Theorizing Risk and Research: Methodological Constraints and Their Consequences

Conflict, postconflict settings, and other risky research sites are important with wide-ranging policy implications. Microlevel, field-based research lends critical insights to how conflicts work and the mechanisms behind macrolevel correlations that underpin quantitative political science. This article identifies how the risks associated with conflict and postconflict contexts influence researchers’ choices by theorizing the existence of distinct adaptive strategies. Specifically, researchers facing elevated risk generally manage it through three main strategies: outsourcing risk, avoiding risk, and internalizing risk. We argue that these strategies systematically shape and circumscribe outputs. We conclude by discussing how the relationship between risky fieldwork and what we know about conflict is poorly acknowledged. Thinking about how we manage risk should play a larger role in both our preparation for and interpretation of research, particularly in conflict and postconflict contexts

Delegated causality of complex systems

A notion of delegated causality is introduced here. This subtle kind of causality is dual to interventional causality. Delegated causality elucidates the causal role of dynamical systems at the “edge of chaos”, explicates evident cases of downward causation, and relates emergent phenomena to Gödel’s incompleteness theorem. Apparently rich implications are noticed in biology and Chinese philosophy. The perspective of delegated causality supports cognitive interpretations of self-organization and evolution

Jack's story: A need to know

This article examines a recent case study exploring evidence that children in early childhood services can use ICT to direct their own inquiry learning. A qualitative case study involving an interview and the learning story tool of assessment was conducted to describe the experience of one child and his teacher. They engaged in sustained shared thinking using ICT as a tool to facilitate inquiry in an early childhood setting. The findings indicate that children in early childhood settings can use ICT to direct their own inquiry learning. Two key factors are identified that enable this. These factors are the child as an active learner, and a supportive well resourced learning environment. In this article we argue that these factors need to be acknowledged in teaching practice if ICT is to be used in meaningful and purposeful ways

Potentials of social media for tacit knowledge sharing amongst physicians : preliminary findings

Tacit knowledge sharing amongst physicians, such as the sharing of clinical experiences, skills, or know-how, or know-whom, is known to have a significant impact on the quality of medical diagnosis and decisions. This paper posits that social media can provide new opportunities for tacit knowledge sharing amongst physicians, and demonstrates this by presenting findings from a review of relevant literature and a survey conducted with physicians. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten physicians from around the world who were active users of social media. Initial thematic analysis revealed eight themes as potential contributions of social web tools to facilitate tacit knowledge flow amongst physicians. The emergent themes are defined, linked to the literature, and supported by instances of interview transcripts. Findings presented here are preliminary, and final results will be reported after accomplishing all phases of data collection and analysis

Professional decision-making in medicine: Development of a new measure and preliminary evidence of validity

INTRODUCTION: This study developed a new Professional Decision-Making in Medicine Measure that assesses the use of effective decision-making strategies: seek help, manage emotions, recognize consequences and rules, and test assumptions and motives. The aim was to develop a content valid measure and obtain initial evidence for construct validity so that the measure could be used in future research or educational assessment. METHODS: Clinical scenario-based items were developed based on a review of the literature and interviews with physicians. For each item, respondents are tasked with selecting two responses (out of six plausible options) that they would choose in that situation. Three of the six options reflect a decision-making strategy; these responses are scored as correct. Data were collected from a sample of 318 fourth-year medical students in the United States. They completed a 16-item version of the measure (Form A) and measures of social desirability, moral disengagement, and professionalism attitudes. Professionalism ratings from clerkships were also obtained. A sub-group (n = 63) completed a second 16-item measure (Form B) to pilot test the instrument, as two test forms are useful for pre-posttest designs. RESULTS: Scores on the new measure indicated that, on average, participants answered 75% of items correctly. Evidence for construct validity included the lack of correlation between scores on the measure and socially desirable responding, negative correlation with moral disengagement, and modest to low correlations with professionalism attitudes. A positive correlation was observed with a clerkship rating focused on professionalism in peer interactions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate modest proficiency in the use of decision-making strategies among fourth-year medical students. Additional research using the Professional Decision-Making Measure should explore scores among physicians in various career stages, and the causes and correlates of scores. Educators could utilize the measure to assess courses that teach decision-making strategies

It Was TV: Teaching HBO\u27s The Wire as a Television Series

Unlike most courses dedicated to The Wire that have examined race, class, criminal justice, urban studies, or education, Sodano foregrounds The Wire as a work of television and examines how it was taught to media majors and non-majors from aesthetic, cultural, technological, economic, and sociological perspectives. It is crucial to recognize The Wire as a piece of television because the circumstances surrounding its appearance on HBO provide context for how it was produced, distributed, and received

Psalm 23: A Contemporary Reading of a God-Human Covenant

The scriptures of all the world religions are written with hidden meanings; this is to ensure that only the initiated, the adept and the ardent seeker of knowledge can understand the deeper meanings of the text and this is done through the utilization of proverbs, metaphors, anecdotes and parables, which the literature of Judeo-Christian theology refers to a “dark sayings.” This paper subjects the God-human covenant, which is metaphorically captured in Psalm 23, to critical analysis within the context of the essence of the relationship between God and human and how that covenants human attitudinally and behaviorally in his or her  interpersonal relationship in the human community including his sensitivity to the earth environment and other non-human occupants of the earth. The paper argues that it is this attitudinal and behavioral disposition of the individual to his relationship with his fellow human beings, his lower neighbors in the animal kingdom and the earth environment that determines the degree to which he lives in harmony with the Creator and, consequently, his transcendence and, therefore, ascent on the eternal journey towards oneness with God, the Good Shepherd. This, the paper emphasizes, has nothing whatsoever to do with the color, creed, station or location of the individual; it is purely a one-on-one relationship between God and every human being in creation

Ideas for Growth?

There is much talk of the knowledge economy, and the central role of ideas and knowledge in generating economic growth. This paper provides a brief review of the economic literature on how skills/ knowledge/ ideas might contribute to higher output or higher rates of growth. Ideas are complementary inputs into production, in the sense that they raise the productivity of other inputs. Some of the complementarities may give rise to externalities—effects that do not have to be paid for. For investments in ideas to generate output growth, these complementarities must be particularly strong. I conclude with some comments on what policy makers can draw from the literature, which is some encouragement but little specific guidance.Economic growth, Endogenous growth models, Innovation