scholarly journals Maltese Youth and the Environment: A Qualitative Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Mifsud

Maltese Youth and the Environment: A Qualitative StudyThe present study attempted to highlight the main processes of the acquisition and development of various environmental perspectives and puts forward suggestions on how youth can be better addressed in the light of the research findings. The present paper involved the use of a number of focus groups and a contextual study that examined the development of environmental education on the Maltese islands, considered the main local environmental issues and subsequently analysed the main causes and mechanisms that have shaped the development of the local environment and the Maltese people. The present research identifies a number of geographic and socio economic trends which have a strong impact on young people's knowledge. The results indicate relatively low positive behaviour towards the environment, and the main issue appears to be what is seen as the ‘costs’ involved in performing such pro-environmental actions. A pervasive sense of futility in environmental actions emerged with issues relating to the Maltese government and politics being the main reasons for this feeling. An environmental perspectives model was designed employing the technique of graphical display. The model illustrates how young people perceive the future of the Maltese environment through three Cartesian axes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anél Wiese ◽  
Emer Galvin ◽  
Janet O’Farrell ◽  
Jantze Cotter ◽  
Deirdre Bennett

Abstract Background Medical regulators worldwide have implemented programmes of maintenance of professional competence (MPC) to ensure that doctors, throughout their careers, are up to date and fit to practice. The introduction of MPC required doctors to adopt a range of new behaviours. Despite high enrolment rates on these programmes, it remains uncertain whether doctors engage in the process because they perceive benefits like improvements in their practice and professional development or if they solely meet the requirements to retain medical registration. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between doctors’ beliefs, intention and behaviour regarding MPC through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to make explicit the factors that drive meaningful engagement with the process. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. From a pool of 1258 potential participants, we purposively selected doctors from multiple specialities, age groups, and locations across Ireland. We used thematic analysis, and the TPB informed the analytic coding process. Results Forty-one doctors participated in the study. The data analysis revealed doctors’ intention and behaviour and the factors that shape their engagement with MPC. We found that attitudes and beliefs about the benefits and impact of MPC mediated the nature of doctors’ engagement with the process. Some participants perceived positive changes in practice and other gains from participating in MPC, which facilitated committed engagement with the process. Others believed MPC was unfair, unnecessary, and lacking any benefit, which negatively influenced their intention and behaviour, and that was demonstrated by formalistic engagement with the process. Although participants with positive and negative attitudes shared perceptions about barriers to participation, such perceptions did not over-ride strongly positive beliefs about the benefits of MPC. While the requirements of the regulator strongly motivated doctors to participate in MPC, beliefs about patient expectations appear to have had less impact on intention and behaviour. Conclusions The findings of this study broaden our understanding of the determinants of doctors’ intention and behaviour regarding MPC, which offers a basis for designing targeted interventions. While the barriers to engagement with MPC resonate with previous research findings, our findings challenge critical assumptions about enhancing doctors’ engagement with the process. Overall, our results suggest that focused policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the factors that underpin the intention and behaviour related to committed engagement with MPC are warranted.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
pp. 1883-1891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Anåker ◽  
Maria Nilsson ◽  
Åsa Holmner ◽  
Marie Elf

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-37
Author(s):  
Nikola Milović ◽  
Mijat Jocović ◽  
Nikola Martinović

Abstract Competitiveness, as a complex concept, can be observed in different ways, from the perspective of an individual, group, company and/or state. The subject of this paper deals with competitiveness of national economies observed through factor analysis, with a particular focus on the level of macroeconomic stability. Through the application of the Analytical-Hierarchical Process (AHP) method, special attention has been paid to the comparative ranking of Western Balkan countries. The ranking has been made in relation to macroeconomic stability and the positions of countries in the ranking of the World Economic Forum, based on the Global Competitiveness Index, for three defined periods of time. The paper identifies key factors that affect the competitiveness of Western Balkan countries. Research findings show that macroeconomic stability has a strong impact on the level of global competitiveness of national economies.


Author(s):  
Mohamad Hussin ◽  
Muhammad Hakim Kamal

The spread of Islam in the Malay Archipelago (henceforth Nusantara) contributed to the activity of al -Quran translation in Malay civilisation. The society started to learn about Islam and the syariah that encouraged them to be close to al-Quran and translate it into the local language. Al-Quran was translated into Malay language in many ways. This study is a study of text aimed at identifying the translated works of al-Quran in Malay language beginning from the 17th century to the 20th century and to investigate its design and chronology. This qualitative study takes a descriptive approach and inculcates the historical method involving heuristics, critique of sources, interpretation and historiography in data collection and data analysis. The research findings show that 21 al-Quran translations into Malay language have been produced since the 17th century in Nusantara. Most of the al-Quran translated works were approached by interpretive translation rather than literal translation. The design of al-Quran translation into Malay language had developed in line with the times, beginning with classical Malay language using the jawi (Arabic) script, until the modern Malay language using romanised script. The concise translation style was seen to dominate the layout of al-Quran translations into Malay language. The al-Quran translation activity was not without controversy, until it led to several works being banned from publication. The rapid translation activity shows the enthusiastic efforts by society in Nusantara in transferring religious knowledge into guidance for daily life.


Author(s):  
Heike Hagelgans

Based on current research findings on the possibilities of integration of problem solving into mathematics teaching, the difficulties of pupils with problem solving tasks and of teachers to get started in problem solving, this article would like to show which concrete difficulties delayed the start of the implementation of a generally problem-oriented mathematics lesson in an eighth grade of a grammar school. The article briefly describes the research method of this qualitative study and identifies and discusses the difficulties of problem solving in the examined school class. In a next step, the results of this study are used to conceive a precise teaching concept for this specific class for the introduction into problem-oriented mathematics teaching.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Lyu ◽  
Lirong Song ◽  
Qiuwen Chen ◽  
Gang Pan

Eutrophication has become one of the major environmental issues of global concern due to the adverse effects on water quality, public health and ecosystem sustainability. Fundamental research on the restoration of eutrophic freshwaters, i.e., lakes and rivers, is crucial to support further evidence-based practical implementations. This Special Issue successfully brings together recent research findings from scientists in this field and assembles contributions on lake and river restoration. The 12 published papers can be classified into, and contribute to, three major aspects of this topic. Firstly, a background investigation into the migration of nutrients, and the characteristics of submerged biota, will guide and assist the understanding of the mechanisms of future restoration. Secondly, various restoration strategies, including control of both external and internal nutrients loading, are studied and evaluated. Thirdly, an evaluation of the field sites after restoration treatment is reported in order to support the selection of appropriate restoration approaches. This paper focuses on the current environmental issues related to lake and river restoration and has conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in order to emphasise the fast-growing attention being paid to the research topic. The research questions and main conclusions from all papers are summarised to focus the attention toward how the presented studies aid gains in scientific knowledge, engineering experience and support for policymakers.


2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
B. Keeble ◽  
D. Robertson ◽  
F. Johnson

The widespread adoption of research findings by the farming community has traditionally been challenging. Addressing this challenge is a priority as the products of research often aid and underpin the implementation of environmental objectives to ensure that natural resources are used in a sustainable manner. One approach to tackling this challenge is to develop products that are tailored to meet the needs of the users. The Analytical Irrigation Model (AIM, a software tool) was developed with the intention of creating a field-tool to assist farmers to improve their management of border-check irrigation. Using AIM as a case study, this paper demonstrates the value of using a qualitative approach in assessing potential users of research findings, and understanding their requirements. While developing AIM, anecdotal feedback suggested that widespread adoption of the envisaged research products, namely a field-tool, was unlikely. The qualitative study found that service providers to the dairy industry were likely to be the primary users of products of the AIM research. From conducting this qualitative study, service providers identified 4 types of research products that would suit their needs. Incorporating their perspectives enabled the development of products that were more likely to be adopted and consequently increased the effective targeting of the AIM research findings.


Author(s):  
Richard Aleong ◽  
David Strong

Learning how to design plays a vital role inengineering education to prepare students to solve openended,complex problems. To serve the continuousimprovement of engineering design education, a qualitative study of undergraduate engineering students’perspectives of engineering design was conducted. This research aims to understand the meaning students place on design in their engineering education and how thismeaning is described. By examining what students thinkabout learning and practicing design, engineeringeducators can be better positioned to enhanceinstructional strategies and curriculum development. The full extent of the research findings and implicationswill be presented in the researcher’s master’s thesis. This spaper serves to highlight the application of qualitativeresearch and the learning sciences in engineering education.


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