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Universal preference for Korean-type grapho-phonemic systematicity: a cross-cultural study of sound-symbol mapping in English, Chinese, and Korean speakers
Get PDFRecent studies have revealed that writing systems exhibit systematic relationships between letter shapes and their corresponding sounds, termed ‘grapho-phonemic systematicity’. This systematicity manifests differently across writing systems: Semitic languages maximize systematicity through pixel count, Chinese through perimetric complexity, and Korean through Hausdorff distance. This study investigated whether native speakers of these languages would prefer the type of systematicity found in their respective writing systems. An online survey was conducted with 845 participants (271 British, 308 Chinese, and 266 Korean) who were asked to match novel symbols from archaic writing systems with given sound pairs. Contrary to the hypothesis that participants would prefer their native writing system’s systematicity pattern, all groups showed a stronger preference for Korean-type systematicity, where similar sounds correspond to topologically similar symbols. This unexpected finding suggests that modern humans might universally prefer certain types of symbol-sound mapping, possibly influenced by institutionalized education and formal logic training. Interestingly, Korean participants showed the least preference for Korean-type systematicity, potentially due to their meta-knowledge of Hangul’s intentional design. The study reveals a disconnect between how writing systems historically evolved and what modern humans prefer, suggesting that cognitive processes in symbol-sound mapping might have been shaped by modern educational frameworks. These findings contribute to our understanding of universal cognitive principles in visual-auditory mapping and the influence of cultural and educational factors on writing system preferences
A policy brief on improving reproductive and maternity services utilisation among women of reproductive age in Nigeria
Get PDFNigeria continues to struggle with high maternal and child mortality despite its large economy. Reproductive and maternity services are underutilised, contributing to poor maternal and newborn outcomes. Barriers include geographic, socio-demographic, and economic factors. Northern and south-south regions show particularly low service utilisation. Young maternal age, low education, rural location, and Hausa ethnicity are key socio-demographic barriers. Non-Christian religious affiliation and limited mass media exposure also reduce service uptake. Poverty, unemployment, and lack of health insurance are major economic challenges. Community engagement and culturally sensitive care are essential. The use of religious and traditional leaders for advocacy could improve outreach. Expanding insurance and financial incentives, like vouchers or cash transfers, can reduce cost-related barrier
Towards a ‘Newer Normal’? A Bibliometric Analysis Examining Organisational Culture in the Post-COVID-19 Higher Education Landscape in the United Kingdom
Get PDFConcern continues to grow over the changing nature of work that initially formed a ‘new normal’ within higher education institutions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation is now being further impacted by subsequent economic and political challenges in the sector, which in turn shifts the workplace towards an even ‘newer normal’. The purpose of this article is to: (1) methodically and logically review the extant literature and research linking the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic to the organisational culture of higher education institutions in the United Kingdom; and (2) based on a bibliometric analysis, to offer a road map for further empirical research in the future. Researchers have found that changing workplace norms, such as remote and hybrid working and other forms of flexibility in approaches to learning and the availability of delivery modes, have become increasingly common, which has changed the nature of working practices and underpinning aspects of organisational culture. Therefore, it now appears opportune to update existing knowledge on organisational culture theory within the United Kingdom higher education context to support policy development and enhance workplace practices in the post-COVID-19 period. From a theoretical perspective, this article contributes to organisational culture literature by assimilating a dataset of nascent studies generated through keyword search on Clarivate Analytics Web of Science that have examined the impact of COVID-19 on organisational culture in United Kingdom higher education institutions. This emergent dataset was analysed using VOS Viewer, with the results of subsequent quantitative bibliometric analysis identifying the main existing research fronts as well as potential research directions for the empirical development of organisational culture. Based on this bibliometric analysis, the main suggested future research agendas that need to be addressed linked to organisational culture in the UK higher education sector in the post-COVID period are: (a) to further examine changing cultural norms and expectations; (b) hybrid approaches to working; (c) academic identity; and (d) organisational culture and the changing psychological contract. Such research is important as the UK Higher Education sector now progresses towards an even ‘newer normal
Tourism Economics: 20 Years After the Critical Turn
Get PDFDespite the many advances and successes of tourism economics, a number of major issues remain unseen by, immune to, and unaffected, or even exacerbated, by its approaches and prescriptions. To address this shortcoming, prompted by the 20th anniversary of the critical turn in tourism, this article proposes the addition of a more critical approach to the subject. It uses a rigorous conceptual method to assess tourism economics using a critical theory lens. It then sets out an agenda for a more critical economics of tourism. This requires the scrutiny of ideology, methodology, and power, and the development of alternative tools guided by the values of distributive justice and mindful of the constraints of sustainable development.
Keywords: economics; epistemology; science; objectivity; values; critical theor
Disruptive Frugal Digital Innovation in Africa
No full textnformed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework – emphasising fostering sustainable economic growth and higher gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries – Disruptive Frugal Digital Innovation in Africa provides the reader with theoretically informed and practically grounded solutions to addressing sustainable development for humans.
Taking a multi-faceted approach, the readers of this edited volume gain insights into the role of disruptive frugal technological innovation and transformative futures in Africa. Considering macro, meso, and firm-level analyses relating to how disruptive frugal technological innovation and transformative futures, Disruptive Frugal Digital Innovation in Africa proposes implementations towards positive development in under-researched African contexts.
Each chapter provides theoretical, policy and practical implications for policy makers, educational practitioners, students and business communities on how disruptive frugal technological innovation and transformative futures strategies could be of benefit to them
Strained Sinews of War: The Commonwealth and the Air Campaign in the Korean War
Get PDFThe Commonwealth air contribution to the UN campaign in Korea has received scant attention by comparison with that of the Commonwealth ground forces. Fundamentally unenthusiastic about participation in the Korean War Britain and its closest Commonwealth allies nevertheless saw it as necessary for the achievement of their collective objectives. We argue that their ability to do this was negatively impacted by the limitation of US financial aid after the Second World War and that the consequent damage to the military base of the Commonwealth actually worked against US interests in the Cold War. The Commonwealth air campaign in Korea is perhaps the first occasion when this damage became apparent. Commonwealth air and naval air units were available for early deployment to Korea and they were seen as an especial signifier of Commonwealth military-technical expertise. However, the developing military situation in Korea made the provision of ground forces inevitable, and the limited air assets committed by the Commonwealth, while contributing positively to the operational objectives of the United Nations Command also illustrated the weaknesses of Commonwealth airpower which flew in the face of the institution’s self-image as a technological superpower particularly regarding military aviation technology
Distributed Leadership: A Systematic Literature Review
Get PDFPurpose (limit 100 words) This paper critically examines the distributed leadership literature, identifying its conceptual foundations, thematic developments, and research gaps. Synthesising existing studies aims to advance theoretical and practical understandings of distributed leadership across diverse contexts. Design/methodology/approach (limit 100 words) A rigorous three-step systematic literature review (SLR) process was employed to analyse 111 peer-reviewed studies published between 2002 and 2022. This approach integrates descriptive and thematic analyses to address key research questions on distributed leadership's conceptualisation, thematic trends, and research gaps. Findings (limit 100 words) The review highlights distributed leadership as a dynamic and context-dependent concept, emphasising its social, collaborative, and performance-driven dimensions. Three primary themes emerged: behavioural perspectives, contextual influences, and performance implications. Gaps were identified in empirical, theoretical, population, and methodological domains. These include insufficient research in non-educational sectors, limited exploration of distributed leadership's applicability in developing nations, and the need for empirically validated frameworks and qualitative methodologies. Originality/value (limit 100 words) This review is among the first to systematically map distributed leadership's evolution across multiple contexts using an SLR approach. It provides a robust synthesis of the field, offering a validated baseline for future research. The study's methodological rigour and its focus on underexplored areas contribute significantly to advancing the discourse on distributed leadership
As easy as 1-2-3? Reflections on a programme redesign: Implementing the 1-2-3 delivery model
Get PDFTransition has long been a key concern for higher education institutions. This paper reflects on the redesign of a Liberal Arts Foundation Year to explore better ways of considering transition as an ongoing and complex process rather than as a specific moment at the start of the academic year. In particular, the implementation of a 1-2-3 programme structure allowed the programme to more fully address the nuances of transition and student support across the academic year. This structure facilitated a more gradual adjustment to university study, with a single ‘short fat’ module at the point of entry followed by two mid-length modules taken concurrently for the remaining two-thirds of Semester 1. Students then follow the typical undergraduate structure of three concurrent, semester-long, modules in Semester 2. This redesign prompted a reconsideration of the Foundation Year’s position as part of wider institutional structures, and contributed to improved student satisfaction with modules and improved academic results across the cohort