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We complement emerging theory-building in social entrepreneurship by adopting a new perspective. We start with the assumption that the existence of opposing interests is the main reason that things that should have been done to improve social welfare have not been done. We then draw on economic concepts and logical reasoning to build a typology of problems relevant to the goal of improving social welfare. Determining the solutions to those problem types identifies which forces are likely to oppose their implementation. From that basis, we describe which characteristics would be helpful, and which wouldn't, for providing the solutions while also mitigating the likely opposition. That analysis provides the basis to argue, that for specific problems, social entrepreneurs are likely to embody a relatively better set of characteristics (versus, for example, a local governmental agency). We then discuss the implications for research, management and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem solving is central to engineering education. Yet, there is little agreement regarding what constitutes an exemplary design problem or case analysis problem for modeling undergraduate instruction after. There is even less agreement in engineering education literature regarding the best way to measure students' ability or progress in learning to be better problem solvers in these discrete problem categories, especially with "open" problems. We describe the development of a research method toward accessing how students think about solving different types of engineering problems, like design and case analysis, what constitutes a measurable response, and how to compare through qualitative research methods pre and post student performance. The contribution of this paper is a discussion of our effort to develop an appropriate open problem statement, based on problem typology research of David Jonassen. The discussion draws from Jonassen's framework, as well as cognitive learning frameworks, and metacognition as a theoretical basis that informs the problem formulation and planned approach for analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Being familiar with research methodology causes an increase in the effectivity and efficiency in research. One of the most valuable subjects in research methodology is to discuss about principles and skill of "Problem-oriented" researches that seems to be less known in literary studies. Propagation of problem-oriented researches in the field of Persian language and literature needs serious considerations to its principles and regulations, changing the viewpoint of literary researches, reconsideration in the curriculum of higher education centers, and finally revision in methods and procedure of doing a research plan in this field. Emphasing the necessity of the further consideration of problem-oriented in literary studies, in this article the characteristics and features of this type of research is discussed. Also the methods and skills of problem-finding in the field of literature are described and types of literary problem are introduced. Moreover the different steps that must be followed by a researcher in order to solve the literary problems are stated.

Introduction: Online counselling represents a new medium for finding health information. The aim of the research is to determine the importance of analysis of adolescents' issues in order to understand their problems, needs and desires. Methods: In 2012 the system for the classification of questions by the type of problem was introduced. In relation to the contents the questions were first sorted to the parent category then followed by the categorization according to the subject matter. The calculation comprised the portions, averages and quartiles, and in some cases even Cramer's V coefficients. The analysis covered the entire defined population (3,257 coded questions). Results: Most of the users are girls (76 %), the most representative group encompasses adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years (57 %). Most questions were grouped into the categories Sexuality and sexual health (24 %), Relationships (23 %) and Body (20 %). The length of posts increases with the age of the user (Cr's V = 0.18), but differs by the gender (a higher proportion of longer questions (Cr's V = 0.15) were posted by girls) and the themes (Cr's V = 0.31). Discussion and conclusion: The categorizing of questions is suitable for the identification and analysis of adolescents' problems, needs and desires. Regular categorisation of questions with analysis will serve as a useful research tool for youth work.

Post-normal science (PNS) is presented by its proponents as a new way of doing science that deals with uncertainties, value diversity or antagonism, and high decision stakes and urgency, with the ultimate goal of remedying the pathologies of the global industrial system for which, according to Funtowicz and Ravetz, existing science forms the basis. The authors critically examine whether PNS can fulfill this claim in the light of empirical and theoretical work on politics and policy making. The authors credit PNS as an innovative frontrunner in raising important issues regarding the limited problem-solving capacity of ‘‘normal science’’ and ‘‘professional consultancy.’’ Yet, the authors notice that PNS lacks important considerations about the governance of problems and aspects of participatory and deliberative democracy. PNS in effect implies that methodological ‘‘ratiocination’’ would prevail over political deliberation and democratic interaction and that merely changing scientific input in public policy making would have the power to change its outcomes. This scientistic hubris can be traced back to PNS’s origin in concerned scientists’ activism, which in effect accessed the political arena through the scientific entrance. The authors conclude that the art of politics needs to come back into the discussion on environmental problems if societal change is to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]