scholarly journals A practical exploration of the feasibility of Integrative Multidisciplinary research from a broad ecohealth perspective in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E S Van Eeden
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Multidisciplinary Research ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
The Status ◽  
Definition Of

This discussion is a deliberation on the progress towards the possibility of carrying out feasible research according to an Integrative Multidisciplinary (IMD) research methodology (theoretically and practically). To explore the IMD research methodology, a group of researchers from several disciplines started discussions in early February 2011 to plan a pilot research process in the Bekkersdal Township of the municipal region of Westonaria (Gauteng, South Africa). It was decided that the focus of research would be on exploring a broad definition of ecohealth to accommodate several disciplines and to attempt to produce a “package” of research results from many disciplinary angles. These results will eventually be discussed and refined through interdisciplinary (ID) and transdisciplinary (TD) research phases to “contain” consolidated reflections of the status of the well-being of the Bekkersdal community. However, the primary research question remains: whether it is possible to do research using IMD methodology, and whether this proposed methodology is more promising and constructive as an aid to understanding and disseminating research from various disciplinary angles than other methodologies.Keywords: Integrative Multidisciplinary research; ecohealth; Bekkersdal township; Westonaria; Gauteng; environment; humanities; social sciencesDisciplines: History; Ecohealth; Multidisciplinary

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statements in the U. S. Creative Sector: Progress, or More Bullshit?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
Antonio C. Cuyler
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Arts Organizations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Cultural Organizations ◽  
The Status ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Equity And Inclusion

This article represents a snapshot and analysis of U. S. service arts organizations’ DEI statements and activities in 2018. At that time, many primarily White-serving U. S. cultural organizations responded defensively to accusations of elitism and a harmful rigged funding system that maintained the status quo by awarding most cultural funding to these organizations while undermining the health and vitality of cultural organizations by and for historically oppressed communities (Sidford, 2011). Furthermore, Helicon Collaborative (2017) found that even with a host of cultural equity, “diversity” projects (Tseng 2016), and public-facing DEI statements, little had changed within six years. Therefore, this study uses directed and summative content analysis to investigate the research question “what do cultural equity and diversity statements communicate about cultural organizations’ positions on DEI?” This study also uses Frankfurt’s (2005) essay On Bullshit and Laing’s (2016) two-prong definition of accountability as a theoretical framework to examine if and how cultural organizations hold themselves accountable for achieving DEI in the creative sector. Lastly, readers should keep in mind that the public murder of Geor-ge Floyd in 2020 has hastened all of the service arts organizations’ access, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) work examined in this study.

The Friendly Financier: Talking Money with the Silenced Assistant

2007 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Molony ◽  
Daniel Hammett
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Working Relationship ◽  
Research Assistant ◽  
Academic Fields ◽  
Financial Transactions ◽  
Research Assistants

In many academic fields the researcher often financially remunerates both research assistants and participants. Literature covers the ethics involved in paying informants. Both research design and research methodology literature covers many important aspects of the research process, but neither pays much attention to the issue of research assistants. These relationships can be complicated by the dynamics of an outsider researcher working in a southern context. Drawing upon examples of researcher-research assistant in the field, in Tanzania and South Africa, this paper explores the ethics of financial transactions in researcher-assistant relationships and the ways in which wealth asymmetry can affect the working relationship. We conclude by stating our belief that these issues have not been adequately addressed elsewhere, and that there is an imperative for due consideration in training and planning for these relationships to be considered as integral and visible to the research and writing phases.

scholarly journals Use of Action Research in Nursing Education

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan D. Moch ◽  
R. Todd Vandenbark ◽  
Shelley-Rae Pehler ◽  
Angela Stombaugh
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Nursing Education ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Education Literature ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose.The purpose of this article is to describe action research in nursing education and to propose a definition of action research for providing guidelines for research proposals and criteria for assessing potential publications for nursing higher education.Methods.The first part of this project involved a search of the literature on action research in nursing higher education from 1994 to 2013. Searches were conducted in the CINAHL and MEDLINE databases. Applying the criteria identified, 80 publications were reviewed. The second part of the project involved a literature review of action research methodology from several disciplines to assist in assessing articles in this review.Results.This article summarizes the nursing higher education literature reviewed and provides processes and content related to four topic areas in nursing higher education. The descriptions assist researchers in learning more about the complexity of both the action research process and the varied outcomes. The literature review of action research in many disciplines along with the review of action research in higher education provided a framework for developing a nursing-education-centric definition of action research.Conclusions.Although guidelines for developing action research and criteria for publication are suggested, continued development of methods for synthesizing action research is recommended.

Tunisia’s jihadi fighters may test ties with Europe

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Government ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Foreign Fighters ◽  
New Generation ◽  
At Home

Subject The government's response to returning foreign fighters. Significance The government is grappling with the problem of returning extremist nationals from foreign battlefields as well as Tunisians imprisoned at home and abroad. The status of illegal Tunisian migrants and asylum seekers in Europe has also generated tension, most strongly with Germany. Impacts Pressure from European governments to repatriate Tunisian citizens will further burden state resources and law enforcement efforts. Prosecuting individuals based on a broad definition of terrorism could further alienate and radicalise young Tunisians. Tunisia’s failure to address the problem of radicalisation in prisons may create a new generation of jihadi-salafist leaders.

scholarly journals An Inconvenient Mirror: Do we already have the next Mental Health Act?

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (13) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
David Hewitt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
The Status ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Government ◽  
Draft Bill ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Key Aspects

<p>The Government intends to replace the Mental Health Act 1983, and the most recent of its proposals were contained in the Draft Mental Health Bill published in June 2004.</p><p>The 1983 Act is now very different to the statute introduced at the end of 1982. Parliament and the courts have made a number of significant changes over the last 20-odd years, and they have brought us a lot closer to the next Mental Health Act than many people – and possibly even the Government – suppose. In fact, those changes may have brought us rather close to the Draft Mental Health Bill. That will be an uncomfortable thought for many people.</p><p>This paper will consider five key aspects of the Draft Mental Health Bill:</p><p>• the provisions dealing with risk and treatability;</p><p>• the notion of compulsion in the community;</p><p>• the status of the Code of Practice; and</p><p>• the abolition of the Approved Social Worker.</p><p>The paper will ask whether, because of the changes of the last two decades, the current Mental Health Act has already arrived at much the same point. In addition, the paper will consider the position of incapable patients. Although the Draft Bill contains precious few proposals about them, the paper will ask whether recent developments have made a broad definition of mental disorder all but essential.</p>

scholarly journals The Powers of the Court in terms of Section 7(2) of the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998: KS v AM 2018 (1) SACR 240 (GJ)

Obiter ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moffat Maitele Ndou
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Legal Remedy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Right

The preamble of the Domestic Violence Act (116 of 1998) (DVA) recognises that domestic violence is a serious social evil and that there are high incidences of domestic violence in South Africa. The preamble further recognises that:a) victims of domestic violence are among the most vulnerable members of society;b) domestic violence takes many forms and may be committed in a wide range of domestic relationships; andc) the remedies previously available to victims of domestic violence have proved to be ineffective.The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution) provides various rights that are also applicable to victims of domestic violence. The Constitution guarantees the right to dignity and to freedom and security of the person (see ss 10 and 12 of the Constitution respectively). Domestic violence against any person is a violation of these rights. The DVA further recognises that South Africa has international commitments to end violence against women and children in terms of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A right not to be subjected to domestic violence may not be specifically mentioned in international human rights law instruments, but freedom from all kinds of violence and the right to equality and human dignity is generally emphasised.The purpose of the DVA is to provide a legal remedy in the form of an interdict that prohibits a person from violating the rights of the complainant. In order to give effect to this purpose, section 7(1) of the DVA provides that the court may grant a protection order to protect the rights of the complainant. Section 7(2) of the DVA further grants the court the power to impose any additional conditions that it deems reasonably necessary to protect and provide for the safety, health or well-being of the complainant.In KS v AM (2018 (1) SACR 240 (GJ)), the court found that section 7(2) of the DVA empowered the court to order the seizure of the respondent’s digital equipment to remove any photograph, video, audio and/or records relating to the complainant. This case note examines the decision in KS v AM (supra) and determines whether the decision is justifiable in law. The definition of domestic violence is discussed first and thereafter the remedies available in terms of the DVA are examined. A discussion of the judgment in KS v AM (supra) follows.

scholarly journals Community caregivers' perspectives of community well-being in a mining community

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 316-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Koen ◽  
Elizabeth Hermina Ryke ◽  
Martha Jacoba Watson ◽  
Elize Sonja Van Eeden
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Multidisciplinary Research ◽  
Mining Communities ◽  
Community Wellbeing ◽  
Mining Community

Mining communities throughout the Southern African Development Community are faced with numerous challenges impacting on their wellbeing. As part of an integrative multidisciplinary research project, this study sought to explore aspects that affect community wellbeing in the informal Bekkersdal mining community in South Africa from the perspective of local community caregivers. An explorative-descriptive qualitative study including 22 mainly female (91%) participants who were purposively sampled was conducted. As part of data collection, participants answered a series of open-ended questions in a questionnaire and kept journals. Thematic analysis was used to analyze that data. The results indicate aspects that either promote (contribute to) or hinder community wellbeing.

scholarly journals Urban Regeneration Process: The Case of a Residential Complex in a Suburb of Rome, Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 6122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Battisti ◽  
Asia Barnocchi ◽  
Silvia Iorio
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Local Network ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Definition Of

With the aim of promoting biological, social and psychological well-being, a multi-institutional and multidisciplinary action-research process was developed for the regeneration of a large residential complex in Rome, Italy. A methodology with a community-based approach was adopted in a context where spatial segregation is intertwined with health and social inequalities. Methods: Through qualitative-quantitative analysis involving the active participation of the local population and institutions in every stage, an integrated survey model was developed in order to create proper communication between the needs of the population and sustainable solutions. Results: the implemented process allowed for clear planning of actions and interventions that could be economically sustainable through the structuring and development of a local network. Conclusions: the process involving the participation of the population in the analysis of their own problems and difficulties, as well as in the development of possible interventions and actions to be proposed, appears to be the only adequate approach that allows for the definition of mutual objectives based on the real needs of the end users.

scholarly journals Telework and perceived workload: Learnings prior to the COVID-19 upheaval

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Tuuli Turja ◽  
Oxana Krutova ◽  
Harri Melin
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Data ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The Status ◽  
Perceived Workload ◽  
Wage Earners ◽  
The Relationship

During COVID-19, telework has become a new form of work for broader groups of workers who were not teleworking prior to the pandemic. In this study, we ask what we will be returning to after COVID-19, if teleworking will become a new norm or if most workplaces will merely return to the old forms of work. The main research question of this study was to estimate the role of telework in perception of workload. More specifically, to gain an understanding of the stakes involved when reorganizing work after the pandemic, we analysed the relationship between perceived workload and opportunities to telework. Multilevel analysis utilized representative national data of wage earners in Finland (N = 4091). The findings showed that the opportunity to telework is associated with lower perceived workload in the capital area but not in the rural areas. More specifically, increasing telework opportunities among different-level workers, particularly in educational and social work in the capital area, would be beneficial in terms of increasing well-being at work. There could be good reasons for organizations to reject returning to the status quo ex ante after COVID-19 and to consider the new norm, where opportunities to telework are offered to wider worker groups.

scholarly journals Human Nature

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (131) ◽  
pp. 175-192
Author(s):  
Malene Breunig
Keyword(s):  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
Forest Garden ◽  
The World ◽  
Definition Of Health ◽  
Definition Of

The research-based Danish therapy garden Nacadia, which opened in 2011, can be viewed as a holistically oriented realization of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) broad definition of health from 1948: health is not just the absence of disease, but a state of both physical, mental and social well-being in which individuals may develop their abilities, deal with everyday challenges and stress, as well as socialize with other people. Nacadia’s raison d’être and relevance are indisputable. But the questions this article addresses are what perception of nature the therapy forest garden promotes and what social diagnosis it springs from and reproduces. Nacadia’s interdisciplinary research team provides no explanation, but these questions inform my analysis. Based on Nacadia’s concept manual and the therapy garden itself, as well as some literary accounts of engaging with nature, I develop two answers: First, that the researchers behind Nacadia operate with both a discourse and a physical-aesthetic presentation of nature as a peaceful and accessible place for both self-immersion and connection with ‘something greater’. Secondly, the implementation of such a sanctuary encourages romantically tinted modes of experience which certainly seem invigorating but may also evoke an element of alienation for people in a modern society.

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