things, on psychoanalytic concepts, while at the same time taking into account more recent findings in dream and affect research. Its focus is on the coding of the present dream experience and the transformation of dream elements both within individual dreams and in the course of an entire dream series. It allows, without knowledge of the biographical anamnesis and without using psychoanalytic interpretation methods, to recognize changes in the dream structure and the affect regulation produced by it. The coding system thus also offers the possibility of making comparisons regarding the therapeutic changes achieved and thus (at least potentially) the effectiveness of different treatment methods (cf. Leuzinger-Bohleber, 2008, p. 7 f.). The coding of several dreams, i.e. the manifest dream content as a dream series highlighted the patient’s inner psychic change process: while the safety principle dominated the beginning, involvement increased and the use of the elements was more flexible and the interactions more mixed, to approach the initial dream again towards the end of the dream series. The coding indicates that the patient was able to increase her self-efficacy due to better containment of the emergent (dysfunctional) affects. This coding procedure serves as a promising empirical process assessment for carrying out single case studies.

Understanding Behavioral Intentions Toward COVID-19 Vaccines: Theory-Based Content Analysis of Tweets.

BackgroundAcceptance rates of COVID-19 vaccines have still not reached the required threshold to achieve herd immunity. Understanding why some people are willing to be vaccinated and others are not is a critical step to develop efficient implementation strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccines.ObjectiveWe conducted a theory-based content analysis based on the capability, opportunity, motivation–behavior (COM-B) model to characterize the factors influencing behavioral intentions toward COVID-19 vaccines mentioned on the Twitter platform.MethodsWe collected tweets posted in English from November 1-22, 2020, using a combination of relevant keywords and hashtags. After excluding retweets, we randomly selected 5000 tweets for manual coding and content analysis. We performed a content analysis informed by the adapted COM-B model.ResultsOf the 5000 COVID-19 vaccine–related tweets that were coded, 4796 (95.9%) were posted by unique users. A total of 97 tweets carried positive behavioral intent, while 182 tweets contained negative behavioral intent. Of these, 28 tweets were mapped to capability factors, 155 tweets were related to motivation, 23 tweets were related to opportunities, and 74 tweets did not contain any useful information about the reasons for their behavioral intentions (κ=0.73). Some tweets mentioned two or more constructs at the same time. Tweets that were mapped to capability (P<.001), motivation (P<.001), and opportunity (P=.03) factors were more likely to indicate negative behavioral intentions.ConclusionsMost behavioral intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccines were related to the motivation construct. The themes identified in this study could be used to inform theory-based and evidence-based interventions to improve acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review aimed to investigate how healthcare organizations' innovative processes of digital service design with stakeholders can be described by self-organization and emergence of complex adaptive system theory. The data of the publications was collected using a systematic research literature review method and analyzed with theory-based content analysis. The total of selected articles was 21. The reliability was strengthened through searching other references identified in the articles. The overlaps in literature of innovativeness and innovations, digital service design, and complex adaptive system theory showed their concordant characteristics. The innovative process of digital service design was described by theories and concepts related to complex adaptive system theory and other complexity approaches with an emphasis on user-centeredness. Stakeholder interaction is needed to achieve identifying barriers and benefits of success, and effective progress of an efficient innovation process.

The Relevance of Radiochemistry: Perceptions of Future Radiochemists

Radiochemistry faces a well-documented training and recruitment crisis. Older radiochemists are retiring, and fewer young people are studying radiochemistry. In turn, this is leading to a shortage in newly qualified radiochemists, as well as a loss of historical knowledge (as know-how is often not passed-on). Here, we analyzed the relevance of the study of radiochemistry in higher education through future radiochemists’ perceptions. Our objective was to provide insights into future radiochemists’ thinking and provide some clear examples on how to support relevance. A qualitative study was conducted through a research question: What perceptions of relevance do future radiochemists experience about radiochemistry studies and radiochemistry as a field? We used the relevance model of Stuckey et al. (2013) as the relevance framework. This was selected because it offers a comprehensive definition of relevance including individual, societal, and vocational dimensions. The data were gathered from postgraduate radiochemistry students (masters and Ph.D. level) through use of a qualitative questionnaire that was designed using the selected relevance framework. In total, 15 future radiochemists participated in the study. The data were analyzed through theory-based content analysis using the selected relevance framework. According to our data, future radiochemists experience their university study and the chemistry field as being highly relevant. They experienced that radiochemistry topics are interesting (individual relevance), the field has great societal impact through radiopharmaceuticals, energy solutions, and environmental problem-solving (societal relevance), and that their professional future was clear, for example, a job in the nuclear industry (vocational relevance). These results can be used in student recruitment and in developing radiochemistry teaching toward a more relevance-oriented direction.

ANALYSIS OF SENIOR SECONDARY EXAMINATION QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO REVISED BLOOMS TAXONOMY COMPLEXITY

In this paper attempt is made to investigate summative examination questions of grade 11 according to cognitive complexity. Total 12 senior secondary schools grade 11 question papers of the academic year 2018-19 end exams are considered in the present study. Total 384 questions are asked. In the present study conducted - theory based content analysis and qualitative methodology is employed by using revised Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive objectives. Higher order thinking, middle order thinking and lower order thinking skills based questions are structured. The present research is guided by research question “What kind of cognitive skills and knowledge do grade 11 examination questions require?” Result of the study reveals that year end examinations are demanding. 52% questions are from higher order cognitive skills. Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy is used for designing the assessment tool. The two higher order thinking skills categories should be more evenly present in the exam.

Kahden sukupolven kattava perintöoikeus tekijänoikeuden keston perusteluna

This article addresses one of the most common justifications of the optimal duration of copyright in music business in Finland. The research material consists of half-structured theme interviews and the method used is theory-based content analysis. The interpretational theory used is the model of justification of copyright by Laura Leppämäki. Thirty-one informants representing a wide spectrum of expertise in Finnish music business were interviewed during March-October 2016. The results state the following: Copyright is often seen as a natural item of ownership, claimed by work, and especially as a subject of inheritance, preferably for two subsequent generations. However, simple arithmetic discloses the current duration lasts longer than the average life expectancy of the grandchildren of the author. If two generations are seen as an optimal duration, copyright should last 60 years after authors death. The member states of EU have until June 7th 2021 to introduce the new Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market – in which the duration remains the current 70 years – within their countries. This article argues that if the duration is justified as a subject of inheritance, it should be shortened. Another possibility is to alter the justification entirely.

Conceptualizing fashion styling

The main goal of this study was to conceptualize the practices and processes of fashion styling and to clarify the meanings of key concepts to enhance understanding of diverse functions in different areas of fashion styling. The qualitative study was based on thematic interviews with fifteen styling experts (eleven females and four males). The data were first analysed inductively and subsequently using theory-based content analysis. The analysis revealed five key functions of fashion styling: (1) implementing human needs and increasing well-being through personal styling; (2) expressing personal ideas through artistic styling; (3) influencing clients’ conceptions of ideal beauty through fashion styling and promotional styling; (4) enhancing the commercial viability of fashion products through commercial styling; and (5) self-fashioning as self-representation in fashion blogging and online marketing of styling services. The final analysis revealed four concepts of fashion styling with diverse meanings in relation to art, design, craft and technology: aesthetic-humanistic, aesthetic-expressive, aesthetic-impressive and aesthetic-exemplary.