Search Results (45)

This essay examines two hybrid poetic texts that emerged from a period of feminist activism in U.S. and global poetry communities from 2014 to 2017: the collaboratively, anonymously authored “No Manifesto” (2015) and the radically revised second edition of the book of poetry and visual art YOU DA ONE by Jennif(f)er Tamayo. “No Manifesto” and YOU DA ONE embrace the hybrid tactics of collectivity, incongruity, and nonresolution as ways of protesting sexism and sexual violence in poetry communities. Synthesizing theories of hybridity from poetry criticism as well as immigrant and borderlands studies, the essay defines hybridity as a literary representation of cultural positions forcefully imposed upon subjects. Born out of the domination of sexual and state violence, hybridity marks the wound that remakes the subject, who develops strategies for resistance. By refusing to play by the rules of poetic or social discourse—the logics of domination that would have them be singular, cohesive, and compliant—Tamayo and the authors of “No Manifesto” insist on alternative ways of performing activism, composing literature, and entering the public sphere. These socially engaged, hybrid poetic texts demonstrate the power of the collective to disrupt the social and literary status quo. Full article

Scientific culture in pedagogical work involves the integration of scientific principles, values, and practices into education to promote critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and curiosity. It fosters an environment where students develop as independent learners, problem-solvers, and informed citizens. Teachers play a key role in cultivating this culture, acting as facilitators and guides who equip students with the tools to think critically and engage with the world scientifically. While often associated with STEM disciplines, scientific literacy extends beyond these areas, emphasizing the integration of scientifically grounded knowledge into all subject areas. To achieve this, teachers must continually enhance their own understanding and skills in scientific thinking. Staying updated with the latest scientific discoveries, critically evaluating information, and applying innovative pedagogical methods are essential. Professional development can provide a vital avenue for teachers to acquire these competencies. Approaches such as reading scientific literature, collaborating with colleagues, and attending specialized training programs can improve teaching strategies and promote scientific thinking in the classroom. This study investigated professional development programs provided for in-service teachers to understand how they contribute to fostering a scientific culture. The researchers collected data from municipalities in Latvia and online resources to summarize the information on the professional development programs provided to in-service teachers. This study examined how elements of scientific culture are reflected in teacher professional development programs in Latvia, using Merton’s CUDOS norms as an analytical framework. The acronym CUDOS refers to four foundational principles of scientific ethos: communalism, universalism, disinterestedness, and organized skepticism. These norms guided the evaluation of whether and how scientific inquiry values are embedded in the design and delivery of training programs for in-service teachers. Using quantitative and qualitative methods for data analysis, it was found that in-service teacher training in Latvia is highly eclectic and often lacks alignment with scientifically grounded principles. There are a lot of programs provided to develop transversal competencies, but very few subject-specific programs are available. The findings highlight the need for more structured and cohesive professional development programs to support in-service teachers in developing competence in cultivating scientific inquiry, nurturing curiosity, and empowering students to navigate an increasingly complex and technology-driven society. These insights offer practical implications for education policymakers and program designers aiming to enhance the scientific orientation of teacher training. By identifying specific gaps in content and alignment with scientific culture, this study provides an original contribution to the discourse on evidence-informed teacher development and supports a more conceptually grounded and equitable approach to lifelong professional learning in Latvia. Full article

The mobile gaming industry has undergone remarkable expansion alongside advancements in mobile and information technologies. Facing intensified market competition due to user number saturation and product homogeneity, industry practitioners require actionable insights into design features that drive user engagement and in-game payments. This study employs a qualitative research approach based on grounded theory, focusing on role-playing mobile games as the research subject. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups with gaming industry professionals and users, supplemented by online textual data collection. Utilizing the three-stage coding paradigm of grounded theory and drawing upon emotional design theory, this study constructs a dimensional model of mobile game design features comprising 4 major categories, 16 primary design characteristics, and 41 specific design elements. The findings provide theoretical support for understanding how mobile game design features influence user behaviors while offering practical insights for optimizing mobile game products. This research contributes to both academic discourse and industrial practice by systematically identifying and categorizing critical design elements that affect user engagement in mobile games. Full article

Objective: In this study, we aimed to identify the main factors that influence the quality of life of caregivers in the context of home care for the elderly. Methodology: This is a mixed-methods study with a qualitative–quantitative approach, conducted with 138 home caregivers from the city of Itatiba, São Paulo, Brazil. Individual interviews were conducted, and the qualitative data were analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse technique. Simultaneously, the quantitative approach involved the application of the EQ-5D questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and significance tests. Results: The majority of caregivers were female, accounting for 92.03% of the total, with the predominant age group being over 50 years old (49.28%). The interviews highlighted the regularity of home visits by healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of these visits for the continuity of treatment at home. However, some caregivers expressed feelings of loneliness due to social isolation and emotional burden, reporting difficulties in resting at night and experiencing pain. In the quality of life assessment, statistically significant differences were identified in various dimensions of the EQ-5D. Women showed a higher proportion of extreme problems in usual activities (p < 0.001) and pain/discomfort (p = 0.02), while men reported more moderate problems with anxiety/depression (p = 0.03). Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of personalized and accessible care for patients. It underscores the need for emotional support and educational resources for caregivers to mitigate the negative impacts of prolonged caregiving on their physical and emotional health. Full article

The purpose of the current study was to investigate novice PE teachers’ reflections regarding beliefs and how they played out in teaching practices and identity formation within the settings of their profession. We recruited 31 PE teachers in their early careers to participate in this study. Data were collected through their written accounts of their reflection and in-depth interviews. Analysis of the collected data followed the procedures of thematic analysis through which reflexivity had been emphasized during the analysis process. The results showed three constructed themes. These were teachers’ reflections on their beliefs, PE teaching practices, and PE teachers’ professional identities. We conclude that PE teachers’ reflections on belief systems, as well as the purpose of the subject, have, in one way or another, shaped practices and professional identities. Teachers take up contemporary discourse regarding education, which is not fully aligned with available professional development programs that effectively improve the practices. Teachers form, maintain, and negotiate their professional identities in relation to their beliefs and their actual practices. Full article

A global discourse surrounding physical education (PE) is shifting towards a stronger emphasis on inclusive practises, but research shows that some students still find the subject problematic. This study explores the relationship between students’ dread of physical education (PE) and overall school satisfaction among sixth graders in Tromsø Municipality, Norway, and identifies factors that might explain this relationship. Data were collected from 338 sixth-grade students, with an 85.5% response rate. In this study, we investigate through quantitative analyses whether there is a correlation between students dreading PE and their overall school satisfaction. We find a relatively low correlation between these factors, indicating that dreading PE may be related to factors beyond general school satisfaction. Three significant predictors of students’ apprehension towards PE were identified: self-confidence and self-esteem, discomfort in changing into gym clothes in communal locker rooms, and reluctance to collaborate indiscriminately with peers. These factors could indicate a performance-oriented climate, which contrasts with the mastery-oriented approach emphasised in the national curriculum. The findings highlight the need for PE to be taught in a way that aligns more closely with the curriculum. This study suggests that addressing these issues requires educators who are formally trained to foster a supportive and motivating environment and calls for further research into the translation of curriculum objectives into teaching practises. Full article

Background/Objective: Home care involves actions and services aimed at promoting health. Despite being an important strategy for humanized care, strengthening bonds, and improving access, there is a lack of scientific evidence regarding users’ perceptions of home care. The objective of this study was to analyze the perception of users regarding the home care provided by the Family Health Strategy team. Methodology: A descriptive, quali–quantitative approach was used, with a sample of 60 patients who required home care. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide, and the analysis applied the Collective Subject Discourse. Results: Most participants were female (60%) and aged between 71 and 85 years (45%). The duration of home care varied, with 41.6% receiving care for 13 to 24 months. The majority of participants (61.6%) received home care weekly, while 33.4% were visited every 15 days, and 5% monthly. The most present professionals were community health agents (45%), followed by nursing assistants (18.3%), nurses (15%), and doctors (15%). Dentists and physiotherapists made fewer visits (3.3%). Regarding the care received, 36.6% valued the continuity of treatment, 31.6% were satisfied with the quality, and 25% highlighted the humanization of care. Only 6.6% desired more frequent visits. Conclusions: The analysis of perceptions revealed that participants valued the continuity of treatment and the quality of care received. Home visits were predominantly carried out by community health agents. Full article

This paper aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis and traditional literature review concerning collaborative project delivery (CPD) methods, with an emphasis on design-build (DB), construction management at risk (CMAR), and integrated project delivery (IPD) Methods. This article seeks to identify the most influential publications, reveal the advantages and disadvantages of CPD, and determine the most suitable CPD methods for sustainable construction. This research involves the application of bibliometric instruments in R, which is a powerful statistical computing language that can be used to perform complex data analyses and visualizations on bibliographic data to scrutinize academic journals retrieved from the Scopus database. Google Scholar is also utilized for an in-depth analysis as part of this study. Relevant articles are identified and screened for review. Our analysis is grounded on an extensive dataset of 927 journal articles collected from the year 2000 up to September 2023, providing a robust foundation for a comprehensive examination. Citation analysis identified highly cited publications that have significantly influenced the discourse on CPD. The analysis further established the advantages and disadvantages of CPD methods to suggest the most suitable CPD technique for sustainable construction. The results of this analysis offer insights into future directions and opportunities for further research through a comprehensive overview of the existing discourse on the subject. The paper classifies CPD through collaborative contracting, particularly through early contractor involvement (ECI), groups the design-build and construction manager at risk methods under CPD, and aligns their advantages with the critical success factors for sustainable construction in order to select the most suitable CPD technique. This research can serve as a guide for industry professionals, researchers, and policymakers, providing a structured path for collaborative endeavors and facilitating coordinated efforts toward collaborative project delivery methods and sustainable construction. Full article

This study attempts to investigate the disagreement strategies that are used by American speakers of Arabic with a view to identifying which disagreement strategies they use in equal and non-equal status situations. In addition, it aims to see whether variables like gender and social status affect the linguistic choices and disagreement strategies that they use. The subjects of the study are 28 (14 male and 14 female) American speakers of Arabic who were learning Arabic and were residing in Jordan at the time of data collection. The researchers analyze their interactional recorded responses to a set of stimuli included in an oral (recorded) discourse completion task (ODCT) prepared for this purpose. The ODCT comprises six scenarios in which the respondent is requested to disagree with two peers, two higher-status interlocutors, and two lower-status interlocutors. The findings of the study show that the American speakers of Arabic use two main disagreement strategies, non-confrontational and confrontational disagreements, which are in turn divided into sub-strategies. Further, they employ the non-confrontational strategies slightly more than the confrontational ones, as the percentage for the former is 51% while for the latter is 49%. Interestingly, the study suggests that the topic of discussion significantly influences the choice of strategy, sometimes resulting in women being more confrontational than men, which contrasts with common perceptions reported in the literature about gender-based communication styles. Full article

Residential satisfaction has been heavily discussed worldwide amid the increasing emphasis on the social dimension of sustainability. However, consensus has not been reached regarding its determinants, and little research has focused on the subsidized housing estates (SHEs) in post-reform China. Using data collected from field observations in Guangzhou, this study developed a conceptual framework on the basis of the ACSI and Campbell’s models and employed structural equation modeling to investigate what and how factors pertaining to both the built and social environments influenced residential satisfaction of SHEs. Generally, SHE residents were moderately satisfied with their housing estates, although challenges persisted in estate management and security, suggesting that the performance of China’s subsidized housing policies were acceptable. Echoing existing arguments, this empirical investigation revealed the substantial positive roles played by both the built and social environments in shaping residential satisfaction. Specifically, the livable built environment characterized by large housing size and well-equipped neighborhoods, coupled with the friendly social environment marked by intimate neighborly relationships and diverse community activities, correlated with an elevated level of residential satisfaction of SHEs. Importantly, residents’ subjective perceptions of the built environment emerged as the most influential factor, which acted a significant mediating role, linking both objective attributes and individual expectations to residential satisfaction. This underscored the necessity of integrating public opinions into the planning process to meet SHE residents’ actual desires. These findings not only extended the scholarly discourse on residential satisfaction, especially among disadvantaged groups in low-income housing estates, but also advanced urban sustainable development by providing references for enhancing SHE performance. Full article

With a reputation for offering stylish and on-trend clothing at pocket-friendly prices, fast fashion brands resonate with the economic realities faced by many Gen Z consumers. Gen Z consumers are not just a target consumer market but also a driving force shaping the future of the fashion industry. Their preferences, values, and behaviors impact trends, reshape retail practices, and influence the overall trajectory of the fashion landscape. The evolving discourse surrounding sustainability and conscious consumerism suggests that the future may see a recalibration of the fashion landscape, with Gen Z at the forefront of demanding more responsible and transparent practices from the fashion industry. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the factors significantly influencing U.S. Gen Z consumers’ intentions to purchase fast fashion. Building on the theory of planned behavior, a research model for understanding Gen Z consumers’ intentions to buy fast fashion is proposed. Attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, environmental knowledge, need for uniqueness, materialism, and fashion leadership are investigated as predictors. Moreover, we examined how environmental knowledge, need for uniqueness, materialism, and fashion leadership affect Gen Z consumers’ attitudes toward fast fashion products. A total of 528 eligible responses were collected for analysis through a Qualtrics online survey. The proposed model’s psychometric properties were evaluated, and the hypotheses were tested using the multiple regression method. It was found that attitude, perceived consumer effectiveness, environmental knowledge, and fashion leadership significantly influenced Gen Z consumers’ intentions to shop fast fashion. Additionally, Gen Z consumers’ environmental knowledge, need for uniqueness, and fashion leadership significantly affect their attitudes toward fast fashion. The research model demonstrated strong explanatory power, explaining 68.9% of the variance in Gen Z consumers’ purchase intention toward fast fashion. Full article

Society expects history to be objective and factual. Collectively history is the memory of the nation, that group, the imagined community that believes that it has always been together. It could even be said that the nation is about forgetting; forgetting that the people who make up that community were not always together as they are now, or the forgetting of those hurdles and hindrances that create obstacles to cohesion and continuity. Memory is collaborative by nature, and provides a legacy to society, a response to its own mortality in the future. This paper proposes to examine the case of subjective recounting of the past through a family memory of war, the forgetting, the gaps created in narratives to enable cohesion and to fit in with publicly acceptable discourse. It ultimately attempts to answer the question as to why it might be important to re-examine such stories of an individual nature, in a wider scope of the nation, and links those seemingly antinomic periods of time of past, present, and future, which are not as exclusive as might be believed. This paper focuses upon a deserter ancestor, going against the grain of traditional narratives. Traditionally, soldiers are considered by definition of what is expected from them in the national narrative, as ‘war heroes’. However, this paper examines the life of a military ancestor who, in reality, did not fit into that framework, and who deserted from the army (although never on the front line, thus avoiding being shot). Nevertheless, the multiple desertions (deserted five times in total, lost kit twice, was imprisoned, and was detained for desertion three times) only ‘resurfaced’ recently due to the availability of documentation and research carried out in archives. While the ancestor conformed socially to what was expected of him, the reality of his military files seems to reveal the contrary. Despite the high numbers of times that he did desert, he did also rejoin every time, and ended up spending 3 decades in the same military unit. Or, perhaps the manner in which society views soldiers pre- and post-WWI has been altered, and, as such, desertion was not once what it has become. Forgetting has been the norm in society regarding certain pasts that step outside of the national narrative, rather than remembering. This paper attempts to imagine the nation’s past in a different way, by including those who also deserted, an area of ill-defined research in military history. Full article

This study investigated the impact of home care, health status, and cognition. A qualitative and quantitative approach was employed through a cross-sectional study with a sample of 60 elderly individuals in need of home care in the municipality of Itatiba, São Paulo, Brazil. The analysis utilized the Discourse of the Collective Subject (DCS), EQ-5D, EQ VAS, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The sample consisted of 40.0% male and 60.0% female individuals. The majority (61.6%) received weekly visits, mainly from community health agents, who were responsible for the majority of the care (45%). Positive considerations were highlighted, with 36.6% emphasizing the contribution to treatment continuity. The EQ VAS assessment indicated a moderately good perception of health. The EQ-5D analysis revealed significant differences between genders in personal care (p = 0.04). There were significant differences between clinical characteristics and EQ-5D dimensions, such as neoplasia and reduced mobility (p = 0.04), and arthritis/osteoarthritis/rheumatism and a limitation in common activities (p = 0.01). The presence of anxiety/depression was significant in cases of neoplasia (p = 0.006), arthritis/osteoarthritis/rheumatism (p = 0.01), and stroke (p = 0.04). The logistic regression analysis showed associations between usual activities and arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism (p = 0.034), pain/malaise and arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism (p = 0.038), and anxiety/depression and stroke (p= 0.028). The average MMSE scores (17.52) suggested a mild cognitive impairment, with no statistical differences between genders. Based on these results, it can be concluded that home care can provide a comprehensive approach and continuous assistance, emphasizing the importance of personalized care based on perceived and clinical differences. Full article

This manuscript investigates the cultural and educational dimensions of murals and graffiti in the ruins of the Aliko Hotel on Naxos Island. Moving beyond their aesthetic value, these artworks are examined as conduits for complex sociocultural and educational discourses. Employing semiotic analysis, particularly informed by Roland Barthes’ conceptual framework, the study offers a multi-layered interpretation of the significance of street art. A systematic approach guided the empirical data collection, entailing the careful selection and categorisation of 76 photographs, eventually honed down to 21 key images for detailed analysis. This set, comprising 6 murals and 15 graffiti pieces, was subjected to meticulous examination to discern both dominant themes and motifs (‘studium’) and the elements evoking personal connections (‘punktum’), thereby facilitating emotional and intellectual engagement. The methodology of the study is tailored to uncover the collective narratives encapsulated within these visual forms, as well as the individual responses they provoke. It probes how personal interpretations are influenced by the viewers’ beliefs and backgrounds, thereby expanding the semiotic analysis to encompass both shared and individual meanings. This balanced analytical approach deepens the understanding of visual expressions as dynamic interactions between the artwork and its audience. It underscores the transformative role of street art in urban environments and its contribution to public art discourse. The impending demolition of the Hotel Aliko ruins underscores the ephemeral nature of street art. The murals and graffiti, as transient custodians of cultural and social narratives, accentuate the fragile nature of this cultural heritage. This critical moment underscores the importance of documenting and preserving such art forms and the stories they encapsulate, highlighting their significant role in shaping community identity and cultural education. Full article

This paper examines Philip Huynh’s short story collection The Forbidden Purple City in relation to its engagement with the nativity–territory–citizenship triad on which Western socio-political communities found the principles of affiliation of their members. First, the Canadian reaffirmation of a discourse of national benevolence is contextualised to later draw on how the collection is nurtured by boundary-crossing ethics that interrogates any sequential relation between past and present, Vietnam and Canada, which usually structures refugee narratives. It is argued then that disruptive and productive time/space interconnections delegitimate any simplistic representations of easily assimilated grateful refugees, fracturing the convenient narration of Canada as a benefactor concerned with old and new international humanitarian causes. The newness of Huynh’s stories relies on their mobilisation of the discourse of state citizenship through exceptional migrancy and its disruptive border nature. In contrast to premises of birth and geographical territory, which lose ground as backbones of any affiliation, citizenship appears incomplete and processual. The stories use the precarious performativity of collective homogeneity expected of a former settler colony, like Canada, to launch agency and resistance to state homogenisation, and de-institutionalise the refugee subject to critically intervene sovereignty and political subjectivity. Finally, the stories evince that Canada’s social spectrum is ideal to explore the threshold opened by the adjacency of sameness and otherness embodied by Huynh’s protagonists. Their condition as diasporic refugee subjects augments the transformative potential of new refugee narratives, in which literal and metaphorical polymorphous borders unveil the bases of the contemporary Canadian socio-political community. Full article