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Exploring Communication Preferences And Experiences Of First-Generation Students: Bridging Psychological Distance With Librarians In Online, Hybrid, And In-Person Library Environments—An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Sabine Jean Dantus

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored the preferred communication methods for reducing the psychological distance between librarians and 17 first-generation students (FG004 – FG020), including graduate and undergraduate participants in the University Libraries’ online, hybrid, and in-person environments. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, eight themes emerged, illustrating how participants' communication preferences, cultural and linguistic demands, financial obstacles, and early library experiences affected their communication expectations with librarians.

The findings revealed a dichotomy between in-person and online communication preferences, with participants valuing both the immediacy and social presence of face-to-face interactions and the convenience of online tools like chat services. Cultural and linguistic familiarity …

Middle School Mainstream Educators’ Perceptions Of Preparedness For Teaching English Language Learners, Jessica Lebron

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was crafted to investigate the perspectives of middle school educators concerning their preparedness to instruct English language learners (ELL), an expanding subgroup of students. Given that over half of the student population in the target school district communicates in languages other than English at home, there is a heightened emphasis on fostering language and cultural connections between educators and students. Despite this, a significant number of educators within the school expressed a sense of inadequacy in teaching ELL students. In response to these concerns, some educators proactively sought additional, more specialized professional development opportunities to enhance their …

Case Study: Implementing Strategies To Meet The Needs Of English Language Learners, Sierra Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of effective ways to meet the needs of English language learners. To focus its inquiry and gain a thorough understanding of the experiences and methods of teachers in various classroom environments, the study used a case study approach. Extensive interviews with the participants yielded interesting insights into the methods they use to tailor their instruction to the requirements of their students as well as the useful resources they include into their instruction. A thorough grasp of instructional dynamics was also made possible by the participants' permission for the researcher to observe …

War Or Peace Discourse? Analysis Of News Headlines On Pulwama Attack, Showkat Ahmad Jan Mr, Francis Philip Barclay Dr

Peace and Conflict Studies

Discourse analysis and the theories of war and peace journalism are used to investigate the newspaper coverage of the Pulwama attack of 2019, a recent development in the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan that brought the nuclear-armed Asian neighbours on the brink of a war. To identify the journalistic discourses of the Pulwama attack, 686 headlines of news articles published in six popular newspapers on the attack and its aftermath during February 15-25, 2019, are analysed. Three levels of discourse analysis are employed: Lexical, social and ideological stratifications. Under lexical stratification, the news headlines are analysed to identify their …

Appearance Teasing And Identity Formation Amongst Young Adults: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Sneha Yadav, Shagun Shagun, Koko Veerning Moyon, Divya Bhanot

The Qualitative Report

Appearance teasing (AT) is such a widespread phenomenon that to discount its meaning, impact, and severity on the lives of those who are teased would be a mistake. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of Indian youths who have been appearance-teased by their close friends and family, how they perceive it has impacted their senses of self and identity and to understand their coping strategies that help them manage the negative effects of AT. Data was collected via semi structured interviews with six young adults and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Analysis of the transcripts reveals five master …

College Student Mental Health In The Covid-19 Era: Results Of An Expressive Writing Prompt, Carissa Daniello-Heyda, Kevin Hynes, Rachel R. Tambling

The Qualitative Report

The novel SARS-CoV-2, or coronavirus, has greatly altered the landscape of college life for students across the United States. The ever-present health concerns and quarantine have been linked to increased anxiety, depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To this end, we examined the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial health of college students. We explored the impact of COVID-19 on levels of stress and distress in college students using a qualitative expressive writing methodology. Results of this study suggested that the college students included in the sample were moderately distressed – their scores on inventories of depression, anxiety, …

Students’ Optimal Engagement In Efl Large Classes: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study In East Nusa Tenggara, Yohanis Nurak Siwa, Yazid Basthomi

The Qualitative Report

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in researching students’ engagement in English as foreign language (EFL) classes as students’ language learning achievement is shaped by their engagement in class. Yet, the study of students’ engagement in EFL large classes has received relatively little empirical attention. This qualitative phenomenological study aims at exploring how teachers perceive the factors boosting students’ optimal engagement and what strategies they use to boost students’ optimal engagement in EFL large classes. Ten university teachers with adequate experience of teaching EFL large classes in East Nusa Tenggara-Indonesia participated in this study. Semi structured interviews …

Exploring The Adoption Of Multiple Intelligences In Micro Credentials By Educators In Malaysian Higher Education, Mohd Elmagzoub Eltahir, Nagaletchimee Annamalai, Samer H Zyoud, Najah Rajeh Al Salhi, Bilal Zakarneh

The Qualitative Report

This study explored the multiple intelligence representation in the micro-credentials designed by Malaysian educators and the reasons for integrating multiple intelligences in their course materials. The study was guided by the eight indicators of multiple intelligences suggested by Howard Gardner. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 20 educators from a university in the northern region of Malaysia. The thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke shows a number of reasons why educators included the indicators in designing their content for micro-credential. Educators generally demonstrated that they used all the multiple intelligences indicators in designing the micro-credentials. The findings are encouraging …

A Biographical-Narrative Inquiry To The Transitions Of Latin American Immigrant Students: A Collective Case Study In The Context Of Chilean Higher Education, César M. Díaz Pacheco, Juan Llanes Ordóñez, María Paz Sandín Esteban, María Leonor Conejeros Solar

The Qualitative Report

Chile has positioned itself as an important receiving nation of immigrants in Latin America, which is evidenced by the emergence of foreign students in both universities and professional institutes. The main objective of this article is to understand the inclusion-exclusion factors of a group of Latin American students immersed in Chile’s higher education system. The authors used a biographical-narrative inquiry to conduct eight in-depth interviews and a participatory group methodology in Chile’s Valparaíso Region. The findings show that factors such as the presence of an influential adult figure, institutional welcoming mechanisms, access to work, and expectations of timely graduation and …

Guidelines For The Integration Of Large Language Models In Developing And Refining Interview Protocols, Jessica L. Parker Edd, Veronica M. Richard, Kimberly Becker

The Qualitative Report

Rapid advancements in generative artificial intelligence (AI), specifically large language models (LLMs), offer unprecedented opportunities and challenges for qualitative researchers. This paper presents comprehensive guidelines for the ethical and effective use of LLMs in the development and refinement of interview protocols. Through a multidisciplinary lens, this paper explores potential pitfalls, ethical considerations, and best practices to ensure the responsible integration of LLMs in the research process. The guidelines proposed serve not only as a methodological roadmap for researchers but also as a catalyst for dialogue on the ethical dimensions of LLMs in qualitative research. Furthermore, the authors describe and share …

The Effects Of Emotional Intelligence On Students’ Foreign Language Speaking: A Narrative Exploration In China’S Universities, Chenyang Zhang

The Qualitative Report

In countries where people see English as a foreign language (EFL), English is merely used in public communication and EFL learners usually experience emotional issues like speaking anxiety and reflect a lower level of emotional intelligence (EI). Although previous studies have found a positive correlation between EI and EFL speaking, few studies explain how EI affects learners’ EFL speaking in terms of their contextual influence. This study aims to explore the effects of EI on English speaking in the context of China’s universities. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with two participants and was analysed through thematic narrative analysis. Findings …

Unpacking Online Collaborative Learning In Teaching Efl Speaking: Insights From Three Rural Area Case Studies, Ranta Butarbutar, Fentry Hernaningsi Ruing, Nurfajriah Basri, Varissca Utari Tuharea, Seli Marlina Radja Leba

The Qualitative Report

The collaborative use of technology and online teaching and learning is a new pedagogical trend following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This pedagogy has created flexible learning modes for teachers and students to practice and develop their speaking skills in English as a foreign language through collaborative activities, interactive group projects, and peer feedback. Despite the plethora of studies pertinent to online learning, online collaborative learning (OCL) insights in rural areas are not well-documented, leaving knowledge gaps. Thus, a study of teachers' and students' perceptions of OCL in rural areas of Papua, Indonesia, is needed. Researchers have …

The What And How Of Essential Thematic Analysis, Elih Sutisna Yanto

The Qualitative Report

Gareth Terry and Nikki Hayfield's book, Essentials of Thematic Analysis, introduces readers to reflexive thematic analysis, a method for analyzing interview and focus group transcripts, qualitative survey responses, and other qualitative data. This method is based on the understanding that we all exist in a context from which we can see and speak. In this way, researchers produce knowledge that represents situated truths and allow them to understand others’ perspectives on a given topic. The book shows how to construct a “positioned reality of the situation” from qualitative data. According to the authors, this method is not a methodology …

Schoolteachers In Out-Of-School Hours Education: Blurring Professional Ideology In Recent Times, Dr. M Monjurul Islam, Mohammed Shamsul Hoque, Wan Mazlini Othman, Saraswathy Thurairaj Phd, Dr. Ghadah Al Murshidi, Latha Ravindran

The Qualitative Report

Teachers’ professional ideology and their involvement in out-of-school hours (OoSH) practices have been questioned in recent times. This study explores how schoolteachers understand their professional ideology in relation to their OoSH practices and how they explain their participation in private tutoring in addition to formal schooling. This study deploys a qualitative approach using in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine secondary school teachers in Bangladesh. The thematic analysis highlights a substantial gap between Bangladeshi school teachers’ professional ideologies and their involvement in private tutoring. The findings from the study reveal that the respondents perceive their dual roles as schoolteachers and tutors as …

Empowered Women In A Rural Community: A Case Study In Sarapiquí, Costa Rica, Patricia López-Estrada, Lady Fernández-Mora, Estefanía Pérez-Hidalgo

The Qualitative Report

Community empowerment plays a key role in the working of society. Providing support and training opportunities to communities and promoting socioeconomic growth can be of fundamental importance to the progress of any region but is particularly important in rural areas. Women in rural communities frequently have been confined to playing roles in the home, despite recent literature suggesting that empowering them can boost the development of their communities. Drawing on inductive qualitative research, this case study describes the perceptions of five rural women from Sarapiquí in the Northern Region of Costa Rica after undergoing training in tourism entrepreneurship in the …

Flexibility & Iteration: Exploring The Potential Of Large Language Models In Developing And Refining Interview Protocols, Jessica L. Parker, Veronica M. Richard, Kimberly Becker

The Qualitative Report

This article investigates the potential of Large Language Model (LLM) tools like ChatGPT in aiding researchers in the development and refinement of interview protocols. We found that ChatGPT could generate appropriate interview questions, craft key questions, provide feedback on protocols, and simulate interviews, indicating its potential to reduce time and effort, particularly when human resources are limited. This article builds upon previous authors’ insights and suggestions regarding developing and refining interview protocols to maximize the chances of achieving research aims, especially for novice researchers. Additionally, the researchers highlight the flexibility of these tools in adapting to different research contexts and …

Tracing The Dynamics Of Teacher Assessment Identity (Tai) Through Web-Based Audio Diaries, Masoomeh Estaji, Farhad Ghiasvand

The Qualitative Report

Teacher assessment identity (TAI) as a vital element of teacher professionalism has recently flourished in educational assessment. However, unpacking its developmental trajectories has been left uncharted. Against this gap, this study scrutinized the dynamism of TAI under the influence of audio diaries. In so doing, 22 novice and experienced Iranian EFL teachers uploaded their audio-diaries on a website for two months. They did so once a week and ultimately 176 audio diaries were gleaned. Moreover, to explore the participants’ perceptions of TAI considering audio diary, a semi-structured interview was held with ten teachers. The results of content and thematic analysis …

“I Love Talking To Myself”: Language Learning Strategies Employed By Indonesian Faculty Members, Noprival Noprival, Alfian Alfian, Robi Soma

The Qualitative Report

Despite the existence of many studies on language learning strategies (LLS), little scholarly work reports the LLS used by faculty members in learning English, with most participants of previous studies being students. Further, most of those previous studies have been conducted using exclusively quantitative methods. In response to these empirical and methodological gaps, the current qualitative descriptive case study investigates how Indonesian lecturers employed their strategies over their path of enhancing their English proficiency. We collected data through semi-structured interviews obtained from eight Indonesian faculty members. In this study, we found five overarching themes, including practicing in academic fields, learning …

Interviewing Female Teachers As A Male Researcher: A Field Reflection From A Patriarchal Society Perspective, Khim Raj Subedi, Uttam Gaulee Dr

The Qualitative Report

This article examines the role of gender difference in a qualitative interview from the theoretical lenses of the sociocultural perspective of teachers' identity in a localized context of Ph.D. field research. The study blends the researcher's critical reflections during interviewing female teachers in exploring their teacher identity and existing literature on gender differences in a qualitative interview. In addition, a research diary is used as the data source to unpack the complexity of gender dynamics in a qualitative interview. To add to the discussion of gender difference in a qualitative interview, we argued that gender difference between the interviewer and …

Weaving The Threads Between: Collaborative Auto-Ethnographic Reflections On Experiences Of Migrant Learning And Teaching In Australia, Paul Throssell Dr, Jinjin Lu Dr

The Qualitative Report

This article aims to use the two authors’ life experience, as English teachers, and university academics in the U.K., China and Australia, to improve an understanding how life trajectories can assist exploration of cultural difference and changes. Our experiences can be utilized as a means of understanding how responses to change and cultural differences can be influenced. Using a collaborative auto-ethnography research method offers readers opportunities to engage with the text through encountering the cultural nuances in these transitional journeys. The analysis is undertaken through the theoretical lens of transformational learning, cultural identity, and space. This paper will be of …

Navigating Power Dynamics In Virtual Interviews With Sex Workers During Covid-19: A Researcher-Participant Perspective, Izabela Ślęzak

The Qualitative Report

Sex workers may show extreme sensitivity to power relations during qualitative research due to the previous experiences of stigmatization and marginalization. The purpose of this article is to analyze how technologically mediated communication between researchers and participants during an interview may influence the scope of control exercised by the interactional partners. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, I conducted 16 qualitative phone and videoconference interviews with female sex workers in Poland discussing the social stigmas they encounter. Each interview was followed up with extensive field notes that were analyzed using the procedures of grounded theory methodology. These very …

Unveiling The Tapestry Of Human Experience And Diversity: A Journey Through The Eight Domains Of Phenomenology And Research Methods, Tito Dimas Atmawijaya

The Qualitative Report

In this comprehensive book review, the author explores Eight Domains of Phenomenology and Research Methods by Henrik Gert Larsen, delving into the intricate world of phenomenology and its applications in research. The review critically examines Larsen's insightful exploration of the eight domains, providing an analysis of each domain's significance and the research methodologies associated with them. The review also highlights Larsen's expertise in phenomenology, as he skillfully guides readers through the complexities of understanding lived experiences and the intricate interplay between researcher and participant. By exploring the strengths and limitations of Larsen's work, the review offers valuable insights into the …

Diffractively Thinking About Teacher Identity In Body Mapping As Performance, Intersectional Positionality, And Material-Discursive Enactment, Jihea Maddamsetti

The Qualitative Report

Teacher identity is integral for teachers' professional growth and shapes how they address persistent educational disparities and inequities. Teachers' embodied relationships with self, others, and the world play a vital role in the ways teachers (co-)construct and (re)negotiate their identities as professionals. Still, little is known about how the relations among teachers' bodies, material, and power may affect teacher identity. This study adopted a diffractive methodology to examine how elementary teacher candidates' (TCs) engagement in body maps—that is, arts-informed tools and processes of (re)presenting one's lived experiences and identities—may contribute to their embodied aspects of identity work. A diffractive methodology …

Addressing The Need For Depression Inventories In American Sign Language, Josephine F. Wilson, Michelle Niehaus, Jared A. Embree, Deb S. Guthmann, Steven R. Sligar, Janet C. Titus, Annie Welch, Kathy Taylor

JADARA

Using state-of-the-art techniques, the authors interpreted two commonly used depression inventories, the revised Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9), into American Sign Language (ASL): BDI-II-ASL and PHQ-9-ASL, respectively. A national sample of 361 deaf individuals who preferentially use ASL completed the BDI-II-ASL and PHQ-9-ASL online. BDI-II-ASL and PHQ-9-ASL scores were significantly and positively correlated. The results showed no significant differences in scores due to gender, Deaf cultural identification, race, ethnicity, or employment status. However, the results did show that less education was significantly associated with higher depression scores. The BDI-II-ASL and PHQ-9-ASL require norming in a comparative …

Working With Deaf Children In Healthcare Settings, Maria E. Lombardi

JADARA

Effective and efficient health care is greatly influenced by communication between patient and provider. Federal laws require the use of a sign language interpreter (SLI) or other appropriate accommodations to ensure effective communication within the health care system for deaf children. Specialized training and certifications are available for SLIs choosing to specialize in the health care field. The training is typically geared toward SLIs working with adults rather than children. In addition, very few studies focus on the use of SLIs for children within health care settings. SLIs bring unique perspectives to their respective settings when referencing one’s skill set. …

Ensuring Quality In Qualitative Research: A Researcher's Reflections, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

This reflective paper is the outcome of my qualitative research engagement aligned with quality standards. I began with autoethnography in my master's research in mathematics education (see Dahal, 2013), then moved on to narrative inquiry in my MPhil research (see Dahal, 2017), and collaborative autoethnography in my doctoral research (see Dahal, 2023). With the above, this paper aims to clarify the quality criteria used in autoethnography, narrative inquiry, and collaborative autoethnography based on my experiences to evaluate the robustness of qualitative research from various ontological and epistemological vantage points. Likewise, this article offers a comprehensive overview of the key elements …

Why Didn't I Make It Digital: Indonesian Teachers’ Perception Of Dialogical-Based Online Teaching And Socio-Emotional Connections, Elok Putri Nimasari, Slamet Setiawan, Ahmad Munir, Suhartono Suhartono

The Qualitative Report

While it is widely acknowledged that educational technology has been used as an online learning modality, socio-emotional aspects are still in crisis during the post-COVID-19 era. Theorized in Alexander’s dialogic teaching and Delahunty's socio-emotional connection, this phenomenology study addresses two Indonesian teachers’ perceptions of dialogical-based online teaching and socio-emotional connections. The data were empirically garnered from semi-structured interviews and teaching documents. Findings shed some lights on four macro parameters of socio-emotional aspects within dialogic-based online teaching framework: transformation of pedagogical content, learning interaction, sense of community, and identity formation. The present study theoretically and practically contributes to sociocultural dimensions of …

Uncovering University Teachers' Perspectives: Conceptualizations, Factors, And Perceptions Of Second Language Learner Engagement, Eman I. M. Alzaanin

The Qualitative Report

Second language (L2) learner engagement has been a key theme in applied linguistics over the past two decades; however, teachers' voices have been largely absent from L2 learner engagement research. In addition, little is known about what learner engagement means to L2 language teachers. Through semi-structured, in-depth interviews, this study aims to capture the conceptualizations of learner engagement and the perceptions of the factors facilitating or hindering learner engagement in L2 learning in a Saudi university context, as expressed by 12 English as a Foreign Language university (EFL) teachers. The data analysis method used was inductive thematic analysis. The findings …

Engaging Students In Qualitative Research Practice And Understanding Through Constructionist Perspectives: Socially Constructed Qualitative Research Pedagogies, Elih Sutisna Yanto, Junjun Muhamad Ramdani

The Qualitative Report

A growing number of books have explored how teachers teach students' qualitative research in second or foreign language classroom contexts step by step. It is rare, however, to find a book on research methods that includes a social constructionist approach to reflective and experiential learning for conducting qualitative research to help students become good qualitative researchers. To fill this void, Janet C. Richards, Audra Skukauskaitė, and Ron Chenail wrote a book entitled Engaging Students in Socially Constructed Qualitative Research Pedagogies (2022). This book is an important, forward-thinking, and useful resource for the rapidly expanding field of qualitative research pedagogy. In …

The Cultural Meaning In Ritual Traditions For The Character Of Osing People Banyuwangi, Indonesia, Imam Suyitno, Yuni Pratiwi, Kusubakti Andajani, Heni Dwi Arista Mrs.

The Qualitative Report

This study examined the cultural meaning of the ritual tradition for the character of the Osing people, Banyuwangi. The study focused on describing (a) the personal character in ritual tradition, (b) the social character in ritual traditions, and (c) the character values in ritual traditions. This study was qualitative research with the hermeneutic approach to interpret and explain the meaning of ritual tradition by involving three culturalists and community leaders as data resources. The study found that ritual tradition has cultural meaning for Osing people to build (a) personal character, which includes responsible, consistent, caring, sincere in their work, willing …