Social Sciences

16 pages, 471 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creating the Current and Riding the Wave: Persistence and Change in Community-Engaged Health Sciences Research

by Krista A. Haapanen, Jonathan K. London and Karen Andrade

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050312 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1738

Recent decades have seen considerable increases in funding and support for community-engaged research (CER) in the health sciences, including the introduction of community engagement requirements into federally funded research infrastructure programs. This paper asks why, despite these supports and incentives, even the best-intentioned [...] Read more.

Recent decades have seen considerable increases in funding and support for community-engaged research (CER) in the health sciences, including the introduction of community engagement requirements into federally funded research infrastructure programs. This paper asks why, despite these supports and incentives, even the best-intentioned researchers and research organizations may struggle to design, implement, and sustain successful community engagement strategies. This question is examined using an exploratory case study of an environmental health sciences research center whose strategies were influenced in part by a requirement by the funder to incorporate community engagement into its research activities. This study utilizes multiple sources of qualitative data collected between the research center’s second and fifth years of operation, including participant observation, interviews, and focus groups. The analysis employs an organizational perspective, yielding insights into the factors hindering and facilitating the development of practices that integrate community perspectives and control into academic structures. The findings point to an ongoing dialectic between support for innovative community engagement practices and persistence of conventional academic structures. We highlight the interconnected effects of environmental influences, organizational structures, and individual agency on the development of innovative community engagement practices. The implications for future research and practice are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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17 pages, 624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Judicial Geography of Patent Litigation in Germany: Implications for the Institutionalization of the European Unified Patent Court

by Marius Zipf, Johannes Glückler, Tamar Khuchua, Emmanuel Lazega, François Lachapelle and Jakob Hoffmann

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050311 - 21 May 2023

Viewed by 2780

Abstract

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) will be the pillar of a unified European patent enforcement system. Crucial to its success will be the harmonization of geographical variation in national jurisdictions. Germany offers a unique opportunity to explore such harmonization, as plaintiffs can choose [...] Read more.

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) will be the pillar of a unified European patent enforcement system. Crucial to its success will be the harmonization of geographical variation in national jurisdictions. Germany offers a unique opportunity to explore such harmonization, as plaintiffs can choose between twelve regional courts to file a patent suit, resulting in different patent court practices within the same jurisdiction. Adopting a legal geography perspective, we examine the appellate process as a mechanism that reconciles regional variation in court practices. Based on more than 100 decisions from 34 contentious litigations that went through all instances up to the Federal Court of Justice between 2005 and 2019, we find that decision reversals, case citations and guiding principles are important tools to improve error correction and judicial consistency within an IP system. We see these instruments as crucial for national harmonization also in the upcoming European framework. Full article

19 pages, 1322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices: Observing Children’s Need for Help and Interaction with Caregivers

by Ivone Almeida, António Moreira and Jaime Ribeiro

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050310 - 21 May 2023

Viewed by 2982

Abstract

There are many children with disabilities who need specialised devices to communicate and to be understood, which poses an added challenge for their caregivers. This study aims to diagnose the training needs of informal caregivers concerning high-tech devices for augmentative and alternative communication [...] Read more.

There are many children with disabilities who need specialised devices to communicate and to be understood, which poses an added challenge for their caregivers. This study aims to diagnose the training needs of informal caregivers concerning high-tech devices for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), to enhance the use of these devices in the home setting. The aim is to study children’s performance and their interaction with caregivers, to improve practices and contribute to reducing technology abandonment at home. Participant observation sessions were carried out in three home settings to describe the interaction between children and their caregivers, as well as to assess the former’s need for assistance in using the Grid3 software when combined with eye-gaze-controlled technology. The findings seem to demonstrate the importance of interactions between caregivers and children for carrying out tasks and improving performance. Therefore, it can be inferred that positive reinforcement is important to foster children’s motivation to overcome difficulties in using such devices, along with corrective feedback. The data suggest the need to promote technology-mediated communicative interaction in all life contexts. It is also possible to infer that the lack of regular device use at home compromises skills development. These findings have contributed to the planning and implementation of parental training intervention regarding using assistive technology for augmentative and alternative communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 7th World Conference on Qualitative Research)

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17 pages, 313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Imagined Embedding(s): Young People’s Reasons for Moving to Norway

by Tuba Ardic

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050309 - 19 May 2023

Viewed by 1143

Abstract

There has been a plethora of scholarly work which examines the motivational and lingering factors of youth mobilities but there has not been a sufficient number of scholarly articles that explain specifically why Norway is a destination for youth, with a few exceptions. [...] Read more.

There has been a plethora of scholarly work which examines the motivational and lingering factors of youth mobilities but there has not been a sufficient number of scholarly articles that explain specifically why Norway is a destination for youth, with a few exceptions. This paper focuses on young people who move to Norway for employment reasons. Six interviews were chosen via a purposeful sampling from a sample of 15 interviewees, who moved to Norway. The interviews were transcribed and were analysed via thematic analysis. As a result of the thematic analysis, it is observed that imagined embedding(s), a theorisation to explain the motivations to choose a destination place, can be applied to these cases. I contribute to the literature by applying imagined embedding(s) to the motivations for moving abroad, in this case to Norway for young people in mobility. Since most of the work examines the embedding(s) during mobility, my focus will be on the period before mobility and the initial period of mobility. This research proves that the economic reasons for movement are almost always coupled with other more intrinsic and non-economic motives and imagination(s) of a place. Full article

16 pages, 770 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Causal Attribution for Poverty in Young People: Sociodemographic Characteristics, Religious and Political Beliefs

by M. Carmen Terol-Cantero, Maite Martín-Aragón Gelabert, Borja Costa-López, Javier Manchón López and Carolina Vázquez-Rodríguez

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050308 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2747

Abstract

Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon that includes a lack of education, health or housing; it is a relevant factor of social vulnerability that could lead to a situation of social exclusion. According to studies, poverty can be explained by external/social, internal/individual or cultural [...] Read more.

Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon that includes a lack of education, health or housing; it is a relevant factor of social vulnerability that could lead to a situation of social exclusion. According to studies, poverty can be explained by external/social, internal/individual or cultural fatalistic factors. The aim was to confirm the structure of causal attributions of poverty and their relationships with sociodemographic characteristics, as well as religious and political beliefs, in young people. This is a cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of undergraduate students on different degree courses. A survey was administered to 278 participants (45.4% women) with an average age of 21.59. They were young people studying health science degrees (78.4%) who self-identified as belonging to the lower or middle–lower class (57.2%), without any religious beliefs (56.5%) and as left wing (37.8%; n = 94) or center-left (27.7%; n = 69) in their political orientation. Confirmatory factorial analysis and multiple regression analysis supported the results in previous literature (CFI = 0.90, SRMR = 0.07, RMSEA = 0.06), indicating that there are cultural (C), external (E-S) and internal (I) attribution factors of poverty. The results show moderate relationships between the cultural factor and internal or external factors. The findings show that political affiliation and sex are the most consistent predictors of attributions for poverty. Full article

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12 pages, 731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Relationship between Environmental Education and Pro-Environmental Behavior in Regular Basic Education Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Edwin Gustavo Estrada-Araoz, Néstor Antonio Gallegos Ramos, Yolanda Paredes Valverde, Rosel Quispe Herrera and Jaime Mori Bazán

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050307 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4335

Abstract

In recent decades, a series of environmental problems such as pollution, climate change and the loss of biodiversity are being perceived. Given this context, the need to implement strategies arises, such as environmental education, to mitigate the mentioned problems. Therefore, the objective of [...] Read more.

In recent decades, a series of environmental problems such as pollution, climate change and the loss of biodiversity are being perceived. Given this context, the need to implement strategies arises, such as environmental education, to mitigate the mentioned problems. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine if environmental education is related to the pro-environmental behavior of regular basic education students in the Peruvian Amazon. The research approach was quantitative, the design was non-experimental, and the scope was cross-sectional correlational. The sample was obtained of 293 students of the seventh cycle of regular basic education who were administered the Environmental Education Questionnaire and the Environmental Behavior Questionnaire, instruments with adequate metric properties. According to the results, the students were characterized by perceiving that the environmental education that was implemented in the educational institutions was partially adequate. Similarly, pro-environmental behavior was found to be unusual. On the other hand, it was found that the Pearson correlation coefficient between both variables was 0.877, and the p-value was below the significance level (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there is a direct and significant relationship between environmental education and the pro-environmental behavior of regular basic education students in the Peruvian Amazon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Learning Culture for Eco-Friendly Responsibilities: Emerging Trends and Practices)

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15 pages, 646 KiB

Open AccessReview

Gendering the Political Economy of Smallholder Agriculture: A Scoping Review

by Madelyn Clark, Shashika Bandara, Stella Bialous, Kathleen Rice and Raphael Lencucha

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050306 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1886

Abstract

Gender plays a prominent role in shaping the practices and experiences of smallholding farming households. This scoping review seeks to chart and analyze how gender is used in the existing literature on the political economy of smallholder agriculture. The aim of this review [...] Read more.

Gender plays a prominent role in shaping the practices and experiences of smallholding farming households. This scoping review seeks to chart and analyze how gender is used in the existing literature on the political economy of smallholder agriculture. The aim of this review is to first identify the extent to which gender is addressed as a unit of analysis in this body of literature, and second, to identify when and how gender is incorporated in this body of literature. The limited work on this topic may be due to a variety of factors, the most notable of which is the failure of political economy literature to attend to the small scale and the limited attention paid to the social dynamics of women and men in farming households. Classical political economy frameworks tend to dismiss micro-processes and trends in favor of macro-structural conditions. Included articles approach gender in two distinct ways: empirical (which frames gender as a binary unit of analysis, i.e., man–woman) and analytic (a construction that operates in different ways in different contexts). This review provides a nuanced understanding of how gendered identities produce and are produced by political economy, and how political economy shapes and is shaped by gender and household dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 1152 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reconstruct(ing) a Hidden History: Black Deaf Canadian Relat(ing) Identity

by Jenelle Rouse, Amelia Palmer and Amy Parsons

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050305 - 17 May 2023

Viewed by 3208

Abstract

Black Deaf Canadians are under-represented in every facet of life. Black Deaf Canadian excellence, history, culture, and language are under-documented and under-reported. Where are we in history? Where are we now? Why are we not being documented? Black Deaf Canada was established to [...] Read more.

Black Deaf Canadians are under-represented in every facet of life. Black Deaf Canadian excellence, history, culture, and language are under-documented and under-reported. Where are we in history? Where are we now? Why are we not being documented? Black Deaf Canada was established to address these long-standing issues and went on to create an independent research team that led a project called “Black Deaf History in Canada”. This article provides an early account of how the community-based research team conducted a relationship-building practice prior to and during a three-week research trip. Black Deaf Canadians’ relat(ing) experience in history has inspired us to fight for inclusivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Artful Politics: Bodies of Difference Remaking Body Worlds)

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21 pages, 3876 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beyond Utterances: Embodied Creativity and Compliance in Dance and Dementia

by An Kosurko and Melisa Stevanovic

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050304 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1619

Abstract

Practices of creativity and compliance intersect in interaction when directing local dances remotely for people living with dementia and their carers in institutional settings. This ethnomethodological study focused on how artistic mechanisms are understood and structured by participants in response to on-screen instruction. [...] Read more.

Practices of creativity and compliance intersect in interaction when directing local dances remotely for people living with dementia and their carers in institutional settings. This ethnomethodological study focused on how artistic mechanisms are understood and structured by participants in response to on-screen instruction. Video data were collected from two long-term care facilities in Canada and Finland in a pilot study of a dance program that extended internationally from Canada to Finland at the onset of COVID-19. Fourteen hours of video data were analyzed using multimodal conversation analysis of initiation–response sequences. In this paper, we identify how creative instructed actions are produced in compliance with multimodal directives in interaction when mediated by technology and facilitated by copresent facilitators. We provide examples of how participants’ variably compliant responses in relation to dance instruction, from following a lead to coordinating with others, produce different creative actions from embellishing to improvising. Our findings suggest that cocreativity may be realized at intersections of compliance and creativity toward reciprocity. This research contributes to interdisciplinary discussions about the potential of arts-based practices in social inclusion, health, and well-being by studying how dance instruction is understood and realized remotely and in copresence in embodied instructed action and interaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Artful Politics: Bodies of Difference Remaking Body Worlds)

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22 pages, 2748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does the Region Make a Difference? Social Inequality in Transitions to Adulthood across Cohorts in West Germany

by Katarina Weßling

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050303 - 16 May 2023

Viewed by 1620

Abstract

Since the availability of study opportunities is unequal across regions, entering the phase of post-secondary education is often accompanied by leaving (the parental) home. In these life-course transitions, social background plays a crucial role in the form of resources, e.g., to afford living [...] Read more.

Since the availability of study opportunities is unequal across regions, entering the phase of post-secondary education is often accompanied by leaving (the parental) home. In these life-course transitions, social background plays a crucial role in the form of resources, e.g., to afford living independently while studying. We use a unique set of geospatial data by aggregating information on the municipality level flexibly within travel-time radii and link the data to the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) to examine whether socioeconomic and university infrastructure in the region can compensate for a lack of parental resources (i) in transitions to university and (ii) in the likelihood of staying in or leaving the home region to study. We analyse this across cohorts between 1986 and 2015. We find that the region makes a difference: a wide availability of universities in the region offsets social inequality in the transition to university. Yet, the increasing availability of alternative educational routes over time via vocational training and universities of applied sciences causes this moderating influence to decrease across cohorts. Our findings call for gearing the attention of policymakers towards the varying relevance of regional conditions over time and across social groups for individuals’ life-course transitions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Development Dynamics and Their Social, Economic and Political Consequences)

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11 pages, 670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

College Students’ Stereotyped Beliefs

by Patricia Alonso-Ruido, Iris Estévez, Cristina Varela-Portela and Bibiana Regueiro

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050302 - 16 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3251

Abstract

Over recent years, socio-political discourse has been full of language aimed at reaching gender equality. This is a complex goal that should address the underlying bases of inequality—gender stereotypes that continue to legitimize unequal consideration and treatment. It is also a reality that [...] Read more.

Over recent years, socio-political discourse has been full of language aimed at reaching gender equality. This is a complex goal that should address the underlying bases of inequality—gender stereotypes that continue to legitimize unequal consideration and treatment. It is also a reality that universities are not exempt from. The objective of this study was to analyze university students’ stereotyped beliefs and look at the differences based on self-identified gender and branch of knowledge. The analysis looked at a sample of 3433 university students (67.9% women), aged between 17 and 56 (M = 18.95; SD = 2.35) and reported low rates of prevalence of stereotyped beliefs, with significantly higher means in men and in engineering students. The survival of gender stereotypes in a population who were born and raised in a legally egalitarian society points to the importance of education programs aimed at university teachers that would give them the capacity to incorporate a gender perspective in all disciplines, especially those disciplines reporting greater adherence to stereotyped beliefs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

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22 pages, 2360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Waves of Structural Deglobalization: A World-Systems Perspective

by Christopher Chase-Dunn, Alexis Álvarez and Yuhao Liao

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050301 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7281

Abstract

Structural globalization has been both a cycle and an upward trend as periods of greater global integration have been followed by periods of deglobalization on a long-term stair-step toward the greater connectedness of humanity. Since 2008, the world-system may once again be entering [...] Read more.

Structural globalization has been both a cycle and an upward trend as periods of greater global integration have been followed by periods of deglobalization on a long-term stair-step toward the greater connectedness of humanity. Since 2008, the world-system may once again be entering another phase of structural deglobalization as the contradictions of capitalist neoliberalism, environmental degradation and uneven development have provoked different kinds of anti-globalization populism, rivalry among contending powers, trade wars and policies and social movements intended to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change. This plateauing and possible downturn in economic connectedness is occurring in the context of U.S. hegemonic decline and the emergence of a more multipolar configuration of economic and political power among states. The combination of greater communications connectivity and greater awareness of North/South inequalities, as well as destabilizing conflicts and climate change, have provoked waves of refugee migrations and political reactions against immigrants. The result has been a period of chaos that is similar in some ways (but different in others) from what occurred during the last half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. This study investigates the question of whether the world-system is indeed once again entering another period of economic deglobalization and compares the current period with what happened in the 19th and 20th centuries to specify the similarities and the differences. We conclude that, based on changes in the level of economic connectedness since 2008, it is still too soon to tell for sure if the world-system is entering another period of deglobalization, but the important similarities between the recent period and earlier periods of deglobalization make it likely that the system is now in another deglobalization or plateau phase. Full article

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18 pages, 1284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Factors Influencing the Performance of the Adoption of Green Logistics in Urban Tourism in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor

by Sanhakot Vithayaporn, Vilas Nitivattananon, Nophea Sasaki and Djoen San Santoso

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050300 - 12 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3222

Abstract

Tourism plays a crucial role in promoting economic growth, but it can also contribute significantly to environmental degradation, particularly in urban areas where there is a high concentration of local residents and visitors. Tourism is crucial for economic development but can also harm [...] Read more.

Tourism plays a crucial role in promoting economic growth, but it can also contribute significantly to environmental degradation, particularly in urban areas where there is a high concentration of local residents and visitors. Tourism is crucial for economic development but can also harm the environment, particularly in urban areas where both locals and tourists are concentrated. Adopting green logistics is important for promoting sustainable urban tourism while minimizing environmental impact. However, little research has been conducted on this topic in Thailand. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence the performance of green logistics in urban tourism activities in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 leading logistics enterprises and five major factors were identified: The implementation of a green transportation system, the level of the environmental management system, the enhancement of reverse logistics, the level of government governance, and the perceived usefulness of green logistics for logistics enterprises. The research found that both the government and enterprises play a key role in initiating green logistics, and this action is the mechanism behind the identified factors. The study’s holistic perspective on the contributions of green logistics to urban tourism has academic implications and can inform decisions on enhancing and improving green logistics performance for sustainable regional development. The study concludes with implications and recommendations for future research. Full article

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28 pages, 766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developmental Outcomes for Young People Participating in Informal and Lifestyle Sports: A Scoping Review of the Literature, 2000–2020

by Reidar Säfvenbom, Anna-Maria Strittmatter and Guro Pauck Bernhardsen

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050299 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3696

Abstract

The aim of this study is to review the literature on lifestyle sports and lifestyle sport contexts with regard to the developmental potential they may represent in young people’s everyday lives. The review applies a relational developmental systems approach to youth development. The [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to review the literature on lifestyle sports and lifestyle sport contexts with regard to the developmental potential they may represent in young people’s everyday lives. The review applies a relational developmental systems approach to youth development. The eligibility criteria are based on the phenomenon of interest and outcomes. Hence, we include studies examining the associations between young people performing lifestyle sports and potential developmental outcomes: mental, biological, social, and behavioral. The present study shows that the volume of research on informal lifestyle sport is rather extensive and that studies on the way these activity contexts may affect developmental processes in youth are diverse and wide ranging. The studies suggest that performing lifestyle sports may have several beneficial health and skills outcomes. Furthermore, positive associations are suggested between involvement in lifestyle sport contexts such as climbing, snowboarding, parkour, tricking, kiting, and surfing and (a) mental outcomes such joy, happiness, freedom, euphoria, motivation, self-efficacy, and well-being; (b) social outcomes such as gender equality, network building, social inclusion, interaction, friendship; and (c) behavioral outcomes such as identity, creativity, and expressions of masculinity and/or femininity. The review performed indicates that lifestyle sport contexts are flexible according to needs and desires that exist among the practitioners and that the human and democratic origins of these contexts make them supportive for positive movement experiences and for positive youth development. The findings have implications for PE teachers, social workers, policymakers, sport organizations, and urban architecture, in that providing lifestyle sport opportunities in the everyday lives of young people will foster a holistic development in a positive way. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Sport and Social Issues)

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17 pages, 300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community Solutions for Community Problems: Reflections on a Civic Organisation Colloquium for Resolving Gangsterism in the Northern Areas of Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa

by Theodore Petrus and Desira Davids

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050298 - 11 May 2023

Viewed by 2471

Abstract

In July 2022, the authors had the opportunity to facilitate, observe and participate in a community colloquium of civic organisations based in the Northern Areas of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa. The main purpose of the colloquium was to bring together civic organisations [...] Read more.

In July 2022, the authors had the opportunity to facilitate, observe and participate in a community colloquium of civic organisations based in the Northern Areas of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa. The main purpose of the colloquium was to bring together civic organisations to discuss the challenge of gang subcultures in the Northern Areas, and how to address it. This article is a reflection on the colloquium, and the insights gained. As well as being the first time that a colloquium of this nature had taken place in the Northern Areas, it was the result of the authors’ ongoing research on gang subcultures in the community since 2013. Using participant observation, an engaged participatory action research (PAR) approach, and focus group discussions, the article provides some of the results that the colloquium contributed to the study. The results revealed that community-based strategies to address gangsterism would be more sustainable and effective in the long term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Resilience for Future Extreme Events: Focusing on Vulnerable and Marginalized Inhabitants and Co-Inhabitants)

14 pages, 310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Learning Framework (Alef) in UAE Public Schools from the Parents’ Perspective

by Nazera Emara, Nagla Ali and Othman Abu Khurma

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050297 - 10 May 2023

Viewed by 4092

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the Adaptive Learning Framework (Alef) platform and determine how parents perceive the implementation of such a program to support their children’s learning. Alef is a smart learning program that is mandated in United Arab Emirates (UAE) public schools [...] Read more.

This study aimed to evaluate the Adaptive Learning Framework (Alef) platform and determine how parents perceive the implementation of such a program to support their children’s learning. Alef is a smart learning program that is mandated in United Arab Emirates (UAE) public schools to promote student-centered, interactive, and differentiated learning and personalized experiences. The participants were parents of students enrolled in grades 9–12 in UAE public high schools. The study used semi-structured interviews to gather qualitative data to delve deeply into parents’ perceptions of how Alef supports their children’s learning. The results showed that Alef offers stimulating and engaging educational experiences and encourages independent learning. It was found that students’ learning was bolstered when using Alef. In addition, the results indicated the existence of some challenges stemming from the usage of Alef that could have an impact on students’ learning and motivation and, ultimately, the sustainability of such a program. Recommendations are provided to overcome these challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Education and Learning in the Context of the New Normal: Sustainable Development and the Path to Sustainability)

21 pages, 37100 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Multidimensional Poverty with Machine Learning Algorithms: An Open Data Source Approach Using Spatial Data

by Guberney Muñetón-Santa and Luis Carlos Manrique-Ruiz

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050296 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4934

Abstract

This paper presents a methodology to estimate the multidimensional poverty index using spatial data at the street block level. The data used in this study were obtained from Open Street Maps and ESA’s land use cover, which are freely available sources of spatial [...] Read more.

This paper presents a methodology to estimate the multidimensional poverty index using spatial data at the street block level. The data used in this study were obtained from Open Street Maps and ESA’s land use cover, which are freely available sources of spatial information. The study employs five machine-learning algorithms, including Catboost, Lightboost, and Random Forest, to estimate the multidimensional poverty index with spatial granularity. The results indicate that these models achieve promising performance in predicting poverty levels in Medellín, Colombia. The results showed that the Random Forest algorithm achieved the highest performance, with an MAE of 0.07504. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the multidimensional poverty estimate was highly correlated with the true values of the distribution. This work contributes to predicting multidimensional poverty by demonstrating the potential of machine learning algorithms to utilize accessible spatial data. By providing evidence of the feasibility of estimating poverty levels at a granular spatial level, this methodology offers a powerful tool for policymakers to make poverty social interventions with low-cost evidence. Furthermore, this study has important implications for poverty eradication efforts in developing countries, where access to reliable data remains challenging. Full article

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25 pages, 359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Navigating Regional Barriers to Job Mobility: The Role of Opportunity Structures in Individual Job-to-Job Transitions

by Katrin Rickmeier

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050295 - 9 May 2023

Viewed by 3084

Abstract

Job-to-job transitions are associated with career progression and wage gains. Thus, regional differences in job mobility potentially contribute to and reinforce regional and social inequalities. This study aims to close the research gap in the understanding of the regional contexts in which individual [...] Read more.

Job-to-job transitions are associated with career progression and wage gains. Thus, regional differences in job mobility potentially contribute to and reinforce regional and social inequalities. This study aims to close the research gap in the understanding of the regional contexts in which individual job mobility occurs. Using the theoretical concept of regional opportunity structures, three key aspects of region-related job changes are investigated: regional determinants of (1) general job mobility; (2) job mobility with wage gains; and (3) simultaneous job and residential mobility. This study is based on individual data from the German Socio-Economic Panel study, enriched with regional indicators. The results show that job changes are negatively associated with labour market tightness, indicating that workers are less likely to change jobs in regions with a high ratio of job vacancies to unemployed workers. Fewer job-to-job transitions in tighter labour markets suggests that regional factors such as job availability and security play an important role in shaping job mobility, and that policies aimed at promoting job transitions may need to consider the specificities of local labour markets. The effects of other indicators of economic opportunities remain insignificant, and there are no clear effects of other aspects of regional opportunity structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Development Dynamics and Their Social, Economic and Political Consequences)

17 pages, 357 KiB

Open AccessEssay

Military Assistance to Ukraine and Its Significance in the Russo-Ukrainian War

by Júlia Szőke and Kolos Kusica

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050294 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4644

Abstract

The interest of social sciences in the military dates back ages, and currently, special attention is being paid to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The present paper also follows this research trend, and it intends to analyze both the tactical and operational levels of [...] Read more.

The interest of social sciences in the military dates back ages, and currently, special attention is being paid to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The present paper also follows this research trend, and it intends to analyze both the tactical and operational levels of war by investigating how the military assistance provided by Western states and international organizations to Ukraine is influencing the course of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Subsequently, the paper studies the military assistance in all three phases of the war, beginning from the invasion of Crimea, through the Donbas offensive, to the phase of Ukrainian counter-offensives. The research method used by this paper was to review and synthesize the existing but scarce and sometimes disinformative literature. The findings suggest that Western military aid began cautiously by providing only non-lethal, defensive weapons, but it was of crucial importance in the second phase of the war by guaranteeing heavy weaponry. The paper concludes that Western military assistance, especially from the United States, United Kingdom, Poland, and Germany, has had a significant role in the Russo-Ukrainian war, without which Ukrainian forces may not have persisted to now. Full article

16 pages, 301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Young Refugees’ Integration Trajectories—The Critical Role of Local Resources in Germany

by Zeynep Aydar and Jörg Plöger

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050293 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1941

Abstract

Though it is a global phenomenon, migration results in a variety of local outcomes. Depending on migrants’ specific arrival contexts, countries of origin and migration motives, they are channelled into different categories. As a result, they encounter unequal access to different domains at [...] Read more.

Though it is a global phenomenon, migration results in a variety of local outcomes. Depending on migrants’ specific arrival contexts, countries of origin and migration motives, they are channelled into different categories. As a result, they encounter unequal access to different domains at the local level. This paper analyses how young migrants in vulnerable conditions are able to access and use local or localised resources and to what extend these resources enable them to overcome structural barriers over time. Our analysis builds on empirical findings from a case study in Dortmund, Germany, conducted through the EU-funded MIMY project. Drawing on narrative interviews with young refugees (aged 18–29), it highlights three specific cases where temporal and spatial factors shape individual integration pathways. The narratives highlight the barriers encountered by young refugees, most of which are related to migrant policy categories implemented at national or supra-national levels. In the arrival context, the young migrants are able—to varying degrees—to mobilise localised resources helping them overcome (at least partially) such mainly structural barriers. Focusing on the emergence and evolution of local integration landscapes thus reveals the importance of time and the difference time makes in terms of the availability of resources and legal frameworks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Lives of TCN Migrant Youth in Europe between Perceived Vulnerabilities and Resources)

12 pages, 331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Vulnerability of European Roma to the Socioeconomic Crisis Triggered by the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Almudena Macías León and Natalia Del Pino-Brunet

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050292 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2786

Abstract

The Roma are the most significant ethnic minority in the EU, subject to severe discrimination, social exclusion, and poverty. Due to their deplorable living conditions, isolation, and widespread antigypsyism, Roma are among the most affected by the socioeconomic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 [...] Read more.

The Roma are the most significant ethnic minority in the EU, subject to severe discrimination, social exclusion, and poverty. Due to their deplorable living conditions, isolation, and widespread antigypsyism, Roma are among the most affected by the socioeconomic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to assess the impact of this crisis on the Roma population from a multidimensional perspective. A thematic review of recent studies and reports on the pandemic’s effects on the Roma ethnic minority in Europe was carried out. In this work, the COVID-19 pandemic has been identified as a new global factor that influences the pre-existing exclusion dynamics and Roma mobility within Europe. Results show that these precarious living conditions have deteriorated to alarming levels in most European countries, leading to increased food insecurity and new forms of discrimination and stigmatization. The Roma ethnic minority has been disproportionately affected by mobility restrictions imposed by COVID-19. In all European nations, racist and xenophobic attitudes toward the Roma ethnic minority have increased during the socioeconomic and health crisis. The pandemic has intensified a process of ethnicization, fostering anti-Roma sentiment among the general population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Perspectives on the Impacts of (Post) COVID-19 Pandemic on Roma)

12 pages, 619 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Posttraumatic Growth and Resilience on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: A Set of Systematic Reviews of Literature

by Carolina Botero-García, Daniela Rocha, María Alejandra Rodríguez and Ana María Rozo

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050291 - 8 May 2023

Viewed by 2627

Abstract

Sexual violence is highly prevalent in sociopolitical conflict contexts. Even though its negative effects are well documented, further research is needed on how community experiences of social growth and rebuilding could positively impact victims of sexual violence in these contexts. As a starting [...] Read more.

Sexual violence is highly prevalent in sociopolitical conflict contexts. Even though its negative effects are well documented, further research is needed on how community experiences of social growth and rebuilding could positively impact victims of sexual violence in these contexts. As a starting point, we conducted a two-phase systematic review. The first phase focused on the relationships between sociopolitical conflict, sexual violence, and psychological effects or trauma (2010–2017), and, in addition to the deep negative psychological effects, it also found reports of posttraumatic growth in victims. This led to a second phase that related sexual violence in sociopolitical conflict contexts to posttraumatic growth and resilience (2017–2022). We found nine publications documenting experiences of resilience and posttraumatic growth in victims of sexual violence in sociopolitical conflicts. Interestingly, resilience and posttraumatic growth were shown not only in victims but also in communities and new generations, which is relevant to understanding the long-lasting effects of violence in contexts of sociopolitical conflict. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 11th ISHHR Conference for Health and Human Rights—Collective Healing: Restoring the Relationship of Humanity and Nature)

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22 pages, 392 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measuring Resilience and the Importance of Resource Connectivities: Revising the Adult Resilience Measure (RRC-ARM)

by Janine Natalya Clark and Philip Jefferies

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050290 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3076

Abstract

There have been many efforts to measure and quantify resilience, and various scales have been developed. This article draws on a mixed methods study which involved the application of one particular scale—the Resilience Research Centre-Adult Resilience Measure (referred to throughout as the ARM). [...] Read more.

There have been many efforts to measure and quantify resilience, and various scales have been developed. This article draws on a mixed methods study which involved the application of one particular scale—the Resilience Research Centre-Adult Resilience Measure (referred to throughout as the ARM). Rather than focus on the quantitative results, however, which have been presented elsewhere, this unique article draws on the qualitative results of the study—semi-structured interviews with victims-/survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Bosnia–Herzegovina (BiH), Colombia and Uganda—to explore and discuss some of the ARM’s shortcomings. It develops its empirical analyses around the crucial concept of connectivity, “borrowed” from the field of ecology, and the three elements of the study’s connectivity framework—broken and ruptured connectivities, supportive and sustaining connectivities and new connectivities. Through its analyses, the article highlights aspects of the ARM that could potentially be improved or developed in future research, and it ultimately proposes some concrete revisions to the measure, including two additional scales relating to change and importance, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gender-Related Violence: Social Sciences’ Research & Methods)

14 pages, 2150 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Inner Functioning of Local Governance Networks in Centralized Countries: A ‘Brave New World’?

by Patrícia Silva, Luís F. Mota, Raúl Carneiro, Raquel Valentim and Filipe Teles

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050289 - 8 May 2023

Viewed by 2575

Abstract

Local governance networks are increasingly seen as the big idea to cope with issues that are complex enough in scope and scale to require a diversity of expertise and resources. While conventional narrative has posited that local networks are optimal for addressing a [...] Read more.

Local governance networks are increasingly seen as the big idea to cope with issues that are complex enough in scope and scale to require a diversity of expertise and resources. While conventional narrative has posited that local networks are optimal for addressing a range of policy problems, and enhancing democratic participation, scarce attention has been devoted to understanding their inner working. A relevant gap in the literature pertains to the impact of central government intervention in igniting such arrangements on the diversity of actors, the intensity of interactions among actors, or their coordination practices. Such assessment is particularly relevant in centralized contexts. This article seeks to map and characterize the inner working of local networks in such a context—Portugal. The empirical analysis highlights the crucial role of central government in igniting local networks and in ensuring higher levels of formal intensity of collaboration to reduce transaction costs. Keeping such arrangements under the radar of central government, however, may curtail the diversity of actors, policy areas, and curb stakeholders’ commitment in local governance arrangements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Local Governance, Wellbeing and Sustainability)

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21 pages, 703 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Learning Green Social Work in Global Disaster Contexts: A Case Study Approach

by Kyle Breen, Meredith Greig and Haorui Wu

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050288 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6303

Abstract

Green social work (GSW) is a nascent framework within the social work field that provides insights regarding social workers’ engagement in disaster settings. Although this framework has recently garnered more attention, it remains under-researched and underdeveloped within the context of social work research, [...] Read more.

Green social work (GSW) is a nascent framework within the social work field that provides insights regarding social workers’ engagement in disaster settings. Although this framework has recently garnered more attention, it remains under-researched and underdeveloped within the context of social work research, education, and practice in Canada and internationally. To further develop GSW in social work education and professional training, we considered how social work students and practitioners can use a learning framework to understand the impact and build their capacities to serve vulnerable and marginalized populations in diverse disaster settings. To do this, we developed a four-step case study approach, as follows: (1) provide detailed background information on the cases, (2) describe how each case is relevant to social work, (3) discuss how each case informs social work practice from a GSW perspective, and (4) provide recommendations for social work practitioners and students using GSW in future disaster-specific efforts. This case study approach centers on natural, technological, and intentional/willful hazards that examine current GSW research–practice engagement in Canada and internationally. Applying this four-step case study approach to three extreme events in Canada and internationally (a natural hazard, a technological hazard, and an intentional/willful hazard) illustrates it as a potential method for social work students and professionals to build their GSW capacities. This will assist in building the resilience of Canadian and international communities—especially those who have been historically marginalized. This article sheds light on how current social work education and professional training should develop new approaches to incorporate the GSW framework into the social work curriculum at large in order to prepare for future extreme events while incorporating environmental and social justice into research and practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building Resilience for Future Extreme Events: Focusing on Vulnerable and Marginalized Inhabitants and Co-Inhabitants)

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16 pages, 443 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Interpretation and Application of the Law with a Gender Perspective in Spain: Challenges and Outstanding Issues

by Octavio Salazar Benítez, Alicia Cárdenas Cordón, María Dolores Adam Muñoz, Miguel Agudo Zamora, Ana Marrades Puig, Celia Prados García and Gloria Serrano Valverde

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050287 - 6 May 2023

Viewed by 2395

Abstract

This work, situated within the Spanish legal context, presents a reflection upon the need to apply and interpret the law bearing in mind the mandate of the gender perspective contained in national and international legislation. In spite of the significant advances, in questions [...] Read more.

This work, situated within the Spanish legal context, presents a reflection upon the need to apply and interpret the law bearing in mind the mandate of the gender perspective contained in national and international legislation. In spite of the significant advances, in questions of gender equality, evidenced by the Spanish legal system in recent decades, these have not led to real, effective equality. In the spheres of both private and public law, this task should be prioritised and undertaken in transversal fashion by all legal operators, judges in particular. Without this commitment, the guarantee of women’s human rights will continue to be hindered by the shortcomings of an androcentric legal culture that perpetuates structural discrimination against women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gender Studies)

14 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relocated Employees’ Experience with the Costs and Benefits of Video Technology for Maintaining Relationships

by Kayla Walling

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050286 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1558

Abstract

Relocation as a result of a job opportunity or as part of a current job has increased in recent years in the United States. The frequency with which employees are relocating makes exploring employees’ perception of the costs and benefits of technology for [...] Read more.

Relocation as a result of a job opportunity or as part of a current job has increased in recent years in the United States. The frequency with which employees are relocating makes exploring employees’ perception of the costs and benefits of technology for maintaining family relationships useful. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how employees who have relocated for employment opportunities perceive the costs and benefits of video technology as an option for maintaining family relationships, for employees working in a company located in the United States. The sample consisted of 25 employees at a healthcare facility in the state of Florida who had relocated for employment opportunities and had used video technology to maintain relationships with family members in another location. Data collected from semi-structured interviews, open-ended questionnaires, and a focus group were analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings provided evidence that relocated employees perceived video technology to be an important tool to help maintain work–life balance when they were away from their family. The employees’ perception of the benefits of video technology in maintaining family relationships included closeness despite distance and tangibility of the person. These findings have implications for employees who have relocated, employees considering relocation, and families of employees, as well as organization leaders and human resource departments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Work, Employment and the Labor Market)

20 pages, 570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Framework for Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Education in Australia: Preliminary Exploration

by Morshed Alam, Harshita Aini Haroon, Mohd Faizal bin Yusof and Md. Aminul Islam

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050285 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2334

Abstract

This study investigates engagement activities higher education institutions have been providing to develop a learning culture as well as entrepreneurship skills for undergraduate entrepreneurship education learners in Australia. This research is intended to explore changes and adjustments made in the curriculum of undergraduate [...] Read more.

This study investigates engagement activities higher education institutions have been providing to develop a learning culture as well as entrepreneurship skills for undergraduate entrepreneurship education learners in Australia. This research is intended to explore changes and adjustments made in the curriculum of undergraduate entrepreneurship education programmes in selected higher education institutions in Australia due to uncertainties caused by COVID-19. We focused on six Australian universities offering undergraduate entrepreneurship programmes, which were purposefully chosen. Data and information were gathered from the universities’ websites, documents available from the same source, the universities’ structure of engagement activities, and their curriculum. Previous literature was referred to for models already proposed and executed. By considering the COVID-19 crisis as well as similar types of future uncertainties, the study has identified the necessity of implementing open innovation and experiential learning models in a blended environment and having strong IT infrastructure for sustainable industry-university collaboration to facilitate a learning culture and develop entrepreneurship skills in undergraduate entrepreneurship education learners in Australia. Full article

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15 pages, 311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Caring Interventions for the Most Vulnerable Populations in Economically Disadvantaged Areas during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic by Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya

by Daniel Solymári, Edward Kairu, Ráhel Czirják and István Tarrósy

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050284 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1686

Abstract

This paper deals with COVID-19-hit Kenyan slums and the numerous interventions civil society organizations implemented during the first waves of the pandemic since it was initially detected in March 2020. As part of a comprehensive project using mixed methodology, including desk research and [...] Read more.

This paper deals with COVID-19-hit Kenyan slums and the numerous interventions civil society organizations implemented during the first waves of the pandemic since it was initially detected in March 2020. As part of a comprehensive project using mixed methodology, including desk research and key informant interviews, community-based organizations and non-governmental organizations, together with other stakeholders of their collaborative networks, were investigated regarding the roles that they played, the projects they carried out, and the interventions they were involved in in the mitigation of the negative impacts of COVID-19. This paper investigates how COVID-19 actually hit Kenyan slums and how it affected civil society organizations during the pandemic. Full article

21 pages, 4443 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cairenes’ Storytelling: Pedestrian Scenarios as a Normative Factor When Enforcing Street Changes in Residential Areas

by Hisham Abusaada and Abeer Elshater

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050278 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1681

Abstract

Pedestrian scenarios refer to all types of transit, including unidirectional, bidirectional, and crossing actions. This study argues that pedestrian scenarios are critical normative factors that must be considered when implementing street changes in existent residential areas. It focuses on pedestrian safety and reliable [...] Read more.

Pedestrian scenarios refer to all types of transit, including unidirectional, bidirectional, and crossing actions. This study argues that pedestrian scenarios are critical normative factors that must be considered when implementing street changes in existent residential areas. It focuses on pedestrian safety and reliable access. Making improvements to urban streets without adhering to the assessment criteria for street design results in the presence of more cars on the road, which makes crossing streets unsafe. The aim here is to provide assessment criteria for street development projects. This study used three qualitative methods, starting with a scoping review to define the urban street improvement assessment criteria. A spatial analysis was conducted using geographical maps and site visits to determine how specific residential areas have changed. Then, a storytelling analysis method, based on episodic narrative interviews with an anonymous sample of 21 residents, workers, and visitors, was imposed. The results yielded pedestrians’ stories about how street improvements affected pedestrian scenarios on two streets in the Ard el Golf residential area in Cairo, Egypt. The results showed that unplanned changes in urban streets’ socio-spatial configurations affected residents’ preferences for pedestrian safety and their reliable access to services on either side of the street. Our results reveal that practitioners can develop these assessment criteria for pedestrian preferences through storytelling techniques. The concluding remarks outline a set of criteria for assessing improvement projects of urban streets. The added value here is that practitioners can learn from users’ storytelling, and thus avoid street risks when undertaking improvement projects on other urban streets and cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Community and Urban Sociology)

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Soc. Sci., Volume 12, Issue 5 (May 2023) – 58 articles

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