Digital Commons Network^™

The Meaning Of Rebo Buntung For Pringgabaya Villager, East Lombok During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Dharmika Ida Bagus, Gede Yoga Kharisma Pradana Dr.

The Qualitative Report

Rebo Buntung is a Sasak cultural tradition performed on the island of Lombok in Indonesia, primarily aimed at preventing disasters. Although the government warned people in Lombok to engage in social distancing and to reduce activities outside to reduce the risk of infection associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebo Buntung was carried out by Sasak people amid the pandemic. This purpose of this paper is to describe results from qualitative research, framed within religious theory and structural-functional theory, that explore the meaning of Rebo Bunting in the village of Pringgabaya, East Lombok and its role during the COVID-19 Pandemic. For …

Poetic Voice In The Research: A Social Sciences Exploration In Verse, Jason D. Dehart

The Qualitative Report

This article doubles down on the notion of poetry as a vehicle for expression in qualitative research. Following from the work of Cahnmann (2003), Stenhouse (2014), and Lahman et al. (2010), and drawing from additional inspiration including Clandinin and Connelly (2000) and Kuhn (2012), the author constructs the argument for poetic voice in research in the form of a series of poetic interplay with research concepts. The article makes the case that rich sources of data may be found in alternative representations of findings, and research questions and the people who are invited to research projects should influence researchers' choices …

Conducting Virtual Qualitative Interviews With International Key Informants: Insights From A Research Project, Nytasia Hicks, Roberto J. Millar, Laura M. Girling, Phyllis A. Cummins, Takashi Yamashita

The Qualitative Report

There is an increasing need for cross-cultural qualitative studies in an era of globalization. A focus group of five researchers, who were involved in a large international research project, identified effective strategies and challenges associated with five key domains of qualitative research with key informants: identification, recruitment, preparation, conducting the interview, and follow-up. Content analysis revealed nuanced tactics related to effective strategies and challenges associated with each domain. Examples of effective strategies include interview preparation to understand the specific expertise of the interviewee and allowing the informant to offer additional information beyond the questions asked. Challenges included technical difficulties with …

The Experiences Of Iranian Nurses In Critical Events And Natural Disasters: A Qualitative Study, Ali Hasanpour Dehkordi, Shahriar Salehi Tali, Reza Ganeigheshlagh

The Qualitative Report

Medical staff and healthcare providers are always involved in earthquakes; therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the experience of nurses in dealing with critical events and natural disasters. A qualitative study was conducted by semi-structured interviews with 12 medical staff. Data were analyzed by qualitative analysis hermeneutic approach. Four categories were developed as follows: “confusion,” “coercion,” “psychological disturbance,” and “wasting of resources.” The categories led to the development of the main theme of “miss management.” Earthquakes are considered serious challenges for nurses and health professionals involved in such disasters. It will culminate in dire consequences including physical, …

Characterizing And Categorizing The Essence Of Sport Consumption Behavior: A Thematic Analysis, Sid Terason

The Qualitative Report

Sport consumer decision making is a complex process in which an individual evaluates, acquires, uses, or disposes of sport products or services. This qualitative study aimed to identify, understand, and describe the essential characteristics of sport products consumption behavior among professional athletes in Thailand. In-depth interviewing was carried out on 25 professional athlete consumers who responded to semi-structured questions regarding their sport goods consumption. Thematic analysis was performed on the transcripts to describe the essential characteristics of the consumption and to identify overarching topics. Following social constructionism, three themes (i.e., acquisition, use, and disposal) were analyzed and eight categories (i.e., …

Metaplasia Of Respiratory And Digestive Tissues In The Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica Associated With The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Deanne Roopnarine, Peter D. Roopnarine, Laurie C. Anderson, Ji Hae Hwang, Swati Patel

Biology Faculty Articles

Metaplasia is a well documented and deleterious effect of crude oil components on bivalved molluscs, including oysters. This reversible transformation of one cell type to another, is a common response to petroleum-product exposure in molluscs. It has been shown experimentally in previous work that eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) exposed to petroleum products will exhibit metaplasia of digestive tissues. Here we document for the first time that wild adult oysters inhabiting coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico during and in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010) exhibited metaplasia in both ctenidia and digestive epithelia …

High Touch Research: Building Community For Those Living With Hiv, Patricia M. Miller Dr., Brent Oliver Dr., Kenneth Lapointe, Kim Samson, Kate Berezowski, Kirsten Nelson, Kevin Anonymous

The Qualitative Report

Participatory action research can be a research methodology that seeks to offer relational processes that develop high touch research relationships, create co-empowerment, while fostering resiliency and strength, within the HIV community. The Calgary HIV Social Society (CHSS) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada co-developed with peer-researchers at Mount Royal University, a progressive form of action-oriented research that allowed the HIV community to develop and provide social gatherings to reduce the impact of stigma and isolation. The research project was developed with the community of people living with HIV to reduce the impact of isolation and stigma. The focus of the research was …

Challenges In Conducting Online Videoconferencing Qualitative Interviews With Adolescents On Sensitive Topics, Salima Moez Meherali, Samantha Louie-Poon

The Qualitative Report

In the wake of COVID-19, researchers are seeking innovative data-collection methods. Computer-mediated communication platforms have played a pivotal role among these pursuits. However, conducting online interviews present challenges to both researchers and participants. Online data-collection forces researchers to give up control over the study environment due to the varying location participants partake in interviews. Consequently, researchers can no longer fully guarantee the confidentiality and privacy of the researcher-participant conversations. Participants may face difficulties if being asked to disclose private information in the presence of family members. These challenges are heightened when conducting online interviews with adolescents on sensitive topics. Thus, …

Developing An E-Learning Theory For Interaction And Collaboration Using Grounded Theory: A Methodological Approach, Rachael Njeri Kibuku Dr., Daniel O. Ochieng Prof, Agnes N. Wausi Prof

The Qualitative Report

Grounded Theory (GT) is becoming an increasingly prevalent research methodology in many fields. Although researchers use it in qualitative and quantitative studies, it is more popular with qualitative studies, as evidenced by the citations from previous research. This paper aims to document and present how we used GT in our qualitative research to construct an e-learning theory for interaction and collaboration. It also includes the justification of GT. We adopted and adapted the constructivist GT (CGT). Therefore, this paper discusses the CGT methodology, its philosophical, ontological and epistemological perspectives. It also includes the research design that captures how we sampled …

Textual Borrowing In Dissertation Writing: Perceptions Of Supervisors And Supervisees, Yin Ling Cheung, Shuangjuan Kang

The Qualitative Report

The existing literature shows issues pertinent to students’ inappropriate textual borrowing behaviors require further examination. Our study aims to address two questions: What are the reasons why postgraduate students’ misuse their dissertation sources? How do the dissertation supervisors react to students’ inappropriate source use, if any? In this situated qualitative study (Atkinson, 2005), we used data collected through in-depth email interviews with two applied linguistics postgraduate students and their dissertation supervisors. Regarding the analytical process, the researchers condensed the provisional themes through techniques suggested by grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). The results reveal that causes for postgraduate students’ misuse …

Transformative Potential Of Peer-Research: Connecting Theory With Practice, Lea Caragata, Jen Vasic

The Qualitative Report

In this article, we report on follow-up research to the “Lone Mothers: Building Social Inclusion” project, a cross-Canada study which utilized a Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology to investigate the experiences of single mothers on social assistance in a changing socio-political context. We analyzed the study’s peer-interviewing approach in detail. Findings suggest that PAR theory was applied in the Lone Mothers project in ways that cultivated and sustained authentic relationships, contributed to individual and social change, and minimized hierarchy. The effects of this commitment to the epistemology and values of PAR led to a non-linear and organic research process yielding …

National Coral Reef Management Fellows Newsletter Volume 3 | Issue 3, National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) Coral Reef Conservation Program

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Link Between Diabetes Mellitus And Tau Hyperphosphorylation: Implications For Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease, Amy L. Hobday, Mayur S. Parmar

HPD Articles

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by a lack of insulin, insulin resistance, or both. It is associated with the development of secondary complications resulting in several comorbidities. Recent studies have revealed an increased risk of developing cognitive dysfunction or dementia in diabetes patients. Diabetes mellitus is considered a risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is increasing evidence to support a link between DM and AD. Studies have shown the dysfunction of insulin signaling in the brain, resulting in increased tau protein phosphorylation (hyperphosphorylation), a hallmark and biomarker of AD pathology, leading to …

Validation Of A Single Channel Eeg For The Athlete: A Machine Learning Protocol To Accurately Detect Sleep Stages, Kayla Thompson, Kamil Celoch, Frankie Pizzo, Ana I. Fins, Jaime Tartar

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

There is a large and growing movement towards the use of wearable technologies for sleep assessment. This trend is largely due to the desire for comfortable, burden free, and inexpensive technology. In tandem, given the competitive nature of professional athletes enduring high training load, sleep is often jeopardized which can result in adverse outcomes. Wearable devices hold the promise of increasing the ease of monitoring sleep in athletes which can inform health and recovery status, as well as aid performance optimization. However, wearable devices typically lack sufficient validity to assess sleep – and especially sleep stages. To address this concern, …

Are Corals Surviving Or Thriving In Highly Degraded Environments? A Reproductive And Trophic Analysis Of Scleractinian Corals, Morgan Short

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Amid the worldwide decline of corals, the survival of some corals in high nutrient, turbid environments, is intriguing – are they just surviving or are they thriving? This study aimed to determine how these corals acquire energy and whether that energy is sufficient to produce offspring (i.e., develop viable gametes). The nutritional sources and reproductive capacity of Siderastrea siderea in a shipping port (Port Everglades) were compared to two nearshore reefs in Florida, USA and an ex situ coral nursery. Fertility and estimated polyp fecundity were quantified using histological analysis, and water quality parameters were assessed monthly to evaluate differences …

Misunderstood: A Phenomenological Study On Intersectionality And The Lived Experiences Of Black Millennial Student Affairs Professionals At Pwis, Emily P. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to further understand the lived experiences of Black millennial student affairs professionals navigating and advancing through a predominately white institution in the southern United States. This phenomenological study, framed by critical race theory and intersectionality, sought to ultimately use these lived experiences to advocate for change. A review of the literature highlighted the needs, values, and experiences of Black Millennials based on both identities, the experiences of working in student affairs/higher education with these experiences, and the need for intentional diversity efforts by higher educational institutions.

The researcher interviewed nine participants to learn more about …

A Systematic Review Of Parasites Found Within Selected Teleost Fishes Of The South Florida Hermatypic Coral Reef Tract, Blake A. Roberts

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

This report is a synthetic survey of published accounts of 43 reef-associated fish species and their parasites from the east coast of North America, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and regions adjacent to the south Florida reef tract. To date, no comprehensive host-parasite list is available for this region, although comparable reviews from other regions have played a vital role in the fields of parasitology and fish ecology, providing valuable guidance on sampling locations, available host fishes inhabiting the region, and inventories of parasites likely to be found infecting these host species. This systematic review of teleost host fish …

What Is In It For Me? Challenges Associated With Recruiting Participants For A Study Focusing On Informal Workers: A Reflection From Fieldwork Conducted In Nigeria, Funmilayo Juliana Afolabi

The Qualitative Report

This article presents the challenges a social scientist can encounter in studying workers in an informal sector. It is written from a doctoral researcher's perspective and draws on her fieldwork experience among informal automobile artisans in Osun State, Nigeria. The paper intends to share insights into navigating the challenges in conducting social inquiry among workers in the informal sector for fruitful outcomes. Particular attention is paid to some of the more common challenges researchers may encounter when conducting research in the informal sector. These challenges include project entry, participant recruitment, and retention. This article concludes with suggestions which researchers can …

Mapping A Language(S) Journey In Science; From Learning Biology To Teaching Biology: An Autoethnography, Primani S. Fernando, Maria Gindidis Dr, Rebecca Cooper Dr.

The Qualitative Report

This paper focuses on my experience as an English as an Additional Language (EAL) student in the context of multiple emigrations and investigates the formation of my identity as an EAL science student, science Education researcher, and science teacher. The study was guided by both my innate curiosity and the research question that sought to explore which factors significantly affected my journey of developing my English language and science knowledge based on my experience as an EAL student. The second and third authors acted as critical friends to provide a layer of reliability to the study. Within the autoethnography methodology …

Exploring A Business Model Of Organic Farming Through Qualitative Approach, Shahjahan Sarfraz Raja, Valliappan Raju Assoc. Prof. Dr, Fozia Malik Dr.

The Qualitative Report

The main objective of this paper is to explore the business model of farmers involved in organic farming and to motivate the society for entering into organic farming business as it is environment friendly and healthy for consumers as well. The methodology used for this research was mainly interviews conducted by farmers of Punjab district of Pakistan. YouTube videos on organic farming in Pakistan were also assessed for gaining more knowledge. From the findings of interviews, a business model used by 05 farmers in production of organic products is explored which was an untapped area in previous research. The contribution …

Adapting Qualitative Methods During The Covid-19 Era: Factors To Consider For Successful Use Of Online Photovoice, Nadia Rania, Ilaria Coppola, Laura Pinna

The Qualitative Report

The pandemic has led researchers to adapt their research methods to the social distance imposed to combat COVID-19. Technology created many difficulties in reaching certain population targets, however it was often the only way during the lockdown to do more research. Both quantitative and qualitative researchers made use of remote data collection methods that allowed researchers to mitigate the challenges of physical distancing and improve the researchers' toolbox. This paper aims to highlight the factors to consider for successful use of online Photovoice. The participatory action research project involved 130 young adults who took part in a Photovoice online activity …

Setting The Scene For Racism: A Burkean Analysis Of Twitter In The Time Of Covid-19, Jieun Son

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Social media platforms facilitate high-speed information sharing among digital technology users. But unregulated production of content across social media raises questions about the credibility of this content. During the COVID-19 pandemic, viral phenomena such as misinformation and conspiracy theories about the virus have spread rapidly across the globe, prompting misunderstanding, bias, and, at times, extreme actions both online and off. This thesis examines how language choices in social media posts function as a mode of action that not only can misinform but can serve to target certain groups for bias during a time of crisis. Specifically, it uses Kenneth …

Exploring The Experience Of Anxiety Among Final Year Students At University: A Thematic Analysis, Catriona Keane, Daniel Waldeck, Andrew Holliman, Simon Goodman, Kubra Choudhry

The Qualitative Report

The transition from undergraduate study to a postgraduate career can be an anxiety provoking experience for many students. In this study, we explore the shared experience of five “anxious” undergraduate students as they transition from higher education towards their postgraduate careers. Using a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five female undergraduate students from different courses at a UK university. A thematic analysis revealed two overarching themes: perceived pressure without sufficient support, and concerns about next steps. The findings suggested the final year is emotionally demanding, and students felt as though there was a lack of provision to manage …

A Journey Of Hidden Outburst Of Anger Shackling A Person With Schizophrenia: The Indonesian Context, Heni Dwi Windarwati, Budi Anna Keliat, Raden Irawati Ismail, Adang Bachtiar, Erna Erawati

The Qualitative Report

Shackling a person with schizophrenia violates human rights. This process is often carried out when the person has committed acts of violence and hostility. In this study, we focus on considering the shackling of a person with schizophrenia in Indonesia’s context. We used grounded theory (GT; Charmaz, 2011) with 23 participants located in the East Java Province, Indonesia. The participants consisted of people with schizophrenia who were shackled by their ankles, families treating people with schizophrenia, the cadre volunteers, prominent figures, and nurses. We used in-depth interviews using semi-structured questions. We identified five phases associated with the process of shackling …

Qualitative Virtual Team Research As Training Method In A Postgraduate Program In Administration, Queila R S Matitz, Camilla Fernandes, André R R Contani, Beatriz L. Zanoni, Rafael Budach, Weber H. Radael, Joyce A R Santos, Samantha Frohlich, Ana C V Carvalho

The Qualitative Report

This study is a retrospective review of methodological strategies employed during a virtual team-based training qualitative study about the emergent process of adapting to remote education among students and professors from a Master Management Program. The aim of this study was to test the technique of collaborative research as an educational and training strategy for Ph.D. students of management who are inexperienced in qualitative inductive research carried out in a virtual environment. A professor and eight Ph.D. students formed the research team and applied a qualitative inductive approach. As a result, 18 methodological steps emerged, which required just over one …

Inhibition Of Aminoglycoside 6’-N-Acetyltransferase Type Ib [Aac(6′)-Ib]: Structure-Activity Relationship Of Substituted Pyrrolidine Pentamine Derivatives As Inhibitors, Kenneth Rocha, Jesus Magallon, Craig Reeves, Kimberly Phan, Peter Vu, Crista L. Oakley-Havens, Stella Kwan, Maria S. Ramirez, Travis Lavoi, Haley Donow, Prem Chapagain, Radleigh Santos, Clemencia Pinilla, Marc A. Giulianotti, Marcelo E. Tolmasky

Mathematics Faculty Articles

The aminoglycoside 6′-N-acetyltransferase type Ib [AAC(6′)-Ib] is a common cause of resistance to amikacin and other aminoglycosides in Gram-negatives. Utilization of mixture-based combinatorial libraries and application of the positional scanning strategy identified an inhibitor of AAC(6′)-Ib. This inhibitor’s chemical structure consists of a pyrrolidine pentamine scaffold substituted at four locations (R1, R3, R4, and R5). The substituents are two S-phenyl (R1 and R4), an S-hydroxymethyl (R3), and a 3-phenylbutyl (R5) groups. Another location, R2, does not have a substitution, but it is named because its stereochemistry was modified in some compounds utilized in this study. Structure-activity …

Navigating Methodological Concerns At The Data Collection Stage: Lessons From A Qualitative Indian-Irish Adoption Study, Sahana Mitra Dr., Valerie O'Brien Dr.

The Qualitative Report

This paper was written to describe the experiences of the researchers in designing cross-cultural research on the culturally sensitive topic of adoptive parenthood, a field in which there is a dearth of literature. Taking the experience and examples from an Indian-Irish study on domestic adoptive parenthood, the paper details the steps as to how the researchers used their own relationship with adoption, and the different cultural contexts to which they belonged, as a starting point in designing and implementing this research. The discussion utilizes a conceptual framework involving insider-outsider positioning, reflexivity and five philosophical assumptions (ontology, epistemology, methodology, axiology, and …

Affirming Strength-Based Practices In Disability And Inclusion: A Shared Autoethnographic Study Of The Experiences Of A Teacher, Alina Kewanian, Edwin Creely, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

In this autoethnographic article we focus on the issues of “disability” and “inclusive education” and the challenges of being positive and affirming in this area of research and practice. As a teacher, I (Alina) continue to encounter regularly the dominant deficit view of “disability,” in spite of the extensive body of literature that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities as well as the benefits of inclusive education best built on strength-based thinking. The autoethnographic methodology allowed me to explore my experiences as an educator and reflect on specific events, presented through four vignettes that capture how my beliefs …

Fastest On The Playground: Four Generations Of Female Sport Experience, Jessica B. Kirby

The Qualitative Report

The life sport experiences of four generations of females were explored through narrative family research and presented through research poetry. Their stories powerfully represent the transformation of sport and exercise culture across seven decades of overlapping life experiences and demonstrate the generational transmission of value for, expectation of, and experiences with sport. A poem representing each girl/woman’s story was crafted by the author, through the process of poetic transcription, and is presented alongside a photo illustrating each individual’s experiences. The generational experiences and implications of the findings are discussed within the broader sport psychology and sport sociology literature.

Experiences Of An Exercise Program: Perspectives From Breast Cancer Survivors, Yvonne Anisimowicz, Lauren Rudy, Ryan Hamilton, Erin Mcgowan, Travis Saunders, Melanie Keats, Scott Grandy, Courtni Ruth-Anne Soucy, Danielle Bouchard

The Qualitative Report

Few studies have examined how breast cancer survivors experience an individually tailored group exercise program designed to help mitigate physical and psychosocial challenges and improve health outcomes. This research used qualitative interviews to provide insight into what motivates breast cancer survivors to join an exercise program, what they hope to gain from exercise programs, the barriers they experience to participation, and their overall satisfaction with the program. Thirty-three breast cancer survivors from Atlantic Canada completed semi-structured, qualitative interviews following the completion of a twelve-week supervised exercise program, and thematic analysis was applied to transcripts of the interviews. Our findings suggest …