Neuroeducational Factors Influencing Cognitive and Emotional Development in Unaccompanied Foreign Minors: The Impact of Migration Trauma

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper entitled: “Neuroeducational Variables Influencing Cognitive and Emotional Development in NNAMNA Minors: The Impact of Migration Trauma” aims to analyze the impact of migration trauma on the emotional and cognitive development process of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents. Therefore, this paper aims to determine the main neuroeducational variables affecting Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents and examine the connections between migration trauma and cognitive and emotional development from a neuroeducational perspective. Finally, the authors conclude that the migration experience imposes severe and profound consequences on the emotional and cognitive development of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents, affecting their ability to adapt in their new environment.

 

This article examines a topic of enormous relevance in the area of migration studies. However, this article is misleading. In the abstract the authors say: “This design begins with the collection and analysis of qualitative data to create a database, which then facilitates the collection and analysis of quantitative data. The integration and comparison of both stages aim to determine the main neuroeducational variables affecting NNAMNA”. Moreover, in the Materials and Methods section the authors point out: “The quantitative dimension of the study will be performed through a thorough analysis of the frequency and co-occurrence of redundant and nested codes, using advanced coding tools in MAXQDA software to ensure rigorous and systematic processing of the data”. Therefore, I was expecting an analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. However, this paper is only based on a qualitative methodology and only analyses the perception that professionals have of the neuroeducational reality of the Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents. Therefore, this paper does not aim to determine the main neuroeducational variables affecting Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents and examine the connections between migration trauma and cognitive and emotional development from a neuroeducational perspective, but the perception that professionals have of the neuroeducational reality of the Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents. As a result, the authors should rewrite the abstract and the objectives of the paper, because this paper is not as ambitious as the authors say.

 

On the other hand, the authors say that “Participants were selected through the non-probabilistic purposive convenience sampling method”. That is not truth. Participants were not selected through the non-probabilistic purposive convenience. Purposeful sampling is the opposite of random probability sampling. Random probability sampling permits generalizations from the sample to the population it represents; by contrast, purposeful sampling does not permit generalizations from the sample to the population it represents. On the other hand, purposeful sampling selects a specific type and number of information-rich cases strategically and purposefully in order to obtain a deep understanding of the topic under study; by contrast, random probability sampling does not permit to obtain a deep understanding of the topic under study because participants were selected randomly. When the authors say that participants were selected through the non-probabilistic purposive convenience sampling method, they insinuate that purposeful sampling has a lower value than random probability sampling because it yields information-poor cases. However, the participants in this study were academic and professional people that were strategically selected because of their deep understanding of the neuroeducational reality of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents. Therefore, the authors should correct the explanation of the way the participants were selected.

 

 

The authors point out that “the moment of age determination is one of the moments with the greatest impact on the possible development of mental disorders in minors, due to the fact that it is a moment surrounded by emotions such as fear and uncertainty”. This point is very interesting, but it is not clearly developed. The authors should explain more in detail about the issue of “age determination”.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors;

This paper requires significant revision to improve, particularly in writing the literature review. However, the following recommendations are provided:

• The abstract needs to be reviewed, as it includes information related to the article but does not include a description of how it was developed. In other words, it is necessary to improve the wording of this epigraph, which has made the abstract unclear and confusing.
• The literature review is limited and lacks a significant foundation, which prevents this work from having adequate support and backing for its results.
• In the literature review, it is mentioned that there are several emotional and cognitive causes, but it does not explain what these consist of. Please review and expand on this point.
• The sample size is not specified. The number of interviewees is mentioned, but not the number of interviews conducted with this group of people (NNAMNA Minors).
• Please review the translation.
• The figures included do not provide additional information; they merely explain the same data mentioned in the text, making them unclear and providing limited value.
• The overall time required to collect all the data is not specified.

Best regards,

 

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

I honestly had some hard times reviewing the paper. I am sure that the research that you did was interesting and really useful for your context. It seems so and I am happy of hearing somebody working so hard in such a diffucult field.

However, the merit of the paper itself, I think, is low and I suggest you to rewrite it having clearer ideas on what you want to communicate, positioning your introduction and discussion in a broader and solid literature, reviewing the English language, discussing the results more profoundly.

Many points should be taken into account, starting from the abstract which is really confusing. It is not clear, from the scratch, what you did and what you accomplished. Then, I really do not understand the expression NNAMNA Minors. I have never heard of that, nor it is possible to understand what it means.

Basic scientific and grammar rules would like acronyms to function in a certain way.

The introduction is confusing as well. There is the use of the "we", which I certainly understand in an oral context, but that it does not seem appropriate. "We start from migratory contexts with very complex emotional situations; these minors usually arrive in the receiving countries fleeing from war conflicts, group or intrafamily violence and extreme poverty in their country of origin". 

Which contexts? What emotional situations? These minors: who?

It is really hard to address.

Coming to 2.1, another example: Participants were selected through the non-probabilistic purposive convenience sampling method. For this purpose, a description of personal characteristics was previously requested; specifically, participants with basic knowledge of neuropedagogy immersed in the field of work of the study context were requested.

It is not clear what you are writing and to what you are referring. Participants are minor migrants? Why you then pass by showing a table of informants?

2.2: Which interviews are you referring to?

 

Sadly, I recommend to reject your paper.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of English language must be extensively improved in terms of wording, sentence structure, logics of the arguments, clarity.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Neuroeducational Variables Influencing Cognitive and Emotional Development in NNAMNA Minors: The Impact of Migration Trauma

I read this paper with great interest, and I consider that it is an innovative contribution.

However, before publishing it, I consider that the authors should pay attention to several aspects:

My observations when reading the paper are linked to the structure of the article:

The authors should include a theoretical framework before publishing it, because we cannot submit for publication a work that lacks a theoretical framework.

In addition, there is an extensive literature on the aspects of trauma in migration. This would also expand the final bibliography, which is very scarce.

Likewise, they should summarize a little more the methods used to write the article. Explain clearly the number of participants and how they carried out the methodology. In its current form it is difficult for the reader to understand. The methodology should be clearer and more concise.

 

The results are well written and detailed, although if they analyzed the quotes a little more, the article would be better.

 

Please integrate the discussion with the conclusions because otherwise, the conclusions section would be very brief. Please highlight your contribution to the existing literature, both at the beginning and at the end of your work. Since the journal is called “Future”, how do you see/interpret the future of refugee minors in relation to migration trauma?

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

This work has significantly improved in quality and clarity by adding new information supporting the study. However, there are a couple of suggestions that have not yet been considered:

The writing of the abstract lacks fluency due to certain phrases that disrupt readability, such as: “The study begins…”, “Next…”, “The study concludes…”. It is recommended that this section be rewritten in a different format.

The acronym MENA is introduced in the document, and whenever an acronym is used for the first time, it is necessary to define it.

Regarding the methodological structure, the number of professionals and the duration of the data collection are mentioned, but it does not specify how many people were interviewed. Could you please clarify this aspect?

Finally, the inclusion of relevant citations has been done correctly, adding essential scientific support to this manuscript.

Best regards,

 

 

Author Response

Comments 1: The writing of the abstract lacks fluency due to certain phrases that disrupt readability, such as: “The study begins…”, “Next…”, “The study concludes…”. It is recommended that this section be rewritten in a different format.

Response 1: The abstract has been revised to improve its fluency and readability, addressing the concerns regarding certain phrases such as "The study begins...", "Next...", and "The study concludes...". These have been reformulated to ensure a smoother and more cohesive flow, aligning with the suggested recommendations.

Comments 2: The acronym MENA is introduced in the document, and whenever an acronym is used for the first time, it is necessary to define it.   Response 2: The acronym MENA has been adjusted to its English form and its meaning has been explicitly defined in the document, ensuring clarity and alignment with the recommendation to define acronyms upon first use.

Comments 3: Regarding the methodological structure, the number of professionals and the duration of the data collection are mentioned, but it does not specify how many people were interviewed. Could you please clarify this aspect?

Response 3: The number of professionals mentioned in the methodological structure corresponds to the number of individuals interviewed. This ensures consistency and addresses the concern regarding the clarification of this aspect.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

 

I am still struggling in your word choice. In line 26 you write "In the case of MENA (Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents) the num...".

How does MENA covers the acronym? I really can not get it. And I am still struggling about its use the abstract, without mentioning its meaning. 

I had to search for articles - mainly coming from other fields - to understand the word MENA.

Line 56 you still use the acronym without explaing it: "Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents (NNAMNA)".

Moreover, I am still missing the research aim and research design.

How can a qualitative work "addresses the impact of migration trauma on the cognitive and emotional development of MENA" (line 11). How did you assess, measure and evaluate the impact of migration trauma? Again, in the abstract you say: "analysing the impact of migratory trauma on the emotional and cognitive development process of MENA minors" (line 14).

Again, line 50-52, the word choice is not adequate for a qualitative resarch: that is why this qualitative research is proposed with the objective of analyzing the neuroeducational impact at the cognitive and emotional level of the migration trauma in the MENA population". Moreover, I suggest to revise the English language in this sentence since it is really complicated.

Line 250-254 are not clear: "The quantitative dimension of the study will be performed through a thorough analysis of the frequency and co-occurrence of redundant and nested codes, using advanced coding tools in MAXQDA software to ensure rigorous and systematic processing of the data". Which quantitative dimension?

In many parts of the article you still refer to "variables" which is uncommon and partially inadequate for qualitative research design and reporting.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I still not the use of the "we".

Quality of the English Language has still some weird word choice: eg., "However, before these Moroccan minors became the main protagonists of the NNAMNA migratory flow to Spain". The expression "these Moroccan minors" does not seem scientific nor adequate.

Again: "Arrival in Spain is usually carried out in an irregular manner, there are different means for this, however, they are usually boats that endanger their health and lives. Regardless of the means of entry, the end is the same; once they cross the border, they are found by emergency services and/or authorities, who identify the minors and verify their age (18- 19-13-20]". Use "irregularized" insteaf of "irregular" since most of the border studies literature has dismantled it. Moreover, you should use [ instead of (.

 

"In countries such as Africa, these factors greatly affect learning processes due to childhood experiences related to abuse, school dropout or hunger". Africa is a continent.

Author Response

 

	Comments 1: I am still struggling in your word choice. In line 26 you write "In the case of MENA (Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents) the num...".
	Response 1: The wording in line 26 has been revised for clarity. The updated text now ensures improved readability and aligns with the intended meaning..
	Comments 2: How does MENA covers the acronym? I really can not get it. And I am still struggling about its use the abstract, without mentioning its meaning.   Response 2: The acronym MENA has been adjusted to its English form and its meaning has been explicitly defined in the document, ensuring clarity and alignment with the recommendation to define acronyms upon first use.
	Comments 3: Line 56 you still use the acronym without explaing it: "Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents (NNAMNA)".   Response 3: The acronym in line 56, "Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents (NNAMNA)," has been removed to avoid confusion and ensure clarity in the text.
	Comments 4: Moreover, I am still missing the research aim and research design.
	Response 1: The research aim has been added at the end of the introduction for clarity, and the research design is now clearly outlined at the beginning of the methodology section.
	Comments 5: How can a qualitative work "addresses the impact of migration trauma on the cognitive and emotional development of MENA" (line 11). How did you assess, measure and evaluate the impact of migration trauma? Again, in the abstract you say: "analysing the impact of migratory trauma on the emotional and cognitive development process of MENA minors" (line 14).
Response 5: In response to your comment, the abstract has been revised to clarify the approach taken in this qualitative study. Instead of suggesting a direct measurement or evaluation of the impact of migration trauma, the revised abstract now emphasizes the exploration of the cognitive and emotional consequences of migration trauma through an interpretative qualitative approach. The research focuses on understanding the lived experiences of Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UFM), using the collective case study technique to analyze the connections between trauma and development. This ensures that the study aligns with the qualitative nature of the research, which does not involve direct assessment or measurement but rather aims to provide in-depth insights into the individual experiences of the UFM population.
Comments 6: Again, line 50-52, the word choice is not adequate for a qualitative resarch: that is why this qualitative research is proposed with the objective of analyzing the neuroeducational impact at the cognitive and emotional level of the migration trauma in the MENA population". Moreover, I suggest to revise the English language in this sentence since it is really complicated.   Response 6 : Here is a revised version of the sentence, making it clearer and aligning it with the qualitative nature of the research:   "It is evident that there is a need to explore the challenges and difficulties faced by Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (UFM) during their migration process. Therefore, the objective of this qualitative research is to explore the neuroeducational impact of migration trauma on the cognitive and emotional development of the UFM population."   This revision simplifies the language and maintains the focus on exploration and understanding, which is more suitable for a qualitative approach. It also clearly states the research objective.

 

Comments 7: I am still struggling in your word choice. In line 26 you write "In the case of MENA (Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adolescents) the num...".

Response 7: In response to your comment, the sentence has been revised to clarify that the study focuses on a qualitative approach. The reference to the "quantitative dimension" has been removed, and the explanation now solely describes the use of advanced coding tools in MAXQDA for the systematic analysis of the data.

Comments 8: In many parts of the article you still refer to "variables" which is uncommon and partially inadequate for qualitative research design and reporting.   Response 8: In response, the term "variables" has been replaced throughout the article to better align with qualitative research terminology. We now focus on concepts such as "themes," "categories," or "factors" rather than "variables," ensuring the language is more appropriate for the qualitative approach used in this study.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

 

Comments 1: I still not the use of the "we"

Response 1: The use of "we" has been removed throughout the text to ensure consistency with the formal tone of the research. In all relevant sections, the phrasing now emphasizes the research perspective without using "we," aligning with the appropriate style for qualitative research.

Comments 2: Quality of the English Language has still some weird word choice: eg., "However, before these Moroccan minors became the main protagonists of the NNAMNA migratory flow to Spain". The expression "these Moroccan minors" does not seem scientific nor adequate.   Response 2: The expression "these Moroccan minors" has been revised to improve the clarity and appropriateness of the language. The revised version now refers to "minors from Morocco" and ensures a more formal and scientific tone in line with the rest of the text. If there are any other phrases that need further adjustment, please let me know.

Comments 3: Again: "Arrival in Spain is usually carried out in an irregular manner, there are different means for this, however, they are usually boats that endanger their health and lives. Regardless of the means of entry, the end is the same; once they cross the border, they are found by emergency services and/or authorities, who identify the minors and verify their age (18- 19-13-20]". Use "irregularized" insteaf of "irregular" since most of the border studies literature has dismantled it. Moreover, you should use [ instead of (.   Response 3: Thank you for your comment. The term "irregular" has been replaced with "irregularized," as it aligns better with the terminology used in border studies literature. Additionally, the brackets have been corrected as per your suggestion. If there are any other details that need further refinement, feel free to let me know.     Comments 4: "In countries such as Africa, these factors greatly affect learning processes due to childhood experiences related to abuse, school dropout or hunger". Africa is a continent.   Response 4: Thank you for your observation. The reference to "Africa" has been modified to "countries in Africa," as Africa is a continent, not a country. This change ensures greater precision in the context of the sentence.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx