مطالب

Traditionally, the sociology scholars tend to ignore or underestimate the role played by ideology is social phenomena, and this tendency can be seen among the political sciences scholars as well. Robert Jervis believes that one of the reasons for weakness of analysis of terrorism based on ideology is ignorance of this case in texts and literature of liberal arts and specifically political sciences and international relations: “Terrorism based on ideology has created some challenges for modern political sciences because less attention has been paid to discussions related to ideology, and the experts in this realm are less interested in them”. But the evolutions during the last decades of the 20th century and such events as the Islamic revolution of Iran increased the level of attention to this forgotten factor. In fact, for the first time a revolution with religious and ideological components happened across the world that surprised the thinkers in this scope and caused them to consider religion and ideology as two influential variables in their calculations. The present paper attempts to theoretically study the manner of formation of terrorism based on ideology. 

In An Artist of the Floating World, Kazuo Ishiguro gives an account of Masuji Ono, an ageing painter who reviews his life and profession in the post-World War II Japan. Though the novel has huge potentials for psychosocial development of characterization, few studies have paid attention to this potentiality. This study is going to investigate the characterization of the protagonist in terms of the midlife crisis with which he is involved. Considering the fact that Masuji’s review is characterized by the obsession with family and profession with an attempt to decide whether he achieved “generativity” or “stagnation,” his account can be discussed in terms of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development. Focusing on the seventh stage of Erikson’s theory which is primarily characterized by deciding over the binary “generativity versus stagnation” and the individual’s struggle to decide on the meaning of life, the present research explores Masuji’s attempts at creating a positive image of his past and also his tendency to compensate his shortcomings in familial issues in order to finally feel “generative” in his midlife years. Ultimately, this research comes to the conclusion that Masuji is able to overcome the psychological tribulations of the stage by developing the virtue of “care.”

The present study was an attempt to investigate assessment literacy among ESP instructors in the Iranian academic context. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was designed, and 100 novice/experienced ESP instructors with TEFL/non-TEFL backgrounds at the Ph.D. level were selected through criterion sampling to complete a questionnaire and a scale. Then, from among the mentioned participants, 20 were selected for classroom observations and in-depth, semi-structured interviews based on convenience sampling. First, the quantitative data were collected using observation checklists and analyzed through running Chi-square to compare the assessment practices of novice/experienced instructors with TEFL/non-TEFL backgrounds. Next, the qualitative data were collected through taking notes and applying interviews. All interviews were transcribed, categorized, and analyzed through content analysis of themes and open/axial coding. The findings indicated that the instructors with TEFL backgrounds significantly practiced assessment methods more than the ones with non-TEFL backgrounds. Furthermore, it was found that novice instructors significantly practiced assessment methods more than the experienced ones. Likewise, it was identified that novice TEFL instructors perceived assessment components better than their non-TEFL or experienced counterparts. The findings of this study can be useful for executive administrators in the ministry of higher education, university instructors and students.