scholarly journals Exploring the potential role of community engagement in evaluating clinical and translational science grant proposals

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey W. Treem ◽  
Margaret Schneider ◽  
Robynn L. Zender ◽  
Dara H. Sorkin

IntroductionThis study explored the effects of integrating community members into the evaluation of clinical and translational science grants.MethodsThe University of California, Irvine Institute for Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) engaged 21 community reviewers alongside scientific reviewers in a 2-stage process of evaluating research proposals. In Stage 1 reviewers scored proposals, and during Stage 2 two study sections convened: one a mix of community reviewers and scientific reviewers, and one only engaging scientific reviewers. In total, 4 studies were discussed by both study sections.ResultsComparisons of reviews revealed little difference between ratings of community reviewers and those of scientific reviewers, and that community reviewers largely refrained from critiquing scientific or technical aspects of proposals.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that involving community reviewers early in the grant cycle, and exposing them to the entirety of the review process, can bolster community engagement without compromising the rigor of grant evaluations.

Author(s):  
Chiara Lorini ◽  
Laura Ricotta ◽  
Virginia Vettori ◽  
Marco Del Riccio ◽  
Massimiliano Alberto Biamonte ◽  
...  

In Western countries, one of the main barriers to entomophagy is repulsion toward insects. Few studies have investigated the factors that influence attitudes toward entomophagy. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 248 university students, focusing on disgust and other potential attributes that can influence insect consumption, including health literacy. We used a 17-item self-administered questionnaire. Consistent with the literature, two items were chosen as outcome variables to evaluate the predictors of the propensity to consume insects: “Have you ever eaten insects or insect-based products?” and “How disgusting do you find eating insects?” The data analysis shows that having already eaten insects is inversely associated with the level of disgust (OR: 0.1, p < 0.01); and it is positively associated with higher levels of health literacy (OR: 3.66, p > 0.01). Additionally, having some knowledge and information about entomophagy is inversely associated with a higher level of disgust (OR: 0.44, p = 0.03 and OR: 0.25, p = 0.03, respectively), while being female is positively associated with disgust (OR: 3.26, p < 0.01). Our results suggest the potential role of health literacy, in addition to other factors, in influencing the willingness to taste insects. However, further studies involving larger and non-convenience samples are needed to confirm our hypothesis.


2020 ◽  
pp. 146879412097888
Author(s):  
Rachel Creaney ◽  
Mags Currie ◽  
Paul Teedon ◽  
Karin Helwig

This project employed community researchers as a means of improving community engagement around their Private Water Supplies (PWS) in rural Scotland. In this paper, we reflect on working with community researchers in terms of the benefits and challenges of the approach for future rural research that seeks to improve community engagement. The paper (1) critiques the involvement of community researchers for rural community engagement, drawing on the experiences in this project and (2) provides suggestions for good practice for working with community researchers in rural communities’ research. We offer some context in terms of the role of community members in research, the importance of PWS, our approach to community researchers, followed by the methodological approach and findings and our conclusions to highlight that community researchers can be beneficial for enhancing community engagement, employability, and social capital. Future community researcher approaches need to be fully funded to ensure core researchers can fulfil their duty of care, which should not stop when data collection is finished. Community researchers need to be supported in two main ways: as continuing faces of the project after the official project end date and to transfer their newly acquired skills to future employment opportunities.


Author(s):  
Naeima Omar Aldraan, Amaal Mohamed AbdelMawla, Randa Hammoud

The study aimed to build a proposed perception to reduce the high rates of divorce in the Al- Jouf region in view of the role of some social institution as, and using the survey and documentary descriptive approach, through the application and two questionnaires were prepared (the first is directed to divorced and divorced women, and the second is directed to community members), and the interviews were used to get acquainted with the opinions of officials in both: Personality, 2- Al- Jouf University, 3- The Family Development Association, and the study concluded that the reasons for divorce are [socio- cognitive] reasons, the most important of which are: the interference of others in the family life of the couple, such as (family, relatives, and friends) With an average approval of 2.54 out of 3 , The weak educational and cultural role of institutions Different society (family, school, c Spangle, family associations) in the rehabilitation of young people for marriage An average of 2.53 out of 3, Also, coordination and cooperation between social institutions in the region to reduce the high rates of divorce in the region was weak coordination, and the research has resulted in a proposed vision to limit the high divorce rates in the Al- Jouf region. Its security and stability, In it the university plays the main role in coordinating and raising awareness of knowledge and social issues such as: women's rights- children's rights- providing family, psychological and legal counseling to university employees and members of society.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya Urnowey ◽  
Toshihiro Ansai ◽  
Vira Bitko ◽  
Koji Nakayama ◽  
Tadamichi Takehara ◽  
...  

The Editor has retracted this article [1] following an investigation by the University of South Alabama which found:


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1117
Author(s):  

Following acceptance of the Special Issue article by the Guest Editor, El-Sayed Abd El-Aziz, concerns were raised regarding the integrity of the peer review process [...]


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
pp. 95-95
Author(s):  
Miles McNeeley ◽  
Katrina Kubicek ◽  
Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati ◽  
Karen D. Lincoln ◽  
Michele Kipke

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: This study aims to describe adaptability in methods used to apply community input to programming within the field of translational science. The outcomes of community informed programming include opportunities for innovative projects and approaches, and better responsiveness to community needs. It is anticipated that this will result in greater community involvement in research, moving towards greater health equity. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The SC CTSI is situated in urban Los Angeles, one of the most diverse communities in the world. Eight SC CTSI Community Engagement Core initiatives that employ community partnership are illustrated. The activities include social marketing campaigns for cervical cancer prevention; use of community-embedded research ambassadors to increase scientific literacy in Latino and Black/African-American communities; use of innovative technologies to educate pediatric patients and families about clinical research; working with the entertainment industry to promote clinical research in popular television shows; a community advisory board that is tailored and embedded in each CSTA core group; a community based research dissemination program; an ad-hoc community advisory group assembled to adapt a research 101 curriculum for Black/African-American communities; and a series of listening sessions conducted throughout Los Angeles. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Integration of community voices provide direction for future planning, programming and execution of all referenced initiatives. Ultimately, the goal for these discussions with community members is to develop innovative approaches to CTSA programming. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience underrepresentation in clinical research trials. CTSAs have been tasked with addressing barriers that have historically led to disparities in research participation, and by extension, the effectiveness of medical interventions in diverse populations. Community input is an invaluable source for knowledge and innovative ideas in how to increase involvement in various aspects of the research process, including dissemination, recruitment and enrollment in clinical trials. CTSAs have increasingly augmented Community Engagement programs within their respective cores to address population disparities. The approaches used to engage communities require an element of fluidity and flexibility, and a reliance on the input of community members, in order to maintain relevant and desired community engagement practices.


Author(s):  
Mara Ferreri

This chapter analyses the performative urban experiences produced by temporary projects and their claim to publicness and openness to local communities. Through a critical discussion of the promises of ‘vibrancy’ and community engagement, it examines the importance of staging in temporary urban spaces, its co-optation and its everyday, contested performative encounters. The chapter draws extensively on participant observations of temporary projects in the Elephant and Castle shopping centre during the last decade before its final closure. The frictions between staged and unexpected urban encounters challenge the celebration of ‘use value’ as inherently beyond commodification. It reveals the need to attend carefully to local power entanglements and to the potential role of temporary uses in solidarity movements against demolition and displacement.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian C. Britt

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical framework that explains the roles and viability of both cooperation and competition as they emerge in communities of practice. Although the usefulness of cooperation in communities of practice is well-understood, few studies have considered the role of internal competition, and those that have generally only explored cases in which antagonistic behavior led to the community’s collapse. Design/methodology/approach A contingency theory of communities of practice is developed based on the manifestations of members’ participation. Findings This theory demonstrates the root causes of fracturing and also provides a foundation for studying communities of practice that have previously defied explanation. Research limitations/implications This manuscript explains the potential role and limitations of internal competition in communities of practice, as well as the emergence of subgroups based on differing preferences for cooperation and/or competition. Future research should examine the manifestation and ramifications of such individual differences between community members. Practical implications Practitioners can use this theoretical framework to assess communities of practice that they oversee, diagnose potential pitfalls and take corrective action to mitigate potentially toxic influences or inject additional motivating forces that would sustain the community. Originality/value This theoretical framework diverges from previous assumptions that internal competition is necessarily toxic for communities of practice, showing the value that it may offer in some contexts.


Author(s):  
Marián Morón Martín

An overview of the current professional translation industry shows that translation, in general, seems to be accommodating changes in the labor market and in society with relative ease. However, the scope, limits and boundaries of translation are a matter of academic and professional concern (Mayoral 2001; Tymoczko 2005/2007; Koskinen/Dam 2016; Dam et al. 2018), with some viewing the identity of translation somehow jeopardized by the great variety of professional translation-related services and practices encountered within the field (Gambier 2016; Koskinen/Dam 2016; Dam et al. 2018). It is true that services now associated with translation, such as technical communication (Risku 2004), transcreation, postediting or multilingual copyrighting (Mangell et al. 2019) are closely interrelated, sometimes even being identified as translation per se (Gambier 2016; Dam et al. 2018), despite the fact that no linguistic transfer even occurs. This paper will address the experience of trainee participants in a transcreation project developed at the University Pablo de Olavide in Seville (Spain). The project was an attempt to introduce transcreation, defined by the LSP industry as a service of added value, and initiate students in inventiveness and creative translation, while creatively enhancing translation graduates’ employability (Rojo/Meseguer 2018: 79). Despite the assumed role of universities as providers of employability skills, this initiative also aims to add value to translator training, adopting an open, creative and boundaryless approach when dealing with employability issues in translators’ training (Calvo 2010; Morón 2010; Kuznik 2016; Calvo 2018). The boundaries within and around the translation profession (Koskinen/Dam 2016) are tackled, through students completing simulated professional practice and self-reflection (Kiraly 2013/2016; Leggot/Stapleford 2004a/b). A qualitative and analytical approach will be adopted, presenting the final assessment results from trainee participants during Stage 1 of project implementation, as well as real testimonies of graduates and professionals reflecting on the impact the initiative has on trainees’ employability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 387-387
Author(s):  
Carrie Andreoletti ◽  
Andrea June

Abstract Central Connecticut State University’s Scholars for Life! supports the engagement of older learners in the community through faculty guest lectures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, participation in the virtual format frequently swelled to over 100 attendees, which is five times the number participating pre-pandemic. Moreover, faculty engagement increased. This presentation will share results of a study that used an Age-Friendly University (AFU) lens to explore this expanded connection to community members with the intention to build on its successful faculty-community engagement. 132 participants responded to the survey (M age = 69), mostly identifying as local retired alumni and community members. Participants reported high satisfaction with the lectures, connection to the university, interest in joining future travel abroad experiences, and utilizing campus resources when safe. Indeed, 84% are now aware of CCSU’s AFU status and 61% expressed interest in the 62+ course tuition waiver. Implications and future directions will be addressed.


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