Suchergebnisse

My research explores the complex nature of identities, through the lens of indigeneity and its representation in museums. Simpson (2007) states, "To speak of Indigeneity is to speak of colonialism and anthropology" (p. 67). This perhaps sums up the common associations with "indigeneity", as the term defines itself and characterizes it. While indigeneity persists to have certain identities, diversity tends to dissect any given identities. Fascinated by this complex relation of epistemology and ontology, I examine how "indigeneity" is presented in exhibitions at two community history museums and a culturally specific museum. The three museums share similar economic circumstances, while the culturally specific museum (North Suburban Chicago) is situated within a community with a more diverse racial demographic than the two community history museums (West Suburban Chicago) with over 90% white residents. Three questions guided this research: How are narratives of indigeneity constructed in exhibitions at three museums? How do museum staff members conceptualize indigeneity and understand the complexity and politics of representation and museum display? What can be done to embrace more meaningful and critically considered representations of indigeneity in museum exhibitions? To answer these questions, I critically analyzed how exhibitions at each museum conceptualize and represent indigeneity, focusing on signs, labels, objects, and how these were arranged to create meanings. Using a comparative case study methodology, data were collected through observations, using photographs and field notes. Additional data were collected through interviews and secondary resources such as each museums' website, brochures, guides and newsletters. Problematic patterns were found involving the representation of American Indians in all three museums. All of the museums deemphasize the power relations of the white settlers and indigenous people, whether through omitting or mystifying the turmoil of historical events. This absence and aestheticization undermined the historical contexts of the exhibitions. In the case of the culturally specific museum, the emphasis was placed on factual knowledge of various tribes, objects and activities, which lacked critical knowledge of indigenous cultures and the historical contexts. It is questionable how these museums educate the public without tackling real issues or practicing the role of the museum as a civic agent. Therefore, the historical-sociopolitical/economic-contexts of objects and events are necessary for these exhibitions to better represent issues of indigeneity and critically consider diversity.

ABSTRACTThis study examined the causal relationship between knowledge, attitudes and discriminatory behaviour towards older people and further explored age-group differences using multi-group analysis. Data were collected from 1,500 Korean adults aged 20 and older in 2011 using the multi-stage quota sampling method. Trained investigators collected data with a developed survey questionnaire in person and a structural equation modelling method was used for data analysis. Attitudes towards older people was measured using two variables: 'image of older people' and 'prejudice against older people'. The findings revealed that the younger and older generations demonstrated differences regarding the causal relationship between knowledge, attitudes and discriminatory behaviour towards older people. The paths model between independent and dependent variables in the structural equation modelling was non-equivalent in younger and older groups. For both groups, knowledge about ageing and older people led to a positive influence on their image of and prejudice against older people. The effect of prejudice on discriminatory behaviour was significant in the younger group, but not in the older group. Further implications for practice and future research to reduce ageism were discussed.

Background  Overweight and obesity in children with intellectual disabilities may be a major health threat. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Korean children with intellectual disabilities aged 7–18 years who did not have specific genetic syndromes or physical disabilities.Materials and methods  Participants were 2,404 children with intellectual disabilities aged 7–18 years attending thirteen special schools in Korea. Data from school health records were analysed using SAS (version 9.2). The differences between boys and girls were assessed for children's height and weight using t‐tests and for children's age and weight status, such as using Chi‐Square (χ2) test. The relationships between children's weight status, age and gender were reassessed using Chi‐Square (χ2) test, and strengths of the relationships were measured using Gamma coefficient.Results  Approximately one‐quarter of children with intellectual disabilities were either overweight or obese. Children's gender was significantly associated with their weight status, such that overweight and obesity were more prevalent in girls than in boys, specifically girls aged 15–18 years. There was a positive relationship between age and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children for both boys and girls.Conclusions  The high rates of overweight and obesity in children with intellectual disabilities highlight the need for interventions to help children achieve healthy weight. Before conducting weight management interventions, identifying risk factors that influence weight status in children with intellectual disabilities is an important step.

Background
Informing local decision-making, improving service delivery and designing household surveys require having access to high-spatial resolution mapping of the targeted population. However, this detailed spatial information remains unavailable for specific population subgroups, such as refugees, a vulnerable group that would significantly benefit from focused interventions. Given the continuous increase in the number of refugees, reaching an all-time high of 35.3 million people in 2022, it is imperative to develop models that can accurately inform about their spatial locations, enabling better and more tailored assistance.

Methods
We leverage routinely collected registration data on refugees and combine it with high-resolution population maps, satellite imagery derived settlement maps and other spatial covariates to disaggregate observed refugee totals into 100-m grid cells. We suggest a deterministic grid cell allocation inside monitored refugee sites based on building count and a random-forest-derived grid cell allocation outside refugee sites based on geolocating the textual geographic information in the refugee register and on high-resolution population mapping. We test the method in Cameroon using the registration database monitored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Results
Using OpenStreetMap, 83% of the manually inputted information in the registration database could be geolocated. The building footprint layer derived from satellite imagery by Ecopia AI offers extensive coverage within monitored refugee sites, although manual digitization was still required in rapidly evolving settings. The high-resolution mapping of refugees on a 100-m grid basis provides an unparalleled level of spatial detail, enabling valuable geospatial insights for informed local decision-making.

Conclusions
Gathering information on forcibly displaced persons in sparse data-setting environment can quickly become very costly. Therefore, it is critical to gain the most knowledge from operational data that is frequently collected, such as registration databases. Integrating it with ancillary information derived from satellite imagery paves the way for obtaining more timely and spatially precise information to better deliver services and enhance sampling frame for target data collection exercises that further improves the quality of information on people in need.