scholarly journals Responding to Covid‑19: Experiences of Ashesi University’s Student Affairs Team

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-156
Author(s):  
Millicent Adjei ◽  
Nina Nana Aba Pels ◽  
Vanessa Nana Darkoa Amoako
Keyword(s):  
Student Affairs ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Transition Theory ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Department Heads ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Schlossberg's Transition Theory ◽  
Transitional Experiences ◽  
Students Success

The Covid‑19 pandemic has revealed the abilities or lack thereof of many higher education institutions to adequately support the academic and co‑curricular needs of students in times of crisis. In this reflective practitioner account, Schlossberg’s Transition Theory is used to analyse the transitional experiences of students amid the Covid‑19 pandemic and how the Office of Student and Community Affairs (OSCA) team at Ashesi University successfully supported students as they navigated the academic semester. One-to-one interviews with department heads of the five OSCA units were conducted alongside focus group discussions with a cross-section of 17 students. The findings suggest that (i) advising, (ii) engagement, and (iii) timely online support interventions contributed immensely to students’ success in transitioning from in‑person to remote learning.

Marriage and transnational family life among Somali migrants in Finland

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulki M Al-Sharmani ◽  
Abdirashid A Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Family Life ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Family Obligations ◽  
Family Ties ◽  
Transnational Family ◽  
Companionate Marriage ◽  
Spouse Selection ◽  
Larger Sample ◽  
Married Male

In this article, we investigate how marriage practices of Somali migrants in Finland are influenced by their transnational kinship. We examine how transnational family ties play a role in migrants’ spouse selection, marriage arrangements, and management of spousal resources. We also identify the factors that enable migrants to successfully navigate marital challenges caused by their transnational kin-based ties. These factors are: companionate marriage relationship based on emotional closeness and flexible spousal roles, compatibility in spousal resources, and the cooperation of couples in navigating transnational family obligations. We show how gender and generation are at play (in complex ways) in the interplay between transnational kinship and marriage. We draw on interview data from 16 married male and female interviewees, taken from a larger sample of 37 informants of different marital statuses. Our analysis is also based on data from focus group discussions

Nomadic Migration and Rural Violence in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-95
Author(s):  
Nsemba Edward Lenshie ◽  
Patience Kondu Jacob
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Migration Pattern ◽  
Land Resources ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Security Governance ◽  
North East ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Depth Interviews

The relationship between Fulani herdsmen and farmers has in recent years become hot-tempered motivated by competitive control of land resources, particularly in central and north-east Nigeria. In Taraba State, the ongoing nomadic migration pattern from the Sahel in quest of pastures has led to violent confrontation between Fulani herdsmen and farming indigenous natives. Using a descriptive approach consisting of documented evidence, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions, the analysis revealed that conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and indigenous native farmers have culminated in population displacement and destruction of life and property in numerous rural enclaves in Taraba State. Despite the consequences of the conflicts, the Taraba State government was unable to act proactively because of the centralization of command over Nigerian security agencies. Accordingly, the study suggests decentralization of security agencies in Nigeria, especially the police, as the way forward for effective security governance in Nigeria.

ВІД ЮНОСТІ ДО МОЛОДОСТІ: МОЖЛИВОСТІ ЕПІГЕНЕТИЧНОЇ МОДЕЛІ В СОЦІОКУЛЬТУРНОМУ АНАЛІЗІ

1970 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-97
Author(s):  
Олена Злобіна
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Identity Statuses ◽  
The Status ◽  
Empirical Material

Статтю    присвячено    аналізу    можливостей    застосування    міждисциплінарного    підходу    в  дослідженнях трансформацій конструкту ідентичності. Виокремлено обмеженості дослідження стадій  циплінарних  підходах.  Запропоновано  застосувати  стадійний  підхід  в  аналізі  вікової  групи  «молодь»  з  метою верифікації положення про її диференціацію на різні вікові підгрупи, які відрізняються статусами  ідентичності. Теоретичним підґрунтям дослідження є теорія психогенетичного розвитку особистості Е.  Еріксона та статусна динамічна модель розвитку ідентичності Дж. Марсіа. Емпіричну основу склали  матеріали аналізу 14 фокус-групових дискусій, проведених у молодіжних аудиторіях: 7 груп з молоддю у віці  18-21  рік  і  7  з  молоддю  у  віці  26-30  років.  Підтверджено  внутрішню  диференціацію    вікової  стадії  «молодість». Показано, що динаміка психогенезу на цій стадії характеризується домінуванням дифузного  статусу у молодшої групи та статусу досягненості у старшої.  Інші статуси зустрічаються значно  рідше.   Наявний   емпіричний   матеріал   не   дає   можливості   простежити   чинники,   які   зумовлюють  зафіксовані відмінності, проте отримані в ході дослідження типові портрети зазначених груп  дозволяють   розвинути міждисциплінарний підхід до проблеми персоногенезу та застосувати його можливості для  вироблення стратегії дослідження «процесу переходу» від стадії до стадії The article is devoted to the analysis of the possibilities of using the interdisciplinary approach in studies of transformations of the construct of identity. The limitations of studies of stages of development in monodisciplinary approaches are singled out. It is suggested to apply the step-by-step approach in the analysis of the age group "youth" in order to verify the position on its differentiation into different age subgroups that differ in identity statuses. The theoretical basis of the study is the theory of psychogenetic development of the personality of E. Erickson and the status dynamic model of identity development of J. Marcia. Empirical basis was made by the analysis materials 14 focus group discussions held in youth audiences: 7 groups with youth aged 18-21 and 7 with young people aged 26-30. The internal differentiation of the age stage "youth" has been confirmed. It is shown that the dynamics of psychogenesis at this stage is characterized by the dominance of diffuse status in the younger group and the status of attainment in the older group. Other statuses are much less common. The existing empirical material does not provide an opportunity to trace the factors that cause the observed differences, but the typical portraits of these groups obtained in the course of the research allow developing an interdisciplinary approach to the problem of personogenesis and applying its possibilities for developing a strategy for studying the "transition process" from stage to stage.

Dari Idealisme ke Pragmatisme: Pergeseran Paradigma dalam Pengembangan Hukum Ekonomi Syariah di Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-210
Author(s):  
Addiarrahman Addiarrahman ◽  
Illy Yanti
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Business World ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
The Public ◽  
Financial Products ◽  
Legal Consideration ◽  
Economic Law ◽  
Islamic Economic

This study seeks to understand the pragmatism of the development of sharia economic law, and its implications for Islamic financial products in Indonesia. The data comes from the results of interviews and focus group discussions with key informants from academics, practitioners, authorities, and the public. This research finds that pragmatism in the development of Islamic economic law is an approach that still dominates the DSN-MUI fatwas. The pragmatism style used is complex-eclectic pragmatism which is represented through makhārij al-fiqhiyyah, which is to choose a mild opinion by sticking to the strongest method or also called "taysīr al-manhajī". The use of this method is intended to ensure that the fatwa is truly able to answer the needs of the business world, as well as being in line with sharia principles. DSN-MUI also does not use maslahah as a legal consideration in a free or liberal way. Rather, it returns maslahah in consideration of the method, so that it is permissible to use the bay’ al-'inān contract only in a forced state (ḍarurah).

When Culturally Significant Songs are Decontextualised: The Initiation Song Somagwaza, A Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Dowling ◽  
Somikazi Deyi ◽  
Anele Gobodwana
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Popular Song ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Ritual Music ◽  
Constant Comparative Method ◽  
Small Focus ◽  
Over Time

While there have been a number of studies on the decontextualisation and secularisation of traditional ritual music in America, Taiwan and other parts of the globe, very little has been written on the processes and transformations that South Africa’s indigenous ceremonial songs go through over time. This study was prompted by the authors’ interest in, and engagement with the Xhosa initiation song Somagwaza, which has been re-imagined as a popular song, but has also purportedly found its way into other religious spaces. In this article, we attempted to investigate the extent to which the song Somagwaza is still associated with the Xhosa initiation ritual and to analyse evidence of it being decontextualised and secularised in contemporary South Africa. Our methodology included an examination of the various academic treatments of the song, an analysis of the lyrics of a popular song, bearing the same name, holding small focus group discussions, and distributing questionnaires to speakers of isiXhosa on the topic of the song. The data gathered were analysed using the constant comparative method of analysing qualitative research.

Farmers Perception in Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Practices in Madhubani District of Bihar, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
YUJJWAL KUMAR ◽  
RAMESH CHANDRA BHARATI ◽  
RAVI KANT CHAUBEY ◽  
K. K. RAO ◽  
VED PRAKASH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Decision Processes ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Farmers ◽  
Direct Seeded ◽  
Herbicide Use ◽  
Bihar State

The study has been conducted in Madhubani district of Bihar state to analyse gender segregated key benefits, advantages, disadvantages, issues and the key decision processes and criteria for conservation agriculture technologiesadoption. Data were collected through focus group discussions involving male and female farmers. Cent per cent farmers expressed saving of labour and reduction in drudgery in Zero Tillage Direct Seeded Rice (ZTDSR). Higher yield through adoption of ZTDSR was revealed by equal percentage (75 %) of male and female farmers. Equal percentage (100 %) of male and female farmers expressed labour saving as one of the most important criteria for adoption of the ZT. Gender segregated data showed almost similar perception related to criteria adoption of ZT technology in rice-wheat system. All the female groups expressed that limited knowledge of herbicide use restricts adoption of ZTDSR. All the female groups were in the view that there is reduction of drudgery through adoption of mechanical paddy transplanter. Preparation of mat type nursery was top most disadvantages for 90 and 70 % male and female groups respectively. Eighty percent farmers groups expressed their opinion that non availability of trained tractor drivers for machine operation limits adoption of ZT machine. Preparation of mat nursery and trained operators for paddy transplanter was major criteria for adoption of mechanical paddy transplanter. There was contradiction in the perception among male and female farmers with respect to yield advantage and associated risk for poor yield due to the adoption of CA technologies.

scholarly journals “Stages of change, smoking behavior and acceptability of a textmessaging intervention for tobacco cessation among cigarette, dokha and shishasmokers: A qualitative research study.”

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e029144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusra Elhidaia Elobaid ◽  
Andrea Leinberger Jabari ◽  
Aisha Al Hamiz ◽  
Abdul Rizzak Al Kaddour ◽  
Sherif Bakir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Tobacco Cessation ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions

ObjectivesTo explore: (A) the underlying motivators and barriers to smoking cessation among young Arabic speaking smokers and (B) to examine the suitability and preferences for tobacco cessation interventions (specifically text messages) and study the possibility of enrollment methods for a randomised controlled study using text messages as an intervention for tobacco cessation.DesignQualitative research using focus group discussions and content analysis.Setting(s)Two universities, one of them is the first and foremost comprehensive national university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The third setting is the largest hospital in the UAE and the flagship institution for the public health system in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.ParticipantsSix focus group discussions with a total of 57 participants. Forty-seven men and 10 women. Fifty-three of them were current smokers.ResultsThe analysis of six focus groups was carried out. Main themes arose from the data included: preferences for tobacco cessation interventions and acceptability and feasibility of text messaging as tobacco cessation intervention. Different motives and barriers for quitting smoking including shisha and dokha were explored.ConclusionInterventions using text messaging for smoking cessation have not been used in the Middle East and they could potentially be effective; however, tailoring and closely examining the content and acceptability of text messages to be used is important before the conduction of trials involving their use. Social media is perceived to be more effective and influential, with a higher level of penetration into communities of young smokers.

scholarly journals Perspectives of future pharmacists on the potential for development and implementation of pharmacist prescribing in Qatar

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-123
Author(s):  
Mohammad Issam Diab ◽  
Angham Ibrahim ◽  
Oraib Abdallah ◽  
Alla El-Awaisi ◽  
Monica Zolezzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pharmacist Prescribing ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
Special Training Program

AbstractBackground Pharmacists in many developed countries have been granted prescribing authorities under what is known as “non-medical prescribing” or “pharmacist prescribing”. However, such prescribing privileges are not available in many developing countries. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the perspectives of future pharmacists (recent pharmacy graduates and pharmacy students) on pharmacist prescribing and its potential implementation in Qatar. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used: (1) a cross-sectional survey using a pre-tested questionnaire and; (2) focus group discussions to allow for an in-depth understanding of the issue, with a focus on pharmacists prescribing competencies as well as barriers for its implementation. Main outcome measures Future pharmacists’ perspectives and attitudes towards pharmacist prescribing in Qatar. Results The majority of the respondents (94.4%) indicated awareness of the prescribing competency related to selecting treatment options. Furthermore, the majority (92.4%) believed that pharmacists should undergo prescribing training and accreditation before been legally allowed to prescribe, a point that was reiterated in the focus group discussions. Participants generally expressed support for collaborative and supplementary prescribing models when developing prescribing frameworks for Qatar. Four categories emerged under the theme barriers to implementation of pharmacist prescribing: lack of prescribing competency, pharmacist mindset, lack of accessibility to patient records and counseling rooms, and diversity of education and training background. Conclusion The majority of recent pharmacy graduates and students were in favor of pharmacist prescribing been implemented in Qatar. However, a special training program was deemed necessary to qualify pharmacists to prescribe safely and effectively.

scholarly journals Nairobi Early Childcare in Slums (NECS) Study Protocol: a mixed-methods exploration of paid early childcare in Mukuru slum, Nairobi

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000822
Author(s):  
Robert C Hughes ◽  
Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo ◽  
Sunil Bhopal ◽  
Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage ◽  
Zelee Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Epidemiological Methods ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Early Childcare ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Childcare Providers

IntroductionThe early years are critical. Early nurturing care can lay the foundation for human capital accumulation with lifelong benefits. Conversely, early adversity undermines brain development, learning and future earning.Slums are among the most challenging places to spend those early years and are difficult places to care for a child. Shifting family and work structures mean that paid, largely informal, childcare seems to be becoming the ‘new normal’ for many preschool children growing up in rapidly urbanising Africa. However, little is known about the quality of this childcare.AimsTo build a rigorous understanding what childcare strategies are used and why in a typical Nairobi slum, with a particular focus on provision and quality of paid childcare. Through this, to inform evaluation of quality and design and implementation of interventions with the potential to reach some of the most vulnerable children at the most critical time in the life course.Methods and analysisMixed methods will be employed. Qualitative research (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) with parents/carers will explore need for and decision-making about childcare. A household survey (of 480 households) will estimate the use of different childcare strategies by parents/carers and associated parent/carer characteristics. Subsequently, childcare providers will be mapped and surveyed to document and assess quality of current paid childcare. Semistructured observations will augment self-reported quality with observable characteristics/practices. Finally, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with childcare providers will explore their behaviours and motivations. Qualitative data will be analysed through thematic analysis and triangulation across methods. Quantitative and spatial data will be analysed through epidemiological methods (random effects regression modelling and spatial statistics).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted in the UK and Kenya. Findings will be disseminated through journal publications, community and government stakeholder workshops, policy briefs and social media content.

scholarly journals Political Vigilante Groups in Ghana: Violence or Democracy?

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-338
Author(s):  
Justice Richard Kwabena Owusu Kyei ◽  
Lidewyde H. Berckmoes
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Governance ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Political Field ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Electoral Campaigns ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Organisational Structures ◽  
Depth Interviews

Literature on political vigilante groups has centred on the violence and conflict that emanate from their activities. This article approaches political vigilante groups as political actors who engage in political mobilisation and participation and therewith also contribute to nation state building. It explores how such groups participate in Ghana’s democratic governance and asks whether violence is an inevitable characteristic. The article builds on individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with political vigilante group members in Kumasi and Tamale in 2019. Findings show that political vigilante “youth” appeared to refer primarily to the social position attributed to non-elite groups in the political field. Political vigilante groups are multi-faceted in their organisational structures, membership, and activities both during electoral campaigns and during governing periods. While some groups revert to violence occasionally, the study concludes that political vigilante groups, in enabling different voices to be heard, are also contributing to democratic governance.

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