scholarly journals Public behaviour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: understanding the role of group processes

BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Drury ◽  
Holly Carter ◽  
Evangelos Ntontis ◽  
Selin Tekin Guven
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Mutual Aid ◽  
The Public ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Many

Background In the absence of a vaccine, behaviour by the public is key to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, as with other types of crises and emergencies, there have been doubts about the extent to which the public are able to engage effectively with the required behaviour. These doubts are based on outdated models of group psychology. Aims and argument We analyse the role of group processes in the COVID-19 pandemic in three domains: recognition of threat, adherence by the public to the required public health behaviours (and the factors that increase such adherence) and actions of the many community mutual aid groups that arose during lockdown. In each case, we draw upon the accumulated research on behaviour in emergencies and disasters, as well as the latest findings in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, to show that explanations in terms of social identity processes make better sense of the patterns of evidence than alternative explanations. Conclusions If behaviour in the pandemic is a function of mutable group processes rather than fixed tendencies, then behavioural change is possible. There was evidence of significant change in behaviour from the public, particularly in the early days of the pandemic. Understanding the role of group processes means we can help design more effective interventions to support collective resilience in the public in the face of the pandemic and other threats. We draw out from the evidence a set of recommendations on facilitating the public response to COVID-19 by harnessing group processes.

The Interrelation between Public Participation and Access to Justice in the eia Context in the Face of the Increasing Use of Digital Technologies: Comment on the cjeu Judgment in the A.Flausch et al Case (C-280/18)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 39-55
Author(s):  
Vasiliki (Vicky) Karageorgou
Keyword(s):  
Public Participation ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Specific Aspect ◽  
Time Limit ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Eu Law ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Face ◽  
Procedural Autonomy

Abstract The article analyzes the cjeu Judgment in the A. Flausch et al case, which concerns the compatibility of the Greek procedural rules relating to specific aspects of the public participation in the eia context and to a specific aspect of access to justice (time limit) with the respective EU Law provisions in the face of the increasing use of digital technologies in the public participation procedures. This ruling is important, because it sets limits to the procedural autonomy of ms when it comes to the rules that are applied to the eia-related disputes and those that concern the public participation arrangements. It demonstrates, though, the lack of a steady line in the Court’s jurisprudence concerning the standards for assessing the national procedural rules and the role of Article 47 cfr. Moreover, the Court did not lay the ground for an interpretation of the ΕU public participation provisions in a way that an obligation for taking measures could be established, with the aim to ensure equal participation opportunities.

Is it time to move from mandatory stretching? We need to differentiate “Can I” from “Do I Have To?”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Afonso ◽  
Jesús Olivares-Jabalera ◽  
Renato Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
Alternative Interventions ◽  
Passive Stretching ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
The Times ◽  
The Many

The effects and usefulness of active and passive static stretching have raised heated debates. Over the years, the pendulum has swung from a glorified vision to their vilification. As most of the times, the truth often lies somewhere in-between. But even if there was no controversy surrounding the effects of static and passive stretching (which there is), and even if their effects were homogeneously positive (which they are not), that would not be sufficient to make stretching mandatory for practicing physical exercise, for most populations. Amidst the many discussions, an important issue has remained underexplored: the prerequisites to answer the question “Can I?” are not sufficient to answer the question “Do I have to?”, especially when alternative interventions are available. In this current opinion paper, we address four potential applications of stretching: (i) warm-up; (ii) cool-down; (iii) range of motion; and (iv) injury risk. We argue that while stretching can be used in the warm-up and cool-down phases of the training, its inclusion is not mandatory, and its effectiveness is still questionable. Stretching can be used to improve range of motion, but alternative and effective interventions are available. The role of stretching in injury risk is also controversial, and the literature often misinterprets association with causation and assumes that stretching is the only intervention to improve flexibility and range of motion. Overall, the answer to the question “Can I stretch?” is “yes”. But the answer to the question “Do I have to?” is “no, not really”.

scholarly journals Accountability in the Public Sector: The Role of Professional Accountants in the Present Democracy in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael S. Etim ◽  
Mfon S. Jeremiah ◽  
Ofonime O. Jeremiah
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Professional Code ◽  
Strict Adherence ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Many

The main objective of this paper is to highlight the essential role of professional accountants in enhancing public sector accountability in the present democratic era. The spate of public sector unaccountability scandals in the present democratic era in Nigeria evidently engenders the quest for proper accountability in the public sector. The paper begins with a conceptualization of accountability from the public sector perspective. It also attempts to cursorily highlight the nexus between public sector governance and accountability, before examining the issues currently undermining public sector accountability in Nigeria. It ends by pointing out the ways in which professional accountants can contribute to public sector accountability in Nigeria. In line with the many issues articulated in this paper, it is believed that a sense of value reorientation and strict adherence to professional code of ethics by professional accountants, among others, would reposition professional accountants to effectively contribute to public sector accountability in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Capturing the many faces of an exploded star: communicating complex and evolving astronomical data

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (05) ◽  
pp. A02
Author(s):  
Lisa Smith ◽  
Kimberly Arcand ◽  
Randall Smith ◽  
Jay Bookbinder ◽  
Jeffrey Smith
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Object A ◽  
Cassiopeia A ◽  
The Public ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
The Face ◽  
Final Item ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
The Many

This study explored how different presentations of an object in deep space affect understanding, engagement, and aesthetic appreciation. A total of n = 2,502 respondents to an online survey were randomly assigned to one of 11 versions of Cassiopeia A, comprising 6 images and 5 videos ranging from 3s to approximately 1min. Participants responded to intial items regarding what the image looked like, the aesthetic appeal of the image, perceptions of understanding, and how much the participant wanted to learn more. After the image was identified, participants indicated the extent to which the label increased understanding and how well the image represented the object. A final item asked for questions about the image for an atronomer. Results suggest that alternative types of images can and should be used, provided they are accompanied by explanations. Qualitative data indicated that explanations should include information about colors used, size, scale, and location of the object. The results are discussed in terms of science communication to the public in the face of increasing use of technology.

scholarly journals Half-Remembering and Half-Forgetting? On Turning the Past of Old Norse Studies into a Future of Old Norse Studies

Humanities ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Jan Alexander van Nahl
Keyword(s):  
Old Norse ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Special Obligation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
The Face

Many Humanities scholars seem to have become increasingly pessimistic due to a lack of success in their efforts to be recognized as a serious player next to their science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) colleagues. This appears to be the result of a profound uncertainty in the self-perception of individual disciplines within the Humanities regarding their role both in academia and society. This ambiguity, not least, has its roots in their own history, which often appears as an interwoven texture of conflicting opinions. Taking a stance on the current and future role of the Humanities in general, and individual disciplines in particular thus asks for increased engagement with their own past, i.e., histories of scholarship, which are contingent on societal and political contexts. This article’s focus is on a case study from the field of Old Norse Studies. In the face of the rise of populism and nationalism in our days, Old Norse Studies, with their focus on a ‘Germanic’ past, have a special obligation to address societal challenges. The article argues for the public engagement with the histories of individual disciplines to strengthen scholarly credibility in the face of public opinion and to overcome trenches which hamper attempts at uniting Humanities experts and regaining distinct social relevance.

scholarly journals Two decades of change in Dutch university art libraries

2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
Martien Versteeg
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Art History ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Public ◽  
Dutch Art ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Many ◽  
Library User

In 1987 Chris Smeenk wrote in this journal about the libraries of the Dutch art historical institutes. In the 22 years that have since passed many changes have occurred, perhaps most notably the merging of the many autonomous institute libraries into larger ones. Has this led to a more professional approach or was it caused by a search for more efficiency? Does this really matter? The fact is that Smeenk, or any other library user familiar with Dutch art history libraries, would hardly recognise the situation at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Maybe he would complain about the disappearance of the traditional academic institute librarian, but on the other hand he might be cheered by many other developments, such as the more central role of services for the public. Let’s take a look....

scholarly journals Procurement in the time of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87
Author(s):  
Albert Sanchez-Graells
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Expenditure ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
The Public ◽  
Joint Procurement ◽  
The Face

This piece reflects on the role of public procurement regulation in the face of a situation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, generating an extremely urgent need for the public sector to buy additional supplies and equipment. Counterintuitively, at a time of heightened public expenditure, public procurement rules are ‘deactivated’. That does not mean that unusual procurement mechanisms are not ‘activated’, though, as the example of the EU’s Joint Procurement Agreement shows. It also does not mean that ‘reactivating’ public procurement regulation will not present challenges, some of which deserve careful consideration.

scholarly journals La economía de la conservación de la agrobiodiversidad para la seguridad alimentaria ante el cambio climático

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Unai Pascual ◽  
Ulf Narloch ◽  
Stella Nordhagen ◽  
Adam G. Drucker
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Economic Perspective ◽  
Public Values ◽  
The Public ◽  
Human Wellbeing ◽  
Agrobiodiversity Conservation ◽  
The Face

<span>Subsistence-based and natural resource-dependent societies are especially vulnerable to climate change. In such contexts, food security needs to be strengthened by investing in the adaptability of food systems. This paper looks into the role of agrobiodiversity conservation for food security in the face of climate change. It identifies agrobiodiversity as a key public good that delivers necessary services for human wellbeing. We argue that the public values provided by agrobiodiversity conservation need to be demonstrated and captured. We offer an economic perspective of this challenge and highlight ways of capturing at least a subset of the public values of agrobiodiversity to help adapt to and reduce the vulnerability of subsistence based economies to climate change.</span>

Balancing priorities: the role of industry in water resource management

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. xxi-xxv ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Giuliano
Keyword(s):  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Water And Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Public ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
The World ◽  
Water And Wastewater ◽  
The Many

Together, the 40,000 men and women around the world who make up ITT Industries and our many colleagues in the water and wastewater treatment industries are working with those of you in the public, not-for-profit, academic and community sectors to confront the many water-related issues we face on a global basis. Should we call this situation a crisis? As discussed in the various sessions of this Symposium, in many ways we are facing a crisis in the water world. But of course, we are also seeing many positive developments in the field, and this provides hope for the future.

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