Malay Version of Moral Identity Scale: A Cross-Cultural Validation In Malaysian Youth

Introduction: The Moral Identity Scale (MIS) measures the construct of moral identity – internalization and symbolization. This study aims to translate and validate the original English version of MIS to the Malay language version. Methods: The 10 items of MIS (five items of symbolization and five items of internalization) were translated to the Malay language through forward and backward procedures. A total of 388 youth-aged participants were involved in this online survey. Participants’ age ranged from 18-24 years old. More than half were females. Results: The construct of moral identity was maintained with the re-modeling of internalization. The final model suggested retaining the three internalization items and five symbolization items. Discriminant validity and the construct reliability of the two factors were satisfactory (symbolization=0.81, internalization=0.69). Internal consistencies indicated acceptable Cronbach’s alpha values for both symbolization (0.85) and internalization (0.81). Test-retest Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was good and satisfactory (internalization=0.79 and symbolization=0.81). Conclusion: The Malay version of MIS is a reliable tool and free from cultural bias which is useful to be applied in a public health-related program.

Female academics’ views on work-life conflict in a Covid-19 global pandemic in Nigeria

Remarking on the importance of managing the existential conflict between work and family responsibilities, emphasis on female academics in a COVID-19 era in Nigeria has received diminutive research attention. The study seeks to address this research gap by interrogating women's views of work-life conflict narrative in a COVID-19 era. The exploratory research design was employed to expand the limit of the research gap and a total of 19 female academics were y recruited for interviews. The NVivo (v.12) qualitative software was employed to identify themes from the data and content analysis used to make sense of the various themes. The paper shows evidence of cultural bias in the recruitment and placement of female academics with social constraints hindering female academic capacity development. The long hours of teaching and consultation depict an indicator of work-life conflict with consequences on family support and emotional care for family and dependents. The need to acquire higher education qualifications on the part of females is also established as a pointer for the provocation of work-life conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic. The significance of lockdown constitutes major constraints for parenting mothers in the areas of combining home front responsibilities with work activities such as teaching, supervision, and the requirement of building a competitive career and research portfolio. The study concludes for a more robust measure in ensuring practical and realistic work-life conflict management strategies are introduced by managers of the University in order to aid the conflict between work and family responsibilities for female academics.

Overcoming awkwardness

As Chinese people engaged with the Australian cultural scene in recent years, two posts about its humour attracted considerable attention from netizens in the People’s Republic of China. The post authors believed that their firsthand accounts of events demonstrated how Australians used humour to overcome awkward situations and regarded this as an essential national characteristic. In each case, other interpretations were possible if cultural factors had been taken into account, including the contemporary culture of China, Putonghua language usage and the Anglo-centrism that is common to cross-cultural studies. This exploratory generalist textual study concludes that the authors’ interpretations were largely determined by their cultural bias and by traditional regard for ‘face’ and politeness, and reflect the fact that, ultimately, the extent of cross-cultural communication is governed by international politics.

Impacts of Internet-Based Interventions for Veterans With PTSD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Veterans who did not seek and complete treatment as intended have been shown to have an elevated risk of experiencing and being exposed to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Internet-based interventions (IBIs) provide more confidentiality and fewer treatment barriers, and they are regarded as potential treatments to reduce PTSD in veterans. However, the effects of IBI for veterans with PTSD are inconclusive.Objectives: IBI is defined as any internet-based series of psychosocial interventions, of which the internet works as a way of delivery. Psychosocial content and reduction of PTSD symptoms in veterans have been recognized as two core elements of this intervention. This study aimed to (1) examine the effects of IBI on veterans’ PTSD outcomes and (2) distinguish between the elements of IBI that play an important role for veterans with PTSD.Methods: Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Wanfang Data, CNKI, and CQVIP databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) in IBI programs for veterans with PTSD, covering all studies in English and Chinese published from January 1990 to November 2020. Also, related studies tracking citations were identified. Studies met the following inclusion criteria of (1) being RCTs; (2) containing IBI in the full text; (3) having IBI conducted on veterans as participants; and (4) being on PTSD. All processes followed PRISMA. The risk of bias of the studies was assessed by the Cochrane Systematic Review Handbook. The confidence of outcomes of this review was valued according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). The meta-analysis was done by RevMan 5.13. Two teams of reviewers independently searched the literature, made the assessment, and extracted the data.Results: A total of 1,493 citations were identified after initial searching, of which the full texts of 66 studies were screened. Eventually, six RCT studies met the inclusion criteria. Beneficial effects of IBI were found on the overall PTSD outcome (−0.29; 95% CI–0.48 to −0.11, p<0.01). Particularly, IBI based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with peer support was found to be effective for PTSD outcomes (−0.36; 95% CI–0.61 to −0.11, p<0.01). The subgroup analysis demonstrated that scores of PTSD outcome measured by a PCL (PTSD Checklist) decreased to an average score of 0.38 (95% CI –0.60 to −0.15, p=0.001). The intervention had a positive effect on the PTSD outcome on veterans with comorbid psychological disorders (−0.30; 95% CI –0.61 to −0.11, p<0.01). Overall, the six studies included were evaluated with a low risk of bias, and the outcomes of the meta-analysis were proven with high confidence.Conclusion: On the whole, IBIs have a positive effect on the overall PTSD outcome of veterans. The results encouraged us to focus on IBI with CBT with peer support for veterans, on specific instruments for veterans with PTSD, and on veterans with comorbid psychological disorders. This study, however, has limits. Only six studies with a Western population were included, which might result in cultural bias on IBI effects. In future, more high-qualified research and diverse cultural background of RCTs is needed to prove the effectiveness of IBI on veterans with PTSD.

Out of sight, out of mind? Non-user understandings of archives in Aotearoa New Zealand

<p>Research problem: Despite a significant amount of research on archival users, only a small number of studies have focused solely on the non-user. This study investigated non-user understandings of archives in Aotearoa New Zealand to learn about their awareness of archives, perceptions of accessibility and use, and views on an archives’ purpose and societal role. This included whether non-users valued archives and what this said about the democratic archival contract. Methodology: A qualitative research design influenced by critical theory was employed. Eight non-user samples of individuals over the age of 18 were purposively selected within the population of Aotearoa New Zealand, covering variables of geographical location, socio-economic status, education, gender, age, and ethnicity. Three activist samples were also included. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. Results: While their image of an archive was generally accurate and positive, participants had little knowledge of how they were organised. Archives were highly valued and viewed as accessible places for those who needed it, but with clear differences to other institutions. These differences prevented half of the sample with a need to use an archive from doing so. The archival contract was generally accepted, but was problematized in terms of access and cultural bias. Implications: The findings support the view that understandings of archives greatly influence use. Although limited to a small and geographically specific sample, this study enables archives to know more about potential users, and design, target and implement outreach in order to raise awareness and increase use.</p>

Out of sight, out of mind? Non-user understandings of archives in Aotearoa New Zealand

<p>Research problem: Despite a significant amount of research on archival users, only a small number of studies have focused solely on the non-user. This study investigated non-user understandings of archives in Aotearoa New Zealand to learn about their awareness of archives, perceptions of accessibility and use, and views on an archives’ purpose and societal role. This included whether non-users valued archives and what this said about the democratic archival contract. Methodology: A qualitative research design influenced by critical theory was employed. Eight non-user samples of individuals over the age of 18 were purposively selected within the population of Aotearoa New Zealand, covering variables of geographical location, socio-economic status, education, gender, age, and ethnicity. Three activist samples were also included. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. Results: While their image of an archive was generally accurate and positive, participants had little knowledge of how they were organised. Archives were highly valued and viewed as accessible places for those who needed it, but with clear differences to other institutions. These differences prevented half of the sample with a need to use an archive from doing so. The archival contract was generally accepted, but was problematized in terms of access and cultural bias. Implications: The findings support the view that understandings of archives greatly influence use. Although limited to a small and geographically specific sample, this study enables archives to know more about potential users, and design, target and implement outreach in order to raise awareness and increase use.</p>

Virtual and Open Integration of Culture for Education (VOICE) with Science Teacher Candidates from Korea during COVID-19

Cultural competencies and confidence in teaching diverse students are needed to close achievement gaps between mainstream and minority students in science. In this study, an online teacher education program, Virtual and Open Integration of Culture for Education (VOICE), was designed to help retain teacher candidates’ science affinities and cultural competency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-two Korean teacher candidates were selected as culturally responsive instructors who were able to reduce their cultural bias and preferences about Korean culture and develop culturally responsive instruction. VOICE proceeded through (1) “collaborating,” by connecting seminar speakers worldwide; (2) “designing,” by creating culturally responsive science activities based on Korean culture; and (3) “performing,” by communicating with American students, teacher candidates, teachers, and parents. Pre- and post-survey results show that VOICE increased the teacher candidates’ cultural proficiency and interest in science. Guidelines for research on designing online programs to enhance teacher candidates’ science affinities and cultural competencies are provided.

Translation and cultural validation of the University of Washington Caregiver Stress and Benefit Scales

Background English versions of the University of Washington Caregiver Stress (UW-CSS) and Benefit (UW-CBS) Scales were developed in the United States (US) to measure impact on caregivers of caring for a child/children. Caregiving stress and benefit are important constructs to study worldwide. The purpose of this study was to translate and validate the UW-CSS and UW-CBS into French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages. Method UW-CSS and UW-CBS were translated using forward and backward translation with reconciliation. Cognitive interviews (CIs) were completed with caregivers of children < 18 years with severe epilepsy. Translated versions were also administered to at least 100 caregivers in each of the four countries: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses were used to assess linguistic and cultural bias by country. The US development sample of 722 caregivers was used as a comparison sample for DIF analyses. DIF adjusted scores were calculated to determine impact of DIF on the item response theory (IRT)-based T-score. Benefit and stress scores were also calculated and compared across countries and health condition subgroups. Finally, short forms were modified to minimize the impact of DIF on the UW-CSS and UW-CBS T-scores and to reflect feedback from CIs. Results Interviews were completed with 47 caregivers (German n = 14; Spanish n = 10; French n = 13; Italian n = 10). UW-CSS and UW-CBS were administered to 456 (German n = 117, Spanish n = 114, French n = 115, Italian n = 110) caregivers of children with and without health conditions. All stress items functioned well in CIs, though results indicated statistically significant DIF for three items in multiple countries and in the overall sample. Four of the 13 benefit items were problematic based on CI feedback, and six items showed DIF in one or more countries or in the combined sample. However, average differences between DIF adjusted and non-adjusted scores were minimal for both scales and all comparisons, indicating the impact of DIF on the total score was negligible. Conclusion Modified short forms functioned well in all four of the translated versions. All language versions are freely publicly available.

International Law’s Invisible Frames: Introductory Insights

The underlying premise of the research project is that humans acquire and form their knowledge through cognitive processes (eg perception, interpretation, language). At the same time, that knowledge is processed and used via different mental channels to form a representation of reality. Law as a social process carried out by human beings is a stimulating object of investigation for those who would like to analyse social cognition and knowledge production processes. Understanding how psychological and socio-cultural factors (including cultural bias) can affect decision-making in an international legal process; identifying the groups of people and institutions that may shape and alter the prevailing discourse in international law at any given time; and unearthing the hidden meaning of the various mythologies that populate and influence our normative world, are all key factors to providing a better understanding of the invisible frames within which international law moves and performs....

It is not a man's world: perceptions by male faculty of the status and representation of their female colleagues

PurposeBy studying four public universities in Egypt, the author of this paper aims to identify how male faculty perceive the representation and status of their female colleagues.Design/methodology/approachThe author employed a qualitative research method via semi-structured interviews with 40 male academics in addition to five focus group discussions with an additional 20 male academics. The author subsequently used thematic analysis to determine the main ideas in the transcripts.FindingsThe findings confirmed that women faculty are not under-represented at professorial levels, but they are denied administrative academic positions, such as rectors and deans in universities. The author also discovered that the social norms shaping both national and organizational culture in Egypt create a cultural bias against women faculty.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in the context of a developing nation to focus on the status and representation of women faculty from the perspective of male colleagues, and subsequently, it is the first to address the higher education sector in one of the leading developing nations in Africa and the Middle East. This paper contributes by filling a gap in HR management and higher education, in which empirical studies that address male faculty to identify their perceptions of the status and representation of their female colleagues have been limited so far.