6277 research outputs found
Sort by
The impact of playing area dimension and team imbalance on the performance of individual tactical actions in soccer ball possession
No full textThis study analyses the effects of spatial constraints and team imbalances on individual actions during possession-based soccer small-sided games (SGGs), when varying levels of opposition and cooperation. Eighteen university-level semi-professional players participated in SSGs on artificial turf across small, medium, and large playing areas. Individual actions, including dribbling, passing, tackling, blocking, and intercepting, were recorded and analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner tests. Data were analysed from an opposition perspective by positioning four players against 3?5 opponents (4v3 to 4v5) to evaluate superiority versus inferiority, and from a cooperation perspective, when incorporating additional teammates into a team of 2, ranging from 1 to 3 (4v2?+?1 to 4v2?+?3). In opposition-based scenarios, smaller areas facilitated more actions such as dribbling, blocking and intercepting, while medium areas in numerically inferior conditions promoted passing. From a cooperation-based perspective, smaller and medium-sized areas increased defensive actions like tackling and intercepting, while larger areas encouraged dribbling. In high cooperation scenarios, smaller areas required more frequent individual actions across all variables. Coaches can use smaller playing areas to increase individual actions like passing and intercepting. Larger areas promoted individual creativity, such as dribbling and spatial awareness, while encouraging coordinated team play in high cooperation scenarios
Male social work students: common dispositions, motivations, experiences and barriers impacting their career choice
No full textThis research article contributes to the literature concerning the gender imbalance within social work and the sparsity of male social work practitioners. It argues for increased gender balance within the profession and reports on a qualitative research study, which garnered the perceptions and experiences of thirty-four male social work students and alumni. Participants were drawn from six universities across the UK. Qualitative data were collated using semi-structured interviews, surveys, field observations and BEM sex role inventory tests. Analysis of the data identified the characteristics and dispositions of males more likely to enter the profession, locating where they can potentially be drawn from. This research is of interest to policymakers wishing to address the low status of the profession and in terms of informing a recruitment strategy for social work, particularly involving secondary and higher education to further promote the profession as one suitable for any gender
Density peaks clustering based on Gaussian fuzzy neighborhood with noise parameter
No full textDensity peak clustering (DPC) is an effective clustering method known for its robustness, non-iterative nature, and hybrid approach. However, it is not without limitations: (a) the determination of the cutoff distance (dc) relies on human experience, which can significantly impact the clustering outcome; (b) DPC does not take into account the local structure of the data when computing local densities; (c) it employs a crisp kernel for density computation; (d) the performance of DPC is affected by chain reactions; and (e) DPC often struggles to handle noisy data. In order to address these limitations, this paper proposes a novel approach called DPC based on Gaussian fuzzy neighborhood with noise parameter (DPC-GFNN). The proposed method leverages a Gaussian fuzzy kernel to enhance the separation between clusters and mitigates the influence of outliers through an adjustable noise parameter (λ). DPC-GFNN utilizes a k-nearest neighbor graph based on density to label highly dense regions. This technique effectively avoids chain reactions by assigning accurate labels to points in border areas, enabling proper clustering of data with diverse shapes and densities. To evaluate the effectiveness of DPC-GFNN, a series of experiments are conducted on both real-world and synthetic datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that DPC-GFNN exhibits superior robustness and clustering accuracy compared to other modified variants of DPC including DPC based on k-nearest neighbors (DPC-KNN), improved DPC (IDPC), DPC based on density backbone and fuzzy neighborhood (DPC-DBFN), and DPC based on fuzzy weighted k-nearest neighbors (FKNN)
Virtual reality (VR) simulators in maritime education: adoption factors among students in Norway and the United Kingdom
No full textVirtual Reality (VR) technology offers novel opportunities for education and training along with grounds for critical evaluation of its implications. This study explores maritime students? perceptions towards VR simulators utilising constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with VR-specific factors, learner-centric attributes, and external considerations associated with VR simulators. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 221 maritime students in Norway and the United Kingdom (UK). Data analysis was conducted using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method to operationalise the extended TAM framework. The findings highlight the importance of perceived cognitive benefits of VR simulators and students? enjoyment during VR training. Further, students with higher perceived self-efficacy report greater perceived ease of use of VR simulators and stronger behavioural intentions. Meanwhile, learners? autonomy has a significant negative association with perceived ease of use, while regulatory uncertainty reduces learners? intention to use VR simulators. The results highlight the uniqueness of maritime students? perspectives on VR simulators
Thomas Beattie: a case study of coming out in men’s professional football
No full textThis article examines the experiences of the first ‘out’ gay male British professional footballer for three decades: Thomas Beattie. Following an in-depth interview with Beattie, this research documents three main findings: (1) while the near-total institution of professional football promotes closer friendships with teammates than in previous research, this did not extend to discussions of homosexuality; (2) Beattie’s coming out experience was both overwhelmingly positive and also transformative for his improved mental health; and (3) that the ‘ruthless cultures’ of English football, as well as the inaction of football’s governing bodies, were preventative barriers for more gay male professional footballers coming out of the closet. Thus, while Beattie’s assertions are evidence that men’s professional football has become more acceptant of homosexuality, more action is still required to support gay male professional players coming out of the closet
Simulated-practice learning: a systematic narrative review
No full textSimulated-practice learning placements are active learning-based placements that incorporate simulation as a central component. Originating from the COVID-19 pandemic, their continued use is indicative of their unique advantage in preparing students for clinical placements. This systematic narrative review provides a critical overview of the existing literature around simulated-practice learning in undergraduate nursing students to understand the key themes, as well as strengths and limitations of this novel approach. Findings highlighted that the controlled, targeted learning enabled gaps in curricula to be addressed as well as equity in student experience. Although different programmes provided varying designs, learning could be targeted according to needs. Notably, the systematic narrative review relied heavily on case studies and editorial pieces, highlighting a need for more associated research with a particular focus on large-scale and longitudinal studies. Such research would guide the adoption and integration of SPL into undergraduate programmes
Communities of practice in simulated-practice learning placement: a large cohort study
No full textLarge and increasingly diverse undergraduate nursing cohorts present a challenge to nurse education. The formation of communities of practice within simulated practice learning (simulated placements) may offer one such solution.This qualitative study explored a simulated practice learning placement from the student's perspective. It included 330 undergraduate nursing students in 2022–2023 and 306 in 2023–2024, totalling a study cohort of 636 students. The study used the qualitative findings from two surveys: the Simulation Effectiveness–Modified and the End of Placement Survey.Finding revealed that students engaged in rich and meaningful discussions within their diverse groups. Enabled by the simulated practice learning that provided the time and space for collaboration, the students co-constructed nursing-related knowledge and skills. A safe environment was also deemed particularly important.The community of practice not only enhanced personal and professional growth but also addressed the unique needs of the heterogenous student groups, presenting the approach as an effective alternative to nurse education
Through the athletes' lens: Perspectives on competing at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics amidst the Ukraine-Russia conflict
No full textThis study investigates elite athletes’ perspectives on competing at the 2024 summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. Indeed, the Olympics stand as a symbol of alliance, peace and prosperity, epitomised in its motto, citius, altius, fortius – communiter, meaning, faster, higher, stronger – together. However, the contemporary world in which the International Olympic Committee wishes to navigate its showcase event in 2024 and arguably the pinnacle of international sport, is anything but together. The war in Ukraine has caused a humanitarian and economic crisis across Europe, and Paris 2024 featured directly or indirectly as a geo-political playground. Therefore, using semi-structured interviews with eight elite athletes and Olympians past and present, the study captures the athletes’ voice specifically related to three main areas of inquiry: what are elite athletes’ views on competing against Russian and Belarusian athletes in Paris 2024, what are elite athletes’ views on the possibility of boycotts for Paris 2024 and how do elite athletes feel about the idea of podium protests in Paris 2024. To answer these questions, the article also explores ideas around the geo-politics of sport, soft power and public diplomacy and their relation to sport, the Olympics and Paralympics and elite level competition. To this end, this article contributes to the growing body of literature which analyses the relationship of sports, nations and geo-politics
Cross-pollinations: progressive rock and science fiction
No full textThis chapter explores the intersections between progressive rock and the literature of science fiction and fantasy. These forms of cultural production are broad-based, defy easy categorization, and tend to exist on the fringes of both the mass market and the establishment. Anderton argues that in the formative phases of progressive rock’s growth in the late 1960s and early 1970s, science fiction provided an important imaginative resource for songwriters who were looking to write about big ideas and stories, to move beyond the perceived limitations of then contemporary pop music. Introducing the theoretical concepts of veering (Royle 2011) and versioning (Elliott 2019) into the critical armory of progressive rock studies, and drawing on Isaac Asimov’s (1962) dominant themes of science fiction, Anderton outlines three key strategies—adaptation, inspiration and worldbuilding—through which he discusses the ongoing cross-pollinations between science fiction and progressive rock
Screening Sex: a short discussion
No full textThe development of porn studies has been aided by the establishment of a range of academic networks in the early part of the twenty-first century. In this interview Donna Peberdy and Darren Kerr discuss the establishment of the Screening Sex network in the UK and its relationship to developing studies of pornography and the screening of sex more widely
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Solent University Research Portal? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!