A qualitative study of children, young people and 'sexting' : English

The purpose of this small scale qualitative research was to respond to and enhance our understandings of the complex nature of sexting and the role of mobile technologies within peer teen networks. It was designed as a pilot study – to investigate a phenomenon whose nature, scale and dimensions were unknown. Thus the research itself also was small in scale and exploratory in nature and also culturally and geographically specific. We conducted focus group interviews with 35 young people years 8 and 10 in two inner city London schools. At the focus groups we asked participants to friend us on Facebook, with a research Facebook profile. We then mapped some of their activities online and returned for 22 individual interviews with selected case study young people. We also interviewed key teachers and staff at the schools. The study found that threats from peers in digital social networks were more problematic for young people that ‘stranger danger’ from adults. Digital technologies facilitated new visual cultures of surveillance, in which young women were pressured to send revealing body photos or asked to perform sexual services by text and through social networking sites. In this way, sexting aggravated peer hierarchies and forms of sexual harassment in schools, meaning that sexting was often coercive and was sometimes a form of cyberbullying. Girls were most negatively affected by ‘sexting’ in cultural contexts of increasing ‘sexualisation’ shaped by sexual double standards and boys had difficulty in challenging constructions of sexually aggressive masculinity. The research allowed for exploration of when pleasurable sexual flirtation through digital communication moved into sexual coercion and harassment, which was illustrated through narrative examples. Considering the relationship between online and offline risks it found sexual double standards in attitudes to digital sexual communication were linked to incidents of real playground sexual harassment and violence. Finally, it found that children at primary school age were being impacted by the coercive aspects of ‘sexting’ at an earlier age, than prior research indicated

Filming alterity: explorations of 'Voice(s)' in Contemporary French ethnographic film

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Documentary Representations of Alterity on Television: Diversity and National Identity in Contemporary France

ABSTRACT Sonia Claire VINCENT-GILL Documentary Representations of Alterity on Television: Diversity and National Identity in Contemporary France Since the turn of the millennium, there is a growing literature concerned with investigating the representation of minorities on French television. This thesis sets out to explore the documentary representation of four types of alterity (non-Western, urban, rural and regional France) in a selection of documentaries broadcast on French television between 1995 and 2010. The originality of this thesis lies in its comparative approach to the question of alterity. This research seeks to contribute to the nascent field of diversity and minority studies, and explore the manner in which these documentaries contribute to the construction of contemporary French identity. The study examines documentaries in a range of styles, from ‘art-house’ films to ‘hybrid’ popular factual entertainment, broadcast on ‘mainstream’ and ‘cultural’ channels. Additionally, the thesis seeks to assess the extent to which the medium of documentary offers an alternative representation of alterity when compared to other forms of visual culture, in particular the news coverage and documentary treatment of recent events. The juxtaposition of ‘mainstream’ and ‘cultural’ channels, and of documentary and news coverage, is designed to provide an analytical framework in which to assess the questions of alterity and national identity, in a manner that is, simultaneously, representative of a range of channels and styles, and different forms of factual representation. From this research emerges a recurrent opposition between a suburban dystopia (epitomised by the banlieue) versus a rural idyll (whether ‘peasant’, regional or non-Western). This shows a correspondence between the documentary representation of alterity and France’s contemporary concerns with questions of national identity and citizenship, which has engendered a ‘turn to nostalgia’ and the idealisation of rural or ‘traditional’ lifestyles

Interview with Tim Gill: Sonia Livingstone and Kate Cowan interview with Tim Gill

To understand research and advocacy work on childhood and play, Sonia Livingstone OBE and Kate Cowan spoke to Tim Gill as part of our interview series on play in the digital world

Model Looks, Motives, and Affective Outcomes

Highly attractive models are intended to impact psychologically on message receivers and improve awareness, expectations, attitudes, beliefs, and advertising effectiveness; however, benefits accrue in only particular situations. This study examines how advertising triggers affect when comparison motive is paired with a particular model beauty type. Qualitative work preceded empirical study, which involved use of three types of model beauty (classic, sexual, and cute), two comparison motives (self-evaluation headline and self-improvement headline), and two product contexts (problem-solving and enhancement). Female university students (N = 1,170) were surveyed with findings indicating that viewers do react differently depending on the beauty type, with evidence of an interaction between beauty type and comparison motive

Teen girls, sexual double standards and 'sexting': gendered value in digital image exchange

This article explores gender inequities and sexual double standards in teens’ digital image exchange, drawing on a UK qualitative research project on youth ‘sexting’. We develop a critique of ‘postfeminist’ media cultures, suggesting teen ‘sexting’ presents specific age and gender related contradictions: teen girls are called upon to produce particular forms of ‘sexy’ self display, yet face legal repercussions, moral condemnation and ‘slut shaming’ when they do so. We examine the production/circulation of gendered value and sexual morality via teens’ discussions of activities on Facebook and Blackberry. For instance, some boys accumulated ‘ratings’ by possessing and exchanging images of girls’ breasts, which operated as a form of currency and value. Girls, in contrast, largely discussed the taking, sharing or posting of such images as risky, potentially inciting blame and shame around sexual reputation (e.g. being called ‘slut’, ‘slag’ or ‘sket’). The daily negotiations of these new digitally mediated, heterosexualised, classed and raced norms of performing teen feminine and masculine desirability are considered

Empathy in clinical practice: A qualitative study of early medical practitioners and educators

Objective: To explore the reasons for decline in empathy among physicians and to identify strategiesfor fostering empathetic clinical practice.Methods: The qualitative study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from February to June 2017, and comprised focus group discussions involving separate sessions with medical students, residents and clinical teachers. Content analysis was used to analyse the verbatim transcripts for identification of codes which led to derivation of themes from the data. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research was used to assess the quality of the study.Results: Of the 109 subjects, 57(52.3%) were medical students, 30(27.5%) residents and 22(20.2%)clinical teachers. Of the 9 focus group discussions, 4(44.4%) were held with the students, 3(33.3%) with residents and 2(22.2%) with the teachers. Four themes that generated were delineating empathetic clinical practice, reasons for decline, challenges for promoting empathetic clinical practice, and recommendations for developing and facilitating empathetic clinical practice. All the participants unanimously agreed that there was a decline in empathetic clinical practice. Primary challenges included increased workload and time constraints inhibiting empathetic practice..Conclusions: It is essential to teach empathetic clinic practice to students and residents during medical training while continuous professional development should reinforce the significance of empathetic clinical practice among medical practitioners and educators

Developing role models in clinical settings: A qualitative study of medical students, residents and clinical teachers

Objective: To explore how positive role modelling attributes can be developed in students, residents and clinical teachers.Methods: The qualitative study using focus group discussions was held at Aga Khan University, Karachi from March to May 2018, and comprised medical students, residents and clinical teachers. Overall 11 focus group discussions were conducted till data saturation was achieved. Content analysis was used to analyse the data which was transcribed verbatim.Results: Of the 116 subjects, 60(51.7%) were medical students, 35(30.2%) were residents and 21(18%) were clinical teachers. Of the 11 focus group discussions, 4(36.5%) each were held with the students and the residents, while 3(27%) were held with the teachers. Five major themes that emerged from the study included definition of role models, attributes of role models, role modelling as a learnt behaviour, challenges in developing role models, and recommendations for developing positive role models. A number of attributes of positive and negative role models were identified by the participants. All the participants including students, residents and teachers appreciated the importance of role modelling in developing professionalism among health professionals and medical students. Factors hindering development and demonstration of positive role modelling were also identified and possible solutions were suggested.Conclusions: Clinical teachers needed to be made cognizant of their role as positive role models in developing professionally competent physicians. The medical institutions needed to develop and implement policies that would enhance positive role modelling by the teachers and facilitate learning of positive attributes at all levels

Making Federal Financial Data More Reliable With Emerging Tech

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Acquisition Research SymposiumFederal agencies are stewards of billions in taxpayer funds. Given the scale of federal financial transactions, maintaining reliable, high-quality financial data can be challenging. The use of emerging technologies such as robotic process automation (RPA) and natural language processing can reduce manual work for agency employees and improve the consistency of financial data. These technologies are key to success on financial audits and maintaining public confidence in the reliability of procurement and nonprocurement financial information.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Making Federal Financial Data More Reliable With Emerging Tech

Symposium PresentationApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited