Journal of Social Science Studies

Number V1N1, 2014

1-16
Workplace Romances on the Example of Partner Selection Among Teacher-Couples - Student Teachers’ Perceptions

Authors: Mari Mikkola, Roope Salonen, Kaarina Määttä, Satu Uusiautti

Abstract

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Romantic relationships in workplaces have remained unexplored from the lovers’ perspective even though the research on love, partner selection, and workplace romances is relatively extensive. The purpose of this study is to contribute an analysis of partner selection among colleagues, and student teachers were selected as an interesting target group because of the special nature of teachers’ work. Two research questions were set for the study: how do teacher-couples start their relationship and what factors explain partner selection among them according to student teachers’ perceptions and experiences? The purpose was to describe their opinions on why teacher-marriages are so common, how love begins, and what combines teachers. The data were collected in the form of essays through an email that was addressed to the members of Finnish student organizations in colleges of education. Altogether 32 replies were received. The essays were analyzed with a theory-based approach by categorizing answers into six pre-determined categories. The purpose was to find out how partner selection among teachers corresponded to the select types of partner selection. Homogamy and completion-based partner selection appeared the most common. In addition, teachers’ role as emotional educators is pointed out and discussed in the light of the results of this study.

17-30
A Review of the Effectiveness of Creative Training on Adult Learners

Authors: Kuan Chen Tsai

Abstract

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Number of views: 471

A demand for fostering creativity has become a universal discourse across different nations, reflecting globalization of economic activity. Teachers play a key role in promoting creative thinking through appropriate approaches in the classroom. Because a number of studies indicate that most creativity research focuses on children rather on adults, the purpose of this meta-analytic study is to investigate the effects of creativity training on adults. It is hoped that by providing evidence-based findings, adult educators could consider fostering creativity in adult classrooms. The results confirm the findings of previous meta-analysis indicating that creativity training is effective on adults. The magnitude of this finding indicates creativity training is promising for increasing adults’ creative thinking.

31-43
Income Inequality, Poverty and Food Security in West Bengal, India

Authors: Snehasish Karmakar, Debashis Sarkar

Abstract

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Number of views: 642

The paper intends to study the nature of income inequalities, food security and poverty among different sub-groups of population in West Bengal, India. It has been found that inequalities in terms of share of total income and population exist both in case of agricultural and non-agricultural income irrespective of sub-groups. The contribution of agricultural income in the income profile is less than that of non-agricultural income which exhibits the deplorable condition of agriculture and thereby the non-agricultural sector has an immense scope for reduction of income inequality even the fact remains that about 65 per cent of the rural population engages in agriculture. The study observed that so far as food security is concerned, though India achieved self-sufficiency in food grain production since 1970s, the achievement did not percolate down to masses. These deprivations are very acute with differentiated degrees of severity in almost all sub-groups except medium farms. Inequality in income is much higher than that of food insecurity in all sub-groups which is in conformity with Engel’s Law. While comparing the depth of food insecurity with poverty, it reveals that though the severity of poverty as well as food insecurity is highest in small farms, but these two do not keeping same connotations for the marginal and landless households. Hence it comes to the consequence that the severity of food insecurity not only depends on the severity of poverty but on some other factors too.

44-56
Demons of Transitional Democracies: Politics of Insults and Acrimony in Ghana

Authors: Kwame Asamoah, Emmanuel Yeboah-Assiamah, Alex Osei-Kojo,

Abstract

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There is a general perception that Ghana has achieved remarkable success in democratic consolidation by conducting six general elections in the Fourth Republic without widespread violence since 1992. Yet, the kind of tensions and acrimony that surround her elections are issues that cannot be glossed over. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana paved the way for free speech and expression, which has been strengthened by the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law. Most political actors tend to abuse the freedom of speech enshrined in the Constitution by using abusive words and insulting their political opponents especially on the airwaves and during political campaigns. The persistent use of intemperate language affects the quality of policy discourse and also creates tension at every election year. Faced with the use of indecorous language at every election year, a common feature of elections in Ghana is the numerous appeals for peace from all sections of society. The use of indecent words by political actors thus poses a serious threat to Ghana’s democratic dispensation as it can escalate into serious conflict with social, political and economic ramifications. This article examines how the use of indecent language can be detrimental to the developmental agenda of the country. The paper adopts content analysis to examine some of the statements by some key stakeholders during the 2012 general elections. A major finding of the study is that there is excessive use of abusive words on airwaves and political campaigns. Another finding of the study is that election periods in Ghana is characterized by clarion calls for peace and calming down tensions. The article recommends that key political actors must set practical leadership example, for their supporters to emulate by using decorous words before, during and after each election.