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Embodying Design Justice: A Peace Education Framework To Strengthen Relationships, Foster Trust And Build Community, Michelle Helman

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

BACKGROUND

Groups working toward creating peace and equity often focus on external innovation without addressing internal culture shifts necessary to navigate change and achieve their goals. Michelle’s doctoral research and practice address this challenge through a design research study and peace innovation project focused on organizational culture transformation through a design justice framework. Findings suggest that interweaving the framework with storytelling, arts, and embodiment practices are key to support people in navigating change processes to strengthen relationships, foster trust, and build community.

ABOUT

The workshop offers an applied learning experience for participants to explore the concepts of design and innovation …

Conducting A Qualitative Umbrella Review For Novice Researchers: A Critical Reflection Of Primary Documents, Mónica Fontana, Celia Camilli Trujillo

The Qualitative Report

The need for scientific evidence in education has accelerated systematic reviews. However, the practice of conducting umbrella reviews is not yet common in education. Among the possible reasons for the scarce number of umbrella reviews in education is the lack of knowledge of the steps required to conduct them and the specific challenges of this method. Their usefulness in the educational context lies in their ability to offer new findings of great scope and transferability based on evidence from multiple systematic reviews in an efficient and in-depth manner. This study provides a critical reflection on the methodological implications of conducting …

Paradise Lost And Character Motivation: Sinful Behavior Or Inferiority Complex?, Esperanza Barrios

Honors Theses

Sin is a concept that is always viewed through a religious perspective. But, through Paradise Lost, John Milton was able to bring further understanding towards human nature and one’s own sense of committing what’s perceived as sinful behavior without the veil of religion glazing over academics' understanding. In religious terms, sinful behavior is the idea of defying God’s commandments, but for this research, sinful behavior may be described as abnormal behavior that damages our best interests and relationships, usually for selfish gains. Each of Milton’s main characters, Satan, Adam, and Eve, fell from grace because all three damaged their relationship …

Crafting Ethnography: A Review, Kathleen M. Lind

The Qualitative Report

This review explores Paul Atkinson's (2022) Crafting Ethnography, the fourth installment in his series on ethnographic research. The book presents a compelling case for Embodied Ethnography as Atkinson writes of his thick participation in various introductory crafting classes, including glassblowing, pottery, silversmithing, spoon-making, life drawing, digital photography, and perfume blending. By emphasizing sensory engagement and short-term, focused fieldwork, Atkinson challenges traditional notions of ethnographic immersion. I review and critique this text as a second-year doctoral student with the hopes of understanding more about qualitative research and design. Throughout this review, I examine the book as a supplemental tool that …

Reflexivity And Collaboration In Tesol Research: A Qualitative Review Of Participatory Practices In Global Contexts, Elih Sutisna Yanto

The Qualitative Report

This review critically examines with Building a Culture of Research in TESOL: Collaborations and Communities, edited by Jessie Hutchison Curtis and Özgehan Uştuk, through the lens of qualitative research practice. The volume contributes to the ongoing dialogue on the democratization of TESOL research by introducing collaborative research, autoethnography and reflective narratives. Drawing on a number of global case studies, the book highlights participatory approaches which blur the boundaries between researcher and practitioner, especially in contexts where the language is underpresented. This review explores how the book conceptualizes the partnerships between teachers and researchers as reflexive, context-sensitive production of knowledge …

Methodological Aspects In The Construction Of The Protocol In Semi-Structured Interviews, Eli Malvaceda-Espinoza, Gianpiero Flores-Pereyra

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study is to identify the methodological aspects in the construction of the semi-structured interview protocol. The development of the protocol implies the methodological articulation (i.e. the coherence between question, objective, research object, design, scenario, participants, and the technique to be used). Regarding the construction of the semi-structured interview protocol, four specific phases are considered: (1) the identification of the research topics, (2) the construction of the interview script, (3) the external evaluation of the protocol, and (4) the piloting and fine-tuning of the protocol. Each of these phases guarantee greater rigor in the qualitative research under …

Poetry’S Role In Shaping Critical Thinking In Indonesian Learners Of English As A Foreign Language, Hamzah Puadi Ilyas, Nani Solihati, Istaryatiningtias Istaryatiningtias

The Qualitative Report

This research investigated the role of poetry interpretation activities in fostering the development of critical thinking abilities among Indonesian English as a foreign language (EFL) students in a higher education setting. Given the scarcity of research in this area, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the subject. To this end, the research posed three research questions: (1) How does poetry influence the development of critical thinking abilities in EFL learners? (2) What types of critical thinking activities are facilitated by poetry? (3) How do students perceive the benefits of using poetry for critical thinking? A total …

Education For A Shared Society In Wartime: A Faculty Of Education Dean’S Autoethnography, Ilana Paul-Binyamin

The Qualitative Report

My autoethnographic study emerged in the wake of the Hamas–Israel war that began on October 7, 2023, placing me in a dual position as both an academic leader and a member of a society in crisis. As Dean of a multicultural Faculty of Education, I reflect on how the war disrupted longstanding efforts to promote shared society education between Jews and Arabs. Drawing on personal narratives, reflective fieldnotes, and case studies from campus life, I explore how trauma, fear, and political polarization undermined the multicultural frameworks I had developed over years of practice. I document moments of rupture—between students, faculty, …

Opening Paths: Subjective And Professional Trajectories In Psychosocial Intervention For Victims Of The Armed Conflict In Colombia, Edwin Alexander Hernandez Zapata, Diana Vanessa Vivares Porras, Juan David Soto-Fadul

The Qualitative Report

In this study, we analyzed the affective experiences and labor subjectivation processes of community psychologists working in intervention programs implemented by state institutions in Colombia for victims of the armed conflict, a conflict that remains ongoing in various regions of the country. By labor subjectivation processes, we refer (drawing on Foucault) to the ways in which individuals come to relate to themselves and to others through the norms, discourses, and practices that shape their roles within a given historical and institutional context—in this case, the field of psychosocial labor. To conduct this research, we used discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews …

Future Teachers’ Views On Their Science Teachers: A Case Of Turkey, Mehmet Karakaş

The Qualitative Report

Here future elementary and middle school teachers reflect on their experiences with science teachers encountered throughout their education and highlight their characteristics. The aim of the study was to create a program where teachers were given the explicit opportunity to reflect on their experiences through journaling that promoted reflective thought. Participants were 173 non-science and 120 science major prospective teachers enrolled in a small university in northeastern Turkey. Data were collected using document analysis. Findings show that effective science teachers do experiments, use teaching materials, and show special interest in students; also, their positive personality affected students’ positive attitude towards …

My Research Journey Into Family Domestic Work: Methodological Reflections Of Conducting Research With Sister-Maids And Sister-Madams In Limpopo, Percyval Bayane

The Qualitative Report

Research has been conducted on domestic work in South Africa with studies focusing on domestic workers’ conditions during Apartheid and examining the little to no changes post-Apartheid. Domestic work in post-Apartheid South Africa involves the hiring of family and friends as domestic workers, and this is an under-researched area. As a young black man researching family domestic work, I was confronted with methodological challenges relating to negotiating access and conducting interviews with older black women hiring relatives and those working for family members as domestic workers. This reflexive paper reflects on my personal journey and experiences of conducting qualitative research …

Beyond Gun Control: How March For Our Lives Frames Gun Violence Prevention As Positive Peace, Ashley E. Nickels, Amanda D. Clark

Peace and Conflict Studies

March for Our Lives (MFOL) is a youth-led social movement that has redefined the framing of gun violence prevention, expanding it beyond policy-focused gun control efforts to a broader vision of positive peace. Rather than positioning gun violence solely as a matter of firearm regulation, MFOL constructs it as a structural justice issue, linking it to systemic inequities such as racial oppression, economic inequality, and political disenfranchisement. This study examines how MFOL’s movement framing reshapes understandings of gun violence prevention by emphasizing community transformation, intersectional justice, and collective safety. Drawing on framing theory, we analyze how MFOL presents gun violence …

A Review Of The Lifelong Learning And Continuing Education System In Singapore, Brian Teck Kin Heng, Mei Zhen Ng

The Qualitative Report

The workforce development field faces profound impacts due to rapid changes in the job landscape, necessitating new skill requirements driven by technological advancements. However, there remains a gap in studying and understanding the interaction between government support, employers/union support, and the learner themselves to influence a positive outcome for employment and employability. Therefore, this study will utilise semi-structured interviews where participants will be divided into two main groups: workforce leaders, and workforce members (comprises workers, employees and job seekers). The actor-oriented approach reveals the roles of the various identified players in the employment and skill-upgrading landscape. The interviews were designed …

Young Adults And Early-Onset Psychosis: A Grounded Theory Study Of Experiences Of Identity Development, Katherine Hayden-Lewis, Deborah Rubel

The Qualitative Report

While identity development is a crucial task for young individuals ages 15-25, current research inadequately centralizes identity development in the context of first-time psychosis related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study addresses the knowledge gap by exploring the grand research question, “How does a young person experience their identity development after the first episode of psychosis?”. Constructivist grounded theory methods influenced by critical frameworks were used to collect and analyze data with seven young adults engaged in first episode psychosis programs. Participants were young adults, between the ages of 19-24, that at the time of the study were enrolled in …

Teachers’ Experiences With Physical Or Verbal Aggression In The Aftermath Of Covid-19, Juana M. Lang, Lucinda A. Hines, Karen Johnson

The Qualitative Report

This hermeneutical phenomenology study explored teachers’ lived experiences facing verbal or physical aggression from students after schools reopened post-COVID-19. Grounded in Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, Heider’s Attribution Theory, and Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Stress Theory, the study addressed the research question: What were teachers’ lived experiences with verbal or physical aggression from students after the first wave of COVID-19? Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used in the study. The sample included four teachers (two middle schools and two high schools) from the Southeastern U.S. Data were collected through open-ended iterative interviews and analyzed thematically. Findings revealed four themes: teachers …

Physics Teachers' Perceptions About Diagnostic Assessment Of Students' Physics Misconception: A Phenomenological Study, Mutmainna Mutmainna, Edi Istiyono, Haryanto Haryanto, Heri Retnawati, Caly Setiawan

The Qualitative Report

Physics learning needs to be designed by teachers to minimize misconceptions. Different diagnostic tools have been developed and used by researchers to identify student misconceptions. However, each tool has advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, teachers play a crucial role, including their understanding of misconceptions and their ability to select the most effective tools according to their purpose. This study sought to uncover the experiences of eight physics teachers through phenomenological studies. Physics teachers involved in this research had diversity based on the period of experience teaching physics, geographical area, and education level. A virtual semi-structured interview (40 to 60 minutes) for …

Reflections On Researching Second-Generation Migrant Youths Amidst Covid-19 And Beyond: Challenges And Lessons For Future Researchers, Betty Chiyangwa

The Qualitative Report

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for researchers to adapt to innovative methodologies in qualitative research. I reflect on my doctoral experiences, examining the challenges I faced and lessons I learned during data collection amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. I explore the hurdles faced, mitigation measures adopted, and lessons for future researchers, using a reflective qualitative design that integrates my personal narrative and thematic analysis. The analysis included a systematic coding process, underpinned by critical narrative inquiry, reflections, observations and an analysis of my field notes. Six hurdles emerged during the data analysis process amidst COVID-19: (1) experiences of …

A Compass For Qualitative Researchers: Reviewing Okoko, Tunison, And Walker's Varieties Of Qualitative Research Methods, Solomon Terfasa Dinka Sol

The Qualitative Report

What immediately impressed me in reviewing Varieties of Qualitative Research Methods is its comprehensive compilation of qualitative research concepts, enriched by insights from a global community of academics and research practitioners, which truly sets an inclusive tone. As I understand its core purpose, this book directly addresses the evolving background of qualitative research, particularly in a world that is increasingly interconnected. The authors highlight a significant shift towards a more diverse and inclusive field, one that embraces varied epistemologies and ways of knowing. Consequently, the volume aims to serve as a crucial stage for academicians, regardless of their stage in …

A Very Positive Review Of Positive Autoethnography: An Introduction To Theory And Practice, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

Emerging from a creative marriage of positive psychology and autoethnography, Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky and Claude-Hélène Mayer (2025) present a wonderful addition to both families with their new book, Positive Autoethnography: An Introduction to Theory and Practice. The authors do an excellent job situating this new methodology in the rich traditions of both foundational areas and present the theoretical and practical qualities of a variety of positive autoethnography derivations. In what might be the most interesting variation of this evolving form of autoethnography is its promise as a form of therapy – a very positive development indeed.

Qualitative Insights Into The Complexity Of Calling: Moving Beyond Quantitative Boundaries, Jeannel King

The Qualitative Report

Why are deeply personal and lived experiences often reduced to standardized measurements? Calling is one such experience. Although widely recognized as complex, personal, and contextually shaped, the concept of calling has most often been researched through quantitative methods over the past two decades. This study employed qualitative content analysis (QCA) to examine how calling was researched across 267 peer-reviewed journal articles, trace methodological patterns, and consider how those choices influence the field’s conceptualizations of the construct. The analysis integrated deductive coding of methodological features and inductive identification of conceptual themes, refined through abductive synthesis. This hybrid strategy positioned the study …

Mixed-Methods & Ai For Methodological Literature Reviews, António Pedro Costa, Pablo Burneo, Judita Kasperiuniene

The Qualitative Report

In the Generative AI (GenAI) era, social researchers have explored different tools for different phases of research projects. Despite AI and GenAI being highly relevant topics in current literature, few researchers have addressed the question of how to explore GenAI tools based on human-AI collaboration to improve the quality of methodological literature reviews. Based on a real project as a sample, “a competence framework for social researchers integrating GenAI”, we propose a detailed analytical model that triangulates evidence from both quantitative and qualitative data analyses. A mixed-methods approach is looked at, with a focus on the qualitative dimension (quant-QUAL). The …

Sarah Lewis’ Terrific Toolkit: A Positive Psychology Perspective On The Practicality Of Appreciative Inquiry Application, Ronald J. Chenail

The Qualitative Report

Sarah Lewis (2025) has made a strong contribution to the “How To” resources for conducting Appreciative Inquiry with her new book, Practical Appreciative Inquiry: A Toolkit for Applying Appreciative Inquiry to Organisational Challenges, Opportunities, and Aspirations. She has crafted the tome from a positive psychology perspective and her extensive experiences as an organizational consultant and facilitator, author, and postgraduate level lecturer in the United Kingdom. Her presentation is divided into two interrelated major sections - Background and Practice Theory and Applications, in which the backgrounding is full of practicalities and the applications are grounded in sound Appreciative Inquiry thinking. Through …

A Story Within Stories: Using An Analytic Framework To Move From Individual To Collective Storying In The Analysis Of Academic Entrepreneurship Narratives, Olga Gusak, Elena Lyutykh

The Qualitative Report

In this article the objective is to tell a story of one narrative inquiry that employed paradigmatic analytic procedures to explore academic entrepreneurship. Participating twelve college leaders in executive positions in vocational education schools in the USA, invited as information rich cases from personal networks, were powerful storytellers, comfortable with sharing representative anecdotes and shaping the strategic story for their organizations. Their stories were gathered during two rounds of in-depth interviews. Relational ontology and constructivist epistemology underpinned data collection and inductive analysis with assumptions about researchers and participants as co-constructors of the meaning of the social phenomenon of academic entrepreneurship. …

Personal Cultural Memory As Part Of Life Stories: Insights From Biographical Research On Japanese Canadian And Japanese American Wartime Experiences, Maria Wacławik

The Qualitative Report

The study focuses on the experiences of these communities during World War II, when they were displaced and incarcerated following the attack on Pearl Harbor. In the face of such traumatic events, the challenge arises in how individuals convey memories when words alone may not suffice. The main objective of this research was to determine, based on autobiographical narratives, the links between the memory of wartime experiences of Japanese Americans and Japanese Canadians and their ethnic identity. I do not analyze entire collections of mediated memories stored by narrators, but only those that were introduced during the interview as part …

Participatory, Project-Based Approach To Migrant Employment Research: Engaging Entrepreneurs Through Social Innovation, Sabina Kubiciel-Lodzińska, Jolanta Maj

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research with entrepreneurs employing migrant workers poses significant challenges, particularly in recruiting respondents willing to discuss sensitive topics. This study explores an innovative method to overcome these barriers by engaging entrepreneurs through community-centered social initiatives. Specifically, we examine the "Opole Friendly Company for Migrants" project, a socially innovative competition conducted in the Opolskie Voivodeship from 2020 to 2024. The competition had two main goals. Firstly, it was aimed to foster participation in qualitative research by integrating respondents into a broader, socially meaningful context. The second goal was fostering community integration. The competition highlighted the role of entrepreneurs in supporting …

Acknowledging Progress And Sustaining Rigor In Qualitative Scholarship, Elena Lyutykh

The Qualitative Report

World Conference on Qualitative Research (WCQR) is an annual gathering that brings scholars from around the world. The conference continues to uphold the highest standards of freedom, ethical integrity, and transparency in the unwavering commitment to improve the quality in qualitative scholarship across national borders. The articles that comprise this issue navigate methodological challenges in qualitative research and seek to bring clarity when exploring and explaining truths of social phenomena. The proposed approaches to data collection and analysis demonstrate excellence in creative synthesis of techniques to decern questions of methodology, contributing to enhancements in trustworthiness of qualitative studies.

Bridging Language Barriers In Data Analysis For Constructivist Grounded Theory Research: A Case Study In Chinese Context, Wenyu Li, Catherine Elliott O’Dare, Catherine Conlon

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative studies across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts are rising in global social settings. However, literature addressing the potential methodology challenges of conducting such research using constructivist grounded theory (CGT) remains limited. This paper, therefore, highlights potential challenges in the data analysis phase of cross-cultural research using CGT and suggests a three-phase language conversion strategy to minimize data loss while avoiding superficial analysis based on my Ph.D. research experience, where interviews are conducted in Chinese while the target language is English. Additionally, this paper reflects on the role of bilingual researchers in CGT cross-cultural studies, exploring how the bilingual research …

Collaborative Reflections On A Practical Journey Through Transcendental Phenomenology Data Analysis, Tyler Kulp, Hissah Alzahrani, Michele Parker

The Qualitative Report

Although transcendental phenomenology is widely recognized in qualitative research, there is limited discussion of how researchers come to understand and apply its methods in practice. This paper examines how reflective collaboration enhances the understanding and use of transcendental phenomenological analysis. It involves the first author, a recent doctoral graduate, the second author, a current doctoral student, and the third author, the doctoral advisor, using a collaborative approach. We draw upon the first author’s dissertation, providing clear, actionable guidance for simplifying the analysis process. The discussion highlights the value of collaborative reflection in making the methodology more accessible and enriching understanding …

"Incredibly Powerful And Well-Crafted" - A Review Of Pandemic Death Discourse: Denial, Disparity And The Promise Of Communication, Elda Kanzki-Veloso Ph.D.

The Qualitative Report

This book analysis, focused on Pandemic Death Discourse: Denial, Disparity and the Promise of Communication (Alvarez et al., 2025), expressed a deeply human expectation from readers. The reviewer wanted more than just straightforward facts; there was a deep yearning for real emotion, personal stories, and meaningful connections that helped people cope with fear and uncertainty. They emphasized the importance of immersing readers in the rich experiences of grief, resilience, and hope. There was a need to feel the heavy impact of overlooked lives. The desire for a sense of outrage regarding the disposable nature of certain lives emerged, as well …

Ethnographic Dilemmas And Reflexive Thoughts Of A Contemplative Jewish Anthropologist, Elazar Ben-Lulu Dr.

The Qualitative Report

During ethnographic fieldwork, anthropologists of religion grapple with various dilemmas regarding their participation in the rituals they study. How do they make real-time decisions between full participation and observational distance? Do they manage to participate harmoniously in religious activities even during moments of doubt or questioning of their own faith? Based on my three-year fieldwork in Israeli Reform Jewish congregations, which included observations and in-depth interviews, I demonstrate how my reflexive experience which exposes my internal Jewish dialogue, shaped my patterns of participation and motivation in engaging with various rituals. This autoethnographic description illustrates that my deliberate abstention or avoidance …