From Critical Theory to Action Research or Why this Feels Empowering

This essay reflects the attempts of the first author of this paper to teach the sociological foundations of education from a critical theory perspective and discusses a surprising outcome—some students feel disempowered by the approach. It suggests that action research offers teachers the opportunity to consider their roles as social agents. One teacher’s story is shared to illustrate how her local efforts play a significant role in transforming the classroom into a more inviting, less alienating locale—addressing the “homelessness” that characterizes the modern school. Her story illustrates how action research, grounded as it is in specific, local concerns and personalities, can be transformative

Critical Transformational Learning in the Post-Postmodern World

We examine the modernist underpinnings of traditional adult learning and development theories and evaluate elements of those theories through more contemporary lenses. Drawing upon recent “public pedagogy” literature, we argue that much learning takes place outside of formal educational institutions. We look beyond modernist narratives to consider the possible implications for critical adult learning occurring in and through contemporary fragmented, digital, media-saturated culture

Territoriality as a Factor in Nursing Incivility

AbstractIncivility and hazing in health care results in unsafe environments, not only for the nurse but also for the client, facility, and other health professionals. The project site, a privately owned medical clinic, has a high employee turnover rate with exit interviews indicating bullying and incivility from long-term nursing staff toward new employees as critical reasons for employee resignation. The literature offers minimal information regarding territoriality, a concept associated with aggressive (i.e., alpha) behaviors in animals and humans and incivility in nursing. The purpose of the project was to identify whether territoriality was a behavioral factor that may have contributed to negative behaviors and actions in this non-acute care setting. The practice-focused question asked if there was an issue with territoriality among nursing staff in the independent medical practice. In this project, the social cognitive theory and the social psychological model were used to identify specific behaviors and frequency of uncivil behaviors existing within the clinic. Data collection was accomplished with the Short-Negative Acts Questionnaire, a 12-item scale designed to measure incivility exposure in the workplace environment. Quantitative analysis was used to measure the direct and indirect exposure to negative behaviors and actions within the current work environment as well as the frequency of instances showing a link between incivility and territoriality. The results of this measurement revealed all nursing staff, including the office manager, stated they had experienced or were currently experiencing workplace bullying. Addressing territoriality as a factor in nurse incivility may lead to positive social change by creating a better team environment and higher quality of care for patients

Contrasting the perceptions of child testimony experts, prosecutors and police officers regarding individual child abuse interviews

The aim of this study was to compare and contrast the perceptions of various stakeholders regarding a series of interviews about child abuse. Eight focus groups were conducted, each involving a police officer (child abuse investigator), a prosecutor who specializes in child abuse and a child testimony expert. The aim of the focus groups was to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the specific interviews, which were conducted by the police officer in each focus group. Thematic analysis showed that the prosecutors and child testimony experts were relatively consistent in their perceptions about the need for more free narrative from child witnesses, and to ensure that police officers demonstrate open-mindedness when interviewing children. Differences in priorities and assumptions about the value of various interview techniques, however, were found among the stakeholders. These differences and their practical implications are discussed.<br /

Seeking approval from universities to research the views of their staff : do gatekeepers provide a barrier to ethical research?

A “gatekeeper” controls access to an organization; “gatekeeper approval” is often needed before external research can take place within an organization. We explore the need for gatekeeper approval for research with university staff employing, as a case study, a project which collected data in Australia. This case study addresses known issues, seemingly rarely addressed in the literature. The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)'s requirement for approval from individual universities to approach their staff brought significant consequences, exacerbated by the lack of university procedures for such approvals. Simultaneously, since invitations could legitimately be distributed via other avenues, such approval was superfluous. We recommend the HREC's blanket requirement for institutional approval instead be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the risk of the research, and perhaps waived for low-risk research where participants are able to provide informed consent, and that universities establish processes to deal with requests from external researchers. © The Author(s) 2022

From bananas to nickel: Foreign investment in Guatemala since 1954

Thesis (B.A.) in Latin American Studies--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1984.Microfiche of typescript. [Urbana, Ill.] : Photographic Services, University of Illinois, U of I Library, [1988]. 4 microfiches (191 frames) : negative ; 11 x 15 cm