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Dendrochronological research project

Dendrochronological research project

Dendrochronological research project

Dendrochronological research project

Dendrochronological research project

Dendrochronological research project Years: from -204 to -110

Communities around the world are facing an increasing number of ‘wicked problems’, many of which are spatial issues. Therefore, high expectations are placed on the role of planning in addressing them. However, such complex challenges cannot be easily solved with the traditional, sectoral planning approaches, or by planners and decision-makers alone; they require a cross-sectoral and societal-inclusive understanding and collaboration of various kinds of stakeholders. Consequently, in the search for new approaches and tools that favour experimentation, flexibility, and collaboration, planners and decision-makers are turning their attention towards the private sector, where Living Labs have been extensively used in open and user-oriented innovation. Despite the growing number of studies that picture them as a ‘magic recipe’ for experimentation and development of creative solutions for ‘wicked problems’, Living Labs have only recently started gaining attention in the spatial domain. In this chapter, we position Living Labs as a creative and collaborative planning approach. Based on a literature review on Living Labs, and on empirical research carried out in three spatial planning and water infrastructure projects from the Netherlands, we propose a five-phased ‘living lab way of working’ and reflect on the role of Living Labs as a planning method. We end by outlining several recommendations that could be useful when considering the use of Living Labs as a planning method. The conclusion of this chapter shows that despite the challenges they pose, Living Labs represent a relevant and growing practice in spatial planning, especially because they provide a conducive way of connecting local-scale and larger-scale planning issues and solutions.

Dendrochronological research project

Dendrochronological research project

There is an established relationship between acceptance of cosmetic surgery and psychological factors, including body image. However, qualitative research among diverse cultural groups is needed to provide a more fine-grained understanding of the influences on women’s attitudes towards cosmetic surgery. In this study, 20 Chinese and 20 Dutch women aged 18-50 years (MChinese = 34.20; MDutch = 34.70) participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. We identified three themes that captured the factors that women perceived to foster favorable attitudes towards cosmetic surgery: (a) sociocultural pressures (e.g., normalization of cosmetic surgery, appearance-focused peers); (b) intrapersonal characteristics (e.g., beauty-ideal internalization, social comparison); and (c) benefits of beauty (e.g., attracting men, socioeconomic benefits). Conversely, two themes captured the factors perceived to reduce favorable attitudes towards cosmetic surgery: (a) intrapersonal characteristics (e.g., unconditional body acceptance, self-confidence); and (b) external considerations (e.g., health risks, financial costs). Overall, Chinese and Dutch participants shared many similarities in their opinions about what might affect cosmetic surgery consideration. The most striking cross-cultural differences concerned perceived socioeconomic benefits of beauty (mainly Chinese women) and women’s conceptualization of body appreciation. This study may enable a more comprehensive understanding about the factors influencing Chinese and Dutch women’s attitudes towards cosmetic surgery, and the nuances in these relationships across these cultures.