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Viewing mock crimes in virtual reality increases presence without impacting memory
Get PDFTraditional methods of displaying stimuli in eyewitness memory research, such as mock crime videos, are often criticised for lacking ecological validity. To overcome this, researchers have suggested using virtual reality (VR) technology to display the stimuli as it can promote a sense of presence, leading to real-world responses. However, little research has compared VR with traditional methods to demonstrate this enhanced validity. In Study 1, 54 participants viewed a mock crime video on screen or in VR while their heart rate was recorded, then completed measures of presence and emotion, and had their recall tested after 10 min. In Study 2, 74 participants' recall was tested after a 7-day delay and included a more in-depth exploration of emotional experience. In both studies, participants in the VR group reported a statistically significant increase in their sense of general presence, spatial presence, and involvement in the scene; however, there was no statistically significant difference in recall between the groups. Participants in the VR group had a statistically significant increase in heart rate in Study 1 only, and emotional experience in Study 2 only. The findings of this research suggest that VR may provide a more ecologically valid eyewitness experience than videos, without impacting participant memory or wellbeing. The findings of the current research are discussed in relation to previous literature and implications for experimental eyewitness memory research
A systematic review of influences on engagement with remote health interventions targeting weight management for individuals living with excess weight
Get PDFBackground: Obesity rates are continually rising and remote weight management interventions appear to demonstrate feasible prospects. Previous reviews have investigated influential factors to engagement of such interventions in community settings; however, limited research has examined adults' engagement in remote weight management programmes. Aim: To systematically review the influences on the engagement of adults living with excess weight in synchronous (real time), remote health interventions for weight management. Methods: A systematic review of 12 databases was conducted from inception to October 2023. Studies were included if they delivered a synchronous, remote weight management intervention with participants that were >18 years old with a body mass index ≥ 27.5 kg/m2. A narrative synthesis with inductive thematic analysis was conducted to iteratively extrapolate barriers and facilitators to engagement. This set of themed influences were then deductively mapped to the COM-B model of behaviour change and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Results: From 36,359 studies screened, 39 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 61themed influences were iteratively coded and mapped to the COM-B model: physical capability (n = 3); psychological capability (n = 9), reflective motivation (n = 19); automatic motivation (n = 11); physical opportunity (n = 8); and social opportunity (n = 11) with the assistance of the TDF to guide the coding. Barriers to engagement (n = 18) included concerns surrounding privacy, time burden to engage, embarrassment/anxiety surrounding self-disclosure, technical issues, access to technology, and access to the internet. Facilitators to engagement (n = 43) included digital competency, familiarity with technology, self-monitoring, tailored feedback, convenience, accountability, regular check-ins, support from a professional, social support, peer support, ease of use and simplicity. Conclusion: There are a number of things to consider in relation to capability, opportunity and motivation when designing remote weight management interventions. This review provides evidence to specific barriers and facilitators that if addressed could optimise future efforts
Using motigraphs to investigate the temporalities of motivation: illustrating contrasting approaches
Get PDFFactors that affect the ability to maintain motivation to learn a language are known to vary across individuals and periods of learning. The temporality of language learning motivation is therefore inherently intertwined with learners’ ability to identify and achieve their language-related goals. A motigraph is a tool that can be used to collect individual data on the temporal dynamics of language learning motivation. Through motigraphs, data is elicited from participants by asking them to self-assess their levels of motivation in real-time as a means of visualising their language learning journeys. Participants are then asked to explain and reflect on their motigraphs in follow-up interviews. In this article, we illustrate contrasting examples of how motigraphs can be used to collect data with participants at different life stages in two longitudinal qualitative studies. In the first example, the participants are adult migrants in England, where the researcher used motigraphs to elicit reflections on the participants’ past education, current struggles in a new country and often-delayed future plans. In the second example, the participants are Chinese school children, whose concept of time is still developing and whose goals are to be achieved far into the future. We discuss how each age group utilised motigraphs to explain their individual relationships with time and motivation, along with the challenges and affordances of such an approach. We conclude with suggestions for future directions for using motigraphs as a qualitative data collection tool in applied linguistics research
Relational wellbeing amongst care-experienced young people in transition in the context of Covid 19
Get PDFCare-experienced young people typically negotiate the transition to adulthood at a younger age than their peers in the general population and with less reliable access to support. Concerns have been raised that Covid 19 exacerbated the challenges they faced and widened the ‘care-gap’. The paper employs a relational wellbeing approach to explore young people's wellbeing and experiences of ‘having enough’, ‘being connected’ and ‘feeling good’ in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic. It presents three case examples and draws on data from 32 interviews with young people in England, to explore the impact that the presence or absence of ‘family-like’ ties had on the extent to which needs were met. Findings illuminated that feeling ‘connected’ did not ‘prevent’ fluctuations in ‘having enough’ or ‘feeling good’ (or less bad), but strong relational ties did assist young people as they navigated precarious times. For some, institutionally arranged care arrangements evolved, making way for deepening connections and the emergence of ‘family-like ties’, which were mutually supportive. For those living alone, or in transitional placements and who lacked a network of support during Covid 19, its absence was keenly felt. Young people's accounts also serve to reinforce the importance of professionals being attentive to who matters to them and taking their wishes and feeling into account in decision-making processes
Implementing evidence-based practice in critical care nursing: an ethnographic case study of knowledge use
Get PDFAim: To explore how critical care nurses access, negotiate and apply knowledge in high-pressure clinical environments, focusing on organisational, cultural and leadership factors influencing evidence-based practice implementation in acute hospital settings. Design: A focused ethnographic collective case study was conducted across two contrasting critical care units in England. Methods: Methods included non-participant observation (56 sessions), semi-structured interviews (36 participants) and document review. Spradley's Developmental Research Sequence guided data generation and analysis. Data were collected over an eight-month period (February to September 2022). Findings: Five major themes were identified: sources of knowledge and acquisition strategies; institutional and hierarchical influences on knowledge use; role of experiential knowledge and clinical intuition; challenges to evidence-based practice implementation; and strategies for integrating knowledge into practice. Organisational structures, leadership engagement, mentorship and access to updated digital resources were key enablers of evidence-based practice. Barriers included workload pressures, inconsistent guideline dissemination and hierarchical cultures. Adaptive blending of formal evidence, clinical experience and intuition characterised effective knowledge negotiation at the bedside. Conclusion: Knowledge use in critical care nursing is a dynamic, relational process shaped by leadership, organisational culture and systemic pressures. The availability of evidence alone is insufficient; visible leadership, peer learning, protected educational time and valuing of experiential knowledge are critical to embedding evidence-based practice into routine practice. Implications for Patient Care: Strengthening organisational systems, investing in nurse manager development, expanding simulation-based learning and legitimising experiential knowledge are vital strategies to enhance evidence-based critical care. Impact: This study provides actionable insights for healthcare leaders, educators and policymakers seeking to optimise evidence-based practice adoption in high-acuity clinical environments and improve patient outcomes. Reporting Method: The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist guided reporting. No Patient or Public Involvement: Patients and the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination of this research.</p
From behaviours to interactions: reframing conceptualisations of the nature and causes of sexual harm among young people
Get PDFThis paper examines how educators, police and children’s service providers, alongside young people, conceptualise the nature and causes of sexual harm among young people. Drawing on qualitative research conducted in southeast England, we identify four themes: sexual harm as learned behaviour rooted in personal and familial risk factors; normalisation of harmful experiences among girls; neglect and minimisation of boys’ victimisation; and evolving digital terrains of harm. While some participants engaged with structural and cultural explanations, many framed sexual harm through an individualised, risk-focused behaviourist lens. We suggest the emphasis on behaviour within the prevailing use of the term “harmful sexual behaviour” reinforces reductionist perspectives and overlooks interactional, institutional, and socio-cultural dynamics shaping young people’s experiences. Drawing on sexual script theory and post-digital sexual citizenship, we expand the conceptual terrain, advocating for a holistic and inclusive approach situating sexual harm within broader relational and institutional contexts, requiring nuanced, context-sensitive responses. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT: We advocate shifting focus from individualised and pathologising approaches to “harmful sexual behaviour” toward addressing broader cultural, relational and institutional dynamics shaping sexual harm among young people. By reframing the discourse to emphasise social and institutional contexts, we encourage policies and practices that promote a nuanced understanding of the cultural and structural factors influencing sexual harm, enabling more supportive and inclusive interventions.</p
When corona infested everything: a qualitative interview study exploring the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on school life from the perspectives of English secondary school staff and students
Get PDFTo reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection, transmission and illness during the pandemic, the Department for Education (DfE) issued guidance to schools. However, research on how the school community perceives the impact of the COVID-19 mitigation measures outlined remains limited. This qualitative study aims to explore the effects of school closures and in-school mitigation measures on daily school life, as well as their impact on mental health and wellbeing from the perspective of English secondary school staff and students. Participants were purposively sampled from English secondary schools serving diverse communities participating in the COVID-19 Mapping and Mitigation in Schools study (CoMMinS). Selection ensured representation of staff roles and student demographics. Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely, and data analysed thematically. Interviews were between January and August 2021 with participants from five secondary schools (20 staff and 25 students). Both staff and students reported significant disruption to school life, with four themes identified: (1) teaching and learning impact, (2) social impact, (3) safeguarding impact, and (4) and mental health and wellbeing impact. Findings highlight widespread negative effects across every aspect of school life, for both staff and students. This study suggests that COVID-19 mitigation measures in UK secondary schools led to a sense of loss and uncertainty as well as increased self-reported stress among both staff and students
Substituting sitting with standing and walking in free-living conditions improves daily glucose concentrations in South Asian adults living with overweight/obesity
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Controlled laboratory studies have demonstrated that breaking up sitting can reduce postprandial glucose in South Asian adults. This study examined the effects of substituting sitting with standing and walking on interstitial glucose in South Asian individuals under free-living conditions.METHODS: South Asian adults (n = 14 [50% male]; body mass index 26.5 ± 0.8 kg·m -2) aged 41 ± 3 years completed two, 4-day regimens in a counter-balanced order: (1) SIT (restrict walking and standing to ≤ 1 h/day each) and (2) SITless (substitute ≥ 5 h/day of sitting with ≥ 3 h of standing and ≥ 2 h of walking, and interrupt sitting every 30 min). Interstitial glucose was measured using Flash glucose monitoring. Sitting and physical activity were measured with the activPAL3. Outcomes were compared between regimens using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Interstitial glucose net incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for waking hours was lower by - 9.2 mmol L -1·16 h -1 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: - 18.1, - 0.3) in SITless than SIT (p = 0.04), while lunch postprandial glucose iAUC was significantly lower by -1.0 mmol L -1.2 h -1 (95% CI - 1.8, 0.2) in SITless (p = 0.02). There were no significant differences in other 24 h or 16 h glucose metrics (p ≥ 0.06). Compared to SIT, sitting was lower by - 3.6 h/day (95% CI - 4.9, - 2.3) in SITless (p < 0.01). Standing and stepping time were higher by 1.9 h/day (95% CI 0.6, 3.2) and 1.6 h/day (95% CI 1.2, 2.1) in SITless (p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Substituting sitting with standing and walking under free-living conditions can be used to effectively attenuate glycaemia during waking hours, but not across 24 h, in South Asian adults.CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04645875..</p
Could AI technologies be harnessed to break down barriers to inclusivity for women entrepreneurship in tourism?
Get PDFDespite growing scholarly attention to artificial intelligence (AI) and gender-related challenges in tourism research, a void exists in how responsible AI could be harnessed to enhance women’s inclusivity in tourism entrepreneurship. Drawing on Rawls’ theory of justice, this study aims to fill this glaring gap by exploring whether and how AI could contribute to fostering a more equitable, inclusive and ethically responsible entrepreneurial ecosystem for women, help break down existing barriers, and thus, support women’s entrepreneurial endeavours in the tourism sector. Based on qualitative data collected from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with elite informants, the study highlights significant positive externalities of AI technologies adoption, beyond the generally recognized benefits in customer engagement and personalized offerings, efficiency, and overall performance, to help female entrepreneurs in particular deal with work-life balance predicaments, unanimously considered the most significant barrier to inclusivity. The findings also emphasise how responsible AI design, adoption and governance can help deal with prevalent ethical concerns of AI in tourism, namely, bias, lack of transparency, fairness and privacy, the absence of a human-centred approach, and accountability. The latter two, alongside gender biases, emerge as the ‘most sensitive ethical parameters’ for women’s inclusivity in tourism entrepreneurship. By integrating Rawls’ perspective, the study offers a novel analytical lens for understanding how responsible AI can foster a more just and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for women in tourism, and for evaluating attendant strategies contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth. Important theoretical contributions and actionable managerial implications flow from the findings
Explainable GMDH-type neural networks for decision making: case of medical diagnostics
Get PDFIn medical diagnostics, the use of interpretable artificial neural networks (ANN) is crucial to enabling healthcare professionals to make informed decisions that consider risks, especially when faced with uncertainties in patient data and expert opinions. Despite advances, conventional ANNs often produce complex, not transparent models that limit interpretability, particularly in medical contexts where transparency is essential. Existing methods, such as decision trees and random forests, provide some interpretability but struggle with inconsistent medical data and fail to adequately quantify decision uncertainty. This paper introduces a novel Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH)-type neural network approach that addresses these gaps by generating concise, interpretable decision models based on the self-organizing concept. The proposed method builds multilayer networks using two-argument logical functions, ensuring explainability and minimizing the negative impact of human intervention. The method employs a selection criterion to incrementally grow networks, optimizing complexity while reducing validation errors. The algorithm’s convergence is proven through a bounded, monotonically decreasing error sequence, ensuring reliable solutions. Having been tested in complex diagnostic cases, including infectious endocarditis, systemic red lupus, and postoperative outcomes in acute appendicitis, the method achieved high expert agreement scores (Fleiss’s kappa of 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.99) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.83-0.89), respectively) compared to random forests (0.84 and 0.71). These results demonstrate statistically significant improvements
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