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Border-fiction(ing)s in Ireland: emergence and potentials of border-fiction(ing)s in the Eile project
Full text linkThrough our art and spatial research practice ‘a place of their own’, we have been working on, and with, the nation-state border in Ireland, since 2013. Since 2018, this practice research has developed within the framework of the Eile project, and from this work, our development of the notion of border fictions and border fictionings has emerged. The aim of Eile, as practice research, is to employ fictioning as a method to re-imagine the border in Ireland through assemblages of performance, film, sound, sculpture, installation, poetry, and prose. The concept of border fictions, and the notion of border fictioning as a method, emerged over the years of developing the various artworks and at some point, we settled on fictions or fictioning as a discursive device to help make sense of the work and what it was doing. In this article we offer a (partial) critical genealogy of the fictions in border fictions and border fictioning as method. explore some critical analyses of nation-state borders in order to elucidate how these borders might themselves be approached as a form of fiction. We then plot a course to show how critical fictioning might be ‘put to use’ as potential tactic to disrupt the hegemony of sovereign borders
Audit in uncertain times: geopolitical risk and audit outcomes
No full textPurpose
Geopolitical risk (GPR) has skyrocketed globally and become a key concern for policymakers, regulatory authorities, and corporate strategists. Trade wars, political tensions, regional conflicts, and terrorist attacks are key components of GPR, which can significantly elevate a firm’s audit risk. Given this backdrop, we investigate the relationship between firm-level GPR and audit outcomes in the U.S.
Methodology
Our data consists of 20,517 firm-year observations collected for the period 2000-2021. The data are analysed applying firm-fixed effects that address endogeneity by controlling for unobserved, time-invariant characteristics specific to each firm. We further employ two identification tests, Lewbel’s (2012) method and propensity score matching, to address potential endogeneity concerns and conduct several sensitivity analyses to ensure the robustness of our findings.
Findings
Our analysis reveals an unfavourable impact of GPR on audit outcomes, indicating that firms with high GPR tend to incur higher audit fees, experience longer audit delays, face more financial restatements, are more likely to receive going-concern opinions, and experience greater internal control issues. We further show that such unfavourable impacts are more pronounced for clients that experience high information asymmetry, are located far from the auditors, exhibit weak governance oversight, and lack industry-specific audit specialists. Likewise, our additional tests reveal that the adverse impacts of GPR on audit outcomes are more prevalent in firms with lower gender diversity, fewer financially expert directors, and in firms that experience higher economic policy uncertainty (EPU). Finally, we find that firms with greater GPR face a higher likelihood of lawsuits.
Originality
To our knowledge, no prior study examines the impact of firms’ GPR on audit outcomes. Our study is the first to comprehensively analyse the heterogeneous influence of GPR on important audit outcomes such as audit fees, audit report delays, financial restatements, going concern opinions, and internal control. Hence, our study addresses a critical gap in the literature.
Practical implications
Our findings have important policy implications. For example, regulators could encourage disclosures on GPR to enhance transparency for auditors, investors, and other stakeholders. They might also promote stronger corporate governance, improved information environments, and greater audit committee expertise and diversity, especially in high-risk geopolitical contexts. Additionally, directors and auditors should collaborate to address geopolitical threats by strengthening internal risk management systems and reducing information asymmetry
Forest soundscapes improve mood, restoration and cognition, but not physiological stress or immunity, relative to industrial soundscapes
Full text linkExposure to natural environments has consistently been shown to boost human health. However, population-level benefit is constrained by both inequitable access to high-quality natural spaces and the lack of medical prescriptions for nature-based therapy. Addressing these challenges requires an improved understanding of the mechanisms linking environmental attributes to positive health outcomes. A systematic, standardised experimental approach is needed to support this effort. This manuscript presents two complementary experiments—a randomised controlled trial (n = 100) and a counterbalanced crossover trial (n = 30)—designed to assess the effect of a 30-min exposure to forest and industrial acoustic environments on selected biomarkers. This is the first in a series of laboratory experiments which isolate and expose individual senses to natural and industrial stimuli, while measuring biological parameters previously shown to respond positively to whole-body, real-world, nature immersion. Forest acoustics (recorded in a UK temperate rainforest, featuring bird song, running water, wind and rainfall) significantly improved biomarkers of mood, restoration and cognition, relative to industrial acoustics (recorded in Liverpool and London city centre), but not heart rate, blood pressure, heart rate variability, salivary cortisol or secretory Immunoglobulin A. These findings suggest that acoustic elements of forest environments play a role in mediating enhanced psychological state and cognition but do not appear to influence physiological stress or immunological parameters. This work advances understanding of how nature influences human biology and takes steps towards addressing existing challenges to nature-based therapy. In the short-term, these findings highlight the potential of acoustic interventions for individuals with limited access to nature
Exploring cognition, motivation and emotion in students’ drawing experience
Full text linkThis study explored the factors influencing drawing ability for design students in higher education, with a focus on cognitive, psychological and contextual influences. While both traditional and current research have mainly focused the investigation on cognitive and perceptual aspects of drawing ability, this study broadened the scope by investigating how motivational, emotional and contextual factors contributed to students’ ability and performance within a drawing experience. Therefore, the study addressed the research question: How, and to what extent, do psychological and contextual factors, in addition to cognitive factors, influence students' drawing ability?
Building on a pragmatic orientation, a mixed-methods approach was adopted with quantitative and qualitative strands implemented concurrently within the same phase of the research process. Data were collected through three batteries of drawing tests, followed by semi-structured group and individual interviews. A total of 87 first-year undergraduate students from three East Midlands universities studying disciplines in the built environment and design industry participated in the study.
The findings derived from the drawing tests and interviews indicate that student participants' drawing ability is influenced by a complex and delicate interplay of cognitive, psychological, contextual factors. While cognitive potential in visual perception and reasoning played a fundamental role in the drawing performance, the data evidenced that psychological and contextual factors were equally, if not more, significant in determining the outcomes of the drawing performance as well as in shaping students’ drawing development and confidence.
There are multiple contributions to knowledge of this study. Conceptually, it redefines drawing as an activity shaped not only by technical or cognitive ability but also by psychological and contextual dimensions, reframing how drawing is understood in design education. It identifies a critical methodological gap in the empirical literature - an overemphasis on objective measures of drawing ability at the expense of subjective experience - highlighting the need for a more integrated and holistic research approach. In terms of research design, the adoption of a mixed methods Convergent Design represents an innovation in drawing ability research. This design enhances the robustness of the findings and provides a replicable model for future studies. Theoretically, the integration of three lenses - Human Cognition (Carroll, 1993), Mindset (Dweck, 1986–2017), and Human Agency (Bandura, 1977) - constitutes a foundational contribution. Brought into dialogue for the first time, these perspectives form an interdependent framework that captures the complex interplay of subjective, objective, and contextual factors in drawing ability, addressing both a literature gap and real-world pedagogical needs. Finally, the Model of Drawing Ability uniquely derived from this framework bridges micro and macro dimensions of drawing ability. It offers a holistic lens to examine both personal experience and measurable performance, providing a conceptually rich yet practically applicable tool for researchers and educators.
Both Model and findings have implications for drawing education, particularly in recommending pedagogical approaches that foster ability development and address psychological and contextual barriers to drawing learning. Future research directions on drawing ability are advanced for higher and secondary education to explore how teaching contexts shape students’ drawing ability development
Audit fees-audit quality relationship: Does employee board representation matter?
Full text linkWe examine the effect of employee board representation on audit fees and whether the interplay between audit fees and employee board representation has an impact on audit quality, as measured by discretionary accruals. Using a sample of 3,142 firm-year observations across seven European countries over the period of 2005-2019, we show that employee board representation is negatively associated with audit fees, and this association is primarily observed when the number of employee directors reaches two or more. In addition, we test the possible channels through which employee board representation affects audit fees and show that the effect is stronger in firms with weak corporate governance. We also document that audit committee effectiveness moderates the relationship. Finally, we show that the observed lower audit fees lead to an improvement in audit quality, probably due to a stronger control environment and reduced audit risk in the presence of employee directors. Our main results are unchanged when using alternative measures, additional controls, subsample analysis, alternative econometric techniques, and identification strategies
Training career development professionals: 12 steps to renewal
No full textOver the past quarter-century, the training and qualifications system for careers professionals has been buffeted by waves of policy change and innovation. Last year, the Career Development Institute (CDI) commissioned the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) to examine whether the current system is fit for purpose
Navigating the voice of Care-Experienced Children and Young People (CECYP) through their Social Worker
No full textBackground and Purpose: Democratic principles such as equity, participation, and shared decision-making are essential in ensuring that the voices of care-experienced children and young people (CECYP) are amplified in social work practice. Social workers play a crucial role in advocating for these children’s voices, but they face significant challenges in translating democratic values into daily practice. This study explores how social workers engage with democratic values, focusing on the co-creation of knowledge as they work to integrate CECYP’s perspectives into decision-making processes. The research embraces democracy in social work practice by emphasising the collaborative nature of social work between practitioners and those they serve.
Methods: This research employs a qualitative design using Thematic Analysis, with semi-structured interviews conducted with 8-12 social workers who directly work with CECYP. Participants were recruited through professional networks such as the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). While CECYP are not directly involved in this study, the focus is on how social workers engage in participatory decision-making on their behalf. The research examines how democratic principles like shared power and equitable participation are operationalised by social workers, with an emphasis on the co-creation of knowledge, whereby social workers actively incorporate children’s perspectives into their practice.
Findings: Preliminary findings indicate that social workers are committed to upholding democratic values in their work, but face substantial barriers, including organisational limitations and the ethical complexities of balancing children's needs with institutional demands. Social workers emphasised the importance of building long-term, trusting relationships with CECYP to facilitate more effective participation, reflecting the principle of co-creation of knowledge. The research found that engaging children in decision-making is not just about hearing their voices but integrating their perspectives into practice, thus co-constructing solutions in collaboration with them. The use of digital tools like WhatsApp has helped democratise communication, allowing for more direct, two-way engagement between social workers and children. This shift highlights the transition from top-down decision-making to more inclusive practices.
Conclusions and Implications: This study demonstrates that embracing democracy in social work practice requires a deep commitment to co-creating knowledge with those being served, even when they are not directly involved in research. Social workers act as intermediaries, ensuring that CECYP’s voices shape care decisions, thus reinforcing the democratic principle of shared power. The findings suggest the need for systemic changes that further support social workers in fostering collaborative relationships that allow for equitable participation in decision-making. This research contributes to the co-creation of knowledge by highlighting how social workers’ experiences can inform the development of practices that better align with democratic values. Further research should focus on expanding participatory frameworks that reduce power imbalances, ensuring that democratic practices are fully integrated across social, cultural, and professional boundaries, and enhancing methodological innovation in social work
Breaking the silent legacies of war: Exploring transnational feminist art activisms and conflict-related gender-based violence
No full textCreative arts are vital in helping to raise awareness of the ongoing phenomenon known as “rape as weapon of war”, which has been described by the United Nations (2024a) as one of the ‘greatest silences’ that ‘continues to be chronically underreported’, as sexual violence is systematically encouraged and tolerated during conflicts. In this article, I explore two installations
that expose conflict-related gender-based violence to international audiences, and advocate for justice of women’s rights to a life free of violence: Alketa Jhafa Mripa’s 2015 Thinking of you, first displayed in Kosovo’s football stadium, and Patricia Cronin’s 2015 Shrine for girls, initially presented at the 56th Venice Biennale. By exploring artworks from different locations and different legacies of war, I argue for art’s vital role in giving voice to the greatest silence occurring during armed conflicts
Effects of an acute bout of exercise on cognitive function in adults with cognitive impairment: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No full textBackground: Acute exercise has been demonstrated to improve cognitive functioning among the general population. We provide the first review to establish the evidence for acute exercise to improve cognitive function among adults with cognitive impairment (CI). Methods: We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of a single exercise session on cognitive function. Data sources were PubMed, SportDiscus, PsychINFO, Cochrane Central, PEDro, and Embase. Eligibility criteria were randomized controlled trials of acute exercise with participants aged 18+ and physician diagnosed or self-reported CI. We used dual data abstraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and strength of evidence assessment. We pooled results using the inverse variance heterogeneity model or with narrative synthesis. Results: Fifteen studies (8 parallel group and 7 crossover) representing 500 participants were included, 10 in the meta-analysis. Acute exercise significantly improved executive function (moderate evidence, 9 studies, 330 participants, g = 0.33, small effect, 95% CI, 0.07– 0.59, P = .01, I2 = 26.77%). However, this was only for high risk of bias/crossover studies. Acute exercise improved reaction time but not significantly (very low evidence, 7 studies, 271 participants, g = 0.17, small effect, 95% CI, −0.20 0.54, P = .36, I2 = 50.18%). Narratively, improvements were noted for memory, but there was mixed evidence for attention, information processing, and motor memory. Conclusions: Acute exercise provides a small improvement in executive function and may also improve reaction time and memory for adults with CI. Additional research is needed before reaching an evidence-based consensus on the promotion of acute exercise for adults with CI
"Failing from a cliff-face" into the necropolitical abyss: experiences of those with sexual convictions leaving prison
No full textWe reconceptualise the experience of people with sexual convictions leaving prison as being in but not of the community. Release from prison can be characterised as falling into a necropolitical abyss, which entails extreme social exclusion. Via our interview data we extend current understanding on this transition as we newly theorise the severity of the cliff face drop, the post prison precarity and the death world experience. Escape from the death world is attempted through performance visa what we see as a life mask. Embracing the work of Agamben, Butler, Mbembe, and Goffman we explore this and substitute stigmatised identity performance. We evaluate ontological (in)security for persons with sexual convictions. Novelty lies in the form of positivity ascribed to imprisonment as although prison is recognised as a terrible place, it nonetheless does facilitate security and a social life