MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Lost in Transition: The Unseen Struggles of Sexual and Gender Minorities during Migration
No full textThis research aims to investigate the victimisation of sexual and gender minority (SGM) migrants, focusing on Canadian and Ukrainian student perception and perspectives. Through in-depth interviews with six students from MacEwan University and Ukrainian Catholic University, perceptions regarding SGM migration process were explored. Four intersecting themes emerged: "Hierarchy of social problems", "Institutional influence", "Othering" and "Society requiring change." Analysis reveals the prevalent influence of cis-heteropatriarchy and colonialism on societal perceptions, contributing to further SGM migrant victimisation. The study underscores the need to acknowledge and address these power structures to mitigate harm during migration. The research enhances understanding of societal influences on SGM migrant experiences, facilitating future efforts to address structural oppression. Ethical considerations were paramount, ensuring participant confidentiality and minimising risks.
Beyond the Borders: Navigating the Hurdles Faced by Internationally Educated Nurses
No full textGlobally, nurses from low-middle income countries (LMICs) decided to migrate as internationally educated nurses (IENs) for their financial stability and to improve quality of life. IENs play a vital role in strengthening the country’s healthcare settings. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (2021), the international migration of nurses to Canada was 8.1%, the number increased by threefold from 2017-2018.
This commentary draws on my personal experiences as an international nursing student of PhD program in Canada. As part of PhD program, I am constantly struggling to manage academic and research workload. Using a reflective approach, this paper will examine multifaceted issues as an IEN such as professional identity and cultural adaptation, communication and language issues, and systemic barriers and credentialing issues. Through a lens of personal experience, this paper will highlight how these issues impact health and well-being within individuals
Parental beliefs about children\u27s language and music development: a pilot project
No full textParents have access to a wealth of information regarding child development; however, much of this information is conflicting, incorrect or misleading, or overwhelming in amount or complexity. We distributed a survey distributed to parents/guardians of children under five years of age (n = 27) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and surrounding areas. Descriptive and correlational analyses were used to address the following: (1) What knowledge and misconceptions do parents have regarding language development? (2) Is knowledge of language development associated with parental demographic variables? (3) What concerns do parents have about language development? Found that only 48% of parents sampled correctly identified the age range at which children tend to produce their first words, and only 53% correctly identified the age at which children begin producing two-word utterances. There were no significant correlations between any of the demographic variables tested and know ledge of milestones; however, correlational values indicate that this is likely due to the study being underpowered. However, this research informs the literature on areas in which parents have concerns regarding their child\u27s language development, with the most common being their child not meeting speech milestones and having difficulty producing and understanding speech. This exploratory study offers insights into parental knowledge of language development, highlighting common misunderstandings and areas in language development in which parents have the most concern that can be addressed in future research.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Corrigal
A stronger me: online resources dedicated to support victims of domestic violence
No full textWhy don’t they just leave? Roughly 24 people per minute experience a form of intimate partner violence in Canada. Despite this strikingly high statistic, domestic violence remains among the lowest of police-reported crimes, as victims often face barriers in accessing support from law enforcement due to psychological, economic, physical, sexual, or technology-facilitated abuse by their partners. Access to justice is a fundamental value in the Canadian justice system, yet it becomes a significant obstacle for victims of domestic abuse who seek to rebuild their lives after leaving their partners or as they attempt to leave (Government of Canada, n.d.). The primary focus of this project is to provide easily accessible online information to victims of domestic violence as they navigate the legal system in Alberta. My mission is to educate, encourage, and empower both survivors of domestic violence and those still navigating its challenges. Resources provided will discuss emergency protection orders, lawyers trained in trauma-informed response, shelters, and financial support. Additionally, resources will be listed to help friends and family members of domestic violence victims recognize signs of abuse and offer support. Recognizing that the effects of domestic violence extend beyond an abusive relationship, this website provides mental health support and online courses to empower survivors with knowledge and informed decision-making.
Faculty Mentor: Ashley Stasiewic
Harnessing generative AI (Gen AI) in healthcare: transformative implications for nursing education
No full textThe implication of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning human anatomy in medicine, allied health and nursing disciplines is highly debated but remains unclear. Our study aims to explore the extent and capacity that AI has been incorporated in the teaching and learning in nursing education compared to medicine and allied health disciplines. Qualitative analysis using databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, BNI, and Google Scholar related to AI use was conducted in our study. Our findings will explore current applications, identify research gaps, and highlight opportunities for advancing AI in nursing education.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Raj Narnaware
A Study of Edmonton Short Film Festival: Engaging Youth in Short Film Festival Participation
No full textThe Edmonton Short Film Festival (ESFF) aims to address the lack of youth engagement in its events by determining methods to increase short film submissions and audience attendance among the Generation Z demographic. By understanding the target’s preferences and barriers to participation, the research objective is to identify strategies to increase visibility, reduce submission intimidation, and address financial and preference concerns for ESFF’s prospective youth filmmakers and audience members. The study employed a mixed-method design, where we first interviewed 4 participants. In the second research stage, we used a stratified sampling technique with electronic surveys distributed to students, filmmakers, and arts community members in Edmonton via email and social media. The final sample comprised 55 valid responses, categorized into filmmakers (12) and audience members (43). Our major findings include the following. Low marketing visibility and limited outreach efforts have significantly contributed to low ESFF awareness and participation (viewership/festival attendance) among audience members. Nevertheless, such visibility challenges have less impact on filmmakers. Instead, within the filmmaker community, internal word-of-mouth is a stronger indicator of awareness and participation (short film submission). For filmmakers, intimidation and fear of rejection are significant barriers to filmmaker participation, decreasing the likelihood of submission to ESFF. However, a sense of competition among peers increases submission rates. While flexible submission criteria encourage participation, offering genre variety or the promise of streaming/hybrid event screenings does not significantly impact submission likelihood. Financial considerations, such as providing cash incentives for submission, have also proven to be a strong motivator, increasing submission likelihood. Even so, free submission forums do not increase the likelihood of submitting. For audience members, virtual and hybrid film screening preferences, popularized in the post-pandemic era, have reduced in-person attendance, decreasing audience engagement with ESFF. Similar to filmmakers, financial considerations impact audience member engagement, too. Some audience members prioritize affordability, while others view the experience as a worthwhile investment, creating two distinct subgroups with unique viewership participation: cost-conscious viewers and value-driven spenders. For audience members, virtual and hybrid film screening preferences, popularized in the post-pandemic era, have reduced in-person attendance, decreasing audience engagement with ESFF. Similar to filmmakers, financial considerations impact audience member engagement, too. Some audience members prioritize affordability, while others view the experience as a worthwhile investment, creating two distinct subgroups with unique viewership participation: cost-conscious viewers and value-driven spenders.
The effect of task engagement on reward processing
No full textMany aspects of human behaviour are shaped by reward processing, including decision making and motivation. Electroencephalography (EEG) has identified a neural signal called the reward positivity (RewP), which represents the brain’s interpretation of reward outcomes. The aim of this study is to see whether the RewP is affected by task engagement. Participants will complete the ‘doors task’, a decision-making task where selecting one of two doors may result in a monetary reward. In one condition (the standard version), rewards will be equally probable (50/50), while in the other, one door will have an increased likelihood of reward, introducing a detectable pattern. We hypothesize that participants will become more engaged in the patterned condition, and that the RewP will be larger when they recognize and exploit this pattern. This would show that the standard ‘doors task’ used to measure RewP lacks engagement and does not allow for learning, potentially limiting its effectiveness. These findings would have implications for researchers using the RewP as a biomarker for depression, ultimately improving the accuracy and applicability of EEG-based assessments in clinical settings.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cameron Hassal
Social Media Expressions of Parenting and Alcohol Use: A COVID-19 Descriptive Study
No full textSocial media platforms have increasingly influenced public perceptions and behaviours related to alcohol consumption. Peer-driven content, particularly in parenting communities, often normalizes and even glorifies drinking, potentially shaping attitudes and behaviours. This study aims to examine how alcohol-related parenting expressions were portrayed on social media before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive study was conducted using data from two large, public Facebook groups known for discussions on parenting and alcohol. Metadata from each post—including publication date, caption, reactions, comments, shares, and user tags—was collected. A total of 2,718 posts, 1,309,392 comments, 5,254,458 reactions, and 3,311,022 shares were analyzed. Thematic analysis was performed using NVivo software. Four overarching themes emerged: (1) Parenthood, (2) Excessive Drinking Behaviour, (3) Stress and Coping Mechanisms, and (4) Humour. No significant thematic differences were observed between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. However, a notable spike in engagement at the onset of COVID-19 suggests increased alcohol consumption among mothers, potentially influenced by content that normalizes excessive drinking. Social media plays a significant role in reinforcing alcohol use as a socially acceptable coping strategy during motherhood. The findings underscore the need for public health interventions that address the normalization of alcohol consumption in online parenting communities