scholarly journals Honoring Tribal Spirituality in India: An Exploratory Study of Their Beliefs, Rituals and Healing Practices

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 549
Author(s):  
Shannal Rowkith ◽  
Raisuyah Bhagwan
Keyword(s):  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Tribal Community ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Tribal Communities ◽  
Development Interventions ◽  
Two Samples

This paper presents an exploration of tribal spirituality in India. The study sought to understand the spiritual worldview of tribal communities in India within the context of a community engagement program between a university in India and a tribal community outside Mumbai. The purpose of the engagement was for students and academics to have a deeper understanding of tribal communities, and to formulate community development interventions that could improve their individual and family well-being. A qualitative research approach was utilized to guide the study. The data was collected from two samples, namely, six social work academics and 23 students. Semi structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from these aforementioned samples following a two-year immersion within this community. The data was analyzed as one dataset using thematic analysis. Three broad themes emerged from the data which focused on the characteristics of tribal communities, tribal spirituality and the healing methodologies used.

The Relationship between Human Flourishing and Religious Support in Ethiopian Evangelical Churches

2020 ◽  
pp. 239693932096800
Author(s):  
Lidetu Alemu Kefenie ◽  
Seblewengel Daniel Woldegiorgis ◽  
Misgana Mathewos Detago ◽  
Bekele Deboch Anshiso
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Church Leaders ◽  
Religious Support ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Evangelical Churches ◽  
The Relationship

Sequential explanatory mixed research was conducted among Ethiopian evangelical churches to discover the relationship between religious support and human flourishing. Data were collected from members of five of the largest evangelical churches in five major cities of Ethiopia, using Religious Support Scale and Flourishing Scale, followed by focus-group discussions and structured interviews of church leaders of these five churches. Descriptive statistics and simultaneous multiple regression indicated that religious support contributes to psychosocial well-being for church members. This finding is supported by the ensuing qualitative data analysis, which showed the understanding and contribution of church leaders toward well-being.

scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalterina Shulla ◽  
Bernd-Friedrich Voigt ◽  
Stefan Cibian ◽  
Giuseppe Scandone ◽  
Edna Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals

AbstractGlobal crises caused by the pandemic of COVID-19, since early 2020, can compromise the world commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This study discusses critical aspects of the global pandemic for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More precisely, we analyze how the new circumstances created by the pandemic have affected the interdependencies between SDGs. Following a synopsis of the current literature, we focus on effects regarding SDG3 (Health & Well-Being), SDG4 (Quality Education), SDG8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), SDG12 (Consumption & Production) and SDG13 (Climate Action). Following a qualitative research approach, we based our analysis on moderated focus group discussions (FGD). Our observations reveal a unique pattern of interconnectedness between SDGs that can be related to COVID-19 consequences. Qualitative interpretations of focus group discussions also depict, that additional spillover effects can be obstacles for achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 9 (Infrastructure & Innovation) and SDG 10 (Reducing Inequalities), SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals), SDG 11 (sustainable cities). Therefore, we consider the interdependent implications and recent trends in international development related to sustainability as a useful framework in the post-pandemic recovery period.

scholarly journals The School as an Arena for Co-Creating Participation, Equity, and Well-Being—A Photovoice Study from Norway

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8252
Author(s):  
Camilla Ihlebæk ◽  
Camilla Castellan ◽  
Jenny Flobak ◽  
Jo Ese
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Ethnic Communities ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
School Employees ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Participatory Method

Schools may play an essential role as an arena for co-creating community activities that enhance well-being, equity, and citizenship. Still, there is limited knowledge about physical and non-physical factors that contribute to well-being within such approaches. The aim of this study was to identify important factors for well-being as perceived by pupils, school employees, and parents in a community school in Norway. The participatory method photovoice was used, and seven pupils, six employees, and four parents participated by taking photos used as the basis for six focus group discussions. Transcripts of the discussions were analyzed using Systematic Text Condensation. The analysis showed that the participants experienced that the school’s built and natural environment, the activities happening there, and the human resources and organization at the school facilitated perceptions of safety, inclusion, and cohesion, which in turn contributed to well-being. Furthermore, the results showed that co-creating schools as a community arena could be an innovative way of ensuring participation, equity, and well-being in the community. Such an approach might be especially important in deprived areas or in multi-ethnic communities. An important prerequisite to succeed is the openness of the school’s staff to engage in co-creation with other stakeholders in the community.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Experiences Among Syrian Refugee Adolescent Girls in Lebanon

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 983-998
Author(s):  
L’Emira Lama El Ayoubi ◽  
Sawsan Abdulrahim ◽  
Maia Sieverding
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Syrian Refugee ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Source Of Information

Providing adolescent girls with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information protects them from risks and improves their well-being. This qualitative study, conducted in Lebanon, examined Syrian refugee adolescent girls’ access to SRH information about and experiences with puberty and menarche, sex, marriage, contraception, and pregnancy. We gathered data through three focus group discussions (FGDs) with unmarried adolescent girls, 11 in-depth interviews with early-married adolescents, and two FGDs with mothers. Our findings highlighted that adolescent participants received inadequate SRH information shortly before or at the time of menarche and sexual initiation, resulting in experiences characterized by anxiety and fear. They also revealed discordance between girls’ views of mothers as a preferred source of information and mothers’ reluctance to communicate with their daughters about SRH. We advance that mothers are important entry points for future interventions in this refugee population and offer recommendations aimed to improve adolescent girls’ SRH and rights.

Disability and Social Exclusion

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina I. Tobias ◽  
Sourav Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Individual Interviews

This article explores the experiences of social exclusion of individuals with visual impairment (IWVI) as they negotiate their daily lives in their homes and societal settings in the Oshana and Oshikoto regions of Namibia. Employing qualitative research approach, this research tried to better understand the lived experiences of IWVI. Nine IWVI with ages ranging from 30 to 90 years were initially engaged in focus group discussions, followed by semi-structured in-depth individual interviews. The findings of this research indicated that IWVI experience exclusion from education, employment and social and community participation as well as relationships. Based on these findings, we suggest more inclusive policies to address social exclusion of IWVI. At the same time, this group of individuals should be empowered to participate in community activities to promote interaction with people without visual impairments.

scholarly journals Understanding Cognitive Dissonance of Indian Customers for Financial Products: A Multi-Dimensional Scale Development Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brajesh Bolia ◽  
Sumi Jha ◽  
Manoj K Jha
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dissonance ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Financial Products ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Development Approach ◽  
Financial Concern ◽  
Post Purchase

The aim of the study was to understand the dynamics of cognitive dissonance in the context of financial product purchase. A mixed methodology research approach was undertaken to explore the attitudinal and behavioural dimensions (qualitative) and subsequent empirical validation (quantitative) with a sample of customers of financial products. Qualitative research was conducted through focus group discussions to arrive at a pool of 99 items which were then pruned and validated with the help of academic and industry experts. The items were empirically tested and validated with the help of appropriate statistical tools to arrive at a “5 factor and 25 items” measurement scale for cognitive dissonance. The study found two factors “Emotional Gain” & “Financial Concern” as distinguishing factors emerging out as key findings. The arousal of cognitive dissonance after the purchase decision taken by consumer can be a major concern for marketers as it might result in order cancellations, loss of trust for the brand as well as loss of loyal customers. Measuring dissonance in financial product context post purchase can help marketers devise appropriate strategies to reduce dissonance, thereby retaining and attracting customers.

scholarly journals Diagnostic SWOT appraisal of the wicker handicraft entrepreneurship development in Kashmir, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-201
Author(s):  
M. A. Islam ◽  
A.A. Wani ◽  
G.M. Bhat ◽  
A.A. Gatoo ◽  
Murtaza Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Traditional Art ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Employment Generation ◽  
F Statistics

Critical analyses of the perceptions on SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) have become a fundamental element of multi-criteria decision making for developing wicker handicraft entrepreneurship. The study examined the effectiveness and prioritization of entrepreneur's perceptions towards SWOT categories and factors and provided insights for developing wicker handicraft entrepreneurship in Pulwama district of Kashmir. Data were collected through structured interviews and focus group discussions of 100 wicker handicraft entrepreneurs of 20 villages selected by multi-stage random sampling. Simple descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. Results showed that the factors like income generation (19.30%) and employment generation (19.00%) were viewed as most important strengths while labour intensive and less remunerative livelihood (18.80%) and seasonal subsistence (18.70%) were identified as main weaknesses. Further, poverty alleviation (20.70%), preservation of traditional art craft (19.00%) and improvement in public-private relations (17.50%) were adjudged as strong opportunities whereas limited marketing facilities (20.70%), lack of co-operative societies (18.90%) and harassment by officials in withies collection (16.50%) were seen as chief threats. The challenges (weaknesses and threats) (50.40%) for wicker handicraft entrepreneurship outweighed the prospects (strengths and opportunities) (49.60%) while the internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) (54.80%) prevailed over the external factors (opportunities and threats) (54.20%). F statistics (p<0.05) indicated significant differences between the internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats). The results projected the basis to the policymakers to prioritize and address the prominent challenges and reinforce the prospects for conceptualizing, formulating and implementing the strategies for strengthening the wicker handicraft entrepreneurship.

Valutare per decidere: un monitoraggio qualitativo degli investimenti pubblici

2009 ◽  
pp. 69-80
Author(s):  
Fausta Scardigno ◽  
Caterina Balenzano ◽  
Giuseppe Moro
Keyword(s):  
Research Design ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Decision Processes ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Evaluation Question ◽  
Participative Approach ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship

- This paper suggests some considerations regarding the relationship between evaluation and making decision processes, through the description of an evaluation experience of some formative projects orientated towards unemployed young people living in Apulia Region. After the definition of evaluation question, made together with Educational Local Authority, we have preferred a qualitative research approach. Sharing a participative approach, we have chosen a multistakeholder research design as instrument to catch the representations of actors involved regarding the evolution of projects, the weak and strong aspects, through to focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews respectively administered to actuators and beneficiaries of these projects. Interviews have been analyzed first trough content analysis of relevance and in a second moment trough associations analysis between words, by the use of T-Lab software. Highlighting stakeholders' suggestions and recommendations and giving back them to the decision maker confirms the utility of evaluation as instrument to supporting making decision processes, with the aim of improving policies.Key words: partecipate evaluation, multistakeholder research design, utilization of evaluation Process

scholarly journals Conservation Agriculture Promotion and Uptake in Mufulira, Zambia-A Political Agronomy Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Bwalya Umar
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Smallholder Farming ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
The Public ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Farming Households

This study utilized 120 semi-structured interviews with smallholder farming households and two focus group discussions; as well as several key informant interviews with experts to explore the promotion and uptake of conservation agriculture (CA) in Mufulira, Zambia. Results reveal that ridges and flat culture continued to be the preferred tillage systems (97 per cent and 55 per cent respectively) despite the farmers having been trained in the use of a minimum tillage technique. None of the interviewed farmers perceived CA as a solution to any of their agricultural related problems. The NGO promoting CA in the district had framed it as suited for and claimed to target labour constrained HIV/AIDS affected households. Conversely, farmers complained that CA was challenging for them due to its high labour demands (23 per cent); poor harvests (18 per cent) and was unsuited to the rainfall patterns of the area (10 per cent). Local agricultural experts contested the promotion of basins in Mufulira. The framing of CA as a solution to labour constraints did not seem to hold in the study area. This effectively limited the contestation spaces available to the public officials with dissenting views on the suitability of basin CA in the district.

scholarly journals Teacher-Centered vs. Student-Centered

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Muganga ◽  
Peter Ssenkusu
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Educational Philosophy ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Teaching Activities ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Teacher Centered

Wright (2011) distinguishes between teacher-centered and student-centered learning approaches along a spectrum of five dimensions: power balance, course content function, teacher and student roles, responsibility for learning, and assessment purposes and processes. Based on Wright’s framework, this study explores students’ perceptions of their experience with teaching methods at Uganda’s Makerere University. Specifically, the investigation uses a mixed-methods research approach that combines survey data with focus group discussions. A total of 82 students volunteered, with 54 returning questionnaires. From among the 54 students, eight were chosen for focus group discussions. Students provided information about course content, educational philosophy, and teaching activities. In the area of course content, students reported that course completion and examination results outweighed skill development. The results for educational philosophy showed that the preparation of compliant citizens took precedence over the development of self-reliant individuals. Finally, the findings for teaching activities indicated that while teacher-centered tasks still predominated, several students had been exposed to some student-centered activities.

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