Exploring Environmental Values through the Medium of Small Groups: 1. Theory and Practice

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Burgess ◽  
M Limb ◽  
C M Harrison

Empirical qualitative research is gaining recognition within social and humanistic geography, although the ‘small group’ is not yet recognised as a valuable research technique. In this paper we review the use of once-only group interviews in social and market research, and then discuss the principles of Group-analytic psychotherapy as a way of conducting in-depth small groups. By means of a discussion of the Greenwich Open-Space Project, we explore the methodological issues involved in conducting in-depth small groups with local people, discuss the interpretive strategies which can be used to handle large amounts of linguistic data, and present the major findings from the project.

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Burgess ◽  
M Limb ◽  
C M Harrison

In this paper we present the discussions of the Eltham group in the Greenwich Open-Space project, as a case study of the contributions that in-depth small groups can make in the study of environmental values. The major themes of the group discussions are presented, and extracts of dialogue illustrate several aspects of small-group dynamics: how the group establishes its identity, how members negotiate increasing levels of intimacy and trust, how they handle conflict among themselves, and how they deal with termination. These themes demonstrate the importance of the group matrix, the levels of manifest and latent meaning in discourse, and the role of the conductor in facilitating the group structure and processes. We conclude that in-depth small groups are a valuable research strategy for the exploration of the interpenetration of individual and collective values for environment.


Author(s):  
V.M. Arapov ◽  
◽  
G.N. Egorova

Realization of the formed technical competences in innovative activities is shown. The basis of students’ innovative activities in engineering graphics training is the formation of research and invention competences, development of cognitive and creative activities of students. The learning research activity of students is understood as his/her independent activity resulting in obtaining new, not known before, knowledge under the scientific and methodological guidance of the teacher. The didactic principles are defined, organization and methodological issues, that provide the formation innovative competences of the future engineers, are considered. The expedience of pre-university graphical training of senior school students and annual monitoring of the working programs in the engineering graphics subjects is shown. Formation of the innovative competences can be based on the personal activity approach with application of the principles of independence, theory and practice link, scientificality, motivation, activity and variability.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Schapiro ◽  
Placida V. Gallegos ◽  
Keren Stashower ◽  
Donna F. Clark

This article is a reflective essay that explores the question: What can the content and experience of the conference tell us about the state of theory and practice in the field of TL; where is it today and where it may be going in the future? The 12th International Transformative Learning Conference (ITLC) held October 19-23 at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA was an opportunity to engage with this question and observe the emergence of some useful answers. The conference brought together 250 participants from 25 countries around the theme: “Meeting at intersections of places for transformative learning”. Presenters offered rich interaction of TL and Intersectionality through various symposia, presentations and experiential learning sessions that showed the application, development and potential evolution of TL. Open Space Technology was use to engage with this diverse community around the practice, theory, and future of TL. The attendees experienced different forms of TL practices and theory. The authors of this paper relied on their experience as co-chairs and presenters of the Conference, as well as faculty, alum and student of Fielding Graduate University to reflect on the main themes of intersections and intersectionality found in the content of the symposia, presentations, and experiential sessions. We found five main themes of intersections: between various theories and disciplines; between body, mind, and spirit as aspects of the self; between the self and social and political contexts in which it is embedded; between self and others in the engagement with difference; and between forms of transformative practice. In our closing comments and reflections, we addressed whether or not the conference was enough of a “holding space” for transformation to take place. We noted that there was a noticeable “call” from conference attendees for TL theory and practice to extend beyond individual and group support to the society and its social and systemic challenges.


2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renaud Beeckmans ◽  
June Eyckmans ◽  
Vera Janssens ◽  
Michel Dufranne ◽  
Hans Van de Velde

1980 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-22
Author(s):  
David Mandlebaum

The interplay between theory and practice that occurs in all sciences has a special quality in the sciences of human behavior. The human subjects of these studies can be influenced by concepts developed about them: they can interpret and manipulate measures applied to them. This is particularly evident in the work of social-cultural anthropologists who gather their primary data directly from the people studied through participant observation and long interviews. Their close acquaintance with individuals and small groups affords quick feedback from the respondents concerning ideas about them and changes planned for them.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 124-145
Author(s):  
Helene Marie Kjærgård Eide ◽  
Astrid Tolo

Akademisk skriving anses som vesentlig for studenters akademiske så vel som yrkesmessige kompetanseutvikling. Koblingen mellom akademisk skriving og yrkeskompetanse har imidlertid i liten grad vært empirisk undersøkt. Hensikten med studien er å belyse hvordan akademisk skriving bidrar inn i skolelederes kompetanseutvikling, og videre hvilke kvaliteter i tilbakemeldinger på tekster deltakerne opplever har betydning for kompetanseutvikling. Studien bygger vi på en kombinasjon av sosiokulturelle og kognitive perspektiver innenfor skrive-forskning, og i den empiriske undersøkelsen følger vi fire skoleledere gjennom studieløpet. Datamaterialet i undersøkelsen er basert på disse fire skoleledernes tekster som skrives og bearbeides gjennom studiet, samt tre fokusgruppeintervju som undersøker betydningen av veiledning på tekstarbeidet for skolelederne.Studien viser hvordan integrasjon av teoretisk og forskningsbasert kunnskap utvikles over tid i skoleledernes tekster, og hvordan skolelederne argumenterer for betydningen av veiledning og tilbakemelding i skriveprosessen. Gjennom skriving av ulike tekster i studiet skapes tydeligere koblinger mellom teori, forskning og refleksjoner rundt egen praksis og yrkesrolle. En tettere kobling mellom teori og praksis oppstår imidlertid ikke av seg selv, og resultatene peker mot at oppfølging over tid, mengde, presisjon og timing oppleves som viktige forutsetninger for at tilbakemeldinger fra veiledere og medstudenter skal bidra til at faglitteraturen kan informere skolelederpraksis på en hensiktsmessig måte.Nøkkelord: yrkeskompetanse, lederkompetanse, skolelederutdanning, kompetanseutvikling, akademisk skrivingAbstractAcademic writing is perceived as pivotal in students’ academic as well as professional competence development. However, the relation between academic writing and professional competence has not been empirically investigated. The purpose of this study is to examine how academic writing contributes into school leaders’ competence development, and further what qualities in feedback on texts the participants perceive as important for competence development. In the article we build on a combination of sociocultural and cognitive perspectives within writing research, and in the empirical study, we follow four school leaders through a study program of 18 months. The empirical material is based on texts and revisions of texts written by these four students. In addition, the material consists of data from three focus-group interviews with the same participants, investigating how the school leaders experience the integration of new theoretical and empirical knowledge in their thinking about the school leader role, and the significance of supervision in academic writing.The study shows how the integration of theoretical and research based knowledge develops over time in the school leaders’ texts, and how the school leaders argue for the importance of feedback and supervision in the writing process. Expressed in increased theoretical and empirical substantiation in the students’ text, writing different texts helps the school leaders to relate theory and research to their own reflections on practice and professional role. Still, this integrated relation between theory and practice does not occur by itself. Here, our results point to supervision over time, the amount of feedback, precision, and timing as important prerequisites in order to make feedback from supervisors and fellow students contribute to making literature informative for school leader practices.Keywords: professional competence, leader competence, school leader education, competence development, academic writing


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (Number 2) ◽  
pp. 279-309
Author(s):  
Norhafezah Yusof ◽  
Tengku Faekah Tengku Ariffin ◽  
Rosna Awang Hashim ◽  
Hasniza Nordin ◽  
Amrita Kaur

Purpose – The primary aim of service learning is to produce holistically developed students. Despite the mandate from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia to infuse service learning in the programs of studies since 2015, service learning in the country remains in its infancy. Critical insights concerning contextual compatibility are still missing in the Malaysian context. In this regard, the current paper aims to investigate the perspectives of lecturers and students on the challenges they have encountered while participating in service learning. Methodology – The study employed a qualitative approach and the principles of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) guided the collection of data. Students and lecturers who participated in the study were selected using purposive sampling techniques. The data from the students was collected using focus group interviews, while in-depth face to face interviews were used to collect data from the lecturers. These two sources of data were then analysed using a thematic analysis method. Findings – From the perspectives of the students, the challenges encountered were as follows: 1) there is a gap between theory and practice and 2) the lack of cognitive autonomy, while from the perspectives of the lecturers, the challenge was lack of structural support. There was also a theme seen in the common challenges experienced by the participants which was about the relationship and rapport with the community. Significance –The findings provide insights into the challenges faced by lecturers and students in a public university where service learning is practised. These insights may have implications for academic developers providing training workshops on service learning and for lecturers involved in the design and implementation of service-learning projects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1200-1218
Author(s):  
Heidi Muurinen ◽  
Aino Kääriäinen

How could social workers apply theory in their everyday practice? According to John Dewey, theories are helpful instruments in analysing situations and forming hypotheses which are tested in practical experiments. Inspired by Dewey’s pragmatist philosophy, we designed a “Practice and Theory” pilot intervention group in which social workers were provided external, theory-driven supervision. This research is a three-case study of the pilot intervention group. Based on a thematic analysis of reflective discussions during the last group sessions and follow-up group interviews, we investigate the difficulties the social workers described in applying theoretical knowledge to practice. We explore what consequences they recognized when reflecting on and experimenting with theoretical knowledge. Our study demonstrates that the major barriers were lack of time and access to theories, difficulties in changing one’s own practice and establishing supportive structures, the lack of competence to understand the role theories and having become estranged theories. However, the positive consequences experienced in the three Practice and Theory groups suggest that the pilot intervention could serve as a potential model for integrating theoretical research into practice. The participants considered that reflecting theories enabled new understanding as well as allowed experimenting with new ways of operating. Participating in the group also improved social workers’ argumentation, helping them to recognize their own expertise. It also raised professional self-esteem and enabled self-development. In the group, the dialogical, reflective and experimental inquiry were key to understanding how theoretical knowledge can open new perspectives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 2082-2095 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferid Krupic

AbstractOne of the most significant developments in recent history has probably been organ donation and organ transplantation. They are frequently the only treatment available in certain cases. However, there is an ever-increasing discrepancy between the number of people needing transplantation and the organs available, because the decision to donate an organ is up to each individual. The study aims to assess the impact of the intervention on knowledge, attitudes and practices on organ donation among religious immigrants in Sweden. Data were collected through three group interviews using open-ended questions and qualitative content analysis. Thirty-six participants, 18 males and 18 females from six countries, participated in the focus group interviews. The analysis of the collected data resulted in two main categories: “Religion in theory and practice” and “More information—more knowledge about organ donation” including seven subcategories. Understanding of religion and religiosity, happiness by taking the class, the practice of religion in everyday life, the overcoming the prejudices in religion, having more information about organ donation and the donations process, as well as that the increased information changes people’s minds, were some of things the informants emphasised as predictors of the decision of organ donation. A class dealing with religion, the religious aspects of organ donation and the way the Swedish healthcare system is organised increased people’s knowledge and changed their attitudes so they became potential organ donors. More intervention studies are needed in every field of medicine to build confidence and give time to educate and discuss issues with potential organ donors in Sweden.


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