#qualitative data methods

[philomathresearch]

8 Essential Qualitative Data Collection Methods

Qualitative data collection is a crucial aspect of research in various fields, including social sciences, healthcare, and market research. Unlike quantitative research, which focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis, qualitative research emphasizes understanding phenomena through in-depth exploration and analysis of non-numerical data. This approach allows researchers to gain insights into participants’ experiences, perceptions, and motivations, which can be invaluable for developing theories, informing practice, and guiding policy decisions.

In this blog, we will explore eight essential qualitative data collection methods. Each method has unique advantages and is suited to different research contexts. By understanding these methods, researchers can choose the most appropriate approach for their studies and ensure robust and meaningful findings.

1. In-Depth Interviews

Definition and Purpose: In-depth interviews are one-on-one conversations between a researcher and a participant, designed to explore the participant’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences in detail. This method allows for a deep understanding of the individual’s perspective on a specific topic.

Advantages:

Provides detailed, rich data

Allows for flexibility in questioning and probing

Builds rapport and trust with participants

Applications: In-depth interviews are commonly used in social science research, healthcare studies, and market research to explore complex issues, such as patient experiences, consumer behavior, and social phenomena.

Process:

Preparation: Develop a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions.

Conducting the Interview: Engage the participant in a conversational manner, using the guide as a framework while allowing for natural flow and exploration.

Recording and Transcription: Record the interview (with consent) and transcribe the conversation for analysis.

2. Focus Groups

Definition and Purpose: Focus groups involve a small group of participants (typically 6-12) discussing a specific topic under the guidance of a moderator. This method is used to explore group dynamics, shared experiences, and collective viewpoints.

Advantages:

Encourages interaction and discussion among participants

Provides diverse perspectives and insights

Efficient data collection from multiple participants simultaneously

Applications: Focus groups are widely used in market research, product development, and social research to gather feedback on products, services, or social issues.

Process:

Planning: Select participants with similar characteristics or experiences related to the research topic.

Moderation: Guide the discussion, ensuring all participants have the opportunity to contribute while keeping the conversation focused on the research objectives.

Recording and Analysis: Record the session (with consent) and analyze the group interactions and individual contributions.

3. Observations

Definition and Purpose: Observation involves systematically watching and recording behaviors and interactions in a natural setting. This method provides insights into participants’ actions, contexts, and environments.

Advantages:

Captures real-time behavior in natural settings

Reduces reliance on self-reported data

Provides context and background information

Applications: Observation is used in ethnographic research, educational studies, and workplace assessments to understand behaviors, processes, and environments.

Process:

Planning: Define the focus of the observation and develop an observation guide.

Conducting Observations: Observe the setting and participants, taking detailed notes on behaviors, interactions, and context.

Recording and Analysis: Organize and analyze the observational data, identifying patterns and themes.

4. Case Studies

Definition and Purpose: Case studies involve an in-depth examination of a single case or a small number of cases within their real-life context. This method provides a comprehensive understanding of complex issues and phenomena.

Advantages:

Provides detailed, context-rich data

Allows for the exploration of unique or rare cases

Facilitates the development of in-depth insights

Applications: Case studies are commonly used in social sciences, business research, and healthcare to explore specific instances, such as organizational changes, patient journeys, or social phenomena.

Process:

Selection: Choose a case or cases that are relevant and have the potential to provide valuable insights.

Data Collection: Use multiple methods (e.g., interviews, observations, document analysis) to gather data on the case.

Analysis: Analyze the data holistically, considering the context and specificities of the case.

5. Ethnography

Definition and Purpose: Ethnography is a qualitative research method that involves the immersive study of people and cultures in their natural environment. Researchers use this method to understand the social practices, norms, and experiences of a particular group or community.

Advantages:

Provides deep cultural and contextual insights

Captures the complexity of social interactions

Allows for long-term observation and engagement

Applications: Ethnography is used in anthropology, sociology, and organizational studies to explore cultural practices, social dynamics, and community behaviors.

Process:

Fieldwork: Immerse in the community or group being studied, often for an extended period.

Data Collection: Use participant observation, interviews, and document analysis to gather data.

Analysis and Reporting: Analyze the data to identify cultural patterns and social dynamics, and present the findings in a narrative format.

6. Document Analysis

Definition and Purpose: Document analysis involves the systematic review and interpretation of documents to gain insights into a specific topic or phenomenon. This method can include the analysis of written texts, reports, policies, and media content.

Advantages:

Accesses existing, often historical data

Provides context and background information

Complements other qualitative methods

Applications: Document analysis is used in historical research, policy analysis, and organizational studies to examine existing records, policies, and texts.

Process:

Selection: Identify relevant documents that align with the research objectives.

Review and Analysis: Systematically review the documents, extracting and analyzing key information and themes.

Synthesis: Combine insights from document analysis with other data sources to build a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.

7. Narrative Inquiry

Definition and Purpose: Narrative inquiry involves the collection and analysis of personal stories and experiences to understand how individuals make sense of their lives and identities. This method emphasizes the importance of storytelling in human experience.

Advantages:

Captures personal and emotional aspects of experiences

Provides insights into individual perspectives and identities

Facilitates the exploration of complex, subjective phenomena

Applications: Narrative inquiry is used in psychology, education, and health research to explore personal experiences, identity construction, and meaning-making processes.

Process:

Story Collection: Collect personal stories through interviews, written narratives, or other means.

Analysis: Analyze the narratives to identify themes, patterns, and meaning.

Interpretation: Interpret the stories within the broader context of the research topic, considering the participants’ perspectives and experiences.

8. Grounded Theory

Definition and Purpose: Grounded theory is a systematic methodology that involves the generation of theory through the iterative collection and analysis of data. This method aims to develop theories that are grounded in the data itself.

Advantages:

Generates theory directly from data

Provides a rigorous, systematic approach to qualitative research

Allows for the exploration of emerging phenomena

Applications: Grounded theory is used in various fields, including sociology, nursing, and organizational studies, to develop theories related to social processes, behaviors, and interactions.

Process:

Data Collection: Collect data through interviews, observations, or other methods.

Coding and Analysis: Use open, axial, and selective coding to analyze the data and identify emerging themes and concepts.

Theory Development: Develop a theory based on the relationships and patterns identified in the data.

Conclusion

Qualitative data collection methods are essential tools for researchers seeking to understand complex phenomena in-depth. Each method has unique strengths and applications, making it crucial for researchers to choose the most appropriate approach for their specific research questions and contexts. By leveraging these methods effectively, researchers can gain rich, detailed insights that inform theory, practice, and policy.

In summary, the eight essential qualitative data collection methods discussed in this blog are:

In-Depth Interviews

Focus Groups

Observations

Case Studies

Ethnography

Document Analysis

Narrative Inquiry

Grounded Theory

By understanding and applying these methods, researchers can enhance the quality and impact of their qualitative studies, ultimately contributing valuable knowledge and understanding to their respective fields.

For more information and resources on qualitative data collection methods, visit Philomath Research.

FAQs

1. What is qualitative data collection?

Qualitative data collection involves gathering non-numerical data to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It focuses on exploring phenomena through detailed, in-depth insights rather than statistical analysis.

2. What are the advantages of qualitative data collection methods?

Qualitative data collection methods offer several advantages:

Provide rich, detailed data

Capture personal experiences and perspectives

Allow for flexibility and depth in exploration

Enhance understanding of complex phenomena

Support the development of theories and frameworks

3. How do in-depth interviews differ from other qualitative methods?

In-depth interviews involve one-on-one conversations with participants, allowing for detailed exploration of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This method provides rich data through personalized, open-ended questioning, differing from methods like focus groups, which gather data from multiple participants simultaneously.

4. What are focus groups, and when should they be used?

Focus groups involve small groups of participants discussing a specific topic under a moderator’s guidance. They are useful for exploring group dynamics, shared experiences, and collective viewpoints. This method is commonly used in market research, product development, and social research.

5. What is the main purpose of observational research?

Observation involves systematically watching and recording behaviors and interactions in natural settings. This method provides real-time insights into participants’ actions, contexts, and environments, reducing reliance on self-reported data and capturing authentic behaviors.

6. How are case studies conducted, and what are their benefits?

Case studies involve an in-depth examination of a single case or a small number of cases within their real-life context. They provide detailed, context-rich data and allow for the exploration of unique or rare instances, facilitating the development of in-depth insights into complex issues.

7. What distinguishes ethnography from other qualitative methods?

Ethnography is an immersive study of people and cultures in their natural environment. It involves long-term observation and engagement, capturing deep cultural and contextual insights, and is used in anthropology, sociology, and organizational studies to explore social practices and dynamics.

8. What types of documents are analyzed in document analysis?

Document analysis involves reviewing and interpreting various documents, including written texts, reports, policies, and media content. This method accesses existing, often historical data, providing context and background information that complements other qualitative methods.

9. What is narrative inquiry, and why is it important?

Narrative inquiry collects and analyzes personal stories and experiences to understand how individuals make sense of their lives and identities. It emphasizes storytelling’s importance in human experience, capturing personal and emotional aspects and providing insights into individual perspectives and identities.

10. How does grounded theory differ from other qualitative methods?

Grounded theory involves generating theory through the iterative collection and analysis of data. Unlike other methods, it systematically develops theory directly from the data itself, providing a rigorous approach to exploring emerging phenomena and developing theories related to social processes and behaviors.

[untypicable]

Grounded Theory: Making It Up As You Go Along (But With Integrity)

This week, in a break from stalking the usual parade of sociological ghosts—Marx, Weber, Bourdieu and the like—I thought we’d do something different. Let’s talk about something alive, terrifyingly current, and capable of causing existential dread in postgraduate students across the globe: methodology. More specifically, Grounded Theory. Now, if you’ve never come across Grounded Theory, count…

[flowersio]

Understanding Content Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide

In the digital era, content is king. From blogs and articles to social media posts and product descriptions, content drives engagement and fuels online conversations. But how do we know if the content we’re creating is effective? This is where content analysis comes into play.

Content analysis is a systematic technique used to analyze and evaluate the content produced for various platforms. It helps to assess how well content is performing, whether it’s meeting objectives, and how it aligns with the target audience’s preferences. In this article, we’ll break down the concept of content analysis, why it’s essential for businesses, and how to conduct one effectively.

What is Content Analysis?

At its core, content analysis is the process of studying and interpreting content — be it text, video, images, or any other form of media. It’s used to identify patterns, trends, and insights that can inform content strategies and improve future content creation.

Content analysis can be both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative content analysis focuses on interpreting meaning, context, and themes in content. It involves understanding the nuances of language, tone, and the emotional appeal of the content. On the other hand, quantitative content analysis is more about measuring and counting certain elements, such as keywords, hashtags, or engagement metrics (likes, shares, comments, etc.).

In essence, content analysis is about understanding both the “what” and the “how” of the content, and how it impacts its audience.

Why is Content Analysis Important?

Improves Content Strategy Through content analysis, businesses can gain valuable insights into what type of content resonates with their target audience. Whether it’s blog posts, social media updates, or email newsletters, knowing what works allows content creators to focus on producing high-performing content. By tracking trends in user engagement, companies can optimize their content strategy for better results.

Enhances SEO Efforts One of the key aspects of content analysis is keyword analysis. By analyzing the keywords used in the content, businesses can improve their search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. If certain keywords are overused or underused, adjustments can be made to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). Additionally, content analysis can highlight gaps in content that may be affecting SEO performance, helping businesses stay ahead of their competition.

Aligns Content with Business Goals Every piece of content created should serve a purpose. Whether it’s driving traffic to a website, increasing brand awareness, or converting leads into customers, content needs to align with the company’s overall business objectives. Through content analysis, companies can measure how well content is supporting these goals. If it isn’t, adjustments can be made to improve outcomes.

Audience Understanding Content analysis helps businesses understand their audience better. By examining how different segments of the audience interact with the content, marketers can tailor future content to meet their needs. Analyzing metrics such as engagement rates, click-through rates (CTR), and bounce rates can help identify audience preferences, behaviors, and pain points.

Competitive Advantage Keeping track of competitors’ content can provide a huge advantage. Through content analysis, companies can analyze the type of content their competitors are producing, how it’s performing, and where there might be opportunities to differentiate. This gives businesses a clear picture of the market and helps them stay competitive.

How to Conduct Content Analysis?

Now that we understand the importance of content analysis, let’s explore how to carry out an effective content analysis. While the specifics may vary depending on your objectives and tools available, the following steps outline a general approach.

1. Define Your Goals

Before diving into the analysis, you need to know what you want to achieve. Are you trying to improve engagement? Boost SEO? Understand your audience better? Defining clear goals will guide the entire analysis process.

2. Choose Your Content Type

Decide what content you want to analyze. Are you focusing on blogs, social media posts, videos, or product reviews? Different content types may require different analysis techniques, so it’s important to have a clear focus.

3. Select Key Metrics

Choose the metrics you’ll analyze. For qualitative analysis, this could include tone, sentiment, themes, or visual elements. For quantitative analysis, consider metrics like traffic, engagement (likes, shares, comments), CTR, bounce rate, or conversions.

4. Collect Data

Gather all the content you plan to analyze. This could involve using tools like Google Analytics, social media analytics platforms, or specialized software for in-depth content analysis. Make sure you collect enough data for a comprehensive analysis.

5. Analyze the Content

Now, dive into the actual analysis. Start by identifying trends in the content — look for patterns in engagement, language, visual elements, or even sentiment. In quantitative analysis, you’ll be counting occurrences of certain words, hashtags, or engagement types to identify trends.

6. Evaluate Performance

Compare the results to your defined goals. How well is the content meeting your objectives? Are there areas for improvement? This step will guide your next move — whether it’s tweaking your SEO strategy, shifting your content focus, or adjusting your messaging to better connect with your audience.

7. Make Improvements

Based on your findings, make adjustments to your content. If certain topics are performing well, create more content around those themes. If certain keywords are underperforming, adjust your strategy accordingly.

Conclusion

Content analysis is a powerful tool for anyone creating digital content, whether you’re a small business owner, a content marketer, or a blogger. By regularly analyzing your content’s performance, you can ensure it aligns with your business goals, engages your target audience, and drives measurable results. With the right tools and techniques, content analysis becomes an invaluable resource for refining your content strategy, optimizing SEO, and gaining a competitive edge in today’s crowded digital landscape.

So, start digging into your content today — there’s a wealth of insight waiting to be uncovered!

[elsa16744]

Data Collection Methods in Qualitative and Quantitative Research

Data collection forms an integral part of any research activity, being the foundation upon which conclusions and recommendations are made. Research without a proper data collection procedure would make no sense. It will further lead to yielding results that are not only unreliable but also inconsistent and, more often than not, misleading. Read More: https://www.sganalytics.com/blog/data-collection-methods-in-qualitative-and-quantitative-research/

[morbidsmenagerie]

We Should Talk About Jumping Spiders

This post is going to be a long one, summing up a lot of my thoughts on jumping spiders and their popularity and perception. I have been keeping bugs since 2019, so I've seen both the before and after the rise in popularity of jumping spiders as pets. I've also been volunteering at an Insectarium for over 2 years now and have talked to many bug lovers (and haters!) over the years. I love spiders, and have kept jumping spiders, tarantulas, sicariidae, theridiidae, and lycosidae. In working at the Insectarium I have raised several jumping spider egg sacs, and personally have raised egg sacs of my own spiders over the last several years.

This post is going to address the public image jumping spiders have and why I think a lot of claims about them are exaggerated, as well as discuss some of the issues I see with jumping spiders becoming highly popular pets.

Intelligence

I'm first going to discuss jumping spider intelligence, because that is the thing I see the most on and the thing I think is most misunderstood. I have seen several people asserting that jumping spiders are "as intelligent as 3 year olds" or "capable of doing math".

It's important to understand that almost all of these claims are based on studies done on the genus Portia specifically. This matters because jumping spiders are a highly varied group, and evolved for different situations and niches. The abilities Portia displays are impressive, including using a detour to get to a prey item, being able to map in 3D space, using previous successes in trial and error, and being able to determine how much prey is expected vs is seen in an expectancy violation trial.

It's important to clarify that these studies are done on Portia spiders specifically because of the niche Portia fill. Portia primarily hunt other spiders, especially orb weavers. This is a high risk prey item because landing on a web incorrectly would cause the jumping spider to be eaten. A lot of the tools Portia need to be able to hunt other spiders directly contributes to it's relative intelligent abilities, for example web plucking Portia need to have some ability for trial and error so they can determine which web-plucking sequences work best for attracting prey.

In this overview of different experiments that have been done on Portia jumping spiders, they note that other jumping spiders that do not web-pluck do poorly on a trial and error test involving escaping a moat.

Figure 8. Results from confinement experiments. Spider began trial on an island surrounded by an atoll in a pan of water and given two opportunities to choose its method of crossing the water (i.e., by leaping or by swimming). Successful first choice: plastic scoop made waves to help spider across to the atoll. Unsuccessful first choice: plastic scoop made waves to move spider back to the island. After making its first choice, it was recorded whether the spider repeated that choice or switched. Data analyzed using χ 2 tests of independence. Reprinted by permission from Springer (Cross and Jackson, 2015).

"The findings from experiments showed that the seven aggressive-mimic species were proficient at solving the novel confinement problem by repeating “correct” choices (i.e., the choices that delivered them to the atoll) and by switching when they made “incorrect” choices (i.e., the choices that sent them back to the island), but there was no evidence of the two non-aggressive-mimic species solving the same novel problem (Figure 8). These findings suggest that species which use trial and error to solve aggressive mimicry problems are predisposed to be proficient at using trial and error in a novel context."

This makes sense, as cognition is an extremely expensive adaption to maintain in an evolutionary context and would not develop if it was not needed. This is why it is misleading to take studies done on Portia spiders and generalize them to all jumping spiders, especially in the case of Phidippus which are generalist hunters. There is no need for Phidippus to develop the ability to be able to perform well in a trial-and-error test like this because they do not web pluck as part of their hunting strategy, and do not regularly hunt dangerous prey such that needing diverse strategies for attack was something they needed to develop. Portia are exceptional for jumping spiders and should not be treated as the norm.

Reading the article also does a good job at breaking down which experiments have been done on Portia, why they are interesting, and what they could mean. Portia are very interesting spiders and the studies done on them are intriguing, but I also think it's important to note other arthropods have shown similar or superior abilities in cognition, problem solving, and memory.

Hermit crabs display dynamic risk taking/risk aversion behaviors (link) and I could link hundreds of articles on memory, cognition, and problem solving behaviors shown in hymenoptera. It is a symptom of the jumping spider bias that wasps are not treated with the same level of curiosity for their cognitive abilities. Portia aren't even the only spiders that display flexible behaviors for the purpose of hunting other spiders, pirate spiders (link) also perform web-plucking and use multiple strategies to hunt prey, but far less research has been done on their cognitive abilities.

Anthropomorphism

Because jumping spiders are widely seen as cute, and people may know the generals of studies done on the intelligence of Portia, there is a tendency to anthropomorphize and "intentionalize" their behavior. A jumping spider looking upwards isn't seeking a higher vantage point, it's looking *at you* specifically. A jumping spider turning it's head to track movement isn't displaying a normal behavior that allows it to find prey and avoid threats, it's "curious" and "thinking about things". This happens with mantises as well, as mantises are also visually based and turn their heads towards movement, but even mantises are not anthropomorphized to the same extent that jumping spiders are.

This often leads to wildly mischaracterizing the spider's behavior.

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A post shared by Danie's Arachnids 🕷️ (@daniesarachnids)

These two posts on Instagram demonstrate some of this. In one, a jumping spider looks at her reflection, to which the author claims this is proof she is "self aware". A further look at the comments shows other people stating their jumping attacks their reflection. What is most likely happening in this is the jumping spider is attracted by the movement of her pedipalps in the shiny surface, so she looks at them to determine if the movement is from prey or a threat. Jumping spiders frequently wiggle or move their pedipalps as they walk, the behavior is not unusual and not a sign that she is "admiring her reflection". In the other video, it shows the common behavior of a jumping spider waving it's front legs. This is often characterized as "asking to be held", but this behavior can have a few different meanings. Jumping spiders raise their front legs before they jump, so it's often done if you, for example, put your hand out for them because it is a natural part of their jumping movement. They can also raise their front legs as a threat display, which can happen when confronted with another jumper (or their reflection) or a large intimidating object (like your hand). It also seems to be a common behavior when they are on a ledge, perhaps in preparation to jump off the ledge even if they haven't found a suitable place to jump yet.

A jumping spider looking around (or looking at you) is also not displaying "curiosity" in the way that word is often use. Jumping spiders look around because that is how they primarily interact with the world, they aren't displaying a behavior that is fundamentally different than an isopod feeling it's way with it's antennae across the ground. They look at you (or up at high points generally) because Phidippus primarily hunt in wide open spaces. They are most commonly found in the wild on top of fence posts, on the sides of walls, on tall stumps, ect. They seek higher vantage points so they have the largest field of view to see prey. If you are interacting with one that is likely the top of your head. I've also heard it suggested that they focus on faces because your face has a lot of movement that attracts their attention, your eyes and mouth move around a lot.

Edit: Also I hope this goes without saying but jumping spiders are highly cannibalistic and solitary by nature. There is no evolutionary basis for them to have formed the ability to recognize and remember other individuals of their species, much less form a bond with them, much less form a bond with a wholly alien species to them such as a human. Animals that can remember other individuals do so to remember their place in social communities, remember which individuals they have good or bad relationships which, and which individuals are part of their colony/pack/herd and which ones aren't. Jumping spiders frequently avoid all other jumping spider shaped objects except for in the specific context of mating because the risk of cannibalism is so high. There is no reason to believe one is forming a special bond or relationship with you.

Ambassador Animals

Jumping spiders are often recommended as first pets, particularly for people who are trying to work on their arachnophobia. The reasoning is jumping spiders are cute and so will make people like spiders in general more. While this can be the case for some people, I don't think jumping spiders make good first pets.

If you are arachnophobic, jumping spiders move very erratically and can be very mobile. You often have to interact with the spider to catch it, and for people who are nervous around spiders the unpredictable movements can be difficult. Jumping spiders are also not the easiest spiders to take care of, in fact they are more intensive than almost any other arachnid. Because they primarily hunt using vision, they almost exclusively eat live prey. It can be very difficult to get a jumping spider to take prekilled prey, and they have a strong preference for flying prey. They also have high metabolisms and need to eat a lot compared to other spiders. While raising slings, we fed our Phidippus regius once every 2-3 days, and watered them every other day. All other spiders I've raised have needed to eat once a week at most and get watered once a week or less, and can easily go longer if need be. Other spiders are also much better at taking prekilled prey, so are easier to feed. Fruit flies are genuinely a pain in the ass to deal with, especially if you haven't kept inverts before, and at larger sizes jumping spiders vastly prefer blue bottle flies which can also be a pain. With almost any other spider you can use mealworms (or dubia, crickets, waxworms, ect) and prekill them as needed to feed them off.

Liking jumping spiders also does not necessarily translate to liking other or all spiders. I have met too many people at the Insectarium that tell me they *only* like jumping spiders, usually siting jumping spiders as being more "intelligent and cute" than other spiders. I've already talked about how jumping spider intelligence is often exaggerated and over applied to the family, but because this perception and because of anthropomorphization, people hold other spiders up to an impossible standard that even jumping spiders themselves don't meet. I would even argue that liking Phidippus jumping spiders doesn't translate to even liking other jumping spiders. Again, they are a varied and diverse group, and too many people tell me jumping spiders are their favorite spiders but can't name a single non-Phidippus jumping spider found in their area.

Here's some jumping spiders found in the Pacific Northwest that I wish more "jumping spider fans" cared about:

Here are some other jumping spiders in the US:

There are also literally thousands of interesting jumping spiders that fill all sorts of different niches all over the world. This is just me being a bit salty but don't tell me that you "love jumping spiders" and they're your "favorite spiders" if you're just talking about a handful of Phidippus in the US and maybe a Hyllus species.

This extreme focus on Phidippus regius also has consequences when recommending spiders as ambassador animals to people with arachnophobia. Phidippus regius are only native to the extreme Southeastern United States, primarily in Florida and some Caribbean islands. Most people do not live where Phidippus regius occur naturally, so if you recommend this species as a first spider and it doesn't work out for whatever reason, the person who owns the spider is either left to euthanize it or try to rehome it. Someone who is arachnophobic and has determined they can no longer care for the spider is probably not going to take the time to rehome it, much less pack it for shipping if that is required. It is much better to recommend someone try to keep spiders that are local to their area, so if they determine they can no longer keep the spider it's easy to release them back into the wild.

Over-collecting

The extreme focus on Phidippus regius leads to my last point. Phidippus regius are not found in most of the US and the demand for them is extremely high. They are marginally bigger and generally more colorful than Phidippus audax, which are much more common and found throughout the United States. Most content on jumping spiders as pets focuses on Phidippus regius specifically. The demand for them is extremely high, and a large female can be sold for quite a lot. There's one wholesale store in particular that regularly sells adult female spiders (mostly wild caught) for 75-90$. This limited native range and high demand leads to excessive collecting.

This person supplies most of the wholesale wild caught Phidippus regius. Most of the sub-adult to adult spiders you will buy come from this person, but I need to stress that similar mass collecting operations are happening all over Florida (even in protected areas as populations are harder to find outside of protected spaces). Each of these deli cups has a jumping spider in it, and from his Facebook posts they collect a similar output week to week. (link to a post talking about this some more)

Phidippus audax get almost as big as Phidippus regius and have similar behaviors to them, but are largely passed over in favor of the larger regius. This leads to collecting practices like this. If you are going to get a Phidippus regius at the very least ensure you are getting one that has been captive bred. The publicity and the misrepresentation of jumping spiders as being intelligent curious, or dog-like has real consequences on the demand and collection of these animals. Also keep in mind that Florida collection not only supplies the US demand for these spiders, but for Phidippus regius sales around the world, as they are primarily found in Florida.

Conclusion

Not entirely sure how to end this as this is the accumulation of a lot of different thoughts I have on jumping spiders. I do like jumping spiders and I do think they are fascinating, primarily I want people to stop anthropomorphizing them and generalizing intelligence studies that have been done on Portia to all jumping spiders. I also think there are other spiders that make good entry level spiders, some of my favorite spiders are also extremely easy to keep. If you're scared of spiders, one of the best ways to help get over your fear is to learn more about them, I highly recommend Travis McEnery's Youtube Channel (link). He is one of the most informative and diligent educators on common spiders you are likely to find in and around your house.

If you really want to try to keep a spider as a pet, I recommend starting with a wild caught spider from your area. For one, it can help you appreciate the spiders you see frequently more, and for two there is much less commitment and pressure. You can keep a spider for as long as you are comfortable, even just observe them for a few hours and then release them. Almost all spiders are also incredibly easy to keep, and the ones you would find in your home are going to be very undemanding for care. I hope this was informative.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Case Study

Case Study - a highly detailed analysis of a particular subject, usually involving multiple sets of quantitative data observed over a period of time that allow researchers to draw conclusions in the context of the real world.

Throughout the years, the results of case study research have given us a greater and more holistic understanding in fields such as medicine, political and social sciences, and economics.

Researchers have used case studies to explore relationships between variables and a central subject, whether that subject be a human's reaction to medication, a country’s reaction to an economic crisis, or the effect of pesticides on crops over a period of time.

This methodology relies heavily on data collection and qualitative research to answer hypotheses in multiple fields.

Types of Case Studies

There are several different kinds of case studies. Here are a few:

Illustrative case study: Researchers use observations on every angle of a specific case, generally resulting in a thorough and deep data analysis.

Exploratory case study: Primarily used to identify research questions and qualitative methods to explore in subsequent studies, this type of case study is frequently in use in the field of political science.

Cumulative case study: This type relies on the analysis of qualitative data gathered over a range of timelines, which can draw new conclusions from old research methodology or studies.

Critical instance case study: Used to answer questions about the cause and effects of a particular event, critical instance case studies are helpful in cases that pose unique perspectives on otherwise established truths.

Marketing case study: This type of case study evaluates the quantifiable results of a marketing strategy, new product, or other business decision.

Examples of Case Studies

Here are a three examples of case studies in different fields:

Content marketing: In the marketing context, case studies typically explain how the business responded to the needs of a certain client, and whether or not the response was effective. Since these types of case studies are a tool to attract new customers rather than to merely share information, they should contain clear headings, attractive fonts, and infographic data that is easy to interpret.

Neuroscience: The tragic case of Phineas Gage allowed researchers to observe the changes in behavior and personality he experienced after surviving a horrific railroad accident that damaged parts of his brain. This led to a better understanding of the relationship between our frontal lobe and emotional functioning. This type of research is an example of a case study that would be impossible to ethically replicate in a laboratory, but nonetheless was a breakthrough in neuroscience and health care.

Psychoanalysis: Modern talk therapy owes much to the individual case of Anna O, otherwise known as Bertha Pappenheim. While living in Vienna in 1880, she began experiencing severe hallucinations and mood swings. Joseph Bruer, a pioneer in psychoanalysis, took Bertha under his care, and after multiple sessions where she discussed her inner emotional state and fears with Bruer, her symptoms waned. This case study is often seen as the first successful example of psychoanalysis.

Benefits of a Case Study

A case study can allow you to:

Collect wide-reaching data: Using a case study is an excellent way to gather large amounts of data on your subject, generally resulting in research that is more grounded in reality. For example, a case study approach focused on business research could have dozens of different data sources such as expense reports, profit and loss statements, and information on customer retention. This collected data provides different angles you can use to draw conclusions in a real-life context.

Conduct studies in an accessible way: You do not need to work in a lab to conduct a case study. In a number of cases, researchers use case study methodology to study things that cannot be replicated in a laboratory setting, such as observing the spending habits of a group of people over a period of months.

Reduce bias: Since case studies can capture a variety of perspectives, researchers’ own preconceptions on a subjects have less of an influence.

See connections more clearly: Through case studies, you can track paths of positive or negative development, which makes specific results repeatable, verifiable, and explainable.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[probablyasocialecologist]

While the Cass Review has been presented by the U.K. media, politicians and some prominent doctors as a triumph of objective inquiry, its most controversial recommendations are based on prejudice rather than evidence. Instead of helping young people, the review has caused enormous harm to children and their families, to democratic discourse and to wider principles of scientific endeavour. There is an urgent need to critically examine the actual context and findings of the report. Since its 2020 inception, the Cass Review’s anti-trans credentials have been clear. It explicitly excluded trans people from key roles in research, analysis and oversight of the project, while sidelining most practitioners with experience in trans health care. The project centered and sympathized with anti-trans voices, including professionals who deny the very existence of trans children. Former U.K. minister for women and equalities Kemi Badenoch, who has a history of hostility toward trans people even though her role was to promote equality within the government, boasted that the Cass Review was only possible because of her active involvement. The methodology underpinning the Cass Review has been extensively criticized by medical experts and academics from a range of disciplines. Criticism has focused especially on the effect of bias on the Cass approach, double standards in the interpretation of data, substandard scientific rigor, methodological flaws and a failure to properly substantiate claims. For example, although the existing literature reports a wide range of important benefits of social transition and no credible evidence of harm, the Cass Review cautions against it. The review also dismisses substantial documented benefits of adolescent medical transition as underevidenced while highlighting risks based on evidence of significantly worse quality. A warning about impaired brain maturation, for instance, cites a single, very short speculative paper that in turn rests on one experimental study with female mice. Meanwhile extensive qualitative data and clinical consensus are almost entirely ignored. These issues help explain why the Cass recommendations differ from previous academic reviews and expert guidance from major medical organisations such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. WPATH’s experts themselves highlight the Cass report’s “selective and inconsistent use of evidence,” with recommendations that “often do not follow from the data presented in the systematic reviews.” Leading specialists in transgender medical care from the U.S. and Australia emphasize that “the Review obscures key findings, misrepresents its own data, and is rife with misapplications of the scientific method.” For instance, the Cass report warns that an “exponential change in referrals” to England’s child and adolescent gender clinic during the 2010s is “very much faster than would be expected.” But this increase has not been exponential, and the maximum 5,000 referrals it notes in 2021 represents a very small proportion of the 44,000 trans adolescents in the U.K. estimated from 2021 census data.

7 August 2024

[umeji-writes]

Why the manga Mairimashita! Iruma-kun is a masterpiece, part # (idk at this point)

Spoilers for the latest M!IK chapter (332) under the cut ♡

Okay, I was loving this art-focused arc already, as someone who after... several years (hi I'm old)... decided to learn illustration for good. But unholy shit I wasn't expecting an actual storytelling lesson from Nishi-sensei!!! I'm specifically referring to these two pages:

..........do you see what Nishi did????? See, I always found the characters in M!IK to be exceptionally alive, as if they had independent lives outside the pages we can read. Basically all named characters are consistent and three-dimentional, even if they appeared for a couple of chapters at most. And there are LOTS of them, I tried to compile a spreadsheet for personal use and we are well beyond 100 at this point (I'm not done yet). This is most likely Nishi's writing method. It fits: "when it comes to terror designing characters, what's important is the foundation. When, where, from whom, and from what was that terror were that character's motivations born? Without that, art doesn't live". See all the crumbs of information Nishi left along the chapters, in text or drawings, or in the Q&As. M!IK's characters are alive, like the Bowing Palome. Clearly this is not new when it comes to storytelling in general, and to manga specifically. As an example, there's a whole chapter dedicated to character design in Hirohiko Araki's Manga in Theory and Practice, The Craft of Creating Manga (most recommended read btw), that goes over the data to collect even before drawing a character. I imagine that's among a mangaka's best practices. But that's the point, Nishi actually follows the rules of the Golden Way*, and created a work which is nearly perfect from any point of view: the four fundamentals (characters, story, setting, and themes), and even rhythm, art, comedy... I'm in awe. I know I sound like a smitten fan, and I am at this point, but seriously, this manga is qualitatively great, and it's a pity it's so underrated. *The set of rules/tips Araki compiled, which if followed would lead to a manga being successful, according to him. I guess there are other sources as well out there, like illustration schools? But this what I can tell you, as an outsider :D

[philomathresearch]

Data Quality in Research: Why It Matters for Accurate Insights

Explore the importance of data quality in research, its role in ensuring accuracy, reliability, and how it impacts insights and outcomes. For more detail visit here : https://www.philomathresearch.com/blog/2024/12/11/understanding-data-quality-in-research-why-it-matters-for-accurate-insights/

[covid-safer-hotties]

Reference archived on our website

I thought maybe some of y'all would like a qualitative study over a quantitative one. A study of covid disparities in England among PoC and disabled people.

Abstract Background COVID-19 Ethnic Inequalities in Mental health and Multimorbidities (COVEIMM) is a mixed methods study to explore whether COVID-19 exacerbated ethnic health inequalities in adults with serious mental and physical health conditions. We analysed data from electronic health records for England and conducted interviews in Birmingham and Solihull, Manchester, and South London. Sites were selected because they were pilot sites for the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework being introduced by NHS England to tackle race inequalities in mental health. Prior to the pandemic people in England with severe mental illnesses (SMIs) faced an 11–17-year reduction in life expectancy, mostly due to preventable, long-term, physical health conditions. During the pandemic there was a marked increase in deaths of those living with an SMI.

Aims This qualitative interview study aimed to understand the reasons underlying ethnic inequalities in mortality and service use during the COVID-19 pandemic for adult service users and carers of Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi backgrounds living with serious multiple long-term mental and physical health conditions.

Methods We took a participatory action research approach and qualitative interviews undertaken by experts-by-experience and university researchers Participants were purposively sampled by ethnicity, diagnoses, and comorbidities across three geographically distinct sites in England. Transcriptions were coded inductively and deductively and analysed thematically.

Results Findings indicated multiple points along primary and secondary health pathways for mental and physical health that have the potential to exacerbate the unjust gap in mortality that exists for Black and Asian people with SMIs. Issues such as timely access to care (face-to-face and remote), being treated in a culturally appropriate manner with empathy, dignity and respect, and being able to use services without experiencing undue force, racism or other forms of intersectional discrimination were important themes arising from interviews.

Conclusion These poor experiences create systemic and enduring healthcare harms for racialised groups with SMIs that need to be addressed. Our findings suggest a need to address these, not only in mental health providers, but across the whole health and care system and a need to ensure more equitable healthcare partnerships with service users, carers, and communities from racialised backgrounds who are often excluded.

[yippie-adiposetissue]

I feel like you sometimes act like your experiences are universal, even if you know they aren't, it might just be the way you phrase things. I hope you don't take this too much to heart. You don't even need to answer this ask, I just wanted to bring it to your attention so you can examine yourself at your leisure to see if my concern holds water, or you can ignore it forever. It's all up to you, I just found some of the things you said to be inaccurate or generalizing and wanted to politely bring up my concern because I know you also find this thing upsetting. For example you also get upset when people act like one alternative method is going to cure everyone forever, so I'm just asking you to acknowledge that some things that are ass nothing for you can be helpful for some people at some times. that's just an example. I'm just giving an example so that you understand where I'm coming from, even if you decide to ignore me. If that's the case, cool. All I wanted to do was politely bring up an issue that I see in you that I know you dislike in others so I figured you might want to improve yourself in that area. If not, for whatever reason, that is your purview. I am not telling you you're wrong or evil or stupid or anything like that, I'm not saying you need to follow my orders as if I'm the master of the universe. This ask has gotten really long but I just want you to know that I'm not being malicious in any way and if you figure that I'm mistaken at all, it was honest. I'm really sorry. In fact, don't answer this ask at all, you don't need to deal with it. I just wanted to put my concern out there.

#2 weirdest ask ive ever gotten

your example makes no sense. im not saying my experience is universal by "[getting] upset when people act like one alternative method is going to cure everyone forever", i say these things will not help EVERYone not they will not help ANYone. if i said anyone i would agree thats over generalising but i have not said that. i do not need to add an extra caveat to emphasise that these things do work for some people, the acknowledgement that it can help some is already there. if i didnt think alternatives worked for anyone i wouldn't include them on my harm reduction resource post, (in the past) my pinned, etc.

i do imply that most alternatives are not very effective. this is supported by research:

"Prominent themes that emerged from the qualitative interview data indicate that: (1) [alternative] strategies were viewed as ineffective, with some young people expressing reluctance to use such methods as well as concerns that they do not address underlying issues related to self-harm; (2) although some young people report [alternatives] to be helpful, this utility is limited to a short time frame or to situations where other methods of self-harm cannot be used; ..." (source)

(you can skip this entire paragraph im losing my mind rn) (i could talk forever about how this study's use of the term harm minimisation makes me want to die and how sane people view sh as only acceptable when its less visible and so the only acceptable harm minimisation/reduction for it is just. doing it less often/severely/visibly/etc. but whatever. just know harm minimisation/reduction for sh is sosoaososooo much more then alternatives or "strategies as a proxy" as these people had to put it to separate themselves from non academics and make their work less accessible (before you say im other generalising I'm talking about academia as a institution. like kneecap)(this makes like zero sense im so sorry i have not slept but i cant not bring this up)

now the specific post i think your referring to is thus one

and if you thought for a minute you might notice this post is a fucking vent on my mental illness blog. do you think when im doing really fucking bad i can think enough to slap on a disclaimer telling everyone "DW! YOU MIGHT NOT BE LIKE ME!!! YOU MIGHT SURVIVE THIS!!!!!!"? do you think i want to tack on the end a piece about how some people are just better then me in every sense of the word in my own and societies views? do you expect everyone to be 100% correct all the time?

if you want coherent thought and only coherent thought get off of shblr. just because sometimes i can make out a reasonable decent grammar argument with citations or whatever doesn't mean i am aalways that. lower your fucking expectations. its not hard tk tell the difference between fully thinking cvts and im trying really fucking hard not to kill themself cvts.

They can't examine themself and think about everyone else's situations all the time. I don't know who you think Cvts is but they aren't here for other people. They have a different blog for that. They are not here to examine themself or improve themself they are trying to keep themself alive. Just because Cvts does sometimes help people not every single post they ever make is advice and it is your problem if you are taking random posts from a self injury blog as advice. What posts are advice is very clearly indicated by their tone and the formatting. They are also tagged as "#harm reduction" or are on their harm reduction blog.

Cvts has said many times they do not want unprompted advice from strangers. They have spoken about their paranoia around morals many times and mentioned that they may have pure o OCD and that doctors have suggested it before. They already have their delusions telling them they are hurting people by everything they do. You saying over and over that you aren't calling them a bad person shows you clearly know that's what they're going to think (and if anything makes it worse).

You sound very similar to an anon Cvts got sometime around November. If you are the same anon block this blog and any future blogs Cvts makes.

[studentessa-socit]

second year, second semester, sociology classes:

political science

This is a basic course on political science which will touch subjects as the definition and historical evolution of democracy, voting systems, etc.

cultural sociology

A very intersting class on the production of culture and the role of cultural symbols in the development of society. It's the other face of the medal of economic sociology, because while one focuses on how the material condition of people build the cultural products, this one focuses on the impact of the cultural product themselves.

gender studies

This is a class about the history of the concept of gender and on the nature of gender roles, I know for sure we will take a deep dive into the impact of gender roles in sport, and on the history of gender studies in our local (north Italian) context because those are the expertese of my teachers.

quantitative laboratory

A laboratory on the quantitative methods of social research during wich we will learn data analysis on R and at the end of which I will submit my first actual social research (which will be a secondary data analysis, probably on the impact of scholarships on the life course of poor people but it has to be better defined with the classmates I will make the project with).

qualitative laboratory

A laboratory on the qualitative methods of social research during wich we will learn to structure and codify qualitative projects such as in depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observation.

[darkmaga-returns]

by Nicolas Hulscher, MPH

A new study by Chaufan et al titled, “It isn’t about health, and it sure doesn’t care”: a qualitative exploration of healthcare workers’ lived experience of the policy of vaccination mandates in Ontario, Canada, was just published in the Journal of Public Health and Emergency:

Background: When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines became available, healthcare workers (HCWs) were prioritized for vaccination. Despite controversy, vaccine mandates were implemented in most healthcare settings across Canada, with many still in effect. Many studies have examined the perceived problem of vaccine hesitancy within the healthcare labour force. However, few have investigated the lived experience of mandated vaccination from the perspective of HCWs themselves. In this study, we examine this experience in a purposive sample of HCWs in the province of Ontario, including their decision-making processes, the mandates’ impact on their lives and livelihoods, and their views on the effects of mandates on patient care. The study is part of a mixed methods study reassessing the COVID-19 policy response in Canada. Methods: We performed a reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative data of responses to one open ended question and open-ended entries to closed questions, offered by 245 HCWs in a published survey of a purposive sample of 468 HCWs in Ontario, of diverse vaccination status, professions, ages, socioeconomic status, races/ethnicities, and genders. Respondents were recruited through snowball sampling via social media and professional networks of the research team.

[marketxcel]

What Is Market Research: Methods, Types & Examples

Learn about the fundamentals of market research, including various methods, types, and real-life examples. Discover how market research can benefit your business and gain insights into consumer behavior, trends, and preferences.

[evidence-based-activism]

Men Underestimate and Women Overestimate Their Own Sexual Violence

Time for an excellent new (2024) article "Gender Differences in Sexual Violence Perpetration Behaviors and Validity of Perpetration Reports: A Mixed-Method Study".

What this study did:

This study asked 23 men and 31 women to "think out loud while privately completing [the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Perpetration (SES-SFP) survey] and to describe (typed response) behaviors that they reported having engaged in on the SES". The researchers asked anyone who "reported no such behavior ... to describe any similar behaviors they may have engaged in". They then analyzed differences in the quantitative responses (numerical values on the SES) and the qualitative responses (written descriptions and think-aloud audio).

What this study found (broad strokes):

Men’s sexual violence (SV) perpetration was more frequent and severe than women’s

Men’s verbal coercion was often harsher in tone and men more often than women used physical force (including in events only reported as verbal coercion on the SES)

Women often reported that their response to a refusal was not intended to pressure their partner or obtain the sexual activity*

Two women also mistakenly reported experiences of their own victimization or compliance (giving in to unwanted sex) on SES perpetration items, which inflated women’s SV perpetration rate

Quantitative measurement can miss important qualitative differences in women and men’s behaviors and may underestimate men’s and overestimate women’s SV perpetration

*This phrasing is poor (in my opinion) the authors are emphasizing genuine differences in men and women's reported behavior for ambiguous situations (not just their internal intent). Specifically, women would endorse responses for behaviors that (most) people would not actually consider a form of sexual violence. For example, women often indicated that the behaviors they were reporting were all pre-refusal (i.e., the women stopped and respected when their partner said no/told them to stop). Other "seducing" behaviors (e.g., kissing/touching) were also reported by women because their partner ultimately refused. Men did not report these types of behaviors, which the authors suggest is possibly because women may be more likely to remember experiences where they wanted to engage in sex with someone who did not because this violates social norms. It's also possible that men are more likely to consider these behaviors acceptable provided they stop when refused. (Ironically this suggests that the anti-feminist hyperbole that people will start recording "normal sexual interactions" as violence ... has only affected women.)

Lots more details below the cut (I use a mix of - unmarked - quotes and paraphrasing):

Quantitative data

The overall prevalence of sexual perpetration of significantly inflated due to intentional over-sampling of likely perpetrators (particularly female perpetrators). This is reasonable because the authors are interested in examining differences among self-reported perpetrators, not in establishing incidence/prevalence rates.

Even without taking the qualitative aspects into consideration (i.e., looking only at the quantitative data), men reporting SV perpetration reported more frequent offenses than women (re-offended more often). Men were also more likely to report more severe acts of violence (per the original tactic-act, the tactic specific, and sexual act specific continua).

Differences in severity identified via qualitative analysis

Men’s verbal coercion was more often stronger; more deceptive, persistent, or intimidating; or otherwise harsher in tone (e.g., "She kept refusing to do anything with me. I remember saying to her “just cause you’re on your period doesn’t mean I can’t get head.” I then remember repeating my intentions with her and almost gaslighting her and making her feel that she must not love me."). Proportionally more men described continually asking or persisting after repeated refusals, getting angry, telling lies, making false promises, and trying to make their partner feel guilty.

Women’s verbal coercion was predominantly expressing disappointment or pouting after a single refusal (e.g., “I got upset and said whatever and rolled over the opposite way”)

Also a difference in intent that could only be identified in the qualitative data. 35% of women who perpetrated explicitly said they had not intended to pressure their partner, change their partner’s mind, or obtain the sexual activity after their partner refused (e.g., "I respected him not trying to do anything further, though, and did not attempt anything further."). No men explicitly said they had not intended to pressure their partner or obtain the sexual activity and [men] more often than women explicitly said that they had intended to (e.g., "I think it was one time where I just kept pressuring . . . Didn’t happen, but the pressure was there, that’s for sure. I definitely asked more than a couple times.")

A few of women’s SV perpetration behaviors appeared more like attempts to advocate for equity in their own sexual pleasure or to stick up for themselves in response to a partner’s coercion (e.g., "I really love receiving oral sex. But sometimes my partner ignores that and directly goes to the penetration. So, I stop him and make him do it because I also feel like being properly aroused to get a better sexual experience.")

False negatives

Some participants that did not mark any of the perpetration items still described similar experiences. Most were not coercive (e.g., asking and “respecting” a refusal, clarifying an unclear refusal) but a couple were clear false negatives. There appears to be an issue with some behaviors not clearly fitting into any of the described categories (e.g., Even the physical force SES items refer only to more extreme force (holding down, pinning arms, having a weapon).)

There were many more cases where a less severe offense was marked (i.e., coded as a true positive for perpetration but for incorrect offense in severity analysis). Specifically, men reported only verbal coercion but then described physical behaviors, so the tactic report was incorrect or incomplete (e.g., "We were experimenting with different things and I did not necessarily ask for their consent before putting my finger in their butt." was coded by one man as verbal coercion).

False negative may have occurred, in part, because behaviors that were themselves no different than those performed in consensual sex were not adequately captured. This is a problem given that previous qualitative research has also found that initiating or going ahead with penetration without asking or following a refusal is a common SV perpetration behavior used by men (i.e., this type of behavior may be recorded as either a false negative or a less severe offense in quantitative scales).

When women reported verbal coercion only, but then described initiating sexual acts without asking, they almost always initiated non-penetrative sexual acts in contrast to men who more often described penetrative sexual acts without asking.

The SES may underestimate use of physical force and, especially, men’s rape and attempted rape.

False positives

Some participants reported perpetration on the SES that their description showed was not forceful, coercive, or engaged in without consent or following a refusal. Men explained that they did not engage in the behavior, misread or misinterpreted the SES question, or clicked the wrong response. Some women reported these same problems, but two "were reports of victimization or giving in to unwanted sex" (i.e., mistakenly reported victimization as perpetration).

Notably, three out of the four men with false positives reported other instances of SV perpetration on the SES whereas two of the four women with false positives did not report other perpetration and, therefore, inflated women’s perpetration rate.

Taken together, our analysis of false negatives and false positives suggests that the SES likely underestimates men’s SV perpetration and overestimates women’s perpetration.

This doesn't even account for instances reporting no intent to perpetrate (as described above). But the fact that many women reported no intent may further support the conclusion that women overreport or are more likely to remember and report because their coercion violates social expectations

Verbalized thought processes

In general, most participants appeared to understand and interpret the SES as intended

But there was evidence that the distinction between attempted and completed acts on the SES may be unclear for some respondents (e.g, one woman said "I also don’t understand what they mean by “tried.” Like does this mean that . . . You simply spoke to them, and they said no? Does this mean that you were engaged in an act and they pushed you off? Or does this mean that something disrupted you? So, this question doesn’t seem very clear to me.")

Second, participants used different items on the SES to report having used a specific category of tactic that is not mentioned in the measure. For example, some participants described kissing and sexually touching their partner without asking to try to arouse them and reported this as verbal tactics to obtain non-penetrative sexual contact. This may have underestimated attempted and completed sexual coercion (because the intent was to engage in penetrative sex). It may also have overestimated non-consensual non-penetrative sexual contact category (the most frequent category for female offenders) since research also finds that partners often use nonverbal cues including kissing and touching to communicate about sexual interest.

There was also confusion about the meaning of “getting angry” or "showing displeasure". Some participants (particularly women) indicated these could refer to internal feeling as opposed to external expression or be a “normal human reaction to . . . feeling rejection” that does not necessarily include a purposeful attempt to manipulate.

Other problems: (1) confusion on if intoxication only applied to alcohol, (2) too many tactics listed in a single question resulting in confusion, (3) participant frequency estimates were rough estimates likely contributing to a significant underestimation problem, (4) participants wouldn't endorse items that specified "without consent" even if they later described coercive behaviors suggesting different phrasing may be needed, (5) participants reported shock at the severity of the tactics asked about, which may indicate SV is not normalized among non-perpetrators or may indicate that less severe tactics are not being captured

Concerning (4) above: Other research indicates that while conceptually narrower, asking about behaviors done after someone resisted or indicated “no” (i.e., post-refusal persistence) results in higher rates of self-reported SV perpetration than asking about behaviors done without consent or when the other person did not want to.

Citation: Jeffrey, Nicole K., and Charlene Y. Senn. “Gender Differences in Sexual Violence Perpetration Behaviors and Validity of Perpetration Reports: A Mixed-Method Study.” The Journal of Sex Research, Feb. 2024, pp. 1–16. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2024.2322591.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Scientific Inquiry

Scientific Inquiry - a form of problem-solving and questioning that helps people come to a greater understanding of observable phenomena.

An understanding of this style of scientific reasoning forms the basis upon which the nature of science itself rests.

Once you become familiar with scientific inquiry, you can use it for specifically science-related study or as just one additional tool in your arsenal of critical thinking skills.

Core Elements of the Scientific Inquiry Process

From encouraging scientific questions to facilitating well-reasoned conclusions, the scientific inquiry process helps illuminate our understanding of the world. Here are 7 core elements to the scientific inquiry process:

Asking constant questions: At the center of both the scientific method and general scientific inquiry lies the ability to ask questions well. Make observations about a particularly interesting phenomenon and then pose questions about why such a thing happens. Let preexisting scientific theories guide your questioning, but keep in mind every theory continues to be just that—a theory—until scientific inquiry definitively proves or disproves it.

Testing your inferences: Scientific progress hinges on your ability to experiment and test inferences about evidence. To do so, you need to set up an independent variable (something you will use to test) and a dependent variable (the thing or things you are testing). Seeing how well your inferences or predictions match up with the reality of a given experiment is essential to scientific inquiry.

Making connections: As you make observations about a specific phenomenon, make connections with every other relevant topic you can remember from your past science lessons or research. Scientific knowledge is as much a result of old realizations as it is of new discoveries.

Seeking evidence: As you seek to understand the natural world, there’s no substitute for hard evidence. Collect data and gather evidence relentlessly throughout your scientific investigations. The more evidence you have to answer your initial questions, the more ironclad your ultimate case will be when you draw conclusions.

Classifying data correctly: Science is as much a process of data collection and classification as it is of asking and answering questions. This means knowing how to elucidate or graph out your discoveries in a way other people can understand. It also means using citations from other scientific journals and texts to bolster your ultimate argument as to why a particular phenomenon occurs.

Drawing conclusions: Eventually, you need to draw conclusions from the data you collect. After you’ve made an exhaustive study of your specific focus, use inductive reasoning to make sense of all the new evidence you’ve gathered. Scientific ideas are always malleable and never completely concrete—alternative explanations are always possible, and new evidence should lead to new questions and conclusions.

Sharing findings: Science is an innately group-centered discipline. The more people interpret data, the better chance there is to ensure there are no loopholes in new research. No one person’s understanding of science content is infinite, so it’s important to let other qualified people ask questions of your conclusions. Natural science is more of a never-ending collaborative process than one with a concrete point of termination.

Teaching science means ensuring learners understand how to conduct qualitative and inquiry-based learning.

Science teachers must utilize a pedagogy that foregrounds hypothesizing, experimenting, and drawing on other scientific knowledge in both theoretical and practical ways.

Educational research indicates that it can help students see the correlation between scientific inquiry and everyday life, whether in elementary school or high school.

This sort of analogization helps people understand that a scientific frame of thinking is quite intuitive when you observe it within more commonplace parameters.

As a simplistic example, imagine a student has a hard time understanding the effect of heat as an abstract force.

Allowing them to observe the degree to which bread burns at different temperatures in a toaster would help make the point clear in a more hands-on way.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs