• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2019

Objectives : Loneliness is associated with negative mental and physical health. However, little is known about the risk factors of loneliness in the Korean elderly living alone. The aim of this study was to examine sociodemographic and social network related risks for loneliness among the elderly living alone. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1,091 subjects who are the community-residing elderly living alone. Sociodemographic status, medical condition, cognition, mood disorder and levels of loneliness were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a specific semi-structured interview conducted by a trained nurse. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data regarding sociodemographic variable and loneliness. Univariate and Multivariate regression analyses were applied to examine factors associated with loneliness. Results : The mean score of loneliness was 3.8 (SD=1.7). No family contact (standardized β=0.115, p<0.001), no religious attendance (standardized β=0.057, p=0.028), no gathering with friends (standardized β=0.088, p=0.001) and high score of Short for of Geriatric Depression Scale (standardized β=0.502, p<0.001) were significantly associated with high loneliness in the elderly living alone. Conclusions : Family function, social network and depressive mood could be significant risk factors for high loneliness in the elderly living alone. Public health promotion efforts to reduce loneliness should focus on improving family function, social network and decreasing depression.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.60
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• pp.175-196
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of safety sheriffs and their necessity in order to improve the activation of safety sheriff's professionalism. Seven security sheriffs were finally selected to discuss their activities and discuss ways to improve their effectiveness. We conducted semi - structured interviews and conducted in - depth interviews with limited data and inadequate prior research. The results of this study are as follows. First, the government should get the help of citizens, citizens and residents. If the state wishes to reduce the number of safety accidents and bring positive results to the public, it should not rely solely on the utilization of institutions. Second, in order to be a safe sheriff with a positive response from the local residents, the activities of the sheriff's sheriff are not only aimed at preventing risks in the environmental domain and reducing the number of accidents, Publicity should be provided to the landlord, tenant, and residents to inform them that the activity is preventive of accident prevention. Third, under the current law, it is necessary to disclose public facilities such as roads, airports, and harbors to the private sector in order to make it possible to monitor school facilities and youth training facilities. Fourth, the safety sheriff is expected to put forward the expectations and positive results of prevention through the beginning of the inspection activities, and the role of the Korean people in becoming psychological stable and efforts to be born as safety experts are required. Finally, it is necessary to establish a concrete manual, strategic safety inspection plan.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.389-404
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• 2013

This study aimed to explore elementary teachers' beliefs about science teaching, science learning and the nature of science and consistency among these beliefs. Data was collected by using an open questionnaire and semi-structured individual interview. Teachers' beliefs were classified as traditional beliefs and constructivist beliefs. Traditional beliefs were further divided into content knowledge-centered beliefs and procedural knowledge-centered beliefs. The result showed that a relatively large number of teachers among the total 30 teachers had traditional beliefs about science teaching, science learning, and the nature of science(respectively 60.0%, 66.7%, 83.3%). Most of traditional beliefs were identified as content knowledge-centered beliefs. The proportion of teachers with consistent beliefs for all three aspects was 40.0%, the proportion of those with consistent beliefs for two of them (those with related beliefs) was 53.3%, the proportion of those with different beliefs for them (those with divergent belief) was 6.7%. Most of the teachers with the consistent beliefs had the content knowledge-centered beliefs of traditional beliefs. Although constructivism has been widely emphasized in science education from the 1980's, the rate of the teachers with the consistent beliefs in constructivism was as low as 6.7%.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1403-1417
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• 2013

In this study, we investigated scientists' perception of imagination and explored characteristics of scientific imagination. For this, we found out conceptions and characteristics based on literatures which related to imagination. We recruited eight distinguished Korean scientists who have rich research experiences by using Snowball sampling for in-depth interviews (60-90 minutes). All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. From the analysis of interview data, we identified their perceptions of imagination and the nature of scientific imagination which scientists reflect on during their research work. Semi-structured interview protocol was focused on: 1) how scientists perceive 'imagination' and 2) how scientists perceive the role of imagination in their scientific research. As results, we found out that scientists agreed that imagination plays an important role in scientific research process and they perceived imagination as an intrinsic part of human life. The study also indicated that participants have modern viewpoint about imagination. Moreover, we uncovered three characteristics of imagination in the research process. 1) Curiosity and interest have been a driving force for scientists' imagination. 2) When scientists use the imagination, they can be more creative during their research. 3) Imagination contemplated realistic possibilities based on the scientific knowledge, and produced the new ones. Educational implications for utilization of scientific imagination were also suggested.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.155-183
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• 2010

Despite the increase in the demands on collaboration between health and social welfare, the success of such schemes have been limited. The extant literatures tends to be dominated by explanations for needs or short-term outcomes of collaboration rather than systematic follow-up research to apply to the frontline. At the same time, there is no attempt to apply the theories related to collaboration in order to discuss the situation. This study explores the factors hindering such collaborative working in the frontline, through semi-structured interviews with practitioners involved in two pilot projects. A theoretical framework (Equilibrium Model-Sensemaking, E-S model) which combined Equilibrium Model of 'Interorganizational Network' of Benson(1975) and 'Sensmaking' of Weick(1995) for conceptualiing aspects of collaborations such as working atmosphere and agency was applied to the empirical study of the Public Health and Welfare Office(1995-1999) and the Social Welfare office(2004-2006) pilot projects. Data were collected over three months from 8 pilot project areas with practitioners and managers from health and social welfare. The findings show significant regional differences between pilot areas, such as the presence of active leaders and co-location, had a major impact on the ability of practitioners to effectively integrate services. In other words, active leaders tended to influence practitioners' motivation, while co-location encouraging communication between both practitioners, and thus seemed to influence the practices of collaborative working. Furthermore, through E-S model, it is interpreted that this kind of positive experiences about collaborations may impact on the current practitioners' comprehensive perspective towards health and social welfare services in general. The findings could help policy makers consider the practical ways to break down the barriers between health and social welfare.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.35-52
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• 2012

The purpose of the study was to prospect for mutual maturity between therapist-client in Music and Imagery music therapy session from therapists' points of view. Qualitative data has been collected by in-depth interview of therapist-client mutual maturity process, then analysed with grounded theories. The questions of the study were to ask process of mutual maturity experienced by music and imagery therapist and meaning of the experience itself. Therapists ware to answer the moment of mutual maturity, realization and meaning of mutual maturity process through semi-structured in-depth interview. The four therapists who participated in the interview are certified MIT(Music & Imagery Therapist) by Lisa Summer and currently in training GIM. From the in-depth interview, 81 concepts have been collected and have been divided into 20 categories in open coding, then rearranged into 9 categories in axis coding. To explain music and imagery therapists' maturity process through grounded theory paradigm, as a result, the main phenomenon of experience was 'to deal with counter-transference'. When dealing their counter-transference, therapists experienced their maturity process. Supervision and musical/non-musical self-reflection are also used for interactive intervention medium. So, maturity of therapists leads to knowing and accepting herself and mature therapists are able to help clients mature.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2016

This study was to investigate the types of middle school students’ conceptual change on electrolyte and ion. Data were collected by pre- and post- exams of 9th grade students’ conceptions of electrolyte and ion, and by semi-structured interviews with nine students served as case representatives who participated in the study. All interviews were transcribed, analyzed and classified by conceptual change according to the responses of the students. The results are as follows: First, students’ ion conceptual change was classified into four types; simple conception to sophisticated conception, incomplete conception to scientific conception, misconception to confused conception, and misconception to misconception. Most students had difficulty in understanding of the concepts of ion in pre- and post-class, and they failed to distinguish between atom and subatomic particles precisely. Second, students’ conceptual change of electrolyte was also classified into the following four types; partially scientific conception to sophisticated conception, misconception to partial misconception, incomplete conception to incomplete conception and misconception to misconception. The study found that students had difficulty distinguishing the difference between electrolytes and nonelectrolytes. Third, students also had difficulty understanding the concepts on particles because they learned the ‘electrolyte and ion’ unit so quickly in the second semester of 9th grade in order to fill in the academic reports for applying high schools. Furthermore, some suggestions were made based on the results for understanding scientific concepts on particles.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to examine nurses’ perceptions of medication treatment for psychiatric patients and to compare these perceptions with the perceptions held by the patients. The methodology used in this study was a descriptive design with semi-structured and open-ended interviews. This study used a convenience sample of 112 nurses who worked in, and 209 patients who were under psychiatric treatment, in four hospitals attached to a university and one national mental hospital in the city of Seoul. The collected data were analyzed by SAS, using percentages for descriptive purposes, and t-test or x$^2$ for comparing the variables. The results were as follows : 1. There was no significant differences between nurses’ and patients’ perceptions on the extent to which patients complied with their medication treatment. Generally speaking, the mean compliance scores for both nurses and patients was high(nurse : (equation omitted)=3.70, Patient : (equation omitted)=3.76). 2. There was a significant difference in nurses’ and patients’ perceptions on the reasons why patients do not take medication. The nurse group indicated that the patients did not take medication because of the “worry about side effects or habituation(49.53%)”, “boredom from long-term use of medication(26.17%)” and “distrust toward medical staff(12.15% )”, but the patient group indicated that they “did not want to be dependent on medication (25%)”, “forgot to take medication(19.7%) and “worried about side effects or habituation(15.91%). 3. As for the necessity of medication, both groups showed some different responses. Even though both groups were aware of the necessity of taking medication, the patient group(21.53%) showed a more negative response. As (or the effects of medication, both groups (nurses and patients ) showed positive responses. However, the nurse group showed a higher positive response (91.07% ) than the patient group(74.16%), 5. Both the patient and nurse group indicated that the most helpful element for the patient’s life under psychiatric treatment was interviews and conversations with therapists and nurses. However, the nurse group showed a higher response(70.15%) than the patients group(47.15%). According to the patient group, family support for the patient was another important factor for psychiatric treatment and daily struggles. In conclusion, as there were differences between the perception of nurses and patients, the nurse must consider the patients’ subjective perceptions first. They should also revaluate their false belief and prejudice concerning the patients’ perceptions. Such information can provide a base to be applied by the nurses in devloping effective mutual relationships with patients which can in turn help in compliance with medication regimen. As it was confirmed that medication was the most important factor in the patients’ recovery, a thorough education program on the therapeutic effect of medication and the necessity of their continued use after discharge is also needed.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.801-814
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to find out whether pre-service biology teachers' biological meanings of competition and adaptation is the same as everyday meanings to understand natural selection and evolution. Fifty three pre-service biology teachers answered written tests and thirteen of them were interviewed. The tests on general meanings on competition and adaptation, tests on biological meanings on competition and adaptation and tests on natural selection were administered. Questions on semi-structured interviews were composed of only biological meanings about competition and adaptation. Analyzing data through four steps, pre-service biological teachers' general meanings on competition and adaptation were compared with the definitions of Korean dictionary and compared with biological definitions. Pre-service teachers' alternative conceptions about biological competition and adaptation were classified and the alternative conceptual types were checked when explaining natural selection and evolution. They realized competition is battle for intention or purpose like everyday meaning of competition. However, they didn't realize adaptation happen in the population level. They thought that adaptation, like in everyday life meaning, is getting suitable to environment for survival on an individual level. By relating adaptation to evolution, they thought that long-lasting adaptation become evolution. This study has significance with respect to suggesting the alternative concepts of competition and adaptation based on effective evolution teaching from constructivism viewpoint and highlighting the importance of the concepts of biological competition and adaptation, which have been concerned rarely for a long time.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.35-51
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• 2015

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the various reasons that might lead single women to choose not to marry. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were arranged with 18 single women who met the criteria for the present research purpose. We considered only those responses of the interviewees that are directly related to their reasons why they choose not to marry, where the collected data were analyzed in three steps by methods of thematic analysis. As a result of the analysis, the reasons for which they chose not to marry could be grouped into three main clusters of themes which may be labeled as (1) themes centered on 'Myself', (2) themes centered on 'Family' and (3) themes centered on 'Surrounding Environments and Friends'. Among the first category of themes of 'Myself', we have found five sub-themes such as "Lack of emotional communication", "Not-found spouse meeting my criteria", "My personality", "Self-narcissism or self-centeredness", "False beliefs in marriage". As for the second category of themes 'Family', three sub-themes have been found including "Family of origin conflict", "Closeness to family of origin", "Comfortable daily lives". And for the final category of themes 'Surrounding Environments and Friends', there were found three sub-themes which include "Negative effects of married friends", "Emotional support system", "Changing social atmosphere". In all there are eleven sub-themes to consider. On the basis of these results, we presented some conclusions on the reasons why single women in their thirties or forties choose not to marry. We also presented some implications of these results on population education and future research.