scholarly journals Monitoring Menses: Design-Based Investigations of Menstrual Tracking Applications

2020 ◽  
pp. 733-750
Author(s):  
Sarah Fox ◽  
Daniel A. Epstein
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Participatory Approaches ◽  
Normal Cycle ◽  
Core Issues ◽  
Tracking Technology

Abstract Fox and Epstein interrogate and reimagine menstrual tracking technology, focusing on mobile applications designed to document and quantify menstrual cycle data. While such technology promises to provide users with new insights and predictions, the authors highlight how these apps are inscribed with particular visions of menstruation and encourage users to extract intimate information about their bodies. Apps regularly assume, for instance, that all possible users are women, heterosexual, and monogamous, have a “normal” cycle, and use tracking techniques exclusively to gauge fertility. Fox and Epstein present two case studies: (1) examining core issues of usability and inclusion in the design of existing applications; and (2) using participatory approaches to highlight the lived experiences of menstruators and introduce alternatives to dominant menstrual app protocols. In offering this two-part analysis, they point to important openings for exploring how these technologies might support the needs of a multiplicity of menstruating bodies.

scholarly journals The Participation of Senior Citizens in Policy-Making: Patterning Initiatives in Europe

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Roberto Falanga ◽  
Andreas Cebulla ◽  
Andrea Principi ◽  
Marco Socci
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Civic Participation ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Participatory Approaches ◽  
Aging Policy ◽  
Older Citizens

Worldwide, active aging policy calls for greater participation of senior citizens in the social, economic, and political realms. Despite emerging evidence of initiatives engaging senior citizens in social activities, little is known about the use of participatory approaches in the design and/or implementation of policies that matter to older citizens. This article identifies initiatives facilitating the civic participation of older people in policy-making in European Union member and associate states, drawing on a review of the literature, consultation of national policy experts, and exemplary case studies. Four main patterns of senior civic participation are identified: adopting consultative or co-decisional participatory approaches in policy design or policy implementation. The four are represented to varying degrees at different geographical levels (national, regional, local), with different actor configurations (appointed, elected/nominated, corporate representation), and with varying degree of institutionalization (temporary/permanent). Case studies illustrate approaches taken to enhance the quality and effectiveness of public services for senior citizens. Future research should strengthen this line of enquiry to cast further light on conditions facilitating the civic participation of senior citizens.

Using crystallization to understand loneliness in later life: integrating social science and creative narratives in sensitive qualitative research

2021 ◽  
pp. 146879412110059
Author(s):  
Barbara Barbosa Neves ◽  
Josephine Wilson ◽  
Alexandra Sanders ◽  
Renata Kokanović
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Creative Writing ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Older People ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Social Phenomena

This article draws on crystallization, a qualitative framework developed by Laurel Richardson and Laura Ellingson, to show the potential of using sociological narratives and creative writing to better analyze and represent the lived experiences of loneliness among older people living in Australian care homes. Crystallization uses a multi-genre approach to study and present social phenomena. At its core is a concern for the ethics of representation, which is critical when engaging with vulnerable populations. We use two case studies from research on loneliness to illustrate an application of crystallization through different narrative types. To supplement our sociological narratives, we invited author Josephine Wilson to write creative narratives based on the case studies. Josephine was awarded the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award in 2017 for Extinctions, a novel exploring themes such as later life and loneliness. By contrasting the two approaches—sociological and creative narratives—we discuss the implications of crystallization for qualitative research.

scholarly journals Seeing Things Differently: The use of mobile app interpretation and its effect on visitor experience at two heritage sites in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jessica Aitken
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Visitor Experience ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
High Street

<p>The practice of contemporary heritage interpretation has seen increased investment in digital technologies and more recently in mobile applications. However, few empirical studies assess how effective mobile apps are to the visitor experience of heritage sites. What kind of visitor experience do mobile apps provide? How do mobile apps deliver on the aims of interpretation for heritage sites? What types of apps work best? What are the challenges for developers and heritage professionals?  A qualitative research approach is used to examine two case studies; High Street Stories: the life and times of Christchurch’s High Street Precinct and IPENZ Engineering Tours: Wellington Heritage Walking Tour. These case studies ask what kind of experience mobile apps offer as an interpretation tool at these heritage sites. To investigate the topic, email interviews were carried out with heritage professionals and digital developers; together with qualitative interviews with visitors recruited to visit the case study sites using the mobile applications.   This study explores two current examples of mobile app technology in the heritage sector in a New Zealand context. The results of this study aim to augment current literature on the topic of digital interpretation. This study seeks to offer heritage managers and interpreters some key factors to consider when making decisions regarding the methods used to present and interpret heritage sites to visitors and in developing new interpretation and digital strategies that include mobile applications. Although each scenario presents its particular set of considerations and all heritage sites are different, it is hoped these recommendations can be applied and offer working models and strategies.</p>

Prevention science: Participatory approaches and community case studies.

2004 ◽  
pp. 87-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven B. Pokorny ◽  
Donna R. Baptiste ◽  
Patrick Tolan ◽  
Barton J. Hirsch ◽  
Bruce Talbot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Prevention Science ◽  
Participatory Approaches

Geopolitical aspects of health: austerity and health inequalities

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Bambra ◽  
Kayleigh Garthwaite ◽  
Amy Greer Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
International Research ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
The North ◽  
Welfare Reforms

This chapter examines the effects of austerity on geographical health inequalities by focusing on the North–South health divide in England and health inequalities between local neighbourhoods. It first explains the importance of geography for health by presenting the two case studies involving the North–South divide and local inequalities. It then considers the austerity and welfare reforms that have been introduced in England since 2010 and how these policies are affecting these spatial health divides. It also reviews evidence from previous international research into welfare retrenchment, as well as qualitative data about the lived experiences of people at the sharp end of austerity. The chapter concludes by highlighting the uneven consequences of austerity measures for health across localities and across different sociodemographic groups, thus exacerbating existing health inequalities.

scholarly journals Case Studies of Energy Storage with Fuel Cells and Batteries for Stationary and Mobile Applications

Challenges ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Belmonte ◽  
Carlo Luetto ◽  
Stefano Staulo ◽  
Paola Rizzi ◽  
Marcello Baricco
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Mobile Applications

scholarly journals Representing the majority and not the minority: the importance of the individual in communicating climate change

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Illingworth ◽  
Alice Bell ◽  
Stuart Capstick ◽  
Adam Corner ◽  
Piers Forster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Anthropogenic Climate Change ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Positive Action ◽  
Individual Needs ◽  
The Individual

Abstract. This research presents three case studies, through which a creative approach to developing dialogue around climate change is outlined. By working with three distinct communities and encouraging them to discuss and write poetry about how climate change affects them, we demonstrate how such an approach might be adopted at this level. By analysing the discussions and poetry that arose out of these workshops we show how this community-level approach to communicating climate change is an essential counterpart to wider-scale quantitative research. The engagement of each community with climate change is dependent on the lived experiences of their members; a failure to recognise this results in less effective communications and can also cause communities to feel isolated and helpless. By considering the individual needs and aspirations of these communities we can support effective dialogue around the topic of climate change, and in doing so can better engender positive action against the negative effects of anthropogenic climate change.

scholarly journals The effect of mobile applications for menstrual cycle or fertility trackers on women's health: protocol for a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea I Nomura-Sakata ◽  
Cinthya I Mogrovejo-Navas ◽  
Alejandra Navarro-Grau ◽  
Jessica H Zafra-Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Menstrual Symptoms ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Womens Health

Background Nowadays the use of smartphones and the development of health-related mobile applications has increased worldwide. Menstrual cycle tracking applications (MCTAs) have become especially popular among women because of their practicality in recording menstrual cycles, characteristics of bleeding and prediction of cycle stages. There are various studies regarding the use of MCTAs for different aspects of womens health such as estimating a fertility window for both conception and contraception, help register last menstrual period for calculation of gestational age, record pre-menstrual symptoms, among others. However, effects of MCTAs have not been analyzed in a systematic review. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of mobile applications for menstrual cycle or fertility trackers on womens health. Methods A systematic review will be conducted, starting with a search in PubMed, CENTRAL and Scopus using search terms related to mobile applications and menstrual or fertility tracking. Only randomized controlled trials will be screened with a sample of child-bearing aged women that use menstrual or fertility tracking mobile applications. Selected studies will be fully analyzed and the results will be recorded on a spread sheet. Study selection and data extraction will be conducted by two reviewers independently and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for RCT will be used for assessment of risk of bias. Discrepancies will be reviewed with a third reviewer. Conclusion Currently, there is a lack of information on the effects of using MCTAs on womens health. This systematic review aims to provide an analysis on the outcomes of the usage of these applications and evaluate any potential effects. Keywords Menstrual cycle, mobile application, tracking, womens health Conflicts of interest All authors declare to have no conflicts of interest.

scholarly journals Understanding the Potential of Music Learning Application as a Tool for Learning and Practicing Musical Skills

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-56
Author(s):  
Tan Yun Yi ◽  
Sinthu Thiruvarul
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Skill Learning ◽  
Music Learning ◽  
Informal Learning Environments ◽  
Musical Skills ◽  
Shed Light

This paper explores the potential of mobile applications that are developed to assist music learners in learning and practicing musical skills. Specifically, it attempts to shed light on the affordances of such mobile applications in elevating guitar skill learning among guitar players. This paper presents case studies of four guitar players who have used a mobile application namely “Yousician” to facilitate their guitar learning and practicing process. Findings of this study are drawn upon an investigation into their uses of the mobile application over a practicing period of one week. The study will also provide insights on the characteristics of such application from the music learners’ perspectives. It is also anticipated that findings from this study could contribute towards the understanding of the characteristics of mobile-based music applications that could potentially assist music learners in informal learning environments.

scholarly journals Making the Unknown or Invisible Accessible: The Collaborative Development of Inclusion-Focused Open-Access Case Studies for Principals and Other School Leaders

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-79
Author(s):  
Kimberly Maich ◽  
Steve Sider ◽  
Jhonel Morvan ◽  
Déirdre Smith
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Knowledge Mobilization ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Collaborative Process ◽  
Collaborative Development ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
School Based ◽  
Case Based

Gaps between research and practice exist in the field of inclusive and special education, especially around school-based leadership (e.g., principals). Research-based case studies are a way to teach and learn about disability, especially stigmatized issues such invisible disability (e.g,. intellectual disability), which may be complex with multiple stakeholders, yet difficult to access. This article reviews the collaborative process of developing and disseminating authentic case studies built on lived experiences of school principals as an example of bridging the gap between research and practice with multiple, engaging knowledge mobilization activities. Future knowledge mobilization activities, such as the development of interactive, online case-based based learning around inclusive classrooms and schools, are discussed.

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