Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Fostering An Inclusive And Sustainable Career Ecosystem: Empowering Neurodivergent Individuals And Employees To Thrive, William E. Donald, Elizabeth J. Cook, Nimmi P. Mohandas

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This article synthesises contributions from the special issue “Fostering an inclusive and sustainable career ecosystem: empowering neurodivergent individuals and employees to thrive”. It reframes neurodivergence as a source of strength, while acknowledging the complex interplay between strengths and systemic challenges. The article advocates for evidence-informed strategies that promote inclusive and sustainable career pathways, emphasising the interaction between individual agency and structural change rather than commodifying neurodivergent talent as “superpowers”.

Design/methodology/approach: Guided by the sustainable career ecosystem theory, this article identifies five key principles derived from the nine contributions spanning four continents and seven countries. These principles are examined in …

Animating Soil: Cultivating Young Children's Soil Relations, Jane Merewether, Mindy Blaise, Stefania Giamminuti

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article explores young children's relations with soil, drawing on research that positioned soil as animate, lively and interconnected. The paper investigates how animist approaches offered a mode of encounter for children and their teachers, encouraging them to see themselves as part of a larger ecological community. The research began with a "soil biome immersion"experience where teachers engaged with soil through sensory and arts-based experiences. These initial encounters led to further exploration of child-soil relations through experiential learning and storytelling. Children, as active meaning-makers, co-constructed the inquiry through imaginative and sensory engagements. Findings suggest animism cultivates soil relations, challenging traditional …

Empowering Social Competence: A Scoping Review Of Digital Social Skills Training Interventions, Nasim Salehi, Mansoureh Nickbakht, Cindy Branch-Smith, Nazli Bashi, Elham Salehi, Sally Sargeant, Diarmuid Hurley, Farhad Fatehi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Effective social skills are essential for functional social support, help-seeking, and resource access. Digital social skills training (DSST) plays a key role in empowering individuals to develop social competence, improve access to various support and resources, and enhance locus of control through dynamic media. This scoping review aims to identify and explore existing DSST programs and their mechanisms for access to support and resources, as well as health outcomes among people with and without health conditions. A search across four databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Embase) from 2000 to 2023 resulted in the inclusion of 59 papers. Thematic analysis categorized …

Energy Transitions In Underserved Communities: Meaningful Engagement To Address Energy Burdens And Air Pollution, Nyasha Milanzi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This report presents two connected studies focused on environmental justice and community engagement in energy transitions. The first study examines engagement practices in EPA-funded projects using interviews and public abstracts. Applying the EngageINFEWS framework, it analyses stakeholder dynamics and offers recommendations for working with underserved communities. Key insights include addressing power imbalances, securing funding, building capacity, and fostering communication. The second study centres on the REJuST project, which supports energy justice in a rural northern community impacted by public health concerns linked to a bioenergy facility burning wood, paper, plastics, and tire-derived fuels. I use survey data to explore resident …

Climate Planning, Energy Sovereignty, And Electric Vehicle Perceptions Among Michigan’S Tribal Nations, Alexis Belle Tater

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Climate change will especially impact marginalized communities and communities with less government support for funding climate adaptation actions. The first chapter of this report focuses on climate change responses, specifically Tribal Nations in the state of Michigan. In the current U.S. context, funding for large climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in Tribal Nations can be achieved through federal funding from the CPRG (Climate Pollution Reduction Grant), which requires an established PCAP (Priority Climate Action Plans) to guide decision making in alignment with identified priorities. I discuss the importance of Tribal sovereignty, the potential implications of its inclusion and exclusion …

Investigating Dimensions Of Social Vulnerability To Wildfire: A Case Study Of Western Montana, Ella Brodowski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Communities across the US are facing increased wildfire risks due in part to historic fire suppression efforts, a warming climate, and an influx of people residing in wildland urban interface (WUI) landscapes. Because of these increasing risks, there have been growing concerns about the social factors that can increase individual and community vulnerability to wildfires. This research adds to the discussion of social vulnerability by examining how people living in a geographic area with heightened wildfire risk think about the ways in which people can be more or less vulnerable to wildfires. Using semi-structured interviews, round table discussions, and field …

Anatomical Depiction: How Showing A Product's Inner Structure Shapes Product Valuations, Seo Yoon Kang, Junghan Kim, Arun Lakshmanan

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Anatomical depiction is a technique where the product is decomposed into components that are spatially arranged in a layer-by-layer manner to visually explicate its inner structure. The authors demonstrate that anatomical depiction, compared to non-anatomical depiction, enhances product valuation. This effect occurs because anatomical depiction elicits a ‘coming together’ of the inner components in consumers’ minds thereby evoking a gestalt image of the product – a process labeled simulated assemblage. The elicitation of simulated assemblage in turn boosts their confidence in the product’s performance. Two field experiments first demonstrate that anatomical depiction leads to greater engagement in online settings such …

Assessment On The Capacity Of Local Government Units In Implementing The Rules And Regulations Of Republic Act No. 11930 And A Cost Study Of Implementing An Anti-Osaec Program, Ma. Divina Gracia Roldan, Ador R. Torneo, Maria Caridad Tarroja, Marites M. Tiongco, Ma. Ella C. Oplas

SDRC Projects

This study assessed the capacity of selected local government units (LGUs) to implement Republic Act No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. It examined four dimensions of local capacity: legal, administrative, relational, and fiscal. It also assessed the costs and investments required to implement and sustain local anti-OSAEC programs.

The study employed a mixed-method approach in Manila, Dasmariñas City in Cavite, and Llorente in Eastern Samar. The qualitative component comprised 15 key informant interviews and 10 focus group discussions with representatives from …