scholarly journals Guidelines for quantitative and qualitative studies of sensory substitution experience

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weronika Kałwak ◽  
Magdalena Reuter ◽  
Marta Łukowska ◽  
Bartosz Majchrowicz ◽  
Michał Wierzchoń
Keyword(s):  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Sensory Deprivation ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Sensory Substitution ◽  
Behavioural Adaptation ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods

Information that is normally accessed through a sensory modality (substituted modality, e.g., vision) is provided by sensory substitution devices (SSDs) through an alternative modality such as hearing or touch (i.e., substituting modality). SSDs usually support disabled users by replacing sensory inputs that have been lost, but they also offer a unique opportunity to study adaptation and flexibility in human perception. Current debates in sensory substitution (SS) literature focus mostly on its neural correlates and behavioural consequences. In particular, studies have demonstrated the neural plasticity of the visual brain regions that are activated by the substituting modality. Participants also adapt to using the devices for a broad spectrum of cognitive tasks that usually require sight. However, little is known about the SS experience. Also, there is no agreement on how the phenomenology of SS should be studied. Here, we offer guidelines for the methodology of studies investigating behavioural adaptation to SS and the effects of this adaptation on the subjective SS experience. We also discuss factors that may influence the results of SS studies: (1) the type of SSD, (2) the effects of training, (3) the role of sensory deprivation, (4) the role of the experimental environment, (5) the role of the tasks participants follow, and (6) the characteristics of the participants. In addition, we propose combining qualitative and quantitative methods and discuss how this should be achieved when studying the neural, behavioural, and experiential consequences of SS.

scholarly journals El uso seguro del Internet y el rol de los padres / The Safe Use of the Internet and the Role of Parents

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Elizabeth Moreno Carrillo ◽  
Gustavo Adolfo León Duarte ◽  
Carlos René Contreras Cázarez
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Role Of Parents ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Mixed Approach

ABSTRACTSociety has been transforming throughout the last years. The easy access to Internet has made two important institutions, family and school, cope to new challenges. Teenagers in different countries have access to Internet. However, understanding how these changes affect them, their families, their education, their community and the risks they cope help us get to empiric research. The main inquiry is to identify the use and the role parents have around the Internet and technological devices. The research is based in a mixed approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, using a questionnaire and a focus group to collect data.RESUMENLa sociedad ha venido transformándose durante las últimas décadas. El fácil acceso al Internet ha hecho que dos importantes instituciones, la familia y la escuela, se enfrenten a nuevos retos. En distintos países alrededor del mundo, los adolescentes tienen acceso al Internet. Sin embargo, para entender como estos cambios los afecta a ellos, a sus familias, a su educación, a su comunidad y los riesgos que enfrentan, es posible llevar a cabo la investigación empírica. La pregunta central es conocer el uso y el rol que tienen los padres en torno al Internet y a los dispositivos tecnológicos. Como parte de la metodología, la construcción del objeto de estudio se basa en la implementación de un enfoque mixto. La combinación de enfoques cualitativos y cuantitativos conlleva al diseño de dos fases en las que se utilizarán dos herramientas, la encuesta y el grupo focal. Contacto principal: [email protected]

Role of Educational Leaders in Supporting Beginning Teachers in Al Ain Schools in the UAE

2019 ◽  
pp. 908-921
Author(s):  
Salam Omar Ali
Keyword(s):  
Beginning Teachers ◽  
Novice Teachers ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Induction Program ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Al Ain ◽  
Effective Role ◽  
Effective Principal

This chapter studied the current practices of the principals in Al-Ain school district (in UAE) in supporting their novice teachers in their first years of teaching. It aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need for an effective principal who knows the important role he plays, especially with the newly appointed teachers. The study used a literature review to establish a good base of theoretical ideas about the effective role of principals in supporting novice teachers in their first years of teaching. The importance of induction program and its goals and benefits were tackled as well, in addition to the main aspects of the support provided. Moreover, the conceptual framework of the study discussed the methodology by describing the qualitative and quantitative methods used to gather data. The population and the sample, data analysis and discussion, conclusion and recommendations were presented too. Twenty principals and 30 teachers of public and private schools participated in answering a questionnaire. Some of them were also interviewed.

Themes and Lessons Learned

2016 ◽  
pp. 337-361
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Psychotherapy Research ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Change Mechanisms

Case Studies Within Psychotherapy Trials: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods presents a specific, mixed-methods approach, called the “Cases Within Trials” (CWT) model, to psychotherapy research, combining the results from a randomized clinical trial (RCT) with systematic case studies involving contrasting outcomes drawn from the experimental condition of the RCT; and a synthesis of the two types of knowledge. Chapters 3–6 of the book present four specific and diverse projects that concretely illustrate the CWT method. In Chapter 8 the editors analyze the four chapters and explore emergent themes in the knowledge gained from them. In the process, the editors systematically compare the positive-outcome and negative-outcome cases across the four projects, highlighting, for example, (a) the importance of contextual variables in creating the conditions for change mechanisms to be activated; (b) the multidimensional, reciprocally interactional nature of the therapy process; and (c) the particular role of therapist responsiveness.

scholarly journals The Cross-Modal Effects of Sensory Deprivation on Spatial and Temporal Processes in Vision and Audition: A Systematic Review on Behavioral and Neuroimaging Research since 2000

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Bell ◽  
Lisa Wagels ◽  
Christiane Neuschaefer-Rube ◽  
Janina Fels ◽  
Raquel E. Gur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Sensory Deprivation ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Brain Organization ◽  
Processing Resources ◽  
The Cross ◽  
The Brain

One of the most significant effects of neural plasticity manifests in the case of sensory deprivation when cortical areas that were originally specialized for the functions of the deprived sense take over the processing of another modality. Vision and audition represent two important senses needed to navigate through space and time. Therefore, the current systematic review discusses the cross-modal behavioral and neural consequences of deafness and blindness by focusing on spatial and temporal processing abilities, respectively. In addition, movement processing is evaluated as compiling both spatial and temporal information. We examine whether the sense that is not primarily affected changes in its own properties or in the properties of the deprived modality (i.e., temporal processing as the main specialization of audition and spatial processing as the main specialization of vision). References to the metamodal organization, supramodal functioning, and the revised neural recycling theory are made to address global brain organization and plasticity principles. Generally, according to the reviewed studies, behavioral performance is enhanced in those aspects for which both the deprived and the overtaking senses provide adequate processing resources. Furthermore, the behavioral enhancements observed in the overtaking sense (i.e., vision in the case of deafness and audition in the case of blindness) are clearly limited by the processing resources of the overtaking modality. Thus, the brain regions that were previously recruited during the behavioral performance of the deprived sense now support a similar behavioral performance for the overtaking sense. This finding suggests a more input-unspecific and processing principle-based organization of the brain. Finally, we highlight the importance of controlling for and stating factors that might impact neural plasticity and the need for further research into visual temporal processing in deaf subjects.

Competencies urban planning students need to succeed in professional practices

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-287
Author(s):  
Gehad Megahed ◽  
Abeer Elshater ◽  
Samy M.Z. Afifi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Professional Practices ◽  
Demand And Supply ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
New Graduates ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Information Finding

Purpose This paper focuses on the competencies and skills needed in preparing graduates of urban planning schools to meet the real-world challenges of professional practices. The present work explores the gap between skills and knowledge required to excel in the urban planning discipline and professional practices. Design/methodology/approach This research utilises a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. This study depends on collecting data from descriptive and statistical analysis based on two streams. The first comes from a survey launched among students of urban planning. The second is interviews scheduled with academics that are also practitioners. Findings The results outline the missing correlation between what Egyptian students learn in schools of urban planning and professional practices. The findings show that academics, students, and graduates share the same experiences about the education system. Academics agreed that graduates need to be more skilful rather than knowledgeable. The discussion shows that the undefined role of the planner in Egypt influenced the mismatching between the current demand and supply of competencies and skills offered by planning schools. The concluded remarks mentioned that communication skills and negotiation skills are the most crucial skills for graduates, in addition to information finding and data-processing skills. Originality/value This research has particular advantages in presenting a model of competencies as results of scanning the expectations of Egyptian students and new graduates vs professional practices. The contribution is in answering the question of what skills students of the urban planning programs should learn in order to meet the continued changes in professional practices.

scholarly journals The Rush for Land and Agricultural Investment in Ethiopia: What We Know and What We Are Missing

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 167
Author(s):  
Logan Cochrane ◽  
Danielle D. Legault
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Cultural Systems ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approaches ◽  
The Government ◽  
Technical Assessment ◽  
Agricultural Investments

More than a decade has passed since the triple crises of food, energy and finance in the period 2007–2008. Those events turned global investor interest to agriculture and its commodities and thereafter the leasing of tens of millions of hectares of land. This article reviews and synthesizes the available evidence regarding the agricultural investments that have taken place in Ethiopia since that time. We use a systematic review approach to identify literature from the Web of Science and complement that with additional literature found via Google Scholar. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to analyze the available literature. In so doing, we raise questions of data quality, by analyzing the evidence base used by many studies (the Land Matrix database) and compare it with data we obtained from the Government of Ethiopia. We find that while the Land Matrix is the largest available database, it appears to present only a fraction of the reality. In critically assessing the literature, we identify areas that have been under-researched or are missing from the literature, namely assessments of gendered impacts, the role of diaspora and domestic investors, interdisciplinary approaches (e.g., integrating climate change, biodiversity, and water), and studies that move beyond technical assessment, such as looking at the impacts on traditional knowledge and socio-cultural systems.

scholarly journals Affective economy of national-populist images: Investigating national and transnational online networks through visual big data

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 770-792
Author(s):  
Jenni Hokka ◽  
Matti Nelimarkka
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Online Networks ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Computational Data

In our article, we investigate the affective economy of national-populist image circulation on Facebook. This is highly relevant, since social media has been an essential area for the spread of national-populist ideology. In our research, we analyse image circulation as affective practice, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. We use computational data analysis methods to examine visual big data: image fingerprints and reverse image search engines to track down the routes of thousands of circulated images as well as make discourse-historical analysis on the images that have gained most attention among supporters. Our research demonstrates that these existing tools allow social science research to make theory-solid approaches to understand the role of image circulation in creating and sustaining national and transnational networks on social media, and show how national-populist thinking is spread through images that catalyse and mobilise affects – fear, anger and resentment – thus creating an effective affective economy.

Role of Educational Leaders in Supporting Beginning Teachers in Al Ain Schools in the UAE

2018 ◽  
pp. 7647-7658
Author(s):  
Salam Omar Ali
Keyword(s):  
Beginning Teachers ◽  
Novice Teachers ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Induction Program ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Al Ain ◽  
Effective Role ◽  
Effective Principal

This research studied the current practices of the principals in Al-Ain school district (in UAE) in supporting their novice teachers in their first years of teaching. It aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need of an effective principal who knows the important role he plays especially with the new appointed teachers. The study used depth of literature review to establish a good base of theoretical ideas about the effective role of principals in supporting the novice teachers in their first years of teaching. The importance of induction program and its goals and benefits were tackled as well, in addition to the main aspects of the support provided. Moreover, the conceptual framework of the study discussed the methodology by describing the qualitative and quantitative methods used to gather data. The population and the sample, data analysis and discussion, conclusion and recommendations were presented too. 20 principals and 30 teachers of public and private schools participated in answering a questionnaire. On the other hand, some of them will be interviewed.

Perceived Learning and Students’ Perceptions Toward Using Tablets for Learning: The Mediating Role of Perceived Engagement Among High School Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 951-973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tal Soffer ◽  
Efrat Yaron
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Perceived Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Positive Attitudes

Integrating mobile technology in schools has become a growing trend in recent years. Studies suggest that the use of tablets has potential contributions for learning. The current study explored the use of tablets for learning among 427 high school students, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods. The purpose was to assess students’ perceptions toward the effectiveness of using tablets in learning and to examine a model in which perceived engagement mediates the effects of content usage types, and technological and social aspects on perceived learning. The findings indicate that overall, students reported moderate levels of positive attitudes toward tablet use in learning. In addition, it was found that the more students consumed information via tablets, perceived tablet software as easy to use, and communicated with other students through tablets, the higher their engagement was, which in turn led to more positive perceptions of learning. Moreover, a qualitative content analysis indicated that students perceived the technological aspects as the main advantage, and barrier, of using tablets for learning. The implications of the results, as well as the role of perceived engagement in enhancing learning outcomes, are discussed in the context of tablet use in learning.

scholarly journals The Role of Stress Regulation on Neural Plasticity in Pain Chronification

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyun Li ◽  
Li Hu
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Stress Regulation ◽  
Pain Chronification ◽  
A Chain

Pain, especially chronic pain, is one of the most common clinical symptoms and has been considered as a worldwide healthcare problem. The transition from acute to chronic pain is accompanied by a chain of alterations in physiology, pathology, and psychology. Increasing clinical studies and complementary animal models have elucidated effects of stress regulation on the pain chronification via investigating activations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and changes in some crucial brain regions, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Although individuals suffer from acute pain benefit from such physiological alterations, chronic pain is commonly associated with maladaptive responses, like the HPA dysfunction and abnormal brain plasticity. However, the causal relationship among pain chronification, stress regulation, and brain alterations is rarely discussed. To call for more attention on this issue, we review recent findings obtained from clinical populations and animal models, propose an integrated stress model of pain chronification based on the existing models in perspectives of environmental influences and genetic predispositions, and discuss the significance of investigating the role of stress regulation on brain alteration in pain chronification for various clinical applications.

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