Methodology for the Research Conducted

This chapter describes and discusses a combination of research methodologies (e.g., experimental, theoretical, and systems design) used in this research, allowing us to eliminate as much as possible every limitation that can be encountered with the individual methods themselves. For example, experimental research methodology has a limitation because the experiments are performed mainly in a controlled environment and might not reflect properly some practices performed ‘in the wild'. But combining this with some survey and prototype (system's) design reduced such limitations. The knowledge gained from carrying out preliminary experimentation is used in the next chapter to design and model the Hybrid-AutoML system.

Author(s):  
Cheryl Boudreau

Political endorsements (recommendations about which candidate or policy to support) are ubiquitous in political contexts. They may come from political parties, interest groups, politicians, or even celebrities. Can uninformed citizens identify endorsers who share their interests and use their recommendations as substitutes for detailed political information? This chapter surveys the literature on the persuasion effects of political endorsements. It first provides an overview of theoretical models that examine how political endorsements affect citizens’ choices. Then, it describes a seminal observational study of how endorsements affect political persuasion. It next discusses experimental research that assesses the effects of endorsements. It emphasizes that experiments are particularly useful for identifying when political endorsements will persuade citizens because they allow scholars to manipulate the conditions that theoretical models identify in a carefully controlled environment. It concludes by discussing open questions about the effects of political endorsements and describing how ongoing research addresses them.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditya Ghoshal ◽  
Anuradha Bhat

AbstractShoaling decisions in the wild are determined by a combination of innate preferences of the individual along with the interplay of multiple ecological factors. In their natural habitat as well as in the laboratory, zebrafish is a shoaling fish. Here, we investigate the role of group size and associated vegetation in shaping shoaling preferences of wild male zebrafish. We studied the association preference of males to groups of female shoals in a multi-choice test design. We found that males made greater proportion of visits to an 8-female group compared to 2 and 4-female groups. However, males spent similar proportions of time across the three female-containing groups. When artificial vegetation was incorporated along with female number as an additional factor, we found that males prefer high and moderately vegetated patches compared to low or no-vegetation groups, irrespective of the number of females in these patches. Based on experiments using a novel multi-choice design, our results show that preference for group size can change due to interaction of two separate factors. This work is a first attempt to understand the role of aquatic flora in determining shoaling preferences in zebrafish, using an experimental paradigm consisting of a gradation in female and vegetation densities.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon E. Brommer

Abstract Individual-based studies allow quantification of phenotypic plasticity in behavioural, life-history and other labile traits. The study of phenotypic plasticity in the wild can shed new light on the ultimate objectives (1) whether plasticity itself can evolve or is constrained by its genetic architecture, and (2) whether plasticity is associated to other traits, including fitness (selection). I describe the main statistical approach for how repeated records of individuals and a description of the environment (E) allow quantification of variation in plasticity across individuals (IxE) and genotypes (GxE) in wild populations. Based on a literature review of life-history and behavioural studies on plasticity in the wild, I discuss the present state of the two objectives listed above. Few studies have quantified GxE of labile traits in wild populations, and it is likely that power to detect statistically significant GxE is lacking. Apart from the issue of whether it is heritable, plasticity tends to correlate with average trait expression (not fully supported by the few genetic estimates available) and may thus be evolutionary constrained in this way. Individual-specific estimates of plasticity tend to be related to other traits of the individual (including fitness), but these analyses may be anti-conservative because they predominantly concern stats-on-stats. Despite the increased interest in plasticity in wild populations, the putative lack of power to detect GxE in such populations hinders achieving general insights. I discuss possible steps to invigorate the field by moving away from simply testing for presence of GxE to analyses that ‘scale up’ to population level processes and by the development of new behavioural theory to identify quantitative genetic parameters which can be estimated.


Author(s):  
Shubhra Upadhyay

Abstract: Research methodology is a method to consistently resolve the research problem. Research methodology may be termed as knowledge of science for studying how research is done empirically and theoretically. In this paper we have studied different steps that are usually taken by a researcher in studying his research problem of civil engineering along with the logic behind them. It is utmost important for the researcher to have the knowledge of the research techniques/method along with its methodology. Researchers also need to understand the presumptions underlying various techniques and they need to know the criteria by which they can decide that certain techniques and procedures will be applicable to certain problems and others will not. All this means that it is necessary for the researcher to design his methodology for his problem as the same may differ from problem to problem. Research methodologies are the need of hour due to modernization in research field of civil engineering. Nowadays only innovative research methods are adopted in branch of civil engineering like geotechnical engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, structural engineering, geo-mechanics etc so that best results are obtained from these methodologies. In this paper we are going to discuss role of some of the research methodologies used for research purposes in geotechnical engineering for respective research problems. Keywords: Research methodology, geotechnical engineering, pushover analysis, FLAC method, numerical method,


2021 ◽  
pp. 87-98
Author(s):  
Leila Henriques

This collection of performances that is linked to this chapter was created as part of the MA exchange project between NTNU and DFL (Drama for Life). Students used performance ethnography as a method for generating performance material in answer to the challenge of building democracy through theatre. South Africa has a rich theatre history that has always engaged with the South African political narrative. Through developing an understanding of the many theatre-making processes that created this unique history, as well as through exploring other contemporary South African performances, students created and tracked their own research methodology so that they were able to hold up a mirror to the world around them. While each performance captured the individual perspective of the performer, they also engaged directly and indirectly with broader South African realities. The course consisted of four components, each shaped by the individual’s journey into their own research methodology. These were: generating material, interpreting the material, rehearsing the material and performing the material. This submission consists of a framing statement written by the lecturer as well as a collection of ten performances that include a short framing statement from each performer. Permission was obtained from all the students to showcase their work apart from one student who has submitted it under a pseudonym. Out of this exploration and through a practical laboratory, students created an embodied experience that addressed the notion of democracy. The value of the work was to gain a fresh embodied perspective of democracy in South Africa. It spoke to our unique South African theatre-making legacy, but also challenged and disrupted our understanding of what democracy is and how it might be performed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-42
Author(s):  
Benjamin Poppinga ◽  
Martin Pielot ◽  
Wilko Heuten ◽  
Susanne Boll

The observation of cycling tourists is a real challenge. Traditional in-situ observation techniques fail as they threaten the intimateness of the experience and often interfere with the users' tasks. In post-hoc studies, like interviews, participants are unable to recap all details of their earlier experience accurately. This paper investigates how a hybrid, i.e., in-situ and post-hoc, observation approach can overcome the individual limitations and thereby provide detailed insights without disturbing the cyclists. The authors demonstrate the approach in a field study, where we observed 11 tourists with three unobtrusive in-situ techniques and used the gathered data to jog their memories in a post-hoc interview. They found that the observation technique allows to get detailed and accurate insights, and the communication between experimenter and participant becomes clearer. The authors conclude that hybrid observation would be valuable in other mobile field study settings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 03028
Author(s):  
Olga Korkunova ◽  
Tatyana Bushueva

The article considers the role of philosophical concepts and philosophical ideas in the psychological works of C. Jung, owing to which he achieved the results. He was able to deeply and thoroughly comprehend the studied psychological phenomenon: the unconscious and its components. This led him to conclusions far beyond the boundaries of psychology, in the sphere of philosophy and cultural studies. Using the principle of determinism, Jung discovered and analyzed psychological causal relationships. He showed that the interaction of culture and nature in man provides him with a movement towards gaining his integrity. At the same time, Jung identified and considered options for the interaction of nature and culture in man. Through the dialectics of subject and object, Jung defined his position in understanding of unconscious and attitude to the concept of Freud. Jung explained the process of interaction between consciousness and the unconscious using energetic approach which was popular in philosophy in the beginning of 20 century. This particular approach allows the scientist to conclude that every psychic phenomenon is a manifestation of human vitality and energy. Energy itself is neither destructive nor creative. Quality gives it value, giving direction to human life, as energy takes its course. Jung formulated the theme of human life and destiny, and examined it through the prism of the influence of the unconscious. Possession of the dialectical style of thinking allowed him to form his research methodology. He shows that, along with socialization, individualization is important for the individual, ensuring individuality and integrity.


Urban Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Nataliya Shevchuk ◽  
Harri Oinas-Kukkonen

Green information systems (IS) is a research domain that contributes to finding solutions for fostering environmental behavior in individuals, organizations, and communities. So far, researching Green IS for individual users has been less abundant and requires more insight. Users’ engagement with technologies start from adoption. Green IS challenges users to modify their lifestyles in order to achieve sustainable behavior patterns. This article is focused on persuasive Green IS, which have in-built features to convince users to modify their lifestyles and to improve technology adoption intention. In the theoretical background, main concepts, especially sustainable behavior, Green IS, IS adoption, persuasive systems, and persuasive systems design (PSD) model are presented. In this article, we analyzed three studies that focused on individual sustainable behavior change with persuasive Green IS. Overviews of these studies are presented and the studies were analyzed as a whole. The reviewed studies suggest that the PSD model has a high potential for becoming a tool for Green IS enhancement. The key themes identified from the studies bring value to both academics and practitioners, as well as suggest directions for researching the individual behavior change with persuasive Green IS in the future.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (9) ◽  
pp. 857-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig N. Austin ◽  
Wayne F. Wilcox

Natural and artificially induced shade increased grapevine powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) severity in the vineyard, with foliar disease severity 49 to 75% higher relative to leaves in full sun, depending on the level of natural shading experienced and the individual experiment. Cluster disease severities increased by 20 to 40% relative to those on check vines when ultraviolet (UV) radiation was filtered from sunlight reaching vines in artificial shading experiments. Surface temperatures of leaves in full sunlight averaged 5 to 8°C higher than those in natural shade, and in one experiment, filtering 80% of all wavelengths of solar radiation, including longer wavelengths responsible for heating irradiated tissues, increased disease more than filtering UV alone. In controlled environment experiments, UV-B radiation reduced germination of E. necator conidia and inhibited both colony establishment (hyphal formation and elongation) and maturity (latent period). Inhibitory effects of UV-B radiation were significantly greater at 30°C than at 20 or 25°C. Thus, sunlight appears to inhibit powdery mildew development through at least two mechanisms, i.e., (i) UV radiation's damaging effects on exposed conidia and thalli of the pathogen; and (ii) elevating temperatures of irradiated tissues to a level supraoptimal or inhibitory for pathogen development. Furthermore, these effects are synergistic at temperatures near the upper threshold for disease development.


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