When Culturally Significant Songs are Decontextualised: The Initiation Song Somagwaza, A Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Dowling ◽  
Somikazi Deyi ◽  
Anele Gobodwana

While there have been a number of studies on the decontextualisation and secularisation of traditional ritual music in America, Taiwan and other parts of the globe, very little has been written on the processes and transformations that South Africa’s indigenous ceremonial songs go through over time. This study was prompted by the authors’ interest in, and engagement with the Xhosa initiation song Somagwaza, which has been re-imagined as a popular song, but has also purportedly found its way into other religious spaces. In this article, we attempted to investigate the extent to which the song Somagwaza is still associated with the Xhosa initiation ritual and to analyse evidence of it being decontextualised and secularised in contemporary South Africa. Our methodology included an examination of the various academic treatments of the song, an analysis of the lyrics of a popular song, bearing the same name, holding small focus group discussions, and distributing questionnaires to speakers of isiXhosa on the topic of the song. The data gathered were analysed using the constant comparative method of analysing qualitative research.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-530
Author(s):  
Amalia Raafiah

Abstrak Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional telah berjalan kurang lebih empat tahun, namun Praktik Mandiri Bidan yang bekerjasama dengan BPJS Kesehatan di Kota Semarang mengalami penurunan, pada tahun 2017 sebanyak 95 PMB dan menurun menjadi 85 PMB di tahun 2018. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui faktor individual dan struktural pada kepuasan kerja bidan era Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan Mei s.d. Juli tahun 2018 di Kecamatan Ngaliyan, Kota Semarang, jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus dan teknik pengambilan data menggunakan teknik wawancara mendalam. Informan dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 7 orang dengan 4 orang informan utama dan 3 orang informan triangulasi. Instrumen yang digunakan diantaranya panduan wawancara mendalam, alat perekam dan buku catatan. Data dianalisis menggunakan metode perbandingan tetap. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa faktor individual pada kepuasan kerja bidan adalah nature of work, pencapaian nilai dan motivasi, sedangkan faktor struktural pada kepuasan kerja bidan adalah supervisi, rekan kerja, komunikasi dan keadilan. Simpulan penelitian ini adalah tingkat kepuasan kerja bidan cukup puas pada era JKN.   Abstract Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional has been running for at least four years, but Independent Practices Midwife who collaboration with BPJS Kesehatan in Semarang City has declined, from 95 IPM in 2017 to 85 IPM in 2018. The objective of this research was to figure out individual and structural factors of Midwife’s job satisfaction in Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional era. This research was occurred on May until July 2018 in Ngaliyan Sub-district, Semarang City, this research was a case study with descriptive qualitative research using in-depth interview technique. Informants in this study amounted to 7 people with 4 main informants and 3 triangulation informants. The instrument used was an in-depth interview guide, a tape recorder and a notebook. Data were analyzed with constant comparative method. Result showed that individual factors of midwife’s job satisfaction were nature of work, value attainment and motivation, and structural factors of midwife’s job satisfaction were supervision, co-worker, communication and equity. Conclusion of this research was a phase of midwifes’s job satisfaction were enough in JKN era.  


The research presents the results of a qualitative study that investigated the African burial practices as ravens that promote the spread of cholera in Zimbabwe which has experienced such outbreaks in 1992/1993, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2008/2009 and 2018. Participants were ten representatives of ten families from Machivenyika Village of Zaka District in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe who had cholera-deaths related during the 2018 outbreak. Data collection instruments were semi-structured questionnaires and focus-group discussions. The constant comparative method was used to analyse data for thematic coding. Findings indicated that participants viewed African burial practices one of the major contributing factors in the spread of cholera in Zimbabwe. Participants suggested ways of improving African burial practices to accomplish positive results. Recommendations were made for the relevant authorities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
John Harper

This article reports on a case study of one instructor’s use of supplementary materials in an English as a Foreign Language course in China. Starting with the notion that no coursebook can be perfect and that supplementary materials therefore should form part of an English course, the study employed qualitative research methods to analyze the types of supplements used, the instructor’s rationale behind his use of the supplements, and the students’ interpretations of the supplements. Class observations, semi-structured interviews with the teacher, and focus-group discussions with students allowed for the triangulation of data. Findings indicated that the instructor provided a variety of types of supplementary materials in order to cater to different learner needs (specifically, affective needs, language-learning needs, course-content needs). While findings also indicated that learners generally appreciated the instructor’s use of supplementary materials, significant mismatches between instructor goals and learner interpretations suggested that the purpose of the supplements was not always clearly defined. The article addresses these mismatches and provides suggestions for their future avoidance.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e029144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusra Elhidaia Elobaid ◽  
Andrea Leinberger Jabari ◽  
Aisha Al Hamiz ◽  
Abdul Rizzak Al Kaddour ◽  
Sherif Bakir ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo explore: (A) the underlying motivators and barriers to smoking cessation among young Arabic speaking smokers and (B) to examine the suitability and preferences for tobacco cessation interventions (specifically text messages) and study the possibility of enrollment methods for a randomised controlled study using text messages as an intervention for tobacco cessation.DesignQualitative research using focus group discussions and content analysis.Setting(s)Two universities, one of them is the first and foremost comprehensive national university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The third setting is the largest hospital in the UAE and the flagship institution for the public health system in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.ParticipantsSix focus group discussions with a total of 57 participants. Forty-seven men and 10 women. Fifty-three of them were current smokers.ResultsThe analysis of six focus groups was carried out. Main themes arose from the data included: preferences for tobacco cessation interventions and acceptability and feasibility of text messaging as tobacco cessation intervention. Different motives and barriers for quitting smoking including shisha and dokha were explored.ConclusionInterventions using text messaging for smoking cessation have not been used in the Middle East and they could potentially be effective; however, tailoring and closely examining the content and acceptability of text messages to be used is important before the conduction of trials involving their use. Social media is perceived to be more effective and influential, with a higher level of penetration into communities of young smokers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina I. Tobias ◽  
Sourav Mukhopadhyay

This article explores the experiences of social exclusion of individuals with visual impairment (IWVI) as they negotiate their daily lives in their homes and societal settings in the Oshana and Oshikoto regions of Namibia. Employing qualitative research approach, this research tried to better understand the lived experiences of IWVI. Nine IWVI with ages ranging from 30 to 90 years were initially engaged in focus group discussions, followed by semi-structured in-depth individual interviews. The findings of this research indicated that IWVI experience exclusion from education, employment and social and community participation as well as relationships. Based on these findings, we suggest more inclusive policies to address social exclusion of IWVI. At the same time, this group of individuals should be empowered to participate in community activities to promote interaction with people without visual impairments.


Author(s):  
Joyce Ayikoru Asiimwe

This paper communicates the results of a diagnostic evaluation of the performance of boys and girls in physical sciences at Ordinary level in Uganda after the adoption of the compulsory science policy. The objectives of the study were twofold: to examine the academic performance of boys and girls in the Uganda National Examinations from 2007 to 2010, and to highlight key factors that continue to influence the achievement of students, especially girls in sciences. Data was obtained from five co-educational secondary schools using documentary reviews, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The results revealed that the performance of both boys and girls have further declined after the implementation of the compulsory science policy. However, in comparison to the boys, girls in co-educational schools were still more likely to be among the poorest performers in sciences. This was attributed to a number of factors, key among them being girls' self-concept in sciences, and teachers' perception of girls' abilities in sciences. These findings reiterate the need to mainstream gender into both policy design and implementation.


Author(s):  
Sarah A. Evans

This research asks the question: How does a public library contribute to the literate lives of a diverse community of adolescents? To explore this question, this article presents portraits of three young women, for whom a public library provided transformative opportunities. These portraits come from a larger ethnographic case study that examined a public library’s role in sparking and sustaining adolescent learning. Over 18 months, the author observed library activities involving youth, interviewed library staff and adolescent patrons, and led teen volunteers in a participatory research project. Data were analyzed in a constant comparative method within a sociocultural-historical framework. Through attention to the girls’ activities within the public library, two contributing elements— 1) a democratic space created by library practices, and 2), the diversity in discourse facilitated by the teen librarian—expanded the participants’ literacy practices and perspectives on reading. This article informs our understanding of diversity in adolescent literacy and highlights the practices that libraries and communities can use to foster the next generation of readers.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Akber Sajid ◽  
Muhammad Riaz Khan

Print media semiotic discourses are one of the best sites for ideological investment and their role is very significant in the production and dissemination of certain ideology. The aim of the present study is to critically decode the semiotic discourse(s) of Pakistani English newspaper DAWN (daily) with special reference to the representation of Pak- Us relationship through the analysis of the semiotics discourses. The data for the present research has been collected from the mentioned newspaper. The time span for data collection ranges from October 2018 to December 2018. Out of ten (10) caricatures which represent Pakistan attempting to survive at its own rather than depending on America one was purposively selected for linguistic and semiotic analyses. The study is descriptive and utilizes qualitative research design. For this purpose, the researchers have devised an amended research model by drawing upon Fairclough (1995), Kress (2010) and Kruger’s (2000) research models to analyse linguistic, semiotic and focus group discussions data. The semiotic analysis has also been validated by incorporating the remarks of focus group participants. Based on the analysis of data the study concludes that noting is absolute in politics as far as Pak- Us relations through semiotic discourses are concerned. Additionally, the research reveals that print media semiotic discourses work insidiously to represent socio- political changes by employing linguistic and meta-linguistic devices and techniques.


Author(s):  
Penny Singh

This paper reports on the inclusion of an oral component of assessment in science at two tertiary institutions in South Africa. The purpose of this paper is not to report on the results of the assessments conducted, but to focus on some of the unexpected rewards of conducting qualitative research in assessment. Using focus group discussions within a qualitative framework allowed me insights into the thoughts and experiences of the students and assessors, making the benefits of oral assessment apparent. These benefits included how assessment can be used as a learning opportunity, the advantages of homogeneous versus heterogeneous groups, and the benefits of face-to-face interaction, all of which led to improved relationships between students and assessors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Irvan Rifai ◽  
Fajar Santoso

This case study is aimed at revealing motives of women riding motor bike without helmet in Sidoarjo, East Java. The data in this study are garnered through interviews, focus group discussions, observation, and artefact including online newspapers, whilst thematic analysis is utilised as a primary data analysis. The findings of the study indicate that; first, distance from home to school is a most salient motive of women riding bike without helmet. Second, the absence of policeman on the street is a key factor of not wearing helmet. Third, social identity is another reason for not wearing helmet. Fourth, styles and its influence of feeling discomfort of wearing helmet. Fifth, social rules and its impracticality of not wearing helmet. The findings of this study are expected to have contributions of the ways to educate people about safety riding by involving students, students’ parents, teachers and or stakeholders. This study, however, cannot represent all women perspectives of not wearing helmet when riding motor bike within Indonesia. Further research, therefore, is expected to consider areas and characteristics which might differ from the present study. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap motif perempuan pengendara sepeda motor tanpa helm di daerah Kabupaten Sidoarjo, Jawa Timur, dengan menggunakan metode wawancara, Focus Group Discussion, observasi, dan analisis terhadap tulisan-tulisan yang ada di media sosial, seperti koran online. Analisis yang dilakukan menggunakan metode analisis tematik. Dari hasil analisis data diperoleh 5 tema yang menjadi pembahasan pada penelitian ini, yaitu: pertama, Jarak dari rumah ke sekolah menjadi pertimbangan utama responden tidak memakai helm; kedua, Kehadiran aparat kepolisian dan motif tidak memakai helm; ketiga, Identitas sosial sebagai alasan tidak memakai helm; keempat, style dan pengaruh ketidaknyamanan memakai helm; dan ke lima, aturan sosial dan ketidakpraktisan memakai helm. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan bisa memberikan kontribusi informasi terhadap upaya mengedukasi masyarakat dalam keselamatan berkendara sepeda motor dengan melibatkan peran serta siswa, orang tua siswa, guru dan pemangku kepentingan. Namun demikian, dikarenakan penelitian ini terbatas pada studi kasus di Kota Sidoarjo, terdapat kemungkinan bahwa hasil yang diperoleh tidak dapat merepresentasikan perspektif perempuan pengendara sepeda motor di kota-kota lain di Indonesia. Untuk itu, penelitian ini diharapkan dapat dilanjutkan untuk kota-kota yang mempunya karakteristik berbeda dengan lokasi penelitian ini.


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