Context-specificity of violence: Physical, psychological, and social dimensions of harm during the Taliban’s insurgency (2007–2009) in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
pp. 263300242199481
Author(s):  
Sanaullah
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Local Culture ◽  
Northern Pakistan ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Bodily Harm ◽  
Context Specificity ◽  
Swat Valley ◽  
Multiple Meanings ◽  
Context Specific

This article explores the Taliban’s insurgency (2007–2009) in Swat Valley (northern Pakistan) and the multiple meanings of violence in this context. A thematic analysis of data collected through qualitative fieldwork finds that the violence experienced by the victims was understood in three ways: physically as bodily harm, psychologically as terror and fear, and socially in the form of humiliation and dishonor. By delving into the experiences of civilians, the article offers a victim-centered approach and argues that instances of violence were characterized by harm as a “core referent.” It further argues for a context-specific understanding of harm and explicates that this notion is also determined by the local culture of Swat Valley, Pashtunwali.

A Thematic Analysis of Overdose Prevention and Response Efforts in States Experiencing Declines in Rates of Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths

2021 ◽  
pp. 003335492110268
Author(s):  
Amber B. Robinson ◽  
Nida Ali ◽  
Olga Costa ◽  
Cherie Rooks-Peck ◽  
Amy Sorensen-Alawad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Overdose Prevention ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Specific Activities ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Overdose Deaths

Objective To address the opioid overdose epidemic, it is important to understand the broad scope of efforts under way in states, particularly states in which the rate of opioid-involved overdose deaths is declining. The primary objective of this study was to examine core elements of overdose prevention activities in 4 states with a high rate of opioid-involved overdose deaths that experienced a decrease in opioid-involved overdose deaths from 2016 to 2017. Methods We identified 5 states experiencing decreases in age-adjusted mortality rates for opioid-involved overdoses from 2016 to 2017 and examined their overdose prevention programs via program narratives developed with collaborators from each state’s overdose prevention program. These program narratives used 10 predetermined categories to organize activities: legislative policies; strategic planning; data access, capacity, and dissemination; capacity building; public-facing resources (eg, web-based dashboards); training resources; enhancements and improvements to prescription drug monitoring programs; linkage to care; treatment; and community-focused initiatives. Using qualitative thematic analysis techniques, core elements and context-specific activities emerged. Results In the predetermined categories of programmatic activities, we identified the following core elements of overdose prevention and response: comprehensive state policies; strategic planning; local engagement; data access, capacity, and dissemination; training of professional audiences (eg, prescribers); treatment infrastructure; and harm reduction. Conclusions The identification of core elements and context-specific activities underscores the importance of implementation and adaptation of evidence-based prevention strategies, interdisciplinary partnerships, and collaborations to address opioid overdose. Further evaluation of these state programs and other overdose prevention efforts in states where mortality rates for opioid-involved overdoses declined should focus on impact, optimal timing, and combinations of program activities during the life span of an overdose prevention program.

scholarly journals Context-Specific Challenges, Opportunities, and Ethics of Drones for Healthcare Delivery in the Eyes of Program Managers and Field Staff: A Multi-Site Qualitative Study

Drones ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Vyshnave Jeyabalan ◽  
Elysée Nouvet ◽  
Patrick Meier ◽  
Lorie Donelle
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Program ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Health It ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Field Staff ◽  
Program Managers ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Diverse Context ◽  
Study Participants

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, have significant potential in the healthcare field. Ethical and practical concerns, challenges, and complexities of using drones for specific and diverse healthcare purposes have been minimally explored to date. This paper aims to document and advance awareness of diverse context-specific concerns, challenges, and complexities encountered by individuals working on the front lines of drones for health. It draws on original qualitative research and data from semi-structured interviews (N = 16) with drones for health program managers and field staff in nine countries. Directed thematic analysis was used to analyze interviews and identify key ethical and practical concerns, challenges, and complexities experienced by participants in their work with drones for health projects. While some concerns, challenges, and complexities described by study participants were more technical in nature, for example, those related to drone technology and approval processes, the majority were not. The bulk of context-specific concerns and challenges identified by participants, we propose, could be mitigated through community engagement initiatives.

scholarly journals Making music in divided cities: Transforming the ethnoscape

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian Howell ◽  
Lesley Pruitt ◽  
Laura Hassler
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
State Level ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Community Music ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Local Constraints ◽  
Music Making ◽  
Promising Strategy ◽  
Music Centre ◽  
Context Specific

In the phenomenon of the divided city – urban environments partitioned along ethno-religious lines as a result of war or conflict – projects seeking to bring segregated people together through community music activities face many operational and psychological obstacles. Divided cities are politically sustained, institutionally consolidated, and relentlessly territorialized by competing ethno-nationalist actors. They are highly resistant to peacebuilding efforts at the state level. This article uses an urban peacebuilding lens (peacebuilding reconceptualized at the urban scale that encompasses the spatial and social dimensions of ethno-nationalist division) to examine the work of community music projects in three divided cities. Through the examples of the Pavarotti Music Centre in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Mitrovica Rock School in Mitrovica, Kosovo, and Breaking Barriers (a pseudonym) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, we consider the context-specific practices and discourses that are deployed to navigate the local constraints on inter-communal cooperation, but that also contribute to the broader goal of building peace. We find that music-making is a promising strategy of peacebuilding at the urban scale, with both functional and symbolic contributions to make to the task of transforming an ethnoscape into a peacescape.

Occupation-Specific Precursors of Stress among Greek Police Officers: The Roles of Rank and Gender

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander-Stamatios Antoniou
Keyword(s):  
Police Officers ◽  
Low Rank ◽  
Context Specificity ◽  
Women Police Officers ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Women Police ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Work Family ◽  
Context Specific

Although assessment of stress is typically performed using generic stress questionnaires, the context-specificity and generalisability of such assessments are often ignored. This study explored the differences in perceptions of work-related stressors in male/female and high/low rank police officers in Greece, by the application of a context-specific measure. 512 police officers representing the Hellenic police force responded to a questionnaire assessing precursors to work stress, and perceived level of stress. Results revealed that the nature of occupational stressors pertinent to Greek police officers differed as a function of their gender and their rank. Males and females differed in their perceptions of stressfulness of the context-specific issues assessed, with females reporting significantly higher stress in 21 work and organisational issues. High and low rank police officers also differed in their perceptions of stressfulness, with high rank police officers reporting more stress overall. The study highlighted the facts that work issues pertaining to female police officers' work and work issues pertaining to high and low rank police officers are of a specific nature. Women police officers are concerned more with issues related to career opportunities, roles and responsibility, and work–family issues. Risk assessment and stress management interventions should take these into consideration. Context-specificity is a good way forward in assessments of stress, and measures may need to be refined.

scholarly journals The multiple meanings of ADHD: between deficit, disruption and hidden potential

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-74
Author(s):  
Aude Béliard ◽  
Álvaro Jiménez-Molina ◽  
Javiera Díaz-Valdés ◽  
Alice Le Goff ◽  
Sarra Mougel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Political Context ◽  
Discussion Groups ◽  
Cultural Meanings ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Multiple Meanings ◽  
Socio Economic Variables

Abstract The purpose of this article is to describe the subjective experience of the diagnosis of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the cultural meanings that shape this experience. Based on interviews and discussion groups with diagnosed people and their families in Chile and France, this article show that ADHD can acquire multiple meanings. From a thematic analysis, we identified three registers or ways of living and thinking about ADHD. In the deficit register, the disorder is experienced primarily as a failure of certain abilities. In the disruption register, the disorder is experienced as disrupting the person’s life, personality and interactions, which must then be normalized. In the register of hidden potential, on which this article focuses, ADHD is simultaneously thought of as a difficult and valuable condition, a source of exceptional capacities that are often hidden in the ordinary functioning of social life. We therefore invite reflection that identifies the factors of mobilization or non-mobilization of the hidden potential register, with particular emphasis not only on relational configurations, socio-economic variables, and the gender variable, but also on the institutional and political context of each country.

Diversity management across borders: the role of the national context

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almina Bešić ◽  
Christian Hirt
Keyword(s):  
Transition Economies ◽  
Diversity Management ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Context Specificity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Approach ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Relational Framework ◽  
Diversity Strategy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the question how context-specific diversity management (DM) is and whether it is transferable by organisations. Design/methodology/approach – The authors explore context specificity and transferability of DM with the example of an Austrian company in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the relational framework for the transfer of DM practices the authors empirically examine differences between headquarters and subsidiaries. Findings – The empirical analysis reveals challenges for the transferability of DM and thus different approaches in the analysed company. The authors do not identify a significant transfer of DM practices. The findings are in line with the relational framework and suggest that headquarters must be treated separately from foreign subsidiaries, which theoretical models should take into account. Research limitations/implications – Future studies would benefit from a more holistic design not only based on the managements’ perceptions. A comparison with the situation in other companies in transition economies would further increase generalisability. Practical implications – The authors underscore the need for diversity as a strategic approach to management. Organisations benefit from considering context specificity and should be aware that DM practices in headquarters must not be transferable to subsidiaries. Although theoretical models are useful to identify diversity motives and strategies, their application in practice needs consideration of the context. Originality/value – The paper tackles the issue of context specificity and considers motives and strategies for DM. The case study sheds light on the link between headquarters’ diversity strategy and practice in a subsidiary and contributes to deficient research for transition economies.

scholarly journals Habituation in mosquito larvae Aedes aegypti is context-specific

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietrantuono A.L. ◽  
Aguirre M.B. ◽  
Bruzzone O.A. ◽  
Guerrieri F.J.
Keyword(s):  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Learning Curve ◽  
Selection Procedure ◽  
Mosquito Larvae ◽  
Context Specificity ◽  
Habituation Rate ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Response Increase ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Study Context

Mosquito larvae live in water and perform a stereotyped escape response when a moving object projects its shadow on the surface, indicating potential risk of predation. Repeated presentations of the shadow induce a decrease in the response due to habituation, a form of non-associative learning defined as the progressive and reversible decrease in response to a specific reiterative innocuous stimulus. Nevertheless, habituation can be context-specific, which indicates an association between the context and the stimulus. The aim of this work was to study context-specificity in habituation in mosquito larvae Aedes aegypti. Larvae were individually placed in Petri dishes. Underneath, black, white or black-white striped cardboards were placed as backgrounds (visual context). Larvae were presented with a shadow produced by a cardboard square (training) over the course of 15 trials. After the fifteenth trial, the background was shifted and the stimulus was presented once again (test). To analyse habituation in different contexts, we developed a series of learning curve models. We performed a Bayesian model selection procedure using those models and the data from the experiments to find which model best described the results. The selected model was a Power-Law learning curve with six parameters (habituation rate, context-specific asymptotic habituation response -with one parameter per context, i.e. 3 parameters-, response-increase, and autocorrelation) describing the whole experimental setup with a generalised r2 of 0.96. According to the model, a single habituation rate would indicate that habituation was independent of the context, whilst asymptotic habituation would be context-specific. If the background was shifted after training, there was an increase in the response in the test, evincing context specificity in habituation.

Quantifying and Valuing the Joint Production of Grain and Fodder from Maize Fields: Evidence from Northern Pakistan

1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Byerlee ◽  
Muzaffar Iqbal ◽  
K. S. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
High Ratio ◽  
Joint Production ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Northern Pakistan ◽  
Fodder Production ◽  
Relative Value ◽  
Swat Valley ◽  
Low Altitude

SUMMARYSimple methods are proposed for measuring the relative importance of grain and fodder produced jointly from maize fields in four zones in northern Pakistan. These methods suggest that the joint production of grain and fodder from maize is important in all four zones and that fodder accounts for between one-third and one-half of the total value of the crop. The relative value of fodder production is particularly high in two of the zones (the irrigated mid-altitude Swat Valley and the rainfed low altitude Islamabad District), both characterized by a high ratio of animal numbers:maize area. The results suggest that maize research and extension recommendations that do not take into consideration the fact that farmers produce maize for fodder as well as grain will often not be accepted by farmers.

Bridging the gender digital divide: an analysis of existing guidance for gender digital inclusion programmes’ evaluations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicja Pawluczuk ◽  
JeongHyun Lee ◽  
Attlee Munyaradzi Gamundani
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Process Context ◽  
Transparency And Accountability

Purpose This aim of this paper is to examine the existing gender digital inclusion evaluation guidance and proposes future research recommendations for their evaluation. Despite modern progress in towards gender equality and women’s empowerment movements, women’s access to, use of and benefits from digital technologies remain limited owing to economic, social and cultural obstacles. Addressing the existing gender digital divide is critical in the global efforts towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In recent years, there has been a global increase of gender digital inclusion programmes for girls and women; these programmes serve as a mechanism to learn about gender-specific digital needs and inform future digital inclusion efforts. Evaluation reports of gender digital inclusion programmes can produce critical insights into girls’ and women’s learning needs and aspirations, including what works and what does not when engaging girls and women in information and communications technologies. While there are many accounts highlighting the importance of why gender digital inclusion programmes are important, there is limited knowledge on how to evaluate their impact. Design/methodology/approach The thematic analysis suggests three points to consider for the gender digital inclusion programmes evaluation: context-specific understanding of gender digital inclusion programmes; transparency and accountability of the evaluation process and its results; and tensions between evaluation targets and empowerment of evaluation participants. Findings The thematic analysis suggests three points of future focus for this evaluation process: context-specific understanding of gender digital inclusion programmes; transparency and accountability of the evaluation process and its results; and tensions between evaluation targets and empowerment of evaluation participants. Originality/value The authors propose recommendations for gender digital inclusion evaluation practice and areas for future research.

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