Sociology Commons^™

“Everything Seems To Be The Right Eye In Our Family”: Intergenerational Family Living With Facial Eye Disfigurement: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Zali M. O'Dea Ms, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

This paper presents the lived experience of an intergenerational family, spanning three generations living with Facial Eye Disfigurement (FED). Living with vision loss and FED is estimated to affect nearly 8 billion people worldwide. Inadequate attention is paid to the impact of Living with FED (LwFED) on the lives of individuals. This research offers a deep dive into the lived experiences of one family LwFED. This family comprises a grandfather (deceased), son, wife, and child, all of whom have lived or live with FED. In this Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study three interviewees are deemed the experts. Data were collected …

Forgiveness As A Critical And Transformative Factor In Sustainable Peace: Peacebuilding Women In Rumuruti, Kenya, Genevieve Mwella Sabala

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The concept of ‘forgiveness’ in relation to sustainable peace has been extensively writtenabout. However, research shows that many organizations involved in peacebuilding have not actively adopted ‘forgiveness’ as they have done with restorative justice, healing, and reconciliation. Therefore it opens up an opportunity for further inquiry to identify the meaning and role of forgiveness in sustainable peacebuilding. Forgiveness is still being debated and the various meanings accorded by a variety of disciplines from religion, political, sociological, and conflict resolution practitioners, make it more complex. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate women’s lived experiences with ethnic violence post …

Balancing Acts: Navigating The Impact Of Working From Home On Women, Families And Beyond, Gayle Marie Hardison

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the world and continues to impact us four years later. One of the most significant impacts the pandemic had is on the way we work. To stop the spread of the virus and to safeguard the public, countries around the world issued stay-athome orders which required all but essential workers to stay at home beginning in March of 2020 in the United States and throughout the world. This transformed the way and where we worked and a large portion of the workforce which was able, began working from home or teleworking. What …

Percepción Sobre Los Factores Que Inciden En La Utilización De La Plataforma De Microsoft Teams En Tiempos De Pandemia, Jessica Rosa Domenech

Theses and Dissertations

El diseño de investigación fue de naturaleza exploratorio con un enfoque fenomenológico correspondiente al paradigma cualitativo. Se utilizó la entrevista en profundidad para obtener la información. Los hallazgos relevantes demostraron que Los factores internos que incidieron en el uso del Microsoft Team incluyeron la disposición y competencia tecnológica de los maestros, su nivel de familiaridad con la plataforma y su capacidad para integrarla en su metodología de enseñanza. Los factores externos, la disponibilidad de recursos tecnológicos y acceso a Internet en las escuelas y hogares de los estudiantes es un aspecto importante que puede influir en la utilización de TEAMS. …

The Predictive Validity Of Sex Offender Treatment Progress Scale (Sotips) Using Iowa Sex Offenders, Holly Kelley-Chown

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a replication study of McGrath, Lasher, and Cumming's 2012 study. McGrath et al.'s population consisted of convicted Vermont sex offenders, while this replication study's population consisted of convicted Iowa sex offenders. Nearly 2,000 sex offenders are under the Iowa Department of Corrections community supervision (Daily Statistics-DOC Offender, 2023). Iowa uses SOTIPS, Static-99R, and the Iowa Risk Revised (IRR) to determine recidivism risk and supervision levels. The Static-99R was developed in Canada and has been validated in several jurisdictions, including Iowa (Statistical validation of the ISORA8 & Static-99 final report, 2010). The IRR was developed in Iowa using …

Harm-Focused Policing: A Comparison Of Citizen And Patrol Deputy Perceptions On The Severity Of Social Harms, Christina Finn

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the perceptions of Volusia County citizens and patrol deputies regarding the severity of social harms attributed to incidents of criminal activity. Despite the widespread assessments of crime, the perceptions of associated harms remain unclear. Developing a social harm index may provide current insight into the opinions of harm as perceived by both the public and law enforcement agencies. Using a sequential explanatory mixed method design, patrol deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and residents of Volusia County, Florida, were invited to complete a series of surveys and follow-up interviews. This study aimed to compare participant ratings …

Examination Of The Differences And Similarities In The Classification Of Multiple Homicide Perpetrators, Lucy M. Papp

Theses and Dissertations

The applied dissertation compares the lifestyle and behavioral characteristics of mass, serial, and spree murderers. Historically, studies have focused on serial murder according to the perpetrator's typology or indicators at the crime scene. The current topics of research lack a comparison of these classifications. While the classification and described typologies are essential for academic and investigative purposes, understanding the impactful lifestyle factors of these perpetrators may also serve as an essential factor in predictive analysis, victimology, and the motive behind their heinous crimes.

The researcher collected data on the classifications for each type of multiple homicide perpetrator: mass, serial, and …

Spouse Violence In Case Of Police Officers In Puerto Rico: Violence In Police Families, Jorge Ismael Suarez

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore the relationship between factors related to police work and whether these factors help predict domestic violence in a sample of officers of the Puerto Rico Police. The following factors were explored in this study: external burnout, alcohol abuse, department withdrawal, and authoritarian spillover. This study was based on a previous study by Johnson et al. (2005), which revealed that violence exposure and domestic violence among police officers are linked according to four mediation chains. The mediation chain was a model implemented by the authors to determine the influence of burnout, authoritarian spillover, alcohol …

An Exploration Of The Lived Experiences And Psychological States Of Migrants And Refugees, Zainab Akef, Senel Poyrazli, Isabel Quintero

The Qualitative Report

UNHCR reports that about 82.4 million individuals were forcibly displaced as they attempted to avoid persecution, conflict, or human rights violations in their home countries. In addition to traumatic experiences, refugees encounter stressors such as low income, reduced social support, and language barriers. This qualitative study aimed to explore the impact of pre-migration trauma and political detainment on mental health outcomes and living conditions. A total of eight interviewees participated in video conferencing interviews. A non-probability convenience sampling using the snowballing technique was utilized to identify participants. Data were analyzed using an inductive approach for thematic analysis. The software Dedoose …

An Autoethnographic Dialogue With Motherhood Literature, Maya Autret, Brad Van Eeden-Moorefield

The Qualitative Report

This autoethnography represents the first author’s journey as a mother and doctoral student researching mothers’ experiences in contending with the demands of work and family. Reading across different pockets of empirical motherhood literature (work-family conflict, contemporary motherhood, maternal gatekeeping, and intensive motherhood) I became troubled by how women’s realities were reflected. Pushing back against traditional methods that endorse separating my researcher identity from my maternal self, I draw on autoethnographic method to dialogue with this literature. This approach empowers me to speak out as a novice scholar uncomfortable with aspects of literature, while also navigating training in the use of …

Paraprofessionals In A Special Education Setting: A Qualitative Exploration Of Their Perceptions, Chana S. Max, Keisha Mccoy-Dailey

The Qualitative Report

Paraprofessionals support teachers and students in the classroom. Their roles and responsibilities vary; however, their goal is always to improve student achievement. The purpose of the study was to fill a gap in the literature related to special education paraprofessionals’ perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs on the support and trainings they receive prior to and during their job as a paraprofessional for students in a special education setting. Generic qualitative methodology was used to capture the thoughts, experience, and perceptions of 42 paraprofessionals across the United States. Data collection included an eight-question online questionnaire. Results of the study revealed five patterns …

The Peace Is Uneasy And Needs To Be Won Everyday: Economic Assistance And Peacebuilding Among Marginalized Groups In Northern Ireland And The Border Area, Mehmet Yavuz, Sean Byrne

Peace and Conflict Studies

While Northern Ireland is still recovering from the violent legacy of the 30-year Troubles during a global COVID-19 pandemic, people still experience violence daily. Economic and political inequalities heighten intergroup tensions and insecurity contributing to the promotion of destructive stories. Brexit has escalated the culture wars between the Protestant Unionist Loyalist and Catholic Nationalist Republican communities as Loyalist youth and paramilitary groups protest on Belfast’s streets. Through 120 semi-structured interviews, we explore the experiences and understandings of Civil Society Organization (CSO) peacebuilding and reconciliation workers that liaison with ex-combatants and youth in Derry and the Border area of Northern Ireland. …

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, …

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 …

Doctoral Students Balancing The Roles And Relationships Of Counselor Education, Isabel C. Farrell, Casey A. Barrio Minton, Amanda C. Dediego

The Qualitative Report

Aspiring counselor educators in Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited programs must learn to be counselors, teachers, supervisors, researchers, and leaders. These roles can overlap, creating multiple complex relationships during their programs. To examine these roles, we conducted a constructivist grounded theory investigation of how counselor education doctoral students (n = 9) balanced multiple roles and relationships and boundary crossings. We utilized chain referral sampling and continued until we reached theoretical saturation. We used semi-structured interviews conducted via videoconferencing (Zoom) for data collection and coded the interviews using two main phases: an initial phase and …

"Well You Know...": Parents' Perceptions Of Morality In Aaa Youth Ice Hockey, Zachary Mccarver, Danielle Wong Vickland, Megan B. Stellino

The Qualitative Report

Parents’ involvement patterns serve as a catalyst to their children’s moral development (Bandura, 1991). Yet, sport culture may convolute parents’ authentic ability to socialize their children’s moral development within a compliant structure focused on performance excellence (Hughes & Coakley, 1991). The purpose of the current study was to examine how parents conceptualize morality while entrenched in a conformity-driven elite youth ice hockey environment. The following research question was explored: how do parents ascribe meaning to, and learn the behavioral representations of, moral and immoral behaviors in youth ice hockey? Parents’ (N = 8, M_age = 53.13) perspectives of …

Poetic Representations Of Covid-19 Narratives: An Exploration Of Emotional Experiences During The Pandemic, Isha Harshe, Lindy Davidson

The Qualitative Report

In pivotal moments of history like the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to attend to and preserve the stories of different people experiencing the same phenomenon in their own ways. This project analyzed the public’s emotional experiences during the pandemic using methods of narrative and poetic inquiry. After reading 105 entries from the Pandemic Journaling Project, an online platform where people anonymously published journal entries reflecting on their pandemic experiences, narratives were categorized based on ten prominent emotional themes: anger, anxiety, fatigue, fear, loneliness, longing, loss, loss of control, stress, and uncertainty. Found poems were constructed for each emotion …

The Experience Of Faculty Strikers: Factors That Could Impact Higher Education Strikes, Giovanna Follo, Diane Huelskamp

The Qualitative Report

Higher education is being challenged as is the unionization of faculty. This combination could create a climate where faculty may need to strike. The purpose of this research is to describe the lived experiences of striking faculty to bring a greater understanding of what faculty may incur. This research utilized a phenomenological approach with a combination of composite narratives and in vivo coding to describe the lived experiences of striking. With the number of layoffs, strikes and threats of striking, this research is timely in understanding what striking entails and how it can best be navigated for the benefit of …

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 …

De-Fragmenting Social Science? A Review Of Farewell To Variables, Tom Strong

The Qualitative Report

I review Farewell to Variables, a recent edited volume by cultural psychologists collaborating with Jaan Valsiner. I relate "variable thinking" to challenges faced in conducting qualitative research, and in relating to everyday life.

A Phenomenological Study Of Barriers And Needs Related To Opioid Prevention, Treatment, And Recovery In Rural Alabama, Joshua C. Eyer, Cho Rong Won, Megan Sawyer, Yan Luo, Kun Wang, Edson Chipalo, Gwen Thomas-Leblanc, Hee Lee

The Qualitative Report

Rural areas with limited access to preventive care, treatment, and recovery services are particularly affected by the opioid crisis. This study identified four rural areas in Alabama that had higher opioid prescription rates than the state and national average. This study explores the views of three groups [healthcare service providers, persons who use/used opioids (PWUO), and community stakeholders] on the barriers to and needs for opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery services using a phenomenological qualitative design. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used to recruit 95 participants across 12 focus groups which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A seven-member analysis team …

Access To Qualitative Inquiry: An Internal Dialogue, James A. Bernauer

The Qualitative Report

Based on the theme of the TQR 15^th Annual Conference – “Qualitative Inquiry; Access Denied?” this article introspectively examines through a self-interview what I have learned and experienced and my “evolution” in relation to qualitative inquiry. My journey began firmly in the quantitative/rationalistic camp, and I now find myself midway between this camp and the qualitative/naturalistic camp. Is this an integrated space that provides a home to practice mixed methods and a more natural and authentic way to go about discovery and learning?

A Thematic Analysis Of Teacher Experiences During Active Shooter Lockdown Drills, Stephanie F. Dailey, Beth Hosek, Heather L. Walter

The Qualitative Report

Teachers are tasked with ensuring that those under their care are safe and protected, yet the lack of evidence supporting the specific needs and experiences of teachers during active school shooter lockdown drills is alarming. The current study used live-action, virtual reality (VR) technology to simulate 36 active school shooter scenarios to explore teachers' experiences related to lockdown procedures and response protocols. Using thematic analysis and structured qualitative data, 355 descriptive responses from 11 teachers across 396 scenarios were coded and analyzed for explicit and implicit themes and sub-themes. Three overarching themes—humanistic care, enacted care, and professional duty—describe how teachers …

Legal And Housing Service Providers’ Perspectives On Clients’ Experiences With Foreclosure, Cyleste C. Collins, Leaanne Derigne, Elizabeth Anthony, David Rothstein, Debbie Taylor

The Qualitative Report

Although the foreclosure crisis is considered over, some areas of the U.S. continue to suffer from high foreclosure rates. This research presents findings from in-depth interviews conducted with 18 service providers who worked with families to prevent their foreclosures in Cleveland, Ohio. The research focused on better understanding the landscape of the Cleveland foreclosure experience. Service providers provided insight into families’ experiences with the foreclosure process. The three main themes developed from the interviews included: (1) clients lacked knowledge about the mortgage process; (2) lenders exploited clients’ lack of knowledge, setting them up to fail with predatory mortgages and targeting …

A Case Study Of Doormat Craft Business Management By Disabled People's Organizations, Edy Purnomo, Bayu Rahmat Setiadi, Ishartiwi Ishartiwi, Angga Damayanto, Eka Ary Wibawa

The Qualitative Report

The Pusat Pemberdayaan Mitra Sejahtera (PPDMS) is a Disabled People's Organization (DPO) in Indonesia that continued operating its doormat craft business during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a unique time, given many constraints on workers in Indonesia. This study aimed to explore the challenges PPDMS faced while running their doormat craft business during the COVID-19 pandemic and what strategies they used to overcome these challenges. A case study was used to explore the unique characteristics of DPO entities and their strategies to continue a sustainable business during the pandemic. Research participants included organizational leaders, members, coordinators, partner subsidiaries, and families …

Sustainability Innovation In Small Medium Enterprises (Smes): A Qualitative Analysis, Budi Harsanto, Asep Mulyana, Yudi Ahmad Faisal Mr, Venny Mellandhia Shandy, Muntasir Alam

The Qualitative Report

Prior research suggests that today, sustainability is an important key in innovation. While the integration of sustainability into innovation in large enterprises has been widely studied, research on small-medium enterprises (SMEs) is still lacking. The aim of this study is to understand the sustainability innovation practices in SMEs. We interviewed 30 SME owners and managers in Indonesia and analyzed the data using thematic analysis to understand how SMEs practice sustainability innovation. The findings show that sustainability innovation in the form of product innovation is commonly practiced through the use of more environmentally friendly raw materials and packaging materials. As for …

Peace Cafe, Ana Cynthia Saenz Jaimes

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

GAMIP Latin America presents Peace Cafe, a participatory and dialogued meeting space, virtual, face-to-face or hybrid, for critical reflection, study, promotion, and practices of Cultures of Peace. We want the exchange and respect of opinions and ideas without polarization.

Peace Cafe is for all GAMIP members and civil society actors, researchers, educational institutions, activists, business people, and governments. We hope to share a good coffee, listen and learning common issues and problems in the region.

This project is organized by GAMIP ALC and is supported for its execution by a registered member, by someone from an organization whose objectives are …

“My Mummy Has A Hole In Her Face”: Living With Facial Eye Disfigurement, Zali O'Dea, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

People living with facial eye disfigurements (LwFED) are often shunned by a society that makes spontaneous judgements based on appearance. This article is a case study of the lived experience of Toni, a 27-year-old woman LwFED, the result of her treatment for ocular cancer. Semi-structured interviews facilitated the exploration of her experiences. We present the findings chronologically but interwoven with themes such as: being strong for others; responding to her partner’s abuse; dealing with strangers; and reinventing her sense of identity and supporting others. We identified institutional perspectives of work, hospital, and family within the prevailing UK that impacted Toni’s …

Navigating Rigor: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of Templating And Crystallization, Heather Stewart Dr, Harsh Suri, Deborah Delaney, Vishal Rana Dr

The Qualitative Report

In this autoethnographic exploration, we engage in a dialogic investigation to examine how templating and crystallization shape rigor in qualitative research. The use of templates in qualitative research has been widely used as a means of enhancing rigor in organizational research design yet comes with caveats especially when wanting to push boundaries. With the interplay of templates and crystallization, the researcher is encouraged to apply iterative and reflexive modes. The aim here is to inspire and invite researchers to pursue the multiplicity offered by qualitative methodologies and expand the discipline through authentic, trustworthy, and credible approaches. To explore the development …