This dissertation examines children’s print magazines on sale in the United Kingdom in 2023 and in doing so closes a gap in the existing literature where the children’s segment has been long neglected. The print magazine industry has been challenged by the advent of digital media and the ensuing loss of advertising revenues for decades and yet the children’s print format has stood apart from most other market segments by continuing to show resilience. This study identifies what the children’s segment offers its readers and, by extension, why it endures in the face of such challenges. While doing so, key scholarly theories, concerning the rise of children’s ‘edutainment’ magazines are validated and calls for further research into how children’s magazines communicate content concerning sustainability are answered. The UK market is revealed to be dominated by a small number of mass-market publishers producing licensed, and therefore ‘consumer’ material for famous brands. Mass market titles are compared to indepe…
The experiences and perceptions of teachers working with primary school students with autism in Lagos State, Nigeria, were investigated in this dissertation. This study fills the literature gap by exploring the challenges, opportunities, attitudes, knowledge, and strategies teachers employ to support the unique learning needs of children with autism, serving as a much-needed response to the evolving global educational landscape for students with autism. The research employed a mixed methods design, where primary school teachers in Lagos were the research participants. Thirty-one participants answered the Google Form, and 5 participants presented for the semi-structured interviews on ZOOM. The quantitative and qualitative results of this research underscore the intricate nature of working with students with autism, reiterating the importance of continuous professional development and readily available resources to improve the quality of education and the overall well-being of children with autism in Nigeria.Th…
This study investigates the impact of caring for patients who self-harm on mental health nurses. Through a systematic review of existing literature, the study elucidates the multifaceted challenges faced by mental health nurses in this role and explores their emotional, psychological, and professional implications. Findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive support systems, tailored training programs, and interdisciplinary collaboration to mitigate the negative effects on mental health nurses' well-being and enhance the quality of care provided. A PICO search strategy was conducted in some academic databases and the systematic review yielded (N=13) peer-reviewed articles found credible to be included in this research that examined the impact on mental health nurses caring for patients susceptible to deliberate self-harm. The study found barriers to effective performance among mental health nurses to include anxiety, negative emotions, insufficient knowledge, poor training, and lack of necessary co…
This study aimed to observe the most effective coping strategies and psychological support mechanisms to manage the impact of verbal abuse on mental health nurses in the UK. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, ten studies were selected and synthesized, focusing on two broad themes: formal support and coping strategies. Thematic analysis was employed to extract key themes from the synthesized studies. The findings of the review revealed several important insights. Formal support mechanisms, including supervisor support, co-worker support, and organizational policies, were identified as crucial in mitigating the impact of verbal abuse on mental health nurses. Coping strategies such as social support from friends and family, cognitive coping mechanisms, and environmental and behavioural strategies emerged as significant factors in managing the effects of verbal abuse. The review showed the importance of addressing both individual coping strategies and formal support structures within healthcar…
Promoting neuroinclusion in the workplace is an organisational performance and social justice imperative driving ‘Neurodiversity at Work’ initiatives. Post- pandemic, remote/hybrid workplaces create new challenges for neurodivergent employees and HRM, not least of which is organisational socialization. Prior research addresses remote socialization, examines work-from-home practices of neurodivergent employees, but none explores factors contributing to socialization outcomes for neurodivergent newcomers in remote/hybrid contexts- impacting neurodiversity hiring initiatives. This study bridges the gap in research through review of extant academic literature and conducting empirical research. Ten interviews were held with neurodivergent professionals in remote/hybrid roles across Europe and North America. Analysis revealed The Paradox of Neurodiversity, The Value of Workplace Relationships and What it Means to Fit In as themes salient for neurodivergent newcomers desiring a sense of “Heimat” as an outcome of soc…
In the rapidly expanding domain of English language teaching centres (ELTCs), there exists a notable gap in understanding the perceptions, challenges, and strategies employed by ELTC managers and leaders. This research endeavours to bridge this gap, acknowledging both the theoretical and practical implications of enhanced management within this sector. The crux of the problem is a lack of sector-specific insight into effective ELTC management and leadership, necessitating this inquiry into the shared experiences and strategies of those at the helm. Aiming to shed light on this, there were three stages of empirical research; questionnaires, interviews, and a focus group. The qualitative data from the questionnaires and interviews underwent Reflexive Thematic Analysis, and from this analysis, a list of recommendations was compiled, which were then reviewed and amended by a focus group. From the data amassed, five pivotal themes emerged. These encapsulated areas ranging from the significance of self-awareness a…
A critical investigation into the manifestation and problematisation of agency in visual culture, with a particular focus on a humanist and anti-humanist perspective. The study focuses on dystopic filmic narratives, and a recent cycle of the mind-game film, to navigate postmodern portrayals of individualistic agency against collective autonomies. Several symptomatic case studies are critically analysed within a theoretical and philosophical framework. The dissertation is broken into two chapters; the first takes a humanist approach, utilising Thomas Elsaesser’s (2021) conceptualisation of ‘productive pathologies’ to evaluate a subjective approach to narrative. The second chapter incorporates an anti-humanist approach; radical theorists, including Louis Althusser and A.J Greimas, are interwoven to examine the impact of structuralist and illusory agency. Although theory surrounding agency is expansive, this study finds a lack of sufficient theory that discusses the effects of the Anthropocene, and non-human age…
Managing self-harm in patients with BPD can be challenging for nursing staff. They have many diverse needs and are presented regularly in mental health hospitals. This research attempts to answer the research question what are the impacts of managing self-harm in patients with BPD on nursing staff working in mental health hospitals? While studies have focused largely on the attitudes of nursing staff towards BPD patients, there is a lack of research on the impacts of self-harm in patients with BPD on nursing staff working in mental health hospitals. Thus, this literature review is undertaken to breach the gap in research by appraising and synthesising qualitative primary resources on the topic. AIM: This study aims to identify and understand the impacts of managing self-harm in patients with BPD on nursing staff working in mental health hospitals by critically appraising and synthesizing qualitative primary resources and possibly identifying facilitators to minimise these impacts. METHOD: This study system…
The client organisation is Slough Children First Independent Fostering Agency (SCF IFA). SCF IFA is focused on maintaining an adequate pool of foster carers. Foster carers provide stable homes for children who, for various reasons, cannot remain with their families. SCF IFA’s current pool of foster carers is not sufficient to meet the demand. SCF IFA has seen an increase in the total number of fostering enquiries over the last five years, but has not been able to convert more enquiries to applicants willing to foster. The project was given the green light to evaluate reasons behind the problem situation, and to provide recommendations based on the key themes that emerged following data collection and analysis.
The lasting negative implications of school exclusions on vulnerable learner’s life chances are well documented. Despite the ample research which highlights the harmful trajectory exclusions can set learners on, school exclusion data in both Wales and England remains disproportionately higher for learners with additional learning needs. Therefore, this study aimed to further scrutinise school exclusions within the maintained specialist settings in Wales. Contact was made with the gatekeepers in the 40 maintained specialist settings in Wales to invite staff to complete a questionnaire and semi-structured interview. The aims of this study were to: • Explore staff perceptions of school exclusions and learn more about their professional perspectives with regards to behaviours that might warrant an exclusion. • Further explore staff perceptions of protective factors which were in place that would help mitigate the need to resort to exclusions. • Lastly, explore the challenges encountered by staff in their setting…