scholarly journals Editorial: Life Phenomenology--Movement, Affect and Language

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Stephen Smith ◽  
Tone Saevi ◽  
Rebecca Lloyd ◽  
Scott Churchill

The “life phenomenology” theme of the 35th International Human Science Research Conference challenged participants to consider pressing questions of life and of living with others of our own and other-than-human kinds. The theme was addressed by keynote speakers Maxine Sheets-Johnstone, Ralph Acampora and David Abram who invoked a motile, affective and linguistic awareness of how we might dwell actively and ethically amongst human communities and with the many life forms we encounter in the wider, wilder world we have in common. Conference participants were provoked to consider the following questions: “How might phenomenology have us recognize a primacy of movement and bring us in touch with the motions and gestures of the multiple lifeworlds of daily living? What worlds from ecology to technology privilege certain animations? What are the affects and effects of an enhanced phenomenological sensitivity? What senses, feelings, emotions and moods of self-affirmation and responsiveness to others sustain us in our daily lives? And to what extent might the descriptive, invocative, provocative language of phenomenology infuse the human sciences and engender a language for speaking directly of life?”

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Lind Haase Svendsen

What is social capital? What is social capital and how is it defined? “Social capital” has been introduced as a concept capable of linking together the human sciences. Social capital has been defined as the profits of network co-operation, that is, as a resource in line with financial and human capital. Cross-disciplinary human science research has shown that social capital can be accumulated both at micro- and macro-levels. This article analyses the various definitions and applications of the concept. Taking Bourdieu’s definition as a starting point, it shows how the concept has been elaborated by American sociologists and political scientists.


2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 355-373
Author(s):  
Lieve Orye

AbstractThis article argues that, in order to understand religious studies's debate over reductionism, one should take the social-historical context of the debate and the fteld's subject matter into account. Martin Kusch's work on folk psychology and Ian Hacking's work on 'human kinds' provide an example of how this can take place. The article argues that the study of religion is part of the human sciences and that this area differs from the natural sciences precisely insomuch as the former's subject matter involves a learning reflexive human being. However, large parts of the study of religion exemplify a co-called 'inferior' science-or, as some would say, theology-insomuch as these areas have developed a myopia by looking through distorting Christian glasses. This form of the field seems based on 'knowledge ex nihilo', a shortcoming for a human science because it lacks any conscious reflection on its, and its subject matter's, involvement in society.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Bryce J. Dietrich

Abstract Although previous scholars have used image data to answer important political science questions, less attention has been paid to video-based measures. In this study, I use motion detection to understand the extent to which members of Congress (MCs) literally cross the aisle, but motion detection can be used to study a wide range of political phenomena, like protests, political speeches, campaign events, or oral arguments. I find not only are Democrats and Republicans less willing to literally cross the aisle, but this behavior is also predictive of future party voting, even when previous party voting is included as a control. However, this is one of the many ways motion detection can be used by social scientists. In this way, the present study is not the end, but the beginning of an important new line of research in which video data is more actively used in social science research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237802312110244
Author(s):  
Katrin Auspurg ◽  
Josef Brüderl

In 2018, Silberzahn, Uhlmann, Nosek, and colleagues published an article in which 29 teams analyzed the same research question with the same data: Are soccer referees more likely to give red cards to players with dark skin tone than light skin tone? The results obtained by the teams differed extensively. Many concluded from this widely noted exercise that the social sciences are not rigorous enough to provide definitive answers. In this article, we investigate why results diverged so much. We argue that the main reason was an unclear research question: Teams differed in their interpretation of the research question and therefore used diverse research designs and model specifications. We show by reanalyzing the data that with a clear research question, a precise definition of the parameter of interest, and theory-guided causal reasoning, results vary only within a narrow range. The broad conclusion of our reanalysis is that social science research needs to be more precise in its “estimands” to become credible.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 392-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréa Mathes Faustino ◽  
Lenora Gandolfi ◽  
Leides Barroso de Azevedo Moura

Objective To verify whether there is a connection between the functional capacity of the elderly and the presence of violent situations in their daily lives. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study developed with 237 elderly individuals. Standard and validated research instruments were used. Results Mean age of 70.25 years (standard deviation of 6.94), 69% were female, 76% were independent in basic activities of daily living and 54% had a partial dependence on at least one instrumental activity. The most prevalent violence was psychological and the relation between being dependent on basic activities of daily living and suffering physical violence was statistically significant. Conclusion When the elderly needs assistance to perform self-care activities, there is a greater chance of exposure to a situation of abuse, such as physical violence.


2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 547-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Brooks ◽  
Audrey King ◽  
Mark Tonack ◽  
Helen Simson ◽  
Maria Gould ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES:To identify user perspectives on the issues that impact the quality of the daily lives of ventilator-assisted individuals living in the community.METHODS:Semistructured interviews were held with 26 Canadian ventilator-assisted individuals (mean age 44±14 [SD] years, range 23 to 60 years; mean ventilator experience 18±13 years, range three to 53 years) whose disability from neuromuscular conditions necessitated assistance with activities of daily living. Participants described their daily life experiences and perceptions of the factors that limited or enhanced their quality. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed and analyzed for emergent codes and themes.RESULTS:Ventilator users characterized important issues in terms of personal successes and limitations, as well as dependencies on others for daily living. Personal support services, income security, health care and transportation were important positive contributors to their quality of life. Dependency on others was clearly a negative contributor. The ventilator was regarded as a form of assistive technology, similar to a wheelchair. Ventilator users perceived that ventilation was associated with a stigma and negative assumptions about disability, particularly if suctioning was required.CONCLUSIONS:The majority of participants considered home mechanical ventilation to be a positive benefit for independent living, enhancing their overall health. They were clear as to the issues of importance to them, and formulated recommendations for health care providers and policy makers that could improve the quality of their daily lives. Many of the issues identified in the present report are faced by the growing community of ventilator users.


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