This study presents a systematic literature review to identify the developments and challenges of critical discourse analysis (CDA) in the field of environmental studies. The analysis draws upon Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework of CDA, which comprises description, interpretation, and explanation. A review of both Japanese and international literature revealed three findings. First, Japanese and international literature differ in terms of the types of data analysed. Japanese studies have predominantly focused on media texts, whereas international literature has examined various data, including primary information. Second, the study of non-linguistic social practices remains limited compared to the study of linguistic practices. Third, less emphasis is placed on the explanatory dimension than the descriptive and interpretive dimensions. Based on these findings, three challenges are identified for the further development of CDA in environmental studies. First, there is a need to employ a wide range of data sources, including primary data, and incorporate non-linguistic data types. Second, enhancing the analysis of the social conditions that shape linguistic practices is a challenge. Third, further analysis of structural factors—both social and environmental—that influence discourse is necessary. In particular, the importance of this last challenge is underscored by critical realism which theoretically underpins CDA.

抄録全体を表示

本研究は、高齢の母親をもつ、まだ介護に直面していない中年期女性を対象として、母娘関係と、将来的な母親介護に対する娘の意識（介護意識）との関連性を明らかにすることを目的とした。 本研究では、実の母親が生存している中年期女性56名に対して、Parental Bonding Instrument（PBI）によって評価する母娘関係と介護意識に関するweb調査を実施した（有効回答率35.0 %）。参加者の約8割が、将来、母親を介護しようと思うと回答した。PBI（25項目）を因子分析した結果、「過干渉」「愛情」「否定」の3因子が抽出された。重回帰分析をした結果、中年期女性の介護意識には、否定の母娘関係の影響が確認された。母親から否定される関係だと感じている中年期女性は、将来的に母親を介護しようとする意識が低いことが示唆された。病前からの母娘関係が、母親介護の意識に影響を及ぼす可能性がある。母親から否定される関係だと捉えている中年期女性においては、将来的に母親の介護問題に直面した場合を想定して、社会的なサービス利用や環境整備のサポート体制を整えるなどの早めの対応が必要である。

抄録全体を表示

In this study, we tested a model that assumes that the willingness to renew the qualification of Certified Expert Psychiatric Nurse (CEPN) was facilitated by job satisfaction, which was prompted by demonstration of expertise and contribution to the workplace, and those psychological factors were enhanced by positive feedback to them from supervisors. Two hundred seventeen CEPNs participated and responded to the questionnaire via internet. Results indicated that the model was supported, and positive feedback, such as praise and gratitude from supervisors, was shown to be a significant predictor of satisfaction and psychological factors. Therefore, CEPN may actively enhance qualification through psychological rewards.

抄録全体を表示

The purpose of this study is to investigate the causal relationships among personality, role satisfaction, and self-esteem. Rolefulness is defined as the continuous sense of role satisfaction in our daily lives and includes two sub-factors: social and internal rolefulness. The Big Five model was used as a measurement tool of personality in this study. The Big Five model includes five subfactors: extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. In this study, the data of 617 Japanese high school students were analyzed. The results of the analysis revealed that social and internal rolefulness converged into rolefulness as the latent variable. Moreover, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness increased rolefulness and facilitated self-esteem. The results of this study revealed a process that indicates how individual personality characteristics influence the promotion of rolefulness and the development of self-esteem. Furthermore, the results of this study suggested that psychological characteristics specific to the age of high school students may influence this process.

抄録全体を表示

This study examines the role of implicit theories of intelligence in overcoming difficulties during job search activities among Japanese university students. Specifically, we investigated how mindset beliefs influence intentions to participate in internships, and strategies for information gathering when facing challenges. Study 1 targeted third-year undergraduate students (N = 75) who received feedback from a vocational aptitude test. The results showed that when students perceived a lack of suitability for their desired occupation, those with an incremental mindset exhibited stronger intentions to participate in imminent internships compared to those with an entity mindset. Study 2 involved third-year students (N = 35) attending a seminar where successful job seekers shared their experiences. Those with an incremental mindset attributed success to controllable factors (e.g., effort), while those with an entity mindset attributed it to uncontrollable factors (e.g., personality). Additionally, students with an incremental mindset were more likely to seek support from others when perceiving the job search process as difficult. These findings suggest the possibility that fostering an incremental mindset can enhance persistence and proactive behaviors in job search activities. Further, theoretical and practical implications for career education and support programs are discussed.

抄録全体を表示

The “SOS output education” program is being advocated as a proactive measure to address student suicides. Much of the effectiveness verification of this program thus far has focused on the mental and psychological aspects. However, it is also important to test the effectiveness of the program to determine whether it actually leads to help-seeking behaviours. Therefore, in this study, we implemented a program which integrates elements of intergenerational exchange among upper elementary school students to evaluate its effectiveness in expanding the range of individuals with whom they feel comfortable seeking help. A total of 125 students (40 fourth graders, 50 fifth graders, and 35 sixth graders; 60 boys and 65 girls) were surveyed at three intervals: prior to implementation, three weeks post-implementation, and three months post-implementation. We analysed the change in the total number persons whom the student could ask for help across the time points. The results showed a significant increase in the number of people who could be asked for help after three months of program implementation compared to baseline and after three weeks of implementation. 17 participants reported that they had no one whom they could ask for help before the program implementation, which decreased to 11 after program implementation, and finally to zero after three months. These results suggest that the participants used the skills they learned during the program in real-life contexts, indicating that “SOS output education” may effectively promote consultative and help-seeking behaviour by the students. In addition, the number of participants who sought help not only from “friends” but also from “parents” and “homeroom teachers” increased, suggesting that the program promoted dialogue with familiar, trusted adults.

抄録全体を表示

This article briefly overviews research on cultural change. This article consists of three sections. The first section explains the background of cultural changes. Various substantial changes, including modernization and globalization, have occurred. Due to these changes, cultures that have been historically and traditionally inherited are gradually changing. The second section overviews the methodology of research on cultural change. It is not easy to empirically examine cultural changes. I introduce three major approaches to overcome these difficulties: analyzing archival data, conducting cross-temporal meta-analyses, and analyzing cultural products. Finally, the third section outlines studies on changes in individualism as an example of cultural change. It has been shown that various cultures, including Japanese culture, have become more individualistic. In contrast, it has also been reported that, in some respects, cultures have not become more individualistic. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the moderating factors and boundary conditions of this discrepancy.

抄録全体を表示

Cooperative learning involves structured small group activities that enhance cognitive engagement through peer interactions, and is recognized as an effective instructional approach. Among various forms of cooperative learning, constructive interaction, in which students co-construct an abstract understanding using discussions, plays a crucial role in promoting deep learning. The knowledge-constructive jigsaw method has been proposed as an instructional design to facilitate such interactions. However, its implementation poses challenges including the complexity of task structures, constraints related to group formation, and extended lesson durations. To address these challenges, Shima and Watanabe (2021) introduced the “DOUBLE-DOUBLE” method, a simplified approach to cooperative learning. The present study investigates the effectiveness of the “DOUBLE-DOUBLE” method in middle school science education. Participants were third-year students from a public junior high school. Two classes (Class A: 36 students, Class B: 28 students) received instructions using the “DOUBLE-DOUBLE” method, while a third class (Class C: 32 students) received conventional instruction as the control group. The instructional intervention focused on the unit “Composition and Decomposition of Forces.” Students’ conceptual understanding was assessed using pre- and post-tasks based on the one-page portfolio (OPP) method. The results revealed a significant improvement in correct responses exclusively in the experimental groups using the “DOUBLE-DOUBLE” method. Additionally, students in these groups demonstrated significantly higher scores on written explanations than those in the control group. Discourse analysis indicated that students experienced difficulties in integrating different tasks into a coherent understanding, suggesting the need for additional instructional scaffolding. These findings suggest that the “DOUBLE-DOUBLE” method facilitates the development of conceptual understanding by promoting structured peer discourse; however, further refinements are needed for optimal implementation.

抄録全体を表示

Despite the critical role of reflection in self-regulation, its motivational quality has received limited attention. Guided by self-determination theory, this study investigated the motivation structure for reflection and examined the related factors. Three hundred and fifty-seven adults were asked to indicate their motivation for reflection, support for psychological needs, and the consequences of reflection, including metacognitive activity, self-control, and stress response. Exploratory factor analysis identified four distinct motivational factors for reflection: internal, identified, introjected, and external regulation. Structural equation modeling revealed that autonomy, competence, and relational support heightened identification adjustment, which promoted metacognitive activity. Furthermore, internal and identified regulations were positively associated with self-control, whereas external adjustment was linked to heightened stress response. These findings are consistent with previous studies of the self-determination theory. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

抄録全体を表示

Evaluations of nuisance behavior are often negative, even when such behavior does not cause significant harm. However, factors contributing to these negative evaluations remain unclear. This study examined whether observers negatively evaluate actors who do not understand the potential harm resulting from their nuisance behavior. Study 1 demonstrated that individuals were perceived as cold and incompetent when they did not understand that nuisance behavior was harmful, even in the absence of such behavior. Study 2 replicated these findings and showed that regardless of engagement in nuisance acts, an agent who was unaware of the harm their acts might cause was blamed and socially distanced. These judgments were sequentially mediated by the perceived coldness of the agent and perceived future likelihood of engagement in nuisance. Moreover, unaware agents were associated with animals, which have low intellectual abilities. These results indicate that negative nuisance evaluations are driven primarily by the perpetrator’s unawareness of their impact on others, rather than by the harm caused by the behavior.

抄録全体を表示

This study examines how individuals’ cognitions of lying influence their self-serving mistakes—errors that benefit the individual while preserving a moral self-image. In a dice reporting task, participants (N = 123) were exposed to varying levels of ambiguity (low, medium, high) and two incentive conditions (gain vs. loss). They were asked to report the value of a target die, with financial rewards tied to their responses. Participants’ cognitions of lying were assessed using a scale developed by Tabata (2020), which comprises three subscales: negative perceptions of lying, belief in the improvability of lying ability, and genetic determinism of lying ability. The results indicate that greater ambiguity increases the frequency of errors, especially in the gain condition, where reporting a false value is financially advantageous. Participants who believed that lying could be improved or who held less negative cognitions of lying were more likely to adjust their responses strategically to minimize losses. Unlike previous studies (Kurokawa et al., 2023), this study administered the lying cognition scale before the experiment to mitigate potential bias arising from participants’ awareness of the study’s intent. This methodological refinement enhances the validity and suggests that self-serving mistakes and lying may exist on a continuum. These findings underscore the role of personal cognition in ethical decision-making and offer insights into dishonest behavior in economic and social contexts. Future research should consider implicit measures of lying cognitions to reduce participants’ awareness and further examine the relationship between deception and self-serving justifications.

抄録全体を表示

With the aim of exploring the factors that promote medical consultation and preparation for consultation during the new coronavirus pandemic, we developed a scale to measure preparation for consultation and then examined the factors that affect medical consultation and preparation for consultation. We asked 3,937 monitors registered with an Internet survey company to respond to questions about “mental health care threats” and “brain fatigue” in March, and about “behavior in the last six months,” “details of malaise,” “preparation behavior,” “use of social resources,” “threat of infection with the new coronavirus,” and “predicted incidence of infection with the new coronavirus” in September. The results of factor analysis and multiple regression analysis showed that “help-seeking”, which is one of the factors of preparation for medical consultation, increases the tendency to consult a doctor. Therefore, we examined the factors that affect help-seeking, and found that sleep disorders, weight gain or loss, anxiety about mental health care diagnosis, perception of the seriousness of mental health care diagnosis, and consulting with family, friends, SNS, or the internet increased the tendency to seek help, while anxiety about mental health care institutions, perception of the seriousness of infection with the new coronavirus, and living in a rural area decreased the tendency to seek help. The results showed that there are few factors that can directly promote medical consultations, but there are various factors that can promote preparatory actions for medical consultations, suggesting that it may be possible to indirectly lead to medical consultations by promoting preparatory actions for medical consultations.

抄録全体を表示

Guided by the previous finding indicating that romantic beliefs are predictors of vulnerability to romantic scams, the present study developed a Japanese version of the Romantic Belief Scale (RBS) and examined its relationship with commitment to one’s romantic partner. A total of 397 university students (190 males, 207 females, aged 18-25) responded to the Japanese version of the RBS. Subsequently, participants who reported being in a heterosexual intimate relationship (N = 297) completed established measures of romantic love (i.e., the Love and Liking Scale and the Love Attitudes Scale) as well as a scale assessing commitment to their partner. Confirmatory factor analysis identified four factors consistent with prior research: “Love Finds a Way,” “One and Only,” “Idealization,” and “Love at First Sight.” These RBS factors were significantly correlated with existing love scales. Moreover, each RBS factor was positively associated with levels of commitment to one’s partner. These findings support the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the RBS and suggest its utility in predicting romantic commitment, which may be linked to susceptibility to romance scams.

抄録全体を表示