The Golden Cage: Western Women in the Compound in a Muslim Country

This article presents the results of a qualitative study, in which postings in virtual communities were content analyzed to capture the lived experience of western women residing in compounds in the Arab world. In spite of their growing number and unique characteristics, the life and struggles of these women has not been studied. Four major themes emerged: challenges, perceived benefits, available support systems and coping strategies. These themes are discussed and illustrated

Conducting an unplanned participant observation: the case of a non-birder in bird watchers' land

This article describes two participant observations of birdwatchers, which occurred by serendipity. Characteristics of personal and interpersonal behavior patterns are identified and illustrated. Specifically, four themes including total immersion and dedication to details of birders as well the collaborative-competitive nature of their interactions and sub-culture are discussed in the context of available knowledge about subcultures in other types of sports and leisure activities. Methodological and ethical aspects of unplanned participant observation are also addressed.In diesem Beitrag beschreibe ich zwei teilnehmende Beobachtungen von Vogelbeobachter/innen, die zufällig zustande kamen. Individuelle und interpersonelle Handlungsmuster werden identifiziert und veranschaulicht. Im Besonderen diskutiere ich Themen wie das völlige Eintauchen in Details von Vogelbeobachtung und den kollaborativ-kompetitiven Charakter der subkulturellen Interaktionen vor dem Hintergrund verfügbaren Wissens über Sport- und Freizeitaktivitäten in anderen Subkulturen. Zusätzlich befasse ich mich mit methodologischen und ethischen Implikationen ungeplanter teilnehmender Beobachtung

Women\u27s Experience of Infertility: A Multi-systemic Perspective

This article describes a study that used a multi-system perspective to document the self-reported experience of women struggling with infertility and its treatment. A sub-sample of 56 participants from a parent study that examined posttraumatic growth in the context of infertility was used based on their answers to a single open-ended question about their infertility experience, which was included in the original questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were self-identified failure to achieve a pregnancy or carry it to term after at least one year of trying in the six years prior to the study and absence of a recent crisis unrelated to the infertility. Responses were content analyzed independently by a team of three researchers. The analysis yielded agreed upon 85 codes clustered in six themes: Challenges, perception of the experience, reactions, support, coping strategies and posttraumatic growth. The main overall finding points to the sense of being “trapped” in a web of multi-faceted, environmental and internal relationships between diverse systems involved in the infertility treatment. Implications for practice are identified and directions for future research suggested

MsrR contributes to cell surface characteristics and virulence in Staphylococcus aureus

MsrR, a factor contributing to methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, belongs to the LytR-CpsA-Psr family of cell envelope-associated proteins. Deletion of msrR increased cell size and aggregation, and altered envelope properties, leading to a temporary reduction in cell surface hydrophobicity, diminished colony-spreading ability, and an increased susceptibility to Congo red. The reduced phosphorus content of purified cell walls of the msrR mutant suggested a reduction in wall teichoic acids, which may explain some of the observed phenotypes. Microarray analysis of the msrR deletion mutant revealed only minor changes in the global transcriptome, suggesting that MsrR has structural rather than regulatory functions. Importantly, virulence of the msrR mutant was decreased in a nematode-killing assay as well as in rat experimental endocarditis. MsrR is therefore likely to play a role in cell envelope maintenance, cell separation, and pathogenicity of S. aureu

Reseña: Ann Lewis & Christina Silver (2007). Using Software in Qualitative Research: A Step-by-Step Guide

Qualitative researchers encounter a diverse plethora of software packages for analyzing text and visual data. This book is designed to help potential users understand the benefits and shortcomings of three main and four additional commonly used such software and based on this understanding, make an informed choice of a software that best fits the needs of particular projects as well as preferences of individual researchers. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0901235Für qualitative Forschung steht eine Fülle an Softwarepaketen zur Analyse von Texten und von visuellen Daten zur Verfügung. Das hier besprochene Buch bietet interessierten Nutzer/innen einen Überblick über Stärken und Schwächen der drei gebräuchlichsten und vier weiterer Analyseprogramme und unterstützt so die Auswahl des für die je konkrete Person, Forschungsfrage und Studie geeigneten Programmpakets. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0901235Los investigadores cualitativos encuentran una variada abundancia de programas de software para analizar datos visuales y textuales. Este libro está diseñado para ayudar a usuarios potenciales a entender los beneficios y deficiencias de tres programas principales y otros cuatro comúnmente usados. Y sobre este conocimiento hacer una selección informada del programa más adecuado de acuerdo con las necesidades de proyectos en particular y las preferencias individuales de los investigadores. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs090123

Using technology for studying populations off the social mainstream

Recognition has been growing of the importance and unique challenges of studying the experience and related personal and relationship outcomes in marginalized populations (e.g. nonwhites, non-heterosexual, indigenous people, those impacted by poverty, physical disability and mental illness, victims of domestic violence). Traditional social research yielded limited knowledge about such population groups due to issues of positionality, limited accessibility and stigmatization. Partcipatory and qualitative methods offered some culturally sensitive effective strategies for generating relevant knowledge about ‘hidden’ populations that were excluded from past research. The constant development of technology expands the possibilities for such research by offering innovative ways to address some of the aforementioned challenges in accessing previously hard to reach population groups and collecting rich data especially relative to sensitive topics. These developments raised debates regarding ethical, logistic and methodological issues including the potential impact of social desirability and differential access to technology. Informed by a review of available knowledge about groups in the half shadows and about using technology for social research, this article discusses and uses two case examples to illustrate employing technology-assisted research of populations under the radar. Future research should continue to focus on identifying additional uses of technology to further develop ways of generating knowledge about those who have been ‘in the half shadow’ to inform the development of appropriate services, intervention strategies and policies that can help enhance social justice

Review: Ann Lewins & Christina Silver (2007). Using Software in Qualitative Research: A Step-by-Step Guide

Für qualitative Forschung steht eine Fülle an Softwarepaketen zur Analyse von Texten und von visuellen Daten zur Verfügung. Das hier besprochene Buch bietet interessierten Nutzer/innen einen Überblick über Stärken und Schwächen der drei gebräuchlichsten und vier weiterer Analyseprogramme und unterstützt so die Auswahl des für die je konkrete Person, Forschungsfrage und Studie geeigneten Programmpakets.Qualitative researchers encounter a diverse plethora of software packages for analyzing text and visual data. This book is designed to help potential users understand the benefits and shortcomings of three main and four additional commonly used such software and based on this understanding, make an informed choice of a software that best fits the needs of particular projects as well as preferences of individual researchers.Los investigadores cualitativos encuentran una variada abundancia de programas de software para analizar datos visuales y textuales. Este libro está diseñado para ayudar a usuarios potenciales a entender los beneficios y deficiencias de tres programas principales y otros cuatro comúnmente usados. Y sobre este conocimiento hacer una selección informada del programa más adecuado de acuerdo con las necesidades de proyectos en particular y las preferencias individuales de los investigadores