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Background: Physical Activity 4 Everyone (PA4E1) is a whole-school physical activity program, with demonstrated efficacy (2012–2014). PA4E1 was adapted (scaled-up) and tested in a scale-up trial (2017–2020). This process evaluation study of the scale-up trial had 2 aims. First, to describe the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of PA4E1 in the scale-up trial, from the perspective of school staff involved in the program management and delivery. Second, to generate themes that may explain school staff assessments of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Methods: Data were collected at various time points throughout the 2-year implementation phase. Online surveys were collected from In-School Champions, Head Physical Education teachers, Principals, and Physical Education teachers (quantitative data). Focus groups and interviews were conducted with In-School Champions, Principals, and Physical Education teachers (qualitative data). Existing published data on website engagement, adaptations, modifications, and the scale-up trial primary outcome (implementation of physical activity practices) were triangulated with the quantitative and qualitative during analysis, to generate themes. Results: School staff delivering PA4E1 reported it was highly acceptable, appropriate, and feasible. Seven themes were generated relating to acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. The themes related to how the program was funded, the delivery modes of implementation support, the identification of easy-wins, the recruitment of the right in-school champion, facilitating principal buy-in, mitigating the impact of school staff turnover, and engaging the whole school. Conclusions: Recommendations are made to inform future adaptations for PA4E1 and potentially school-based physical activity programs more generally. The findings may inform future scalability assessments of the suitability of programs for scale-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a preventable medical condition which has substantial impact on patient morbidity, mortality, and disability. Unfortunately, adherence to the published best practices for VTE prevention, based on patient centered outcomes research (PCOR), is highly variable across U.S. hospitals, which represents a gap between current evidence and clinical practice leading to adverse patient outcomes. This gap is especially large in the case of traumatic brain injury (TBI), where reluctance to initiate VTE prevention due to concerns for potentially increasing the rates of intracranial bleeding drives poor rates of VTE prophylaxis. This is despite research which has shown early initiation of VTE prophylaxis to be safe in TBI without increased risk of delayed neurosurgical intervention or death. Clinical decision support (CDS) is an indispensable solution to close this practice gap; however, design and implementation barriers hinder CDS adoption and successful scaling across health systems. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) informed by PCOR evidence can be deployed using CDS systems to improve the evidence to practice gap. In the Scaling AcceptabLE cDs (SCALED) study, we will implement a VTE prevention CPG within an interoperable CDS system and evaluate both CPG effectiveness (improved clinical outcomes) and CDS implementation. METHODS: The SCALED trial is a hybrid type 2 randomized stepped wedge effectiveness-implementation trial to scale the CDS across 4 heterogeneous healthcare systems. Trial outcomes will be assessed using the RE2-AIM planning and evaluation framework. Efforts will be made to ensure implementation consistency. Nonetheless, it is expected that CDS adoption will vary across each site. To assess these differences, we will evaluate implementation processes across trial sites using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment (EPIS) implementation framework (a determinant framework) using mixed-methods. Finally, it is critical that PCOR CPGs are maintained as evidence evolves. To date, an accepted process for evidence maintenance does not exist. We will pilot a Living Guideline process model for the VTE prevention CDS system. DISCUSSION: The stepped wedge hybrid type 2 trial will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of CDS based on the Berne-Norwood criteria for VTE prevention in patients with TBI. Additionally, it will provide evidence regarding a successful strategy to scale interoperable CDS systems across U.S. healthcare systems, advancing both the fields of implementation science and health informatics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov - NCT05628207. Prospectively registered 11/28/2022, https://classic. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT05628207 .

(1) Background: A significant proportion of cancer survivors report experiencing a cognitive fog that affects their ability to think coherently and quickly, and reason with clarity. This has been referred to as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). CRCI has extensive impacts on the daily lives of people living with or beyond cancer, including occupational, social, and psychological functioning. Oncology health professionals report feeling under-resourced to effectively assess the needs of an individual with CRCI and then provide optimal care and referral. (2) Methods: The objective of this project is to develop and provide an initial validation of the first purpose-built unmet needs assessment for CRCI: the Unmet Needs Assessment of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment Impact (COG-IMPACT). We will use a multiple-stage, co-design, mixed-methods approach to develop and provide an initial validation of the COG-IMPACT. (3) Results: The primary anticipated result of this research is the production of the COG-IMPACT, the first purpose-built unmet needs assessment for CRCI. The assessment could be used by health professionals to understand the unmet needs and facilitate optimal care and referral for cancer survivors, by survivors to elucidate their supportive needs and advocate for their care, and by researchers to examine the correlates of unmet needs relating to CRCI, as well as how best to support people with CRCI.

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric symptoms in SLE and other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) are challenging to diagnose, attribute and manage. We investigated the timings of onset of a broad range of neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms in relation to timing of SLE onset. In addition, we explored whether NP symptoms may be a prodrome to SARD onset and to subsequent flares. METHODS: We collected patient reports of the timing of their first episode of 29 NP symptoms relative to SLE non-NP symptom onset. Surveys (n = 676 SLE patients and n = 400 clinicians) and interviews (n = 50 clinicians; and n = 69 SARD patients, including 27 SLE patients) were completed from 2022 to 2023, and analysed using mixed methods. FINDINGS: The majority of NP symptoms did not first present around the time of SLE onset, contrary to the prevailing view among many rheumatology participants and in the literature. For example, among patients who experienced hallucinations, 54% reported first presentation >1 year after disease onset. Patient interviews also revealed that a range of NP symptoms may be a prodrome to SLE/SARDs onset and later flares, including symptoms not represented in existing classification criteria. Evidence of a possible prodromal syndrome was elicited from those patients who experienced hallucinations. Of these, 61% (SLE) and 34% (other SARDs) reported increasingly disrupted dreaming sleep (usually nightmares) prior to their hallucinations. In-depth interviews revealed that progression of symptoms in flares showed a high degree of inter-patient variation, whilst symptom progression was often similar in individual patients recurrent flares. INTERPRETATION: Neuropsychiatric symptoms can first present at any stage in the SLE disease course. Attributional decisions should evaluate timings of NP symptoms in relation to timing of SLE/SARD symptom onset rather than time of diagnosis due to frequent diagnostic delays. Greater recognition of prodromal/early NP symptoms indicating impending SLE flares (and potentially other SARD flares) could enable quicker flare identification and treatment. FUNDING: The Lupus Trust.

Peer support specialists (peers) who have the lived experience of, and are in recovery from, mental health challenges are increasingly being integrated into mental health care as a reimbursable service across the US. This study describes the ways peers were integrated into Help@Hand, a multi-site innovation project that engaged peers throughout efforts to develop and offer digital mental health interventions across counties/cities (sites) in California. Using a mixed methods design, we collected quantitative data via quarterly online surveys, and qualitative data via semi-annual semi-structured phone interviews with key informants from Help@Hand sites. Quantitative data were summarized as descriptive findings and qualitative data from interviews were analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis methods. In the final analytic phase, interview quotes were used to illustrate the complex realities underlying quantitative responses. 117 quarterly surveys and 46 semi-annual interviews were completed by key informants from 14 sites between September 2020 and January 2023. Peers were integrated across diverse activities for support and implementation of digital mental health interventions, including development of training and educational materials (78.6% of sites), community outreach (64.3%), technology testing (85.7%), technology piloting (90.9%), digital literacy training (71.4%), device distribution (63.6%), technical assistance (72.7%), and cross-site collaboration (66.7%). Peer-engaged activities shifted over time, reflecting project phases. Peer-provided digital literacy training and technology-related support were key ingredients for project implementations. This study indicates the wide range of ways peers can be integrated into digital mental health intervention implementations. Considering contextual readiness for peer integration may enhance their engagement into programmatic activities.

Prior work on leadership in information systems development (ISD) teams has assumed that all developers are treated equally by their team leader and ignored the possibility that differentiated leader-member exchange (LMX) may be an important instrument for team leaders to influence self-organizing, agile ISD teams. We conducted a concurrent mixed methods inquiry to understand how LMX differentiation is associated with developer satisfaction in agile ISD teams and through which team processes agile ISD teams address LMX differentiation. We ran a multilevel, multistage survey of 1,894 software developers in 217 teams and an embedded case study of five ISD teams drawing on qualitative data from 40 interviews of developers and team leaders. Two focus groups (one with 10 developers and one with 10 team leaders) helped to substantiate the meta-inferences from the quantitative and qualitative studies. The results showed that LMX differentiation was positively associated with developer satisfaction, especially in teams with high-quality team-member exchange (TMX). We identify three team processes (i.e., collectivization of resources, visible appreciation of privileges, and freeing up leader capacities) that are enacted through agile ISD practices and allow ISD teams to leverage benefits from LMX differentiation for all their members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the creation of social media platforms, sport researchers have used relationship marketing as a conceptual and theoretical framework for studies on social media in sport. While many of these studies have contributed to our understanding of relationship building on social media, there is much room for advancement. This special-issue commentary provides a brief overview of the scholarship on relationship marketing and social media in sport and then suggests areas for advancement. It ends with specific recommendations for moving from using relationship marketing as a framework to testing the theory in sport social media research and expanding on its application to understanding relationship building on social media in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma-informed communities establish cross-sector coalitions that advocate for the use of trauma-informed practices. Whether and how communication occurs within newly established trauma-informed communities is unclear. We collected qualitative data and social network data from six trauma-informed community partnerships that received funding to build community capacity to address trauma across a range of special populations in Los Angeles county. We identified three communication network sub-types and highlight contributions of network leadership in setting the tone for cross-partnership communication. While partnership leaders shared the goal of strengthening cross-organizational communication, social network results illustrated a need to develop strategies that target these goals.

Large-scale text data from public sources, including social media or online platforms, can expand urban planners’ ability to monitor and analyze urban conditions in near real-time. To overcome scalability challenges of manual techniques for qualitative data analysis, researchers and practitioners have turned to computer-automated methods, such as natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning. However, the benefits, challenges, and trade-offs of these methods remain poorly understood. How much meaning can different NLP techniques capture and how do their results compare to traditional manual techniques? Drawing on 90,000 online rental listings in Los Angeles County, this study proposes and compares manual, semi-automated, and fully automated methods for identifying context-informed topics in unstructured, user-generated text data. We find that fully automated methods perform best with more-structured text, but struggle to separate topics in free-flow text and when handling nuanced language. Introducing a manual technique first on a small data set to train a semi-automated method, however, improves accuracy even as the structure of the text degrades. We argue that while fully automated NLP methods are attractive replacements for scaling manual techniques, leveraging the contextual understanding of human expertise alongside efficient computer-based methods like BERT models generates better accuracy without sacrificing scalability.

BACKGROUND: School leaders play an integral role in the use of implementation strategies, which in turn support special education teachers in the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs). In this convergent mixed methods study, we explored school leaders perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to EBP implementation, particularly for students receiving special education, as well as the importance and feasibility of 15 implementation strategies. METHOD: School leaders (N  =  22, principals, assistant principals, school psychologists, etc.) participated in a semistructured interview that included three parts-qualitative questions, quantitative ratings of strategies importance and feasibility, and discussion of the top three implementation strategies. Data strands were analyzed independently and then integrated to generate meta-inferences. RESULTS: The qualitative data identified facilitators such as access to resources about the intervention (e.g., professional development) and collaboration and teamwork, while barriers centered on lack of school supports, culture/climate, and organizational factors (e.g., lack of communication). The quantitative data indicated that the implementation strategy provide ongoing consultation/coaching was rated as important and feasible. Monitor the progress of the implementation effort was rated as important but less feasible, while conduct educational meetings and change the environment were rated as feasible, but less important. Build partnerships to support implementation was rated as less important and feasible. There was convergence and divergence in mixed methods findings. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the critical need to increase school leaders knowledge and skills related to implementation science to better leverage implementation strategies that address the confluence of relevant implementation determinants.

Although extensive research has been conducted to explain the high accident rates in the Indian construction industry, studies focusing on the contributions of the prevailing safety climate as an enabler of such incidences remain sparse. Safety climate plays a crucial role in shaping workers' safety behaviors. Therefore, eliciting the perspectives of construction workers concerning safety climate dimensions that are critical for engendering improved safety behavior will provide valuable insights into the dimensions required to sustain the desired safety performance levels on construction sites. This study adopted a sequential mixed-methods research design. Purposively selected respondents and interviewees were surveyed and interviewed at various intervals. The study established that safety climate dimensions, such as effective leadership, effective communication, consultation, training, resources, incentives, and recognition, are critical in improving safety behavior among construction workers. The results of this study have significant implications for practice and knowledge, as they provide an approach for assessing the impact of different safety climate dimensions on the safety behavior of construction workers in India. Understanding these dimensions will lead to a framework for managing these challenges and improving construction safety performance. The study reported in this paper remains one of the few studies seeking to explore the impact of safety-climate dimensions on worker safety behavior in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore what patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) need and receive of follow-up care after specialized rehabilitation, and whether received follow-up is associated with health outcomes after 1 year. Further, to compare these findings with patients' experiences to improve the understanding of how follow-up takes place. Methods: In a mixed methods study, patients received a rehabilitation programme designed to improve the continuity in rehabilitation across care levels. A total of 168 patients completed questionnaires, of which 21 were also interviewed. Results: At discharge, most patients reported needs for follow-up. These needs were largely met within 1 year, mainly resulting from patients' initiatives to re-connect with previous contacts. The degree of received follow-up was not associated with goal attainment, quality of life, or physical function. Factors related to providers (competence, communication skills), context (delays, limited access to care), and patients (motivation, life situation, preferences) seemed to be decisive for the progress of the rehabilitation process over time. Conclusions: The results provide evidence that access to follow-up care is crucial to patients with RMDs. However, it also highlights several factors that may influence its impact. These results can be used to optimise design and implementation of future follow-up interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Healthcare providers should take greater responsibility for creating continuity in rehabilitation across levels of care. Follow-up care should be adapted to patients' needs, goals, and preferences as regards content, timing, and mode of delivery. Follow-up should be linked to a rehabilitation plan for each patient to ensure continuity of care. More effective communication systems across service levels should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global burden of mental health disorders is on the increase, which has contributed to discussions on mitigation strategies. While mental health discourses in respect of access to services are still ongoing, there is limited focus on vulnerable groups. Deaf persons are at risk of exclusion from health services due to their unique modes of communication. In order to advocate for the inclusion of deaf persons in mental health services, there is a need for a study eliciting information on their knowledge about mental health and accessibility to services. Method: The study was guided by a mixed-methods design and a two-phase data collection. In phase one, a questionnaire was distributed to 284 deaf persons to gather information on their knowledge of mental health conditions, causes, sources of information, and accessibility of services. Frequencies were used to report the trends identified in the data. Following this, an interview guide was designed based on the trends identified in the first phase to develop an in-depth insight into the experiences of deaf persons (n = 40) in respect of awareness and accessibility to mental health services. Results: The results showed convergences and divergence between the qualitative and quantitative data. For instance, they were convergences between both datasets relative to knowledge on and causes of mental health conditions. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for health policymakers to leverage the information gathered on the study participants' knowledge to develop appropriate mental health training programmes for deaf persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction Aim Methods Results Discussion Implications Trial Registration Given that recovery‐oriented care focuses on empowering individuals with mental health challenges, collaborative care can be an effective tool for nurses in mental health day hospitals.To deepen knowledge about the impact of collaborative nursing care for improving health outcomes of mental health day hospital users.A sequential and transformative mixed methods study was designed. In the first phase of this mixed methods study, quantitative data were collected from 144 users of mental health day hospitals. In phase two, a group of users underwent an intervention based on collaborative nursing care, through participatory action research, and qualitative data were collected. Finally, quantitative data were again collected from all users.The users who participated in the intervention group improved quantitatively in terms of the quality of the therapeutic relationship. They also improved at different stages of the recovery process, thus the qualitative results confirmed that collaborative nursing care was an essential component in their recovery process.The findings highlight the critical role of collaborative nursing care in health outcomes. The therapeutic relationship was identified as a key factor in facilitating patient empowerment.The study supports implementing collaborative nursing care models in mental health settings to enhance patient outcomes.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04814576 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In order to improve and innovate the face-to-face instructional task in postgraduate and doctoral university teaching encompasses different formats of participatory interaction (PI), considered to be social medium facilitators of deep learning, including the development of autonomous expert activity. The purpose of this article is to establish the use of systematic observation and lag sequential analysis as a conceptual-methodological choice to base the review of social-constructivist instructional practice that is taught in an expository format prepared by the teacher. Method: The systematic observation of the expert's expository session from its inception to its conclusion was approached from a mixed methods perspective as a subject of multiple case studies. A total of four postgraduate teachers were selected. A purpose-built observational instrument was constructed. The data quality was evaluated with intra-observer agreement tests by calculating Cohen's kappa coefficient (k). After the data matrices for each case were obtained, all possible file aggregations of the data were performed to detect the existence of common structures in the patterns through lag sequential analysis. Results: The sequential patterns of replicated and common lags of the multiple cases describe the chaining of the observed events, which characterizes the participatory interaction. Twelve lag sequential patterns have been identified that function as dialogical links, generated by the probability that the category "question" is linked to the conditioned events of "speech direction" and "exchange orientation." Discussion: Having constructed a theoretical interpretative scheme of the replicated patterns, we discuss the results. First, the significant results of the lag sequential analysis as examples of basic patterns extracted from their way of conducting expert expository sessions. As such, they can be reviewed with the formative purpose of reflecting on their potential for change when they are understood as dialogical links of participatory interaction committed to deep learning and the development of expert autonomy. Second, there is a training step consisting of the use of self-observation and the observation that teachers can make of the expert expository task. Finally, we conclude that non-intrusive systematic observation is a good choice when channeling the gradual and renewed improvement of participatory interaction with an expert expository format (§EF) and a mixed methods methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This large-scale, mixed-methods study aimed to uncover sources of learner anxiety when interacting in small groups in the language classroom. A secondary aim of the study was to examine relationships between these sources and learners' levels of small-group anxiety. Methods: Data was gathered from 1,344 learners enrolled in English classes at four universities in western Japan. Qualitative content analysis was employed to identify anxiety-inducing situations described in learner' responses, and categorize these situations based on the underlying source of anxiety. Results: The analysis revealed two primary sources of small-group anxiety: interacting with other learners and L2 communication. The most prominent interaction-related situations were interacting with new people, expressing opinions, and uncomfortable silence, while those related to L2 communication were competence and proficiency, conveying meaning and understanding others. Levels of small-group anxiety were significantly related to the source of anxiety. Learners with a high level of anxiety were twice as likely to cite interaction as the source of their anxiety than learners with a low level of anxiety. Discussion: The results suggest that interaction anxiety may be more salient than foreign language anxiety when language learners work in small groups, and that the impact of this form of social anxiety needs to be taken into consideration for learners to fully receive the benefits of group work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objectiveResearch designMethodsOutcomes and resultsConclusionThe purpose of this study was to explore how ‘quality’ is understood for traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation from the perspectives of the rehabilitation recipients, their families and the providing clinicians.A participatory study using a mixed-methods, triangulation design.The study involved 1. a systematic literature search; 2. Individual semi-structured interviews with people with TBI and/or their caregivers and TBI rehabilitation clinicians, and 3. an online consensus process.22 participants (7 people with TBI, 8 caregivers, 7 clinicians) participated in individual interviews. Their transcribed data were coded into broad categories via in-depth reflexive, thematic analysis; these categories were then mapped to 13 quality domains extracted from the literature. The emergent themes were then presented to the individuals, via an electronic consensus tool in two rounds. This resulted in 12 prioritized domains of quality that encompass service features, staff qualities and effectiveness.These evidence-informed and consensus-agreed indicators for quality may help guide both the provision and evaluation of TBI rehabilitation, that is valued and meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methodology Results Conclusions Adherence to guideline‐recommended colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) among average‐risk urban populations in China remains significantly suboptimal. This mixed‐methods study aimed to investigate screening behaviors and associated factors among average‐risk urban populations through a multi‐center approach.From February to July 2024, 550 participants were recruited via stratified random sampling in Harbin, China. They completed questionnaires related to health beliefs and knowledge. Additionally, semi‐structured interviews were conducted to explore CRCS behaviors, with data analyzed using directed content analysis based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).Five hundred twenty two participants (95.0%) completed the survey. Identified factors influencing screening behavior among average‐risk urban populations included perceived severity of colorectal cancer (CRC), benefits of colon cancer surveillance, barriers to surveillance, and knowledge. Twenty‐six individuals were engaged in qualitative interviews. Twenty‐four themes were identified and categorized by frequency. Both quantitative and qualitative data suggest that CRCS behavior among urban average‐risk populations is suboptimal, and the identified factors can be mapped onto the HBM.This mixed‐methods study demonstrates that key factors influencing screening behavior among urban average‐risk populations align with the HBM. These identified factors should be meticulously considered in future systematic interventions to enhance screening behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the Accelerating Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-up through Implementation Science (ACCSIS) Program, a Cancer Moonshot℠ Initiative, is to support research to build the evidence base on multilevel interventions that increase rates of colorectal cancer screening, follow-up, and referral to care to address disparities in colorectal cancer screening. The National Cancer Institute funded eight Research Projects to implement multilevel interventions to improve colorectal cancer screening among communities who traditionally have been medically underserved. To analyze the impact of ACCSIS across Research Projects, the consortium developed a set of common data elements. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of developing the common data elements to facilitate analysis of ACCSIS data as well as support and inform implementation science research studies. Methods: The ACCSIS Data, Design, and Analysis Work Group was tasked with designing common data elements through a review of existing data collection instruments, examination of data elements proposed by the ACCSIS Research Projects, and deliberations on the data required to compare across the Research Projects. ACCSIS Consortium members drafted, revised, and finalized a common data elements document consisting of variables to collect and surveys to administer to evaluate ACCSIS implementation activities and outcomes in a standardized manner across the Research Projects. Results: The ACCSIS Consortium decided to collect the following categories of common data elements: characteristics across multiple levels of the multicomponent interventions, implementation climate, and determinants; interventions and strategies; implementation outcome constructs and definitions; colorectal cancer screening episodes (screening, diagnostic testing follow-up, cancer detection, and cancer treatment); and cost measures. To assess implementation climate, the consortium prioritized constructs from five domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Conclusions: The ACCSIS common data elements offer a set of harmonization data for future implementation efforts. The consortium is conducting a systematic assessment using both quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess data quality and approaches to improve and sustain data collection. Lessons learned from these ongoing activities will offer additional insights to tailor the ACCSIS common data elements and support efforts to increase colorectal cancer screening for populations experiencing disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The educational system in Costa Rica, as regulated by Law #7727, which governs Alternative Conflict Resolution and Promotion of Social Peace must consider the interplay of various factors influencing classroom conflicts and the management strategies employed by teachers. Consequently, it becomes imperative to identify the most effective conflict resolution practices applicable within this context. To achieve this, a thorough procedure based on mixed methods was employed to analyze and interpret both classroom conflict behaviors and teachers' strategic responses. Method: This study employed an indirect observational methodology, from a mixed methods approach. Data was collected through a focus group comprised of teachers. Following the connect framework, the procedure was conducted in three phases: QUAL-QUAN-QUAL. Two analytical techniques were implemented. A lag sequential analysis was used to explore potential behavioral patterns. The results of this analysis informed a polar coordinate analysis, which generated a visual representation of the relationships between codes. Results and discussion: A focus group addressed four questions, yielding satisfactory data quality control results (kappa values: 0.80, 0.77, 0.76, 0.82). In polar coordinate analysis, the 37 observational instrument categories were designated as focal behaviors. Each of the 37 analyses treated all categories as conditioned behaviors. The analysis identified 342 activation/inhibition relationships between focal and conditioned behaviors. Of these, 195 were statistically highly significant, distributed across quadrants: Quadrant I (106), Quadrant II (36), Quadrant III (16), Quadrant IV (36). Significant gaps in understanding of conflict were identified, along with disparities in the resources and competencies necessary for successful conflict resolution among the observed educators. Specifically, teachers frequently employed techniques informed by intuition rather than deliberate strategy learned in their training. Consequently, the study advocates for enhancing teachers' cognitive and emotional competencies to optimize conflict management within the classroom and bolster their adaptive coping mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This article describes and tests a novel multi-method approach to examine decision-making: Virtual Reality-Based Retrospective Think-Aloud (VR-RTA). The VR-RTA method taps into the offender perspective and aims to enhance memory recall and information elicitation. Methods: We applied VR-RTA among a sample of incarcerated burglars (N = 200) who scouted virtual neighborhoods to explore opportunities for burglary in immersive VR equipped with integrated eye tracking. Subsequently, they viewed a screen recording of their scouting process and simultaneously "thought aloud" about their assessment of the environment and decision-making strategies. Emerging themes were then further examined in an interview and linked to survey data. Recorded eye tracking data were used to examine burglars' attention towards environmental features to identify deterrent and attracting cues, and were triangulated with the survey and interview data. Results: Rich and detailed insights into participants' interpretation of the environment and their decision-making strategies were obtained. VR-RTA assisted in verbalizing automated cognitive processes and increased participant engagement by building rapport. Conclusions: As a multi-method approach able to capture in-the-moment considerations underlying decision-making during crime commission, VR-RTA offers potential to develop into an important tool for crime research. It is able to both overcome limitations of studies using retrospective methods, such as interviews and surveys, and contribute to the nascent field of criminological research using immersive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prenatal mental health problems are associated with morbidity for the pregnant person, and their infants are at long-term risk for poor health outcomes. We aim to explore how the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affected the mental health of pregnant people in the United Kingdom (UK), and to further identify resilience factors which may have contributed to varying mental health outcomes. We also aim to examine the quality of antenatal care provided during the pandemic in the UK and to identify potential inadequacies to enhance preparedness for future events. Methods: During June-November 2020, we recruited 3666 individuals in the UK for the EPPOCH pregnancy cohort (Maternal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Effect of the Pandemic on Pregnancy Outcomes and Childhood Health). Participants were assessed for depression, anxiety, anger and pregnancy-related anxiety using validated scales. Additionally, physical activity, social support, individualized support and personal coping ability of the respondents were assessed as potential resilience factors. Results: Participants reported high levels of depression (57.05%), anxiety (58.04%) and anger (58.05%). Higher levels of social and individualized support and personal coping ability were associated with lower mental health challenges. Additionally, pregnant individuals in the UK experienced higher depression during the pandemic than that reported in Canada. Finally, qualitative analysis revealed that restrictions for partners and support persons during medical appointments as well as poor public health communication led to increased mental health adversities and hindered ability to make medical decisions. Discussion: This study revealed increased mental health challenges among pregnant individuals in the UK during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. These results highlight the need for reassessing the mental health support measures available to pregnant people in the UK, both during times of crisis and in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we posit that the ‘global’ status of the pandemic is not an essentialized feature of the crisis, but a product of social construction by political leaders. More specifically, we examine how political leaders of a superpower and a peripheral nation produce the pandemic's globality through crisis geographies from above and below. Utilizing a mixed methods framework, we analyse public speeches by Donald Trump of the United States and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines through a critical approach to text analytics. Quantitatively, we found that besides mentioning their own homelands, Western countries featured more prominently in Trump's speeches while Asian neighbours were more salient in Duterte's speeches during the pandemic. However, the United States and China were consistently the most central in the crisis geographies of the pandemic of both speakers. Qualitatively, we further characterized the discourses surrounding these global pronouncements as: (a) collective reflexive positioning on the world stage, (b) charting zones of hope and (c) scapegoating zones of blame. Taken together, implications of this work are discussed in terms of understanding pandemic leadership in national and international contexts, recognizing its negotiated embeddedness in global structural hierarchies and enhancing critical approaches to geopolitical psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents our recent experience studying public perceptions, discourses, and social values in Park Beverin, a Regional Nature Park in Switzerland. We applied four social research methods (news media analysis, survey with micro‐narratives, go‐along interviews, and focus groups), and delved into the subject of wolf Canis lupus adapting a triangulation protocol and systematic process from the health sciences. We observed the recurring perceptions of 'wolf' throughout three of the four methods; however, depictions, values, prominence, and presence varied by method. Social values of the wolf were mostly silent when compared to other topics, and 'wolf amplification' and 'wolf fatigue' point to the need to rethink the social aspects in wolf management, conservation, and policy. The findings also show the need for diverse research methods for revealing social values and perceptions on sensitive topics that otherwise the use of one method may be masking or amplifying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to better understand how the powered wheelchair (PWC) impacts the experiences of family caregivers of PWC users, and explore the strategies and resources used by caregivers to cope with their role. Materials and Methods: This mixed-methods study was part of a larger cross-sectional research study conducted in four Canadian cities. Twenty-three family caregivers of PWC users, who provided at least 2 h of support per week, completed the Power Mobility Caregiver Assistive Technology Outcome (PM-CATOM), an 18-item measure assessing PWC-related and overall burden experienced by family caregivers. We also conducted semi-structured interviews and analysed them using inductive content analysis. Results: From the quantitative PM-CATOM results, the caregivers perceived low level of burden for the wheelchair-related items, (Median:4.5; Range 3 to 5). Most perceived burden when physically helping the wheelchair user and when providing verbal hints. In terms of overall help, the caregivers experienced some level of burden (Median 3.5: Range 3 to 5). Most caregivers identified burden associated with the limitation to their recreational and/or leisure activities (52.2%) and feeling that they have more to do than they can handle. We identified 3 themes in the interviews: the burden experiences of caring for PWC users, the positive experiences of caregiving, and the coping strategies and resources used by caregivers of PWC users. Conclusion: Our study showed that understanding the experiences of caregivers of AT users is central as they are directly and indirectly impacted by the PWC in their lives and caregiving roles. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The caregivers experienced some burden related to wheelchair-related help, especially around the driving of the powered wheelchair (PWC). However, the PWC provide independence not only to the user but also to the family caregivers, allowing them to share quality time and helping each other The PWC impact the interaction with the social and physical environment of the caregivers. Caregiver-oriented interventions should build on the strengths of the caregivers and contribute to their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed-methods study explores the incidence, manifestations, and drivers of secondary traumatic stress among service providers who work with Syrian refugees in Istanbul, Turkey. A survey of 104 social workers and other providers working in 17 public and civil society agencies in Istanbul in 2018 demonstrates that 54.81% had Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale scores indicating mild to severe secondary traumatic stress. In total, 28 qualitative interviews showed manifestations and possible drivers of secondary traumatic stress including weak supervision, heavy caseloads, and insecure working conditions. The findings suggest supervision and peer-support should be strengthened to address secondary traumatic stress among providers serving refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Standardized patient-reported outcomes (PRO) monitoring during and after rectal cancer treatment provides insight into treatment-related toxicities patients experience and improves health-related quality-of-life as well as overall survival. We aimed to select a subset of the PRO version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) for standardized monitoring of treatment-related symptomatic toxicities in rectal cancer. Methods: We used a mixed methods approach including a literature review, and semi-structured interviews with health care providers (HCPs) involved in rectal cancer care and rectal cancer patients. Results from literature and interviews were summarized and used in a modified Delphi procedure to select a PRO-CTCAE subset specific for rectal cancer. Results: Twenty-six PRO-CTCAE symptomatic toxicities were identified from literature. Fifteen HCPs from multiple disciplines (medical, radiation and surgical oncology), and a heterogeneous group of fifteen rectal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and/or surgery, participated in semi-structured interviews. Ten HCPs (67%) and nine patients (90%) participated in the first Delphi round. The final selected PRO-CTCAE core-subset contained 16 symptomatic toxicities: 'diarrhea', 'fecal incontinence', 'constipation','bloating of the abdomen', 'pain in the abdomen', 'vomiting', 'decreased libido', 'pain during vaginal sex', 'ability to achieve and maintain erection', 'fatigue', 'anxiety', 'feeling that nothing could cheer you up', 'urinary incontinence', 'painful urination', 'general pain', and 'hand-foot syndrome'. Conclusion: Based on a comprehensive mixed methods study, a PRO-CTCAE subset for standardized treatment-related symptomatic toxicity monitoring in rectal cancer was identified. Assessment of the effectiveness and compliance of symptomatic toxicity monitoring using this subset is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Padres Preparados, Jóvenes Saludables was a Latino family-based obesity prevention intervention implemented from 2017 to 2020 across eight programs in-person only, in a blended format (online/in-person), and online only. The intervention aimed to enhance father parenting skills to improve adolescent diet and activity behaviors. Mothers were encouraged to attend. Factors associated with participation were explored using a mixed-methods, qualitative (focus group/individual interviews by Zoom) and quantitative (process evaluation) design. Eleven focus group and 24 individual interviews were completed after participation with 24 fathers, 27 mothers, and 40 adolescents with responses not sorted by delivery method before analysis. Binomial logistic regression models examined associations between fathers' program completion and predictor variables of delivery characteristics, father demographic characteristics, and family attendance patterns. Parents were married (96% fathers, 76% mothers), had low income, a high school education or less (68% fathers, 81% mothers), and had lived in the United States a mean of 19 years. Parents were motivated to participate to improve health, and to be involved with and improve communication with their child. Common barriers to participation were work and life priorities and programmatic factors including scheduling conflicts and technological issues. Participation was greater for fathers attending sessions in-person compared with online only (OR = 11.6). Fathers were more likely to participate if they attended sessions with family members vs. not attending with family members (OR = 7.2). To maximize participation, findings suggest involving multiple parents/caregivers and adolescents, addressing contextual and programmatic barriers, and promoting benefits of better health and relations with family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women are more undecided than men about their vote choice, with around 20%–30% of female respondents giving a 'don't know' response to vote intention survey questions in Britain. In this article, we employ a mixed methods research design to explore why women are more likely to be undecided about their vote choice than men. Using survey data, we find that the gender gap in 'don't know' responses is associated with gender gaps in political engagement and perceptions of policy representation. In focus groups, we find differences between men and women in how they want to be represented, and gender differences in conflict-avoidance/conflict-seeking, both of which we expect to contribute to gender differences in making a vote choice in-between elections. Our findings contribute to our understanding of how men and women engage with politics in Britain, as well as having implications for interpreting gender differences in vote intention in surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores the ethical underpinnings and utility of diary designs as a component of a triangulated research strategy that challenges positivist approaches to research. Building upon the work of Critical, Feminist, and Indigenous researchers, we show how centering marginalized voices through storytelling and diary designs allows for the examination of short-term, nuanced processes and everyday experiences of diverse individuals. Using original data collected at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we leverage diary research to explore emotional labor among local public sector employees to better understand how the method itself might reduce power imbalances with researchers, improve the quality of data, and support the well-being of participants. We found diaries led participants to pay heightened attention to their internal states and behavior, increasing their baseline levels of self-monitoring and in some cases altering the ways they coped with emotional exhaustion. Diaries centered the voices of participants by giving them repeated opportunities to provide frequent reports on the social and psychological particulars of ongoing events and experiences in the context of their daily lives. We use these findings to suggest a path forward for more compassionate, liberatory, and empathic research designs that blend methodologies to center the experiences of participants while being cognizant of the ethical impacts engaging in research can have on their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Critical thinking (CT) is an essential set of skills and dispositions for professionals. While viewed as an important part of professional education, approaches to teaching and assessing critical thinking have been siloed within disciplines and there are limited data on whether student perceptions of learning align with faculty perceptions of teaching. Materials and methods: The authors used a convergent mixed methods approach in required core courses in schools of education, government, and medicine at one university in the Northeast United States. Faculty surveys and student focus groups (FG) addressed definitions, strategies, and barriers to teaching CT. Results and conclusions: Sixty-four (51.6%) faculty completed the survey, and 34 students participated in FGs. Among faculty, 54.0% (34/63) reported explicitly teaching CT; but students suggested teaching CT was predominantly implicit. Faculty-reported strategies differed among schools. Faculty defined CT in process terms such as 'analyzing'; students defined CT in terms of viewpoints and biases. Our results reveal a lack of explicit, shared CT mental models between faculty and students and across professional schools. Explicit teaching of CT may help develop a shared language and lead to better understanding and application of the skills and dispositions necessary to succeed in professional life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a Family Stress Model framework, we used quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the impact of the pandemic on Latinx pregnant and parenting adolescents and their families. Participants were 406 adolescents (ages 14–19) in the southwestern U.S. who participated in a school-based relationship education program for pregnant and parenting adolescents. In the quantitative analysis, we compared self-reported mental health (depressive symptoms, worry, parental stress), coparental relationships (conflict and communication), and parenting of adolescents who participated prior to the pandemic (N = 357; 83.6% female; 84.7% Latinx) with those who participated during the pandemic (N = 49; 74.6% female; 87.8% Latinx). Unexpectedly, the pandemic-period cohort reported fewer depressive symptoms, less parental stress, more frequent coparental communication, and more positive coparental communication and conflict management than the pre-pandemic cohort. For the qualitative analysis, we conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 21 adolescent parents (95.2% female; 90.5% Latinx) from the pandemic-period cohort and analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Participants reported many negative effects of the pandemic, including increased economic and health stress, yet also discussed reduced pressure with school and more time with family members. These findings have important implications for enhancing the well-being of adolescent parents and their children after the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural youth exodus has mostly been explained with the pull of the city. In this mixed-method study, we explore whether young people also experience a push to leave the rural community due to a lack of psychosocial thriving. The quantitative analysis of the Ungdata-survey among young people aged 13–16 years (n = 141,058) shows that girls imagine leaving more than boys, and also fare worse on many indicators for psychosocial well-being. There is a linear decline in girls' psychosocial well-being the less centrally they live. We call this the gendered district effect. Contrary to expectations, we find that rural girls without higher education aspirations are those who least want to stay in the rural community. It is likely that a lower degree of psychosocial well-being is part of the reason that more girls in rural areas wish to leave their homeplace. The qualitative analysis of the rural village of Smallville (n = 21) explores this, showing that girls commonly wanted to leave to escape a toxic social environment, which also offered few status-filled work opportunities in the village. The girls were more affected by the rural community's restricting social norms, leaving girls with poor self-images and the wish to leave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inappropriate urinary tract infection diagnosis in patients with neurogenic bladder may result from ambiguous symptoms experienced by these patients and contributes to antibiotic overuse. Characterization of patient-reported signs and symptoms may help providers more appropriately diagnose urinary tract infections. A previous study collected signs and symptoms recorded in electronic medical records of patients with neurogenic bladder due to spinal cord injury/disorder, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease with at least one urinary tract infection diagnosis between 2017–2018 at four medical centers. In this study, 23 veterans from this cohort with urinary tract infection diagnoses in the previous year participated in focus groups conducted May 2021– May 2022. Transcripts were coded using mixed deductive and inductive coding. Qualitative data were compared to electronic medical records data to give a comprehensive picture of signs and symptoms. Both providers and patients attributed nonspecific symptoms like urine changes to urinary tract infection, but there was discordance between patients and providers in the identification of other signs and symptoms. Several patients described providers disregarding symptoms other than fever or chills. Optimizing urinary tract infection care for patients with neurogenic bladder could involve improving patient-provider communication about urinary tract infection signs and symptoms and emphasizing thorough elicitation and evaluation of all signs and symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Research has associated lack of parental care, physical abuse, and parental substance abuse to homelessness, with the presence of two or more such factors dramatically increasing one's chances of becoming homeless as an adult. Less clear is which (cumulation of) factors may mediate the difference between transitional and recurrent homelessness. Methods: Quantitative analysis of four risk factors—addiction, weak social network, criminal activity, psychopathology—among 69 transitionally and recurrently homeless (RH) adults, followed by in‐depth qualitative analysis of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among 30 selected participants. Results: RH participants had higher cumulative risk and a higher prevalence and broader range of ACEs than transitionally homeless participants, with the prevalence of childhood physical abuse marking the greatest difference between the two groups. Recurrent homelessness was also correlated with addiction to hard drugs, criminal activity, and weak social networks. Conclusion: Longitudinal and intervention studies in larger groups are needed to assess causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This exploratory study aims to integrate both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the influence of contemporary university dining attributes and practices on student patronage. Design/methodology/approach: First, a review of the extant literature on-campus dining in universities was conducted. Second, innovative practices of on-campus dining facilities of a large public university were identified. Finally, student perceptions of those practices were examined using a mixed method approach. Findings: The review of literature uncovered 49 articles across 35 years on key topics such as food waste, healthy eating, and service evaluation. From site tours and interviews with related personnel, 40 innovative on-campus dining practices were identified. Research limitations/implications: Importance ratings revealed cleanliness of the environment, fresh fruit and vegetables, and digitally enabled ordering, as the top three highest rated practices. Factor analysis unveiled six factors that students find important: food diversity, good standards, innovativeness, quick options, menu variety, and fish and seafood. The thematic analysis further revealed four overarching themes (convenience, familiarity, food offerings, and value) and 13 subthemes which complemented the quantitative results. Originality/value: In addition to shedding post-pandemic light on students' dining needs, it highlights the paucity of theory used to support extant studies and suggests a novel theoretical underpinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Featured Application: Featured Application: We have validated two clinical virtual reality environments, both with varying levels of threat, for use in future health research. There is an increasing need for virtual reality (VR) health applications. In the field of pain, VR has been used mainly as a distraction, with minimal use of VR to answer basic clinical questions. Pain is multifactorial and inherently threatening. Our lab recently designed two VR clinical environments with varying threat values; the present study sought to validate these environments. Subjects were randomly allocated into either the threatening or non-threatening VR consultation room and both subjective (threat questionnaire) and physiological (salivary cortisol) measurements were taken. As hypothesised, subjects in the threat condition recorded a higher threat score (p < 0.001; effect size = 0.76). There was a cortisol change across time in the threat condition (χ2(2) = 13.83, p < 0.001), but there were unexpected decreases at both 20 (p = 0.001) and 26 min (p = 0.03) following VR. While the physiological findings need further clarification, this study provides some validation of the threat value of our VR clinical tools. As such, these VR environments can potentially be used in pain experiments to help better our understanding of basic pain mechanisms. It is only with such understanding that we might offer new avenues for pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of China's community governance, as a result of the insufficient willingness and ability of residents to participate, most communities have formed a "strong political–weak social" governance structure, which limits the effective expansion of social capital. To address this challenge and promote resident participation, achieving a "strong social and political" transformation in governance structure has become a core issue in current research. Meanwhile, "sense of community" serves as a crucial perspective in this research, which remains to be deepened in domestic studies and needs to consider the impact of emerging factors such as smart technologies. This study innovatively introduces affective events theory (AET), constructing a theoretical model and taking Wuhan as an example. By adopting quantitative and case comparison research methods, the paper delves into the factors influencing Wuhan residents' sense of community in the context of a smart society and the promoting role of smart governance. On the basis of the findings, this paper presents the following conclusions: (1) Communities should attribute equal importance to the construction of both traditional and smart environments while reinforcing the leading and participatory roles of community administrators; (2) In the community's daily governance processes, equal focus and importance must be attributed to both service delivery and engagement; (3) Communities must acknowledge the individual distinctions among residents and implement tailored governing strategies accordingly; (4) The government should prioritize the research and development of smart applications while boosting financial investments in the creation and operation of smart communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-third of U.S. adults have prediabetes, but only 11% are aware of their condition. Many do not receive education or treatment. The purpose of this study is to understand family medicine providers' and patients' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding prediabetes and its management, to guide future management interventions. Cross-sectional surveys of providers (n = 54, 57% response rate) and patients with prediabetes (n = 148, 16.5% response rate) were administered at a large urban academic family medicine practice. Nearly all providers agree prediabetes screening is important, but over half were unaware of the national Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and most do not prescribe metformin to eligible patients. Over half of patients reported being told they have prediabetes but <5% had been referred to DPP and over half were unaware of medication options. In open-ended responses, providers suggested nutrition counseling resources and an improved DPP referral process to improve prediabetes care. Patients requested clear diagnosis, education on treatment options, and nutritional counseling. This study indicates that notable gaps continue to exist in provider and patient understanding and management of prediabetes, suggesting that interventions to improve prediabetes care should include more effective counseling on diagnosis and treatment and expanding access to nutrition and educational resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local governments have taken an active role in climate change policymaking and have filled in gaps from the national and state levels in the USA. However, even with the growing scholarly interest in urban climate policymaking, there is still a lot that scholars do not understand about it. The current research project seeks to provide a deeper investigation into how municipalities interact with their citizens in sustainability and climate change policymaking. It further analyzes the specific ways that citizens are included in climate policymaking. To examine these questions, the research uses a mixed methods approach, combining survey and interview data. Findings reveal that municipal characteristics are related to citizen involvement around climate change, but that there are also specific motivations for how local governments interact with their citizens, particularly related to increasing citizen buy-in and diversity. The research provides implications for how local governments conceptualize citizen involvement for sustainability policymaking and how they might approach the issue in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The watchdog role is central to the democratic legitimacy of journalism and is also perceived as an essential part of journalists' role performance by the public. So far, the expectations on journalists' watchdog role performance have been studied as a static concept resulting in limited knowledge of the underlying dynamics in audience demand and expectations for this type of journalism. We argue that the demand for watchdog journalism is dynamic and varies according to changes in the broader context and across audience characteristics. We take a multi-method approach to examine the demand for watchdog journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. First, we use data from three representative surveys (n≈1.000 in each), including a panel component (n = 336), to demonstrate that the demand for watchdog journalism increased over time, especially among opposition voters, as the political context offered more political conflict and contested policy solutions. Second, a qualitative analysis of answers to an open-ended question in the surveys examines how the audience believes the watchdog role should be performed. We show that the demand for different functions of journalists' critical reporting varies over time and that the form used by journalists when conducting critical reporting is extremely important to the audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring hospitalized patients' comfort requires understanding differences in comfort and adaptation to discomfort, as well as the role of the built environment therein. Shortcomings in this understanding result from limitations of existing research methods. Therefore the potential of a mixed methods research design to investigate when and why experiences of and adaption to (dis)comfort differ among hospitalized patients was explored. A convergent mixed methods case study was conducted in two hospital wards of a Belgian hospital. Qualitative data included interviews with 19 patients about their experiences and information about the patients at the two wards during the fieldwork; quantitative data included sensor measurements of indoor environmental quality parameters (i.e. illuminance and indoor temperature), a questionnaire among 238 patients about their assessment of the indoor conditions, and simulations of these conditions. Joint displays allowed comparing situations in which characteristics related to the patients or their setting differed in an integrated way. The displays provide an intermediate step between purely qualitative descriptions of comfort and adaptation and purely quantitative models that predict both. Scenarios that the joint displays allow identifying inform about characteristics that could improve these models, and about roles of the built environment in experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the highly competitive field of publishing in economics journals, methods often become fads sometimes to the detriment of framing meaningful research agendas and of research ethics. In recent times, empirical work based on primary data collection has gained traction. Randomized controlled trials entail not just primary data collection but also interventions involving human subjects. Field research involving data collection is also expensive, raising a number of concerns. In this special symposium we explore questions of research agendas and research ethics, and argue fo rthe acceptance of broader methodological approaches, greater inclusion in the publication process and for a reflection at the disciplinary level of practices related to field research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]