Analyse qualitative data

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How was it for you? A cross-disciplinary study of ‘troublesome knowledge’ as identified by undergraduate students and lecturers in Geography, Medical Science and Psychology

We carried out a small scale pilot study to determine whether participants would spontaneously identify Threshold Concepts (TC’s) and/or troublesome knowledge during open questioning on the characteristics of their disciplines. Students and lecturers reflected upon both easy and difficult aspects of their studies or teaching practice in either group discussions or one-to-one interviews. We compared students and staff observations both within and between the disciplines we examined (Geography, Medical Sciences and Psychology undergraduate degrees). Our intention was to provide specific examples of TC’s within our three disciplines to inform further discussion of embedding the enhancement theme both in our practice and in the learning experiences of our students. Our working hypothesis was that if TC’s exerted an influence on the teaching and learning experience either negatively or otherwise, then we would find ample evidence supplied in our interviews. What we found was that overwhelmingly our interviewees focussed on generic skills-based aspects of teaching and learning. Only three potential content-specific TC’s were offered spontaneously by students and these were all from the discipline of geography

An examination of preference for complexity and its relation to creativity

At a theoretical level, preference for complexity was considered within the framework of creativity with the emphasis upon self-actualization as opposed to productivity. The experimental work can be divided into three main sections. I. A developmental sample of 284 children, aged from 6 to 18, and 64 parents stated their preferences to three measures comprising stimuli varying in complexity: the Revised Art Scale (RA) of the Welsh Figure Preference Test, Berlyne's Figures, and the Random Polygons, the principal score on the latter measure being the Polygon X or the average of the number of points on the figures the subject liked. In general, there is consistency of simplicity—complexity preference. Therefore, it seems more reasonable to propose that such preference taps an underlying simplicity—complexity dimension of personality. Additional evidence relevant to the construct validity of complexity preference as an index of self- actualization was provided by the study with the 53 ESN children and the study with the 19 fifth-form art students. Separating the sample into developmental subgroups, it was seen that the 6- to 7- year-olds and the adults tended to prefer less complexity on the RA and Berlyne's Figures; however, between the ages of 8 and 18, there was little change in complexity preference. The majority of subjects liked a moderate amount of complexity, that is, had scores falling within the medium range (1O-14) on the Polygon X. Furthermore, on the basis of cluster analyses, which aligned the RA, Berlyne's Figures, and the Polygon X in low, medium, and high terms, the largest number of subjects were placed in the medium scoring clusters. II. Impression Formation Tests, one suitable for children and one for adults, were administered for the purpose of discovering whether complexity preference indicates that an individual attempts to structure complexity. For the 231 children tested, no relation emerged between complexity preference and impression formation ability. For the 64 adults, positive correlations occurred between impression formation ability and complexity preference on the RA and Berlyne's Figures. Reasons for the disjunction between the children's and the adults' results were discussed. III. Responses of parents in relation to those of their children were also examined. It was suggested that it might be important to take account of the effect of both parents, as a family entity, upon the child’s complexity preference. Throughout, the findings have been interpreted with a view to the lines which future research might profitably take

Development of a new scale to measure ambiguity tolerance in veterinary students

The ability to cope with ambiguity and feelings of uncertainty is an essential element of professional practice. Research with physicians has identified that intolerance of ambiguity or uncertainty is linked to stress and some authors have hypothesised that there could be an association between intolerance of ambiguity and burnout (e.g. Cooke et al 2013). We describe the adaptation of the TAMSAD (Tolerance of Ambiguity in Medical Students and Doctors) scale for use with veterinary students. Exploratory factor analysis supports a unidimensional structure for the Ambiguity tolerance construct. Although internal reliability of the 29 item TAMSAD scale is reasonable (α = 0.50), an alternative 27 item scale (drawn from the original 41 items used to develop TAMSAD) shows higher internal reliability for veterinary students (α = 0.67). We conclude that there is good evidence to support the validity of this latter TAVS (Tolerance of Ambiguity in Veterinary students) scale to study ambiguity tolerance in veterinary students

The Asset-based Collaborative Working model (ACW model): pragmatic action research in healthcare service development

Embedding researchers in clinical practice may not be an obvious consideration in asset-constrained healthcare settings. However, with increasing calls for best practice and value-for-money, understanding what works, for whom and why, is of paramount importance. This article illustrates how a researcher embedded in a healthcare professional group not only facilitated a service development within existing resources, but also enabled the group to identify relevant theories, and their interrelationships, underpinning the group's actions during the developmental process. This resulted in the construction of a new theoretical model, the Asset-based Collaborative Working model. This research suggests that embedding research in service development is feasible and can result in substantive learning and an understanding of group working which is required in contemporary healthcare provision. While developed in the clinical field of lymphoedema, the Asset-based Collaborative-Working model may be applicable in other care settings

The Enthymeme Gap in the 1996 Presidential Campaign

As scholars puzzle over the so-called gender gap in the 1996 presidential election, we invite them to consider the ways in which communication by the Clinton campaign explicitly and implicitly told women that Clinton was a president more closely allied with their concerns than Dole. When we examined 111 Democratic and 79 Republican speeches and 56 Democratic and 31 Republicans ads that were delivered or appeared during the presidential campaign between the conventions and election day, we found Clinton blunting the traditional Republican argument that Democrats favor big intrusive government and oppose family values by arguing that he had used government to protect women\u27s rights, health, and children from the assaults of Dole-Gingrich and their allies the tobacco and gun lobbies. This theme was reinforced by Democratic ads that situated Clinton within the context of the family and by Democratic rhetoric in which women, children, and families were central elements

Toward a Model for Fisheries Social Impact Assessment

This paper presents a model for Fisheries Social Impact Assessment (SIA) that lays the groundwork for development of fisheries-focused, quantitative social assessments with a clear conceptual model. The usefulness of current fisheries SIA’s has been called into question by some as incompatible with approaches taken by fisheries biologists and economists when assessing potential effects of management actions. Our model’s approach is closer to the economists’ and biologists’ assessments and is therefore more useful for Fishery Management Council members. The paper was developed by anthropologists initially brought together in 2004 for an SIA Modeling Workshop by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. Opinions and conclusions expressed or implied are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

The Asset-based Collaborative Working model (ACW model): pragmatic action research in healthcare service development

Embedding researchers in clinical practice may not be an obvious consideration in asset-constrained healthcare settings. However, with increasing calls for best practice and value-for-money, understanding what works, for whom and why, is of paramount importance. This article illustrates how a researcher embedded in a healthcare professional group not only facilitated a service development within existing resources, but also enabled the group to identify relevant theories, and their interrelationships, underpinning the group's actions during the developmental process. This resulted in the construction of a new theoretical model, the Asset-based Collaborative Working model. This research suggests that embedding research in service development is feasible and can result in substantive learning and an understanding of group working which is required in contemporary healthcare provision. While developed in the clinical field of lymphoedema, the Asset-based Collaborative-Working model may be applicable in other care settings

Ethical dilemmas and reflexivity in qualitative research.

Context: For medical education researchers, a key concern may be the practicalities of gaining ethical approval where this is a national or local requirement. However, in qualitative studies, where the dynamics of human interaction pervade, ethical considerations are an ongoing process which continues long after approval has been granted. Responding to ethical dilemmas arising ‘in the moment’ requires a reflexive approach whereby the researcher questions his/her own motivations, assumptions and interests. Drawing on empirical studies and their experiences in academic and clinical research practice, the authors share their reflections on adhering to ethical principles throughout the research process to illustrate the complexities and nuances involved. Objectives and findings: These reflections offer critical insights into dilemmas arising in view of the ethical principles driving good conduct, and through domains which distinguish between procedural ethics, situational ethics, ethical relationships and ethical issues in exiting the study. The accounts consider integrity and altruism in research, gatekeeping and negotiating access, consent and confidentiality, power dynamics and role conflict, and challenges in dissemination of findings. The experiences are based on a range of examples of research in a UK context from managing difficult conversations in the classroom to video-ethnography in the operating theatre. Discussion and conclusions: These critical reflections make visible the challenges encountered and decisions that must be taken in the moment and on reflection after the event. Through sharing our experiences and debating the decisions we made, we offer insights into reflexivity in qualitative research which will be of value to others