1993 research outputs found
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Travel and Intellectual Exchange across the Ancient Indian Ocean world (ca. 100 BCE to 600 CE)
No full textThe aim of the present chapter is to weave together the seemingly more intangible aspects of the history of intellectual (and religious) exchange with our growing understanding of the history of connectivity and trade across the ancient Indian Ocean. Both the themes and the types of evidence examined by scholars in these respective fields may appear distinctive, at least at first glance. Indeed, it is fair to observe that there is a heavy emphasis on textual study for those working in the areas of ancient philosophy and scriptural exegesis, whereas for the historian of mobility and trade, a much wider range of material is investigated, including archaeological, epigraphic, papyrological, iconographic material and literary texts (of various genres). However, on closer inspection, it is evident that these areas are heavily intertwined. For instance, archaeological studies of sites across mainland and island Southeast Asia have revealed much stronger links with South Asia (and East Asia) from the late centuries BCE than had previously been assumed in earlier Indianization models (Stargardt 2021: 221; Bellina 2022: 459); this has had important implications for our understanding of the processes leading up to the widespread adoption of forms of Buddhism, Vaiṣṇavism and Bhagavatism across Southeast Asia during the first millennium CE. Another example is the value of portable (universal) religions, like Christianity and Buddhism, for merchants and sailors, since they could facilitate a shared sense of belonging and trust, as well as willingness to aid and engage in information sharing among co-religionists (Manguin 2019: 64; Seland 2019: 73).
In order to critically examine such entanglements between intellectual and commercial exchange across the ancient Indian Ocean world (ca. 100 BCE to 600 CE) and, in particular, between the Classical Mediterranean and India, several key themes will be considered: travel as a source of (philosophical) wisdom and the importance of autopsy, Indian Ocean islands as the settings for philosophical utopias in Graeco-Roman literature, and the potential for material evidence to be studied as proxies for the movement of religious and philosophical ideas. However, before addressing these themes it is worth providing some contextual discussion of the motives for travel and the practicalities involved
A Quasi-Experimental, School-Based Intervention Study with Pre-Test, Post-Test and Retention Measures
Full text linkRationale: This dissertation investigated the effectiveness of an eight-week SKIP (Successful Kinesthetic Instruction for Pre-schoolers) intervention on the development of fundamental motor skills (FMS) in Year 1 secondary pupils aged 11–12. The study aimed to address three main research questions: firstly, whether pre-test differences existed by group and sex across TGMD-2 and TGMD-3 assessment tools. Secondly, what was the influence of the SKIP intervention on FMS (Fundamental Motor Skills) total, Locomotor (LM), and Object Control (OC) skills? Lastly, to what extent the intervention effects were retained. Four hypotheses (H1a-d) were tested.
Design: Using a quasi-experimental design, pupils were allocated to either the SKIP intervention or a wait group. FMS competence was assessed at pre, post, and retention stages using both TGMD-2 and TGMD-3. The data were analysed to compare baseline similarity, group differences, and changes over time.
Findings: Findings supported both H1a and H1b: the intervention and wait groups did not differ at the pre-test, and boys outperformed girls in object control but not in locomotor skills. H1c was strongly supported, with the SKIP group showing significant improvements in FMS, particularly locomotor skills, compared to the wait group. H1d received partial support: although some gains were maintained, regression was observed, particularly in object control skills.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the SKIP programme can produce meaningful short-term improvements in FMS. However, the gains made during intervention may not be sustained without reinforcement. The findings contribute to theoretical debates surrounding Seefeldt’s proficiency barrier, schema theory, and physical literacy, while highlighting the need for age-appropriate measurement tools. Practical implications emphasise that embedding FMS practice into the everyday Physical Education curriculum, addressing sex disparities, and supporting long-term sustainability through teacher training and school policy would further support FMS in the long term
Ground up Spices: Investigating the Role of the Marginalized and Unseen in the Distribution, Processing and Consumption of Spices and Aromatics During the Roman Imperial Period
No full textA confluence of new perspectives, techniques and bodies of evidence is substantially altering our understanding of the economic and social impacts of spice and aromatic consumption within the Roman Empire during the early to mid-first millennium CE. Earlier discourses, which were heavily informed by textual analysis, often focused on the (negative) economic impacts of the “spice trade” and elite conspicuous consumption. However, new methods of analysis and bodies of data (notably archaeobotanical remains) have made it increasingly apparent that a much wider proportion of the population were engaged in the consumption of these spices than has often been assumed (Rowan 2017; Cobb 2018; Simmons 2021) and that the volume of goods being moved presented a significant organisational and logistical undertaking (Cobb 2022). Furthermore, archaeometric methods (like residue analysis) are enabling a more complex understanding of the processing of these spices and aromatics and the materiality of the objects linked to their consumption (Ribechini et al. 2008; Cramp and Evershed 2015).
It is evident that marginalised individuals were (in)directly tied into this phenomenon. Particularly the enslaved, who played important roles in activities like incense production, perfume manufacture and food preparation, and non-elites involved in their transit (including nomads). The present paper investigates the distribution, processing and consumption of spices and aromatics from a ground up perspective. Special attention is paid to way that new (archaeometric) techniques and bodies of evidence can be integrated into our historical analysis
An Investigation of Current Rural Household Furniture in East Hebei (Jidong) Province, China
Full text linkThis study presents a multifaceted original contribution to knowledge by employing a unique methodological framework, comprehensive data collection, and the innovative application of lifestyle theory to the study of rural household furniture in Jidong Province, China. Departing from conventional mixed-method and purely ethnographic approaches, this research integrates qualitative methods, including open-ended interviews, participatory observations, and photographic analyses, with quantitative structured questionnaires. This methodological innovation facilitates a holistic exploration of both the historical evolution and contemporary realities of rural furniture, addressing gaps in prior research.
A key contribution is the systematic documentation and classification of traditional rural furniture, identifying nine distinct types based on size, usage, decorative features, and manufacturing techniques. This archival effort preserves cultural heritage while establishing a foundation for future comparative studies. Additionally, the application of lifestyle theory provides novel insights into how shifts in rural lifestyles influence furniture usage and preferences, broadening the scope of previous research that often focused on individual furniture pieces without considering socio-cultural dynamics.
Another significant finding is the classification of rural household yard layouts, including pre-earthquake yards, contemporary residential yards, and a newly identified functional-type yard, which reflects adaptive responses to socio-economic transformations. This classification enhances the understanding of spatial arrangements in rural households. Moreover, the study proposes practical design principles for improving rural furniture, offering specific, empirically informed recommendations tailored to the actual needs of rural residents.
In summary, this research advances academic discourse on rural household furniture in Jidong Province through methodological innovation, extensive documentation, application of lifestyle theory, novel yard classifications, and practical design principles. These contributions not only enhance scholarly understanding but also provide tangible solutions for improving rural living conditions
The impact of corporate social responsibility on employee loyalty in chinese firms: investigating the interrelationships between csr, organisational culture and employee Loyalty
No full textCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has garnered much attention, bringing into discussions its impacts in various economic, social and political contexts, in both business and academic communities. Substantial research have been conducted with CSR in an instrumental perspective from organisational level, focusing on CSR’s impact on marketing and financial performance of firms. Increasingly more studies have been shifting to focus on the micro level, and its overall influence on internal stakeholders, with research findings indicating CSR has a positive effect on Employee Loyalty (Bhattacharya, et al., 2011; Valentine & Fleischman, 2007). Further to this, many scholarly discussions shared a similar view that CSR must be embedded into a firm's business strategy and the Organisational Culture to drive positive outcomes for employee attitudes such as loyalty (Porter & Kramer, 2006). Thus, it is imperative to investigate empirically the effects of Organisational Culture on the relationship between CSR and Employee Loyalty.
Kramer and Porter argued CSR has the purpose of aligning the firm’s interests to generate a sense of shared value with employee (Porter & Kramer, 2006), which is a crucial factor in facilitating better relationships, create greater chance for higher employee performance and consequently, better organisational performance. As shared value is often reflected in Organisational Culture, Organisational Culture is identified as an important factor to evaluate relating to CSR-fostered Loyalty.
With the new generation of workforce being more accustomed to, and influenced by, values of acting socially responsible, firms are compelled to re-evaluate their approaches in capacity building, talent acquisition, development, and retention. Further, in addition to the high cost of replacing an employee, there are intangible costs to staff attrition as well as the implicit cost in realignment of human resources. Consequently, CSR has progressively been considered as a strategic instrument for HRM in organisations. It is therefore imperative for organisations and their leaderships, to have a more comprehensive understanding of, the interrelationships between CSR, Organisational Culture and Employee Loyalty, to formulate ‘best fit’ strategies with regards to CSR implementations.
In this study, Employee Loyalty is set out as a main construct for analysis. Talent retention will be a principal business outcome for subsequent discussions. A mixed-method research approach was employed, with quantitative research method first conducted to gather empirical data on employees’ perception on 4 different dimensions of CSR, 4 different dimensions of Organisational Culture, and Employee Loyalty, prior to a qualitative research study. A survey of 382 respondents was conducted to better understand the interrelationships between CSR, Organisational Culture, and Employee Loyalty.
The survey results indicated, as expected, different types of CSR elicit different strengths of effect on Employee Loyalty, with Employee-related CSR having the strongest effect. Organisational culture, likewise, also shows different strengths of effect on Employee Loyalty, with Employee-oriented Culture having significant, and highest, effect on Loyalty. Further, statistical findings establish that, certain interaction effects between CSR and Organisational Culture, namely, Product and Service-related CSR and Outcome-oriented Organisational Culture, Corporate Governance-related CSR and Innovation-oriented Organisational Culture, Employee-related CSR and Employee-oriented Organisational Culture, Employee-related CSR and Innovation-oriented Organisational Culture, are significant, to Employee Loyalty.
Subsequently, different levels of employees were invited to participate in interviews under the qualitative research part of the study, to discuss their lived experiences in order to gain more insights into the results of the quantitative findings
Royal Cult and Religious Life in the Seleucid Levant: Additional Considerations on the Heliodoros Stele
No full textThis chapter reexamines Seleucid royal cult in the southern Levant through the lens of the Heliodoros
stele, a key epigraphic source that illuminates the intersection of imperial administration and local religious life
against a backdrop of resistance. Moving beyond the binary of top-down versus bottom-up cultic origins, the
study explores how Seleucid interventions in temple affairs ‒ ranging from benefactions to despoliation ‒ fit
within Levi’s broader framework of “predatory rule.” The chapter is structured in three parts. The first analyzes
Seleucid interactions with local temples, particularly the Jerusalem temple, highlighting the dual strategies of
extraction and control. The second investigates the administrative roles of officials such as Heliodoros and Olympiodoros,
arguing that the latter’s appointment as overseer of sanctuaries likely included responsibilities for the
royal cult, thus blurring the lines between civic and centralized cultic practices. The third section considers the
destruction and deposition of the Heliodoros stele as a symbolic act of resistance during the Hasmonean expansion,
reflecting broader tensions between Seleucid imperial policy and local religious autonomy. By integrating
epigraphic, literary, and archaeological evidence, the chapter offers a nuanced view of how royal cult functioned
as both a tool of imperial governance and a nexus of contested authority in the Seleucid Levant
Creating the conditions to thrive: exploring the inter-relationship between organisational culture, collaboration and teacher wellbeing, through narrative inquiry
Full text linkThis thesis explores the conditions in which teachers can thrive by examining the inter-relationship between organisational culture, collaboration and teacher wellbeing, through the lens of particular teachers’ experience. Situated within a period of significant educational reform in post-devolution Wales, the study investigates how teachers navigate the implementation of the Curriculum for Wales and shifting professional learning expectations amid relentless policy change, highlighting the need to understand how they thrive within such a demanding context.
Guided by an interpretivist and social constructivist worldview, the research employs narrative inquiry methodology (Clandinin and Connelly, 2000), positioning experience at the centre of meaning making. The study captures the lived experiences of teachers in one primary and one secondary school in South-East Wales and reflects my positionality as a headteacher and doctoral researcher. This dual perspective offers an authentic, practice-informed understanding of the conditions that enable teachers to thrive. Reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2022) was used to interpret the data, which enabled a rich understanding of teachers’ experiences within their ecological contexts and emphasised the relational, emotional, and temporal dimensions of professional life.
Findings show that thriving is a dynamic and relational process influenced by intrapersonal, interpersonal, organisational, and policy-level factors. Teachers’ wellbeing is shaped by self-reflection and experience, mediated by leadership and collaboration. Cultures characterised by trust, respect, and shared purpose enable teachers to thrive, whereas performative or hierarchical cultures limit autonomy and connection. Leadership emerged as pivotal in cultivating collaborative professionalism and fostering the relational conditions that sustain wellbeing.
An original contribution of this research is an ecosystem model for teacher wellbeing, conceptualising thriving as ecological and relational rather than individual. Drawing on ecological (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and bioecological theories (Bronfenbrenner and Morris, 2006) alongside interdisciplinary concepts of ecosystem learning (Hannon and Peterson, 2017), the model offers a framework for leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to design and sustain cultures that enable teachers to thrive within and beyond Wales
Edward Thomas (Cochfarf) ‘premier ami de la Bretagne’
No full textThis article makes the case for the pivotal role played by Edward Thomas (Cochfarf) in Welsh-Breton relations in the first decade of the twentieth century. It makes accessible in French for the first time archival texts written in Welsh by Cochfarf, both journalism and private correspondence, and letters written to him in Welsh by Bretons. Analysis of these texts reveals the complexities the dual identities of the Breton-French and British-Welsh in the heyday of Pan-Celticism
Parental Attitudes Towards Early Childhood Education in Lower Sorbian: Challenges in Developing Bilingualism in a Critically Endangered Language
Full text linkThis dissertation explored reasons why parents choose daycare education for their children through the medium of Lower Sorbian. Lower Sorbian or Wendish is a critically endangered West Slavic minority language spoken in the area around Cottbus, a town in eastern Germany near the Polish border. As intergenerational transmission of Lower
Sorbian has virtually ceased, bilingual education in daycare centres and schools was selected as an option to revitalise the language.
Given the dearth of extant research on this topic, a mixed-methods approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews with practitioners in the field of Lower Sorbian were first conducted to inform the development of a parent questionnaire ensuring contextual relevance. The resulting survey was distributed to parents at three Lower Sorbian medium daycare centres.
The study also explored parents’ attitudes towards bilingual Lower Sorbian education as well as their perceptions of bilingualism, Lower Sorbian cultural identity and language
preservation. Overall, the parents expressed considerable levels of satisfaction with the current provision and supported bilingual early education. The local availability of Lower Sorbian-medium daycare emerged as a key factor in parents’ choice of daycare centre. However, the study highlighted differences in awareness and expectations regarding language outcomes among parents at the different daycare centres. This research also included practical implications for bilingual early childhood education in a critically endangered minority language
The Common Law Duty of Confidence and the Use of Information in Healthcare in Wales
Full text linkThis thesis describes how information that is subject to the common law duty of confidence can be shared lawfully in the National Health Service in Wales. The complexities of modern healthcare and the exploitation of data to improve service provision necessitate a clearer understanding of the duty of confidence to ensure that information is shared lawfully.
Guidance produced by the health service and professional bodies assists healthcare professionals and health service staff in making decisions around using information to ensure compliance with legal and ethical frameworks when everyday tasks are being performed. However, they lack a comprehensive legal perspective, potentially inhibiting lawful information sharing. The Law Commission highlighted that this issue extends beyond the NHS to the wider public service.
There is an absence of detailed legal guidance that focuses on the common law duty of confidence, specifically in relation to the National Health Service in Wales. There are no texts that examine the provisions under section 251 of the National Health Service Act 2006 to create regulation. There are no studies that explain how statutory functions can confer powers to enable bodies to lawfully collect and use information that is subject to the duty of confidence.
Employing doctrinal and empirical legal research methodologies, this thesis reviews primary legal resources and interprets them following established legal research methods to ensure an accurate representation of the law without social biases. The research aims to clarify misunderstandings and confusions around the duty of confidence and will be utilised in other work to create a comprehensive legal framework for healthcare professionals and organisations in Wales
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