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In this paper we take inspiration from Levin's (2003) provocation "can universities ever become a greenhouse for education in action research?" His assertion that creating action research learning opportunities within universities is possible becomes particularly relevant in the context of a changing Higher Degree Research (HDR) landscape, notably in Australia. The increasing emphasis on industry-focused doctorates and the demand for post-doctoral career pathways beyond academia necessitates a deeper understanding of supporting engaged and impact-oriented research training. To address these challenges, we present a reflexive discussion centred around the HDR Participatory Action Research (PAR) Collaborative—a year-long peer-learning initiative designed to cultivate a community of practice on transdisciplinary participatory research among graduate researchers at the University of Technology Sydney. This was conducted as a participatory action research project, with a systems-thinking orientation. We articulate lessons learned around the blockers and enablers for training HDR candidates engaged in participatory research to tackle wicked problems and ways to enhance HDR researcher development in this area, including the prototyping of new peer learning and mentoring approaches. By aligning with Levin's emphasis on practical and useful knowledge, we highlight the importance of curriculum design for synchronous and asynchronous hybrid delivery, collective peer learning practices, and transdisciplinary orientations to research as crucial factors for success in action research programs within the academic context. By addressing the evolving needs of HDR training and research cultures, our study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on holistic and integrative research approaches and ways to support them within higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) trains individuals who regularly interact with youth to identify youth experiencing mental health challenges. Several studies demonstrate positive training impacts, but few assess whether the training equally impacts participants of different demographic and professional backgrounds or those who participate in different training modalities. Using a pre-post follow-up design with a comparison group, this study examined changes in participants' confidence in their ability to recognize and support youth mental health needs 1 to 2 months after training. Data were collected over two years (2021–2023) from training participants (n = 480) and comparable non-participants (n = 51). The authors examined whether changes in confidence varied by participant race/ethnicity, professional role in the education or mental health fields, and training modality (online versus hybrid). Training participants' confidence in supporting youth mental health increased significantly compared to non-participants. Although the training was effective for all participants, those with less mental health experience benefited more, consistent with previous research. While both in-person and hybrid training were effective, in-person training participants reported slightly higher confidence scores than virtual at follow-up. Study findings suggest that educational and social service organizations should offer this training to their staff and community members who interact with youth, prioritizing participants with less prior mental health training and delivering training through an in-person training modality when possible. However, additional research is needed to explore how aspects of in-person training, such as trainer characteristics and group dynamics, impact outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the process of a Participatory Research (PR) project that brought together university researchers with museum practitioners to create reflective tools that can be used to better understand real practical challenges. This project followed Bourke's (2009) definition of PR, viewing the process as a collaborative endeavour between researchers and practitioners in all steps of the way including project planning, research design, data collection and analysis, and distribution and application of research findings. In this project, we ran three main workshops with small group meetings in between, which were audio and video recorded and subsequently transcribed. These were then analysed to capture the PR process using James and Shaw's (2023) Heuristic Framework as our analytical framework while using deductive and inductive techniques. Our analysis focused on understanding the dynamics between researchers and practitioners in this PR project in order to better understand how to conduct PR projects in this context. Our analysis offers a refined model that can be adapted and used with museum practitioners while identifying areas that need further attention in the process of PR. We included an important phase of reflection, and we offer recommendations for those who would like to take a PR approach in their research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monument, or the memorial, as a place of memory and emotional support, has been the focus of scholarly attention. Although existing studies have explored its space's materialization, identity, history, and memory content, the materials about its design transformation have yet to be deeply excavated. Based on the relevant theories of place and place-making, the researchers constructed a knowledge system of the place-making model, the spatial vector pattern, and the worship behaviors of monuments. On this basis, a qualitative research methodology is adopted. Through case studies and participant observation, the design transformation of the monument/memorial is interpreted in the following five dimensions: function theme, morphology style, spatial relationship, visitor experience, and symbolic meaning. The results of this study show that the monument/memorial tends to promote in-depth public reflection and critical engagement with history, reflecting changes in how society perceives historical events. This research provides new perspectives for understanding the multidimensionality of the monument/memorial but also emphasizes the need to continue exploring its interaction with the socio-cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the midst of humanitarian crises, understanding and helping hard-to-reach migrant communities, is a major challenge for researchers. This article addresses the ethical framework and dimensions of inclusivity associated with researching such populations in civilian-military setting. With the overarching aim of improving methodological discourse, this study seeks to understand the mechanisms involved in working with crisis-affected migrants who are often marginalised and geographically isolated. The significance of this research lies in its multi-layered approach to understanding the ethical considerations and inclusivity that are essential to conducting research in crisis situations. By examining existing theories in the field, including participatory research methods, ethnographic studies and community-based research frameworks, this study critically evaluates their applicability in the context of crisis-affected migrant communities. This research contributes to methodological approaches by proposing innovative strategies that emphasise ethical integrity, cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. It argues for the development of collaborative and culturally sensitive research practises that enable migrant communities to actively participate in the research process and ensure that their voices are heard, and their perspectives accurately represented. This study contributes to existing knowledge by illuminating the complexities of researching hard-to-reach migrant communities in civil military setting. This study provides researchers and practitioners with the necessary tools and perspectives required for engaging with crisis-affected migrant communities in a manner that is both ethical, respectful, and impactful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to contribute knowledge about the influences of leaders' perceptions of digitalisation on arrangements for leading the expansion of access to and application of digital technologies in K–12 education. Supporting the digitalisation of K–12 education requires digital competence. School organisers' and school leaders' digital competence and perceptions of digitalisation contribute to how digital technologies are employed in schools. Survey and participant observations were used to investigate leaders' perceptions of digitalisation in K–12 education. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and theory of practice architecture. The results show that perceptions of digitalisation in K–12 education influence arrangements by allowing opportunities for enhanced quality in teaching and equality within and among schools. Further, collaborations between leaders, sharing ideas and experiences, and enhancing leadership are elements that contribute to the shaping of leaders' perceptions of digitalisation in schools. This paper contributes to the knowledge of leaders' perceptions of expanding the access to and application of digital technologies in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies is a neglected disease primarily related to dog-mediated transmission to humans. Accurate dog demographic and dynamic data are essential for effectively planning and evaluating population management strategies when designing interventions to prevent rabies. However, in Thailand, longitudinal survey data regarding dog population size are scarce. A school-based participatory research (SBPR) approach was conducted to survey owned dogs for one year in four high-risk provinces (Chiang Rai, Surin, Chonburi, and Songkhla) of Thailand, aiming to understand dog population dynamics and raise awareness about rabies. 'Pupify' mobile application was developed to collect data on dog population and observe the long-term population dynamics in this study. At the end of the data collection period, telephone interviews were conducted to gain insight into contextual perceptions and awareness regarding both animal and human rabies, as well as the social responsibility of dog owners in disease prevention and control. Among 303 high school students who registered in our study, 218 students reported at least one update of their dog information throughout the one-year period. Of 322 owned dogs from our survey, the updates of dog status over one year showed approximately 7.5 newborns per 100-dog-year, while deaths and missing dogs were 6.2 and 2.7 per 100-dog-year, respectively. The male to female ratio was approximately 1.8:1. Twenty-three students (10%) voluntarily participated and were interviewed in the qualitative study. The levels of rabies awareness and precautions among high-school students were relatively low. The high dropout rate of the survey was due to discontinuity in communication between the researcher and the students over the year. In conclusion, this study focused on using the SBPR approach via mobile application to collect data informing dog population dynamics and raising awareness regarding rabies in Thailand Other engaging platforms (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other popular applications) is necessary to enhance communication and engagement, thereby sustaining and maintaining data collection. Further health education on rabies vaccination and animal-care practices via social media platforms would be highly beneficial. For sustainable disease control, engaging communities to raise awareness of rabies and increase dog owners' understanding of their responsibilities should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust body of research using the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) has explored the effect of external messages on individual affective responses and behavior, typically at a single point in time. Missing from this micro-level analysis is a careful assessment of the ways in which individuals process information, whether their internal cognitions are communicated in narrative structure, and what the durability of any narrative structure is over time. We address this gap by examining (1) the extent to which individuals recall "memorable messages" in narrative form (e.g., the use of characters and morals) and with what content (e.g., who is cast in these character roles) and (2) whether individuals' narrative form and content change across time. Memorable messages are pieces of information that are remembered for an extended period of time. We draw on data derived from a multi-wave panel survey of residents in six U.S. states (Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents were asked to recall a memorable message, anything they heard or read that has shaped how they think about the risk of COVID-19. We find that participants articulate recalled memorable messages in narrative form about two-thirds of the time, consistent with how the NPF expects homo narrans to make sense of complex information. However, narratives containing morals are articulated less frequently than those using characters alone. Additionally, individuals' narrative content changes over time to include new information such as new policy solutions (e.g., mask wearing). Notably, recalled messages lose their narrative form over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last 2 decades, the literature has documented the upsurge of community-driven processes of consumer-producer cooperation, which are alternative to the dominant food system. These organizational arrangements have been conceptualized differently, witnessing the growing importance of local communities in generating place-based solutions to the demand for organic, local, and sustainable food. Relying on a practice theory approach, this article delves into two key inquiries: first, what motivates individuals to become part of Civic Food Networks (CFNs) and how does this influence the variety of food entering their households? And second, how does participation in a CFN impact people's daily food practices, with a particular focus on diet diversification? We employ the term "civic food networks (CFN)" to underscore the significance of grassroots initiatives in the broader context of local food policies. This term also highlights the connections to other movements known for their potential for transformation, such as the solidarity economy, transition towns, and de-growth movements. Our analysis draws on a comprehensive qualitative approach, which includes participant observation, in-depth interviews, and a focus group involving members of the CSA Naturalmente in Trentino, situated in the North-Eastern part of Italy. The findings reveal that altering dietary habits poses various challenges both at the individual and institutional levels. This process involves the stabilization of ingrained habits, adjustments to daily routines, and the reinforcement of shared norms. Furthermore, it underscores the critical role of food policies in promoting sustainable eating practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do online research participants complete studies as continuous tasks, or do they switch back and forth between the study and other online activities? While researchers generally prefer for participants to complete online studies continuously, participants may choose to multitask and complete other activities simultaneous to the study, potentially impacting their responses. This research directly measures the prevalence of online participant multitasking across three studies, examines the impact of multitasking on participant responses, and explores solutions for reducing multitasking. Findings indicate that multitasking is common, is dramatically understated in participant self-reports, can be observed unobtrusively, significantly affects participant responses, and is difficult to reduce. I also find age and gender differences in the frequency of multitasking. The appendices include new code, making it easy for other researchers to measure multitasking on multiple platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of technology in all fields of education has expanded, and investigating the level of technology integration in schools becomes increasingly significant because it offers data-driven technology integration for policymakers, school administrators, and educators to make better budgeting decisions, determine educator professional development needs, and ensure effective and efficient use of technology in schools. This study investigated science teachers' technology integration in classrooms at a private higher secondary school in Karachi. In this study, the SAMR model and TPACK framework were used to evaluate the technology integration. The SAMR model was used to see at what levels teachers are in technology integration, where substitution is the lowest and redefinition is the highest level of technology integration. The TPACK framework was used to explore the technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge of the teachers. This study employed a qualitative single-embedded case study design. Multiple data were collected through document review (syllabus breakup), observations, and participant interviews. Purposive sampling was used to select six in-service science teachers. Even though this case was chosen for its well-established use of technology, the findings of the study indicated that teachers' use of technology and knowledge about technology integration was at the basic level. The result of the study showed that most of the science teacher participants were at the substitution level and demonstrated low TPACK knowledge. The study concludes by suggesting that sustainable teacher professional development focusing on technology integration and teacher-sustained commitment to learning and use of technology can enhance teachers' TPACK knowledge and enable them to practice transformative technology integration in classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some academic topics, like physics, students are required to comprehend tough books and acquire the knowledge contained in them. The majority of content-specific teachers typically feel awkward employing explicit tactics to boost student comprehension, despite the fact that they are adept at teaching the subjects covered in their areas. As a result, many learners lack the skills necessary to read and understand informational texts across the internet. This study looked at how high school students' comprehension of a digital science text was affected by employing the digital verbal technique while reading the text. The researcher investigated how well each student could read and understand a digital science text by comparing how well they did on a reading test before and after the class. The majority of the study's participants have made progress. The verbal method can be taught to students in one lesson with great effectiveness. Qualitative evidence shows that students who had two lessons on the approach reported using it more frequently when reading digital science texts, despite quantitative findings that demonstrate there is no benefit to training in using a verbal technique more frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software modelling and model-driven engineering (MDE) is traditionally studied from a technical perspective. However, one of the core motivations behind the use of software models is inherently human-centred. Models aim to enable practitioners to communicate about software designs, make software understandable, or make software easier to write through domain-specific modelling languages. Several recent studies challenge the idea that these aims can always be reached and indicate that human factors play a role in the success of MDE. However, there is an under-representation of research focusing on human factors in modelling. During a GI-Dagstuhl seminar, topics related to human factors in modelling were discussed by 26 expert participants from research and industry. In breakout groups, five topics were covered in depth, namely modelling human aspects, factors of modeller experience, diversity and inclusion in MDE, collaboration and MDE, and teaching human-aware MDE. We summarise our insights gained during the discussions on the five topics. We formulate research goals, questions, and propositions that support directing future initiatives towards an MDE community that is aware of and supportive of human factors and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on autistic women's experience of parenthood is lacking. In this paper, two studies are presented. Study 1 comprised a small-scale qualitative study with autistic mothers (n = 9) in which their experiences of motherhood were explored using thematic analysis. The findings showed that participants identified a range of strengths, including connection with their children, high knowledge about childhood, a reflective style of parenting, good coping strategies, identifying with their autism diagnosis, and not caring what others thought. They also identified difficulties, including sensory challenges, coping with uncertainty and change, having to socialise, managing exhaustion, and not being taken seriously by professionals involved with their children. Guided by the findings of Study 1, and in collaboration with an advisory panel of autistic mothers, an online survey using mixed methods was completed by education and social professionals (n = 277) to investigate their understanding of, and attitudes towards, autism in women and mothers. Results showed high awareness and positive attitudes towards autism, but low levels of self-efficacy in working with autistic adults. Qualitative content analysis of open-ended questions shed light on challenges and rewards of working with autistic parents. The findings are discussed with reference to the double empathy problem (Milton Disability & Society, 27(6), 883–887, 2012) and implications for training of professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability crisis is rooted in Western paradigms of separation. To overcome the challenges we face, Western-educated people, like us, must question our deeply internalized ontological assumptions and welcome alternative relational perspectives. Grasping a relational cosmovision, not only cognitively but embodying it physically and emotionally, can enable personal and social transformations that address the root causes of sustainability problems. We explore how relational forms of immersion in Kichwa and Waorani communities, through transformative and place-based learning experiences, may foster the embodiment of relationality. Students from a Western research institution participated in a two-week study-abroad program on Indigenous sustainability solutions in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Participant observation and interviews revealed how students built stronger and more relational connections to nature and questioned the universality of Western ontological assumptions. These transformative shifts were fostered through experiences of embodying relationality facilitated through opportunities of relating, reflecting, and embracing offered by the setting and the program's activities. Findings showcase how transformative experiences of embodying relationality can contribute to ontological shifts strengthening the relation with and to nature and constitute immersive sustainability solutions. We conclude with a dynamic model of the process through which Western-educated people trained in experiencing themselves as separate individuals realize and embody their embeddedness in the net of relationships with all beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the dynamics of expert collaboration in industry standard development. The use of expert committees in the development of standards is common practice, and yet the operation of such groups tends to be a "black box." Based on participant observation and interviews with committee participants, we examine the group dynamics within the subcommittee involved in a major update to one part of the Australian Standard for pipeline engineering, and the skills required of the Chair to obtain the best outcome. We address how the expert group is built, how the Chair leads them to a negotiated outcome, and how the Standard becomes socialized into the public domain. Agreement comes slowly, with some picking their battles, but many others repeatedly putting forward their views. The Chair exhibits three types of expertise (contributory, interactional, decision-making) which together are critical to resolving debates and, in effect, agreeing on the collective wisdom of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a reflective dialogue between scholars, Carl T. Woods and John van der Kamp, examining the intersection of ecological responsibility and sport science. It explores how interdisciplinary thinking and collective inquiry can address ecological crises, emphasizing the role of sport and human movement sciences in fostering sustainable practices and rethinking human interaction with the environment.

The International Sirius Mathematics Center, located on the Black Sea coast, was founded in 2019 by the Talent and Success Foundation for organizing mathematical conferences and other events promoting the development of mathematics in Russia. In 2024, the Center has acquired its own Russian-language journal for publication of original research papers by participants of conferences held at the Center. The authors are invited to submit papers to the journal at https://ef.msp.org/submit/sirius [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our societally extractive age, sport science risks being swept up in the intensifying desire to commodify the experiences of those that scientists proclaim to study. Coupled with the techno-digital revolution, this stems from a vertical (onto)logic that frames the sporting landscape as a static space filled with discrete objects waiting for us to capture, analyse, re-present and sell on as knowledge. Not only does this commodification degrade primary experience in the false hope of epistemological objectivity, it reinforces the unidirectionality of extractivism by setting inquirer apart from, and above of, inquiry. Here, we advocate for a different, more sentient logic grounded in the relationality of gifting as understood in indigenous philosophies. This foregrounds an ecological orientation to scholarship that sets out neither to objectify or describe that which is of concern, but to correspond with its becoming. On this, there are three threads we cast forward. First, in a corresponsive sport science, inhabitants are not objects of analysis, but lines in-becoming, who in answering to others, form knots in a meshwork. These knots constitute communal places in which inhabitants have joined with the differentiating coming-into-being of others. Second, knowledge is not authoritatively (re)cognitive, but humbly ecological; not produced vertically through imposition, but grown longitudinally in responsively moving from place to place. Third, research does not follow a vertically extractive (onto)logic, but is a practice of participant observation. This perspective appreciates that we, sport scientists, are also lines in-becoming that form parts of the knots in which we seek to know. In coda, our thesis is not a call for more qualitative or applied research in the sport sciences. It is a call to response-ably open up to that which sparks our curiosity, answering to what is shared with care, sensitivity and sincerity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous youth comprise over half of the Indigenous Australian population; however, there is a scarcity of research that focuses on improving Indigenous Australians' wellbeing in higher education. The purpose of this study was to identify Indigenous-devised strategies to support wellbeing of salience to Indigenous Australian higher education students. Using Indigenous methodology, Indigenous youth (N = 7; aged between 18 and 25 years) studying at three higher education institutions in Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified strategies and solutions for supporting and enhancing Indigenous youth wellbeing in higher education. Participants suggested that their wellbeing would benefit from increased opportunities for them to gain role models. They also suggested culturally supportive higher education environments were critical and could be achieved by employing more Indigenous academics and Indigenous mentors to implement personalised student support, introducing mandatory cultural competency training for all staff, and employing culturally safe counselling services. Indigenous youth also suggested strategies for enhancing institutional policy such as ensuring Indigenous culture and perspectives were taught across all faculties; developing reconciliation action plans, financial support, and scholarships to require proof of Aboriginality and evidence of hardship; and an institutional wellbeing strategy designed to support Indigenous students' wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient and public involvement (PPI) describes the participation of patients and relatives, i.e., experts by experience (EE), in the research process. The PPI has not been widely adopted in the fields of medicine and clinical psychology in Germany and there is a notable absence of institutional support. The German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), which has been under construction since May 2023, aims to achieve nationwide and cross-center implementation of PPI, constituting one of its primary objectives. Participation of EE is to be implemented in the DZPG at all levels of decision-making. Objectives: The article describes the origins, development and challenges associated with the implementation of participation structures and projects in the DZPG. The central political PPI committee in the DZPG, the Trilogue Center Council (TZR), developed a comprehensive PPI strategy for the DZPG in almost 3 years of work, before the beginning of the financial support of the DZPG. Among various measures, the strategy entails establishing a far-reaching representation for EE in all decision-making bodies of the DZPG, to involve EE as reviewers in evaluating research proposals, to integrate participatory elements into all studies of the DZGG and to foster user-initiated research endeavors. The implementation of the strategy is ensured by a cross-center PPI infrastructure, the Center for PPI, and scientific PPI consultants. The Center for PPI's tasks include supporting the voice of the EE and developing instruments and guidelines for participatory research, bringing together EE and researchers for joint DZPG projects as well as the documentation and quality assurance for participatory research. One of the particular challenges for the successful implementation of the PPI strategy is the limited experience with PPI in Germany in the field of mental health research and the widespread lack of structural implementation. Currently developed solution strategies include training for researchers and EE to communicate the benefits and pathways in the realization of PPI and thus enable shared decision-making and research. In addition, extensive access to knowledge and resources for EE will be created and uniform remuneration regulations for EE will be developed. Conclusion: A PPI strategy at the DZPG has been successfully developed and is currently being implemented by the cross-center infrastructure Center for PPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of hemispheric asymmetry in humans during sleep and falling asleep give contradictory results—there is evidence of the dominance of both the right and left hemispheres when falling asleep. Such a discrepancy in the results may be due to both the high heterogeneity of asymmetry patterns and the difficulty of ensuring homogeneous experimental conditions in neurophysiological testing. 102 healthy participants repeatedly performed a monotonous bimanual psychomotor test at home. 227 trials were selected for analysis. We extracted sequences of microsleep episodes, indicating which hand executed motor activity last before falling asleep, and calculated various complexity measures (Shannon entropy, ordinary/normalized Lempel–Ziv complexity, ordinary/conditional permutation entropy, Petrosyan dimension). After clustering the data, the extracted clusters were pairwise compared according to the indicators of the psychomotor test (total tap number, number of sleep episodes, total sleep duration, inter-tap interval). We obtained four clusters based on the complexity measures estimates. They are characterized by similar psychomotor characteristics of the research participants. The third cluster is of the greatest interest, characterized by the absence of "global" asymmetry (i.e., without a clearly expressed dominance of one of the hands), high drowsiness level and the existence of temporary hand dominances for relatively short time intervals. The results indicate against the existence of a pronounced hemispheric asymmetry when falling asleep, while at the same time testifying to the existence of short-term hand dominance episodes, possibly due to the local dynamics of functional connectivity during the wake–sleep transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If only implicitly, social anthropology has long incorporated joint attention as a research technique employed in what anthropologists call "the field". This paper outlines the crucial role joint attention plays in anthropolgical fieldwork—specifically in Participant Observation—and advances the position that joint attention is a goal rather than a starting point of fieldwork practice. Exploring how anthropologists tentatively use attention as a methodological tool to understand other people's lifeworlds, this paper draws parallels between Participant Observation and ordinary everyday interactions, thus teasing out a view of joint attention as a goal to be reached only by means of knowing what matters to others in the context of the lifeworld they inhabit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy communities (ECs), as forms of social innovation, have the potential to contribute to sustainability transitions in the energy system. Hence, policymakers place great hopes in ECs as drivers of the energy transition and impose 'transformative goals' on EC actors. However, earlier work revealed differentiated motives (e.g., personal gain, hedonism, economic reasons) on the part of these actors, with system transformation not always being the most important goal. Hence, this empirical study aims to provide a more nuanced picture of how individual actors, namely, founders, intermediaries, and influential early members of ECs, set about understanding and constructing their roles in the energy transition. Using the concept of actor roles in transitions and taking a discourse–theoretical approach, we study the case of Austria, where recent legislative changes enabled the formation of renewable ECs. Drawing on extensive desk research, 15 in-depth interviews, and participant observations in four community meetings, we identify four ideal–typical role constructions of EC actors: grassroots, entrepreneurial, local hero, and techno-centric. In fact, these roles vary significantly in their transformative potential, with the grassroots role emphasizing empowerment for a profound social and ecological transition, the techno-centric focusing on technological advancement, while the entrepreneurial role prioritizes economic aspects, and the local hero role centers on a limited, small-scale approach. Our findings challenge the widespread assumption of EC actors taking a 'transformative' role and reveal novel insights into the different roles' main concerns that need to be considered in the implementation of energy policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese National Matriculation English Test (NMET) has a test purpose of producing beneficial washback to promote senior high school English teaching and learning. This article presents a large-scale nationwide survey research on student perceptions of the NMET's before-test washback on their English learning outcomes in senior high school and the influence of the factor of home province on their views. The research participants were 20,062 first-year undergraduates from 103 universities in the Chinese mainland, and findings showed that the NMET facilitated their senior high school English learning outcomes in the surveyed skills both tested and not tested in the NMET. However, there were noticeable differences between students' expectations and realities. It was also found that home province was a significant predictor of student perceptions, though the strengths of the relationships varied. Furthermore, in order for more beneficial NMET washback, the students suggested making the NMET speaking and listening subtests mandatory across all provincial regions and administering a nationally unified NMET form. This study calls on future researchers to hold a close lens to the complexity and dynamism of the NMET washback over time and across situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Happiness is central in spirituality but has hardly been explored in palliative care. The objective of this study is to explore happiness in hospice care in the Netherlands. A case study design consisting of participatory observations and semi-structured interviews was used. Happiness was associated with all dimensions of health. Patients spoke about a growing receptivity and a deepening of connections with themselves and others. Hospice staff related their happiness to feeling a true connection and their work supported them in appreciating their own lives in new ways. This study suggests that happiness can be found in settings that are frequently associated with suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of a shift in focus from political praxis to trauma work in the context of a failed democratisation movement. It investigates the various phenomena which emerge when intellectuals, under the traumatic impact of violence and atrocities, place trauma narration at the core of their interventions. Drawing on document analysis, participant observation and semi-structured interviews with twenty nine exiled Syrian intellectuals in Paris and Berlin who had participated in the revolutionary movement of 2011, the paper suggests that an inversion of the normative power structures pertaining to how intellectuals relate to their publics occurs when they adopt, under conditions of extreme violence and trauma, what we call a radically embedded positionality vis-à-vis 'the people'. This results in the dismantling of previous figurations of the 'militant intellectual' along with praxis-focused notions of the 'responsibility of intellectuals', ultimately undermining their ideational influence upon domestic publics and weakening their political impact and critical role within a revolutionary movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children are at high risk of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) during early childhood. This developmental period, marked by rapid growth in fundamental skills, may render children particularly vulnerable to adverse developmental effects. Embedding universal trauma-informed supports within early childhood education (ECE) settings has the potential to mitigate the negative consequences of early exposure to PTEs; yet there is a lack of early childhood trauma-informed prevention and intervention programming. To address this need, a collaborative partnership via a participatory research approach was formed between an academic partner and several early childhood education centers in a large urban public school district primarily serving youth of color. This exploratory study describes the development of the "Ready to Learn through Relationships (RLR) Program" that emerged from this partnership. The RLR program is based on the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) guidelines for school-based models of trauma-informed care (TIC) and the "boots on the ground" experiences of the participating school district's early childhood personnel. It utilizes implementation coaching to promote program installation and sustainability. Results demonstrate high levels of need for the program, as well as its feasibility and acceptability. Recommendations for future refinement, implementation, and evaluation efforts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we report on a study of the impact of digital technology (DT) innovations on students' learning in a Western Australian University. The innovations were implemented by 42 course coordinators (CC) following two days of learning design workshops. In collaboration with nine CCs, we conducted an evaluation of their innovations. Data were collected through two structured interviews with each CC and an online questionnaire for 1500 students. Elements of students' course feedback were incorporated into the final analysis of the data. A model for improving students learning in a digital environment was used as a guide to the evaluation process. The findings indicated that DT interventions helped students prepare for laboratory activities and class participation, increased their levels of interaction and collaboration, and provided effective and timely management of feedback from lecturers. Students also reported greater access to learning resources, plus more motivation and engagement. CCs were generally pleased with their innovations; however, in their second interview, at the end of the semester, CCs identified several aspects of their course design that warranted improvement, including the need for more professional support in making those improvements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a picture of ASGM in Brazil and prospective numbers on mercury emissions and releases in 2016, when the country declared production of about 90 tonnes of gold, of which circa 25 tonnes came from ASGM. However, it is also necessary to consider the illegal production of ASGM which is estimated to vary between 10% and eight times more than the legal production. The proposed method included: organization of spatial data on legal ASGM output, stakeholder identification and meetings, mercury metallurgical balance, quantitative measurement of mercury in the atmosphere and qualitative social aspects such as the miners' economic dependence on the managers and scenarios of illegal ASGM annual production. The main results revealed that the initial mercury (Hg)–gold (Au) production ratio was higher for the primary whole ore than for the concentrate secondary ore, which is the most frequent type of Brazilian ASGM. The amalgam filtering technique followed by mercury recovery is routine, decreasing the Hg releases to tailings ponds or to soil and water bodies. The mercury emissions by thermal decomposition of amalgam are independent of the initial mercury mass, depending only on the mercury in the amalgam and the (adequate) use or not of emission control systems. Illegal activities reduce the availability and proper use of these systems, resulting in higher emissions. Mercury emissions from ASGM in Brazil may increase the global mercury emissions estimates, while their mercury releases may represent a marginal increase. As the mercury emitted may be trapped by the rainforests added to the mercury released, the environmental contamination may pose health risks to Amazonian population, which requires immediate action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author offers insights on threads on topics related to a corresponsive sport science. Topics discussed include the changes in perception while reading such threads, the importance of a form of knowledge suggested by the author and the field of sport science as a whole, and the influence of curiosity and care on the approach to science and coaching.

Futures workshop is a participatory futures research method for producing views on futures and facilitating transformation and empowerment. Since different workshop methods are generally considered to have many advantages, they are widely used in various futures contexts. However, there is little knowledge on how futures participation entails empowerment for thinking and acting on futures. This paper studies participants' futures thinking and action in relation to their workshop experience. As psychological constructs for engaging with futures, the concepts of human agency and futures consciousness are used for the analysis. The study examines two futures workshops organized in Finland for farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector using the futures consciousness scale pre-post survey, an open-ended follow-up survey, and thematic interviews. The results of the study show that although there was no statistically significant change in futures consciousness, the workshop experience is absorbed into participants' daily reality, provoking their uses of futures. By analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, it is thus concluded that the ways in which futures participation empowers futures thinking and action are not, and should not be held, evident. Therefore, it is proposed that regarding their empowerment assumptions, participatory futures methods should perform deeper self-consideration as anticipatory practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Portuguese Way of St. James is traveled by people seeking well-being, self-therapy, or answers to their personal and religious/spiritual issues. The evaluation of the landscape and its senses and how these may contribute to the well-being of pilgrims are subjects that have been little explored. This research was carried out to understand how the landscape can influence someone's well-being and the senses it awakens. The municipality of Barcelos was the one chosen as representative territory to apply a new method, which includes a participant observation together with the visual documentation of 310 photographs of its main elements and the analysis of a grid of 22 variables. The main result from this method points out the relevance of diversified landscapes with a remarkable variation in colors and sounds. Some gaps in this method were also identified, including the need for improvements by local authorities to contribute to maximized health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addressing social issues, organizations have a responsibility to promote diverse participation, yet often struggle to harness the benefits of racial and gender diversity. Using a community-based participatory research design, with data collected over an 18 month field study, we examined how a social change organization, FoodLab, facilitated diverse collaboration. FoodLab aimed to grow a good food economy in Detroit, Michigan, through working with their members, local food entrepreneurs. We found that recurrent episodes of practicing dialogue catalyzed collaborative action around multiple issues, including shared kitchens, licensing, and membership. Practicing dialogue included intentional convening, participatory devices, and collective language. While leaders set up the initial procedures and rules, leaders and members, together, enacted these structures. Through high quality interactions, participants developed additional resources, knowledge, motivation, and relationships. Across episodes of practicing dialogue, traces of high quality interactions supported sustained effort around social issues. Our findings demonstrate the dynamic aspects of organizational structure and individual action in working towards diverse collaborative action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Touch is unique among the sensory modalities in that our tactile receptors are spread across the body surface and continuously receive different inputs at the same time. These inputs vary in type, properties, relevance according to current goals, and, of course, location on the body. Sometimes, they must be integrated, and other times set apart and distinguished. Here, we investigate how simultaneous stimulation to different body sites affects tactile cognition. Specifically, we characterized the impact of irrelevant tactile sensations on tactile change detection. To this end, we embedded detection targets amidst ongoing performance, akin to the conditions encountered in everyday life, where we are constantly confronted with new events within ongoing stimuli. In the set of experiments presented here, participants detected a brief intensity change (.04 s) within an ongoing vibrotactile stimulus (1.6 s) that was always presented in a constantly attended location. The intensity change (i.e., the detection target) varied parametrically, from hardly detectable to easily detectable. In half of the trials, irrelevant ongoing stimulation was simultaneously presented to a site across the body midline, but participants were instructed to ignore it. In line with previous bimanual studies employing brief onset targets, we document robust interference on performance due to the irrelevant stimulation at each of the measured body sites (homologous and nonhomologous fingers, and the contralateral ankle). After describing this basic phenomenon, we further examine the conditions under which such interference occurs in three additional tasks. In each task, we honed in on a different aspect of the stimulation protocol (e.g., hand distance, the strength of the irrelevant stimulation, the detection target itself) in order to better understand the principles governing the observed interference effects. Our findings suggest a minimal role for exogenous attentional capture in producing the observed interference effects (Exp. 2), and a principled distribution of attentional resources or sensory integration between body sides (Exps. 3, 4). In our last study (Exp. 4), we presented bilateral tactile targets of varying intensities to both the relevant and irrelevant stimulation sites. We then characterized the degree to which the irrelevant stimulation is also processed. Our results—that participants' perception of target intensity is always proportional to the combined bilateral signal—suggest that both body sites are equally weighed and processed despite clear instructions to attend only the target site. In light of this observation and participants' inability to use selection processes to guide their perception, we propose that bilateral tactile inputs are automatically combined, quite possibly early in the hierarchy of somatosensory processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Hunza has seen a surge of suicide cases among youth. This paper attempts to decipher the multiple layers of meanings entailed in suicide cases. The dominant perception among the natives is the attribution of influence to supernatural beings. This paper attempts to provide insights into the supernatural cosmology and its relationship to youth suicide among the Burushaski speakers of Hunza. Using qualitative research methodology, this paper describes the local perception of supernatural beings, and their classifications as well as the role of local shamans, known in Burushaski as bitan. In this scenario, suicide is not seen as a self-destruction, but is rather a punishment by the supernatural beings owing to the violation of the sacred supernatural social order imposed by the spirits connected to the supernatural world. For the natives, both the terrestrial and supernatural spheres share common habitats and mountain ecology; however, the latter is perceived to have more powers than the former. Therefore, breach of this order is highly discouraged and bears dire consequences. What appears as mere supernatural and human conflict actually carries deeper references to social and ecological disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the broader context for Polish Jews' de-assimilation since the fall of communism, analyzes the complex process of individual discovery and communal recovery of Jewish identity, and discusses the multiple challenges de-assimilated Jews face in constructing a new Jewish identity. The study is based on fieldwork conducted between 2010 and 2019, and includes participant observation in Jewish organizations in Poland and during a Birthright trip to Israel with a group of young Polish Jews; interviews with Jewish communal leaders and Poles recovering a Jewish identity; and archival research documenting the institutional rebirth of Jewish life in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the island of Réunion, a French overseas department located in the western Indian Ocean, a prefectorial decree taken by the authorities on July 26, 2013 has been reconducted for the past 10 years to forbid swimming and water-based activities, apart from the conditions set out in the injunction. This decision was the outcome of increased shark sightings and incidents causing, in particular, the deaths of 5 ocean users between 2011 and 2013. As a preliminary attempt to address the lack of empirical research on ocean users' social representations and their relationship to non-humans, this paper aims to primarily analyze thoroughly the issues of the acceptance of shark risk mitigation options. Data were gathered through a qualitative study that mobilized several ethnographic tools such as face-to-face semi-structured interviews, participant and non-participant observation as well as social media data survey. Results indicate that the many tensions generated by shark-human interactions (SHIs) on the island of Réunion are related to a lack of public consultation, thus calling the acceptance of the shark management strategy and the scientific recommendations into question. The findings may improve shark-human interactions management as we consider the management of risk as a process to develop a well-balanced way of living with the sharks where residual risk remains. This study contributes to the advancement of knowledge on the management of human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs) while the results tend to confirm the findings of many other studies showing that they are often rooted in human-human conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the sustainable livelihood approach (SLA) to assess the strengths and weaknesses of small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the Paraná River delta (Argentina), their vulnerability to different external stressors, and their role in the rural economy. Methods included semi-structured interviews and participant observation to assess 33 criteria corresponding to human, social, natural, physical, and financial capitals and to analyze the main governmental structures in fisheries management and policies. Natural, physical, and human capital showed the highest scores, while social and financial assets presented the lowest. Identified government institutions showed little capacity to address capital-strengthening measures. The SLA assessment allowed us to understand the critical factors and institutions that affect the performance of inland SSF and suggest that the fisheries of the lower Paraná River are highly vulnerable in the face of climate change and other external stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Pacific region is vital to the emerging countries' geostrategic and geo-maritime strategic competition. It is crucial for Japan's economic, political, and security interests. For the last few years, Japan has been promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy to protect the region free from other countries' dominance and make a balance of power by countering China's hegemony. Despite the growing strategic involvement of Japan in the Indo-Pacific region, some literature focused on the people's perception of Japan. Thus, this study explores the public perception regarding Japan's strategic rise in the Indo-Pacific to fill the knowledge gap. Using a snowball sampling method, we conducted a descriptive cross-national study with 365 individuals in Bangladesh and Thailand. Most participants (88%) agreed that the strategic rise of Japan would promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Besides, they agreed (69.1%) that the FOIP could be the alternative to the Chinese BRI in this region. However, around 52.6% of respondents moderately supported Japan's FOIP and QUAD in the region not to provoke China. Participants in this multi-country research generally expressed optimism about Japan's strategic ascent and its implications for a balanced Indo-Pacific. Therefore, the findings of this study can assist policymakers in gaining a better understanding of public attitudes and preparing for future policy formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there is extensive literature on researcher positionality and other aspects of qualitative and ethnographic research, interview location is more commonly discussed as a place to collect data than as a source of data. This paper addresses how interview location can provide valuable insights into the interview participant and the interview topics. In it, I draw on interviews that I collected as part of a study on reentry from prison. The study design included four community-based interviews with each participant. I discuss three types of interview locations: (1) private spaces (homes), (2) paid third spaces (cafes and restaurants), and (3) free public spaces (parks and libraries). Each of these sites offers the potential for different insights into research participants and research questions, which also may vary across individuals, projects, and research projects/questions. Less important than the specific interview location is how interview locations and the social interactions they engender shape the dynamics of the interview or insights into the participant's experiences. After discussing each of these in turn, I develop two extended examples of how interviewing an individual across multiple locations makes visible different aspects of that person's personality and experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study applied a latent profile analysis (LPA) to measures of autism traits collected from a sample of 1,018 university participants to test the research question of whether autism characteristics represent a unitary spectrum or a fractionation. Findings revealed the presence of four latent profiles of autism features that varied mainly by degree except for the trait of attention to detail suggesting that it should be regarded as a unique facet of autism traits. Hence, these results provide some support for the fractional nature of the autism continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article presents the discussion on reviewing a paper by Carl Woods, Duarte Araújo, and Keith Davids, emphasizing the importance of joining an ongoing conversation in sport science rather than providing a traditional review. Topics include challenges faced by sport and human movement scientists in understanding complex philosophical texts, and the value of participant observation in research.

The main objective of this work is to understand if a blind user has a good experience when using a support system when moving from point A to point B. To check this, the facilitators performed some User eXperience (UX) tests to analyze how the user interacts with the device. Specifically, tests were made with the modified methods "Thinking Aloud," "Hedonic/Utility Scale" (HED/UT Scale) and "Positive and Negative Affect Scale." The study sample included 5 blind participants, aged between 36 and 46 years old, of both genders, with a heterogeneous level of education and technology experience. The instruments used included the following: pretest, post-test, task evaluations, participant observation, and recording of both audio and video. Based on the results, users find the system challenging to use; therefore, applying the method allows developers and analysts to see how, where, and when the system fails to make the relevant improvements. Finally, we should mention that applying these modified methods allows for better target users' feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A German residential home invited recently arrived refugees who were interested in working in geriatric care. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how established caregivers and first-generation immigrant newcomers tinkered with values to enact care for people with dementia. This ethnographic study included 200 h of participant observations, 24 in-depth interviews, two focus-group interviews with six first-generation immigrants and six established staff members. The established caregivers and first-generation immigrant newcomers demonstrated a willingness and ability to tinker in situations when different values came into play. However, when the workload becomes too heavy, staff from both groups may experience feelings of powerless, indifferent and demotivation. Institutional constraints exert a negative influence on the interaction between established caregivers and first-generation immigrant newcomers and impact their enactment of care for geriatric residents with dementia. In such situations, it becomes crucial for staff to have a supportive supervisor who can help them cope with the daily stressors of their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article employs narrative methodologies to present the stories of three asylum seekers enrolled in two adult learning centres in the Lombardy region of Italy. The author draws on Axel Honneth's theory of recognition to provide an understanding of how these adult learners' experiences might impact their self-identity. Based on the narratives the participants provided in the course of interviews the author conducted with them, this article highlights some shortcomings in the learning provision for asylum seekers in Italy. Using interpretative analysis, the participants' experiences are discussed under three categories: (1) valorisation of certificates; (2) appropriateness of teaching methods; and (3) recognition of prior learning. The author concludes that greater efforts should be put into recognising the asylum seekers' previous experiences, and training adult educators who work with asylum seekers in adult learning principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definitions play an important role in mathematics by stipulating objects of interest to mathematicians in order to facilitate theory building. Nevertheless, limited research has examined how mathematicians approach writing definitions or the values of the mathematical community that are upheld through norms related to definition use and writing. Based on interviews with nine algebraists/category theorists, we characterize two mathematical values upheld through definitions: clarity in and for communication and freedom of choice in the use and writing of definitions. Further results highlight the norms and values related to defining that participants do and do not claim to discuss through their instruction, including a clear emphasis on precision and rigor in mathematics but limited attempts to show that definitions are created by people to serve their needs. Implications include a need for providing instructional opportunities for students to engage with more mathematical values in order to better understand what algebraists do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge co-production has become part of an evolution of participatory and transdisciplinary research approaches that are increasingly important for achieving sustainability. To effectively involve the most appropriate stakeholders there is a need for engagement and increasing prominence of stakeholders in environmental management and governance processes. The paper aims at developing and testing a methodology for stratifying stakeholders by (i) classifying organisations involved in coastal and ocean governance by their agency, and (ii) grouping them into organisational archetypes for representation and selection in research processes. Agency was measured by the three dimensions of scale, resources, and power. Each dimension was further elaborated as a set of indicators. The methodology is applied in the context of a research project set in Algoa Bay, South Africa. The stratification of organisations enabled the research team to gain a better understanding of the stakeholder landscape of organisational agency, and thus identify the most relevant stakeholder with which to engage. The use of a hierarchical cluster analysis identified five organisational archetypes in relation to ocean and coastal governance in Algoa Bay. The methodology used in this study proposes an informed and intentional approach to create the conditions under which the co-production of and participation in research processes can take place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study replicated prior research evaluating participants' preferences for climate-related policies that constrain individual access to high carbon-emitting commodities in order to delay the climate point of no return (Belisle et al. Behavior & Social Issues, 29, 61–77, 2020). We adjusted the monetary discounting questionnaire to model catastrophic financial losses in the form of bankruptcy that could be delayed or avoided by making regular payments per month that may be more analogous to the climate discounting task. We also adjusted the climate discounting task to within the potential lifespan of participants. Results showed close correspondence between discounting curve functions across the two discounting tasks, suggesting that economic analogies including catastrophic outcomes that operate at a longer time scale may be more appropriate. A correlation between the two forms of discounting was not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]