‘Thinking About How We Think’::Using Bourdieu’s Epistemic Reflexivity to Reduce Bias in International Business Research

The paper advances epistemic reflexivity as a methodological process for dealing with knowledge biases in International Business research. By drawing upon Bourdieu’s (1989) reflexive sociology, the paper develops an epistemic form of reflexivity that moves beyond the limiting focus on the researcher’s social background and interpersonal relations with the researched, towards the conditions of knowledge production contained in the researcher’s subjective role as well as intellectual bias and positioning. Such an approach enhances trustworthiness and credibility in all research processes (qualitative, quantitative, mixed and multimethod), through a systematic exploration of social scientific claims. This can be achieved by the IB researcher scrutinising their own Self, cultural practices, biases and ‘unthought categories of thought’, which, if not problematised, may limit our understanding of other peoples’ ‘social reality’ and the IB phenomena that we investigate. The paper contributes to IB research methods literature by developing an epistemic theoretical foundation for reflexivity in addition to devising a methodological process for researchers to intellectually engage with, comprising of six reflexive, self-interrogating ‘thinking tasks’

What a difference a year makes:comparing relationships between stressful life events, mood and life satisfaction among older adults, and their working-age counterparts

Objectives: Stressful life events (SLEs) have been linked to depression, anxiety, and reduced life satisfaction. The inoculation hypothesis of aging suggests older adults may be less vulnerable to poor psychological outcomes following SLEs than working-age adults. The current study compared relationships between SLEs, mood and life satisfaction among older adults (65+), and adults aged 50–64, and investigated whether group identification and loneliness moderate these relationships. Method: A community-based sample of 121 Scottish participants responded to measures of SLEs (modified Social Readjustment Rating Scale), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Index A), group identification (Group Identification Scale), and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale). Results: In the 50–64 age group, the number of SLEs was significantly associated with greater symptoms of depression and anxiety, and reduced life satisfaction. Group identification and loneliness did not moderate these relationships. There were no significant relationships in the older adult group. Conclusion: The finding of relationships in working-age, but not older adults, supports the inoculation hypothesis of aging. Further research to better understand changes across the lifespan, and inter-relationships with related variables, would be valuable from both theoretical and clinical perspectives

Language, Power and the Liminal: A Korean Translator/Interpreter's Role in Shaping Identities in the London (UK) Business Community

The impact of translators and interpreters on transnational business is not often considered, and yet, they have the ability to ensure the success or failure of communication during transnational business ventures, and to shape and define the identities of organisations. As part of a wider ethnographic study of the Korean community in London (UK), I focus on the case of “Mrs Park,” a professional Korean interpreter and translator, and the ways in which she mediates between Korean and non-Korean organisations. We conclude that to understand the roles language and identity play in transnational business, the position of the translator/interpreter as a cultural intermediary must be taken into account

Post-diagnostic lived experiences of individuals with essential tremor

Purpose: This research study aimed to explore the lived experience of individuals with essential tremor. Method: This study was qualitative in nature and informed by interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a relatively homogenous sample of nine individuals with a diagnosis of essential tremor. Results: Three major themes were constructed: “But they often look at you like you’re some drug addict or smackhead”: Social attitudes to difference; “I just couldn’t do it anymore”: The restrictive nature of essential tremor; and “You’ve got to cope; you’ve got to learn to fight different ways”: Rescuing some normality amid physical deterioration. Conclusion: This study offers much needed experiential understanding and interpretation of one of the most prevalent neurological conditions with regard to the emotions associated with specific day-to-day experiences, the restrictions placed upon everyday practicalities and the coping strategies employed. This study has highlighted the need for health care professionals to provide individuals with information regarding psychological support, and a need for more public awareness campaigns centred around essential tremor

Constraints on the baryonic load of gamma-ray bursts using ultra-high energy cosmic rays

Ultra-high energy cosmic rays are the most extreme energetic particles detected on Earth, however, their acceleration sites are still mysterious. We explore the contribution of low-luminosity gamma-ray bursts to the ultra-high energy cosmic ray flux, since they form the bulk of the nearby population. We analyse a representative sample of these bursts detected by BeppoSAX, INTEGRAL and Swift between 1998-2016, and find they can produce a theoretical cosmic ray flux on Earth of at least $R_\text{UHECR} = 1.2 \times 10^{15}$ particles km$^{-2}$ century$^{-1}$ mol$^{-1}$. No suppression mechanisms can reconcile this value with the flux observed on Earth. Instead, we propose that the jet of low-luminosity gamma-ray bursts propels only the circumburst medium - which is accelerated to relativistic speeds - not the stellar matter. This has implications for the baryonic load of the jet: it should be negligible compared to the leptonic content.Comment: 5 pages, submitted to MNRA

Diet and subsistence in the Anglo-Saxon Trent Valley: a stable isotope investigation of Broughton Lodge Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Nottinghamshire

Stable isotope analysis was carried out on a small sample population from Broughton Lodge Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Nottinghamshire. The cemetery dates to the late 5th to the early 7th centuries AD, and is located in the Trent valley, which was the centre of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. The broad aim was to investigate diet, subsistence, and breastfeeding and weaning practices. Rib bone and permanent second molar and premolar dentine collagen was sampled from six individuals from the cemetery population, to investigate the adult and childhood diets of the Broughton Lodge population. Incremental dentine analysis was carried out on the permanent first molars of two of the individuals, to investigate breastfeeding and weaning practices amongst the population. The results have shown that the diet of the Broughton Lode population was very similar to that at other Anglo-Saxon sites in England, comprised primarily of terrestrial animal protein with some amounts of freshwater fish. There was no significant difference in basic protein sources noted between adult and childhood diet. The results of the incremental analyses were inconclusive. A definite breastfeeding and weaning signal could not be inferred for either individual, although several observations were made. The research has highlighted the need for further stable isotope studies in the Trent valley focussing on the Anglo-Saxon period

Two-Dimensional Topology of the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey

We study the topology of the publicly available data released by the 2dFGRS. The 2dFGRS data contains over 100,000 galaxy redshifts with a magnitude limit of b_J=19.45 and is the largest such survey to date. The data lie over a wide range of right ascension (75 degree strips) but only within a narrow range of declination (10 degree and 15 degree strips). This allows measurements of the two-dimensional genus to be made. The NGP displays a slight meatball shift topology, whereas the SGP displays a bubble like topology. The current SGP data also have a slightly higher genus amplitude. In both cases, a slight excess of overdense regions are found over underdense regions. We assess the significance of these features using mock catalogs drawn from the Virgo Consortium's Hubble Volume LCDM z=0 simulation. We find that differences between the NGP and SGP genus curves are only significant at the 1 sigma level. The average genus curve of the 2dFGRS agrees well with that extracted from the LCDM mock catalogs. We compare the amplitude of the 2dFGRS genus curve to the amplitude of a Gaussian random field with the same power spectrum as the 2dFGRS and find, contradictory to results for the 3D genus of other samples, that the amplitude of the GRF genus curve is slightly lower than that of the 2dFGRS. This could be due to a a feature in the current data set or the 2D genus may not be as sensitive as the 3D genus to non-linear clustering due to the averaging over the thickness of the slice in 2D. (Abridged)Comment: Submitted to ApJ A version with Figure 1 in higher resolution can be obtained from http://www.physics.drexel.edu/~hoyle

Systematic review of facility-based sexual and reproductive health services for female sex workers in Africa

Background: Several biological, behavioural, and structural risk factors place female sex workers (FSWs) at heightened risk of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. FSW projects in many settings have demonstrated effective ways of altering this risk, improving the health and wellbeing of these women. Yet the optimum delivery model of FSW projects in Africa is unclear. This systematic review describes intervention packages, service-delivery models, and extent of government involvement in these services in Africa. Methods: On 22 November 2012, we searched Web of Science and MEDLINE, without date restrictions, for studies describing clinical and non-clinical facility-based SRH prevention and care services for FSWs in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. We also identified articles in key non-indexed journals and on websites of international organizations. A single reviewer screened titles and abstracts, and extracted data from articles using standardised tools. Results: We located 149 articles, which described 54 projects. Most were localised and small-scale; focused on research activities (rather than on large-scale service delivery); operated with little coordination, either nationally or regionally; and had scanty government support (instead a range of international donors generally funded services). Almost all sites only addressed HIV prevention and STIs. Most services distributed male condoms, but only 10% provided female condoms. HIV services mainly encompassed HIV counselling and testing; few offered HIV care and treatment such as CD4 testing or antiretroviral therapy (ART). While STI services were more comprehensive, periodic presumptive treatment was only provided in 11 instances. Services often ignored broader SRH needs such as family planning, cervical cancer screening, and gender-based violence services. Conclusions: Sex work programmes in Africa have limited coverage and a narrow scope of services and are poorly coordinated with broader HIV and SRH services. To improve FSWs’ health and reduce onward HIV transmission, access to ART needs to be addressed urgently. Nevertheless, HIV prevention should remain the mainstay of services. Service delivery models that integrate broader SRH services and address structural risk factors are much needed. Government-led FSW services of high quality and scale would markedly reduce SRH vulnerabilities of FSWs in Africa