This article is the first in a series on teaching legal reading in the Polish continental legal system. It presents research on first-year law students in Poland who participated in the first legal reading skills classes in the history of Polish legal education. The study aimed to assess the necessity of teaching legal skills in Poland and the effectiveness of the methods used. The research employed mixed methods, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative questions. Findings showed that the course was positively received by students, who valued the innovative approach and the instructors’ expertise. The data supports the idea that learning through observation, imitation and interaction within a supportive educational
environment is highly effective. The study concludes that the course’s novel and innovative methods significantly enhanced student engagement. The educational environment created by the instructors was crucial to this success. The course’s continuation at SWPS University’s School of Law since 2017 demonstrates its tangible benefits. The popularity and positive outcomes highlight the need
The Behavioral Immune System (BIS) drives disgust-based avoidance, but its response to immunological changes during pregnancy is understudied. The Compensatory Prophylaxis Hypothesis (CPH) predicts heightened disease-avoidant social behavior in early pregnancy due to immunosuppression. We examined whether first-trimester women show reduced willingness to engage with outgroup members or individuals displaying infection signs compared to later pregnancy stages and postpartum. We also assessed moderation by perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) and perceived COVID-19 threat. Data were collected in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic via online surveys in two studies. In the cross-sectional Study 1 (N = 425, age 18–46, M = 29.64, SD = 5.37), pregnant participants at different stages of pregnancy assessed their willingness to engage in social contact with individuals displaying or not displaying infection cues shown in photographs, and then completed measures of PVD and Perceived Threat of COVID-19. The longitudinal Study 2 (N = 112, age 22–41, M = 30.14, SD = 4.05) employed the same procedure, administered four times—during the first, second, and third trimesters, and postpartum. Findings did not support CPH. Social avoidance was unrelated to the pregnancy stage but significantly associated with PVD and COVID-19 threat. Results underscore the situational and individual flexibility of BIS responses.
Background: Female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) is increasingly popular; yet, research has largely focused on labia size while neglecting the estrogen-related color and quality of genital skin. Evidence from facial attractiveness studies and comparative primatology suggests that genital skin perfusion and smoothness may contribute to perceived attractiveness. Objectives: We investigated whether vulvar skin perfusion and smoothness predict perceived genital attractiveness and compared its impact with that of labia size and volume. Methods: A standardized image database of 1080 vulvar images from healthy women was analyzed for morphometric and colorimetric features. Representative images (n = 360) were digitally manipulated to vary skin perfusion (measured as a* value). Attractiveness judgments were obtained from 159 Polish adults (45 men, 114 women; mean age = 26.7) in 40,991 forced-choice paired comparisons. Bradley–Terry models estimated latent attractiveness scores. Analyses of covariance tested chromatic manipulations, and hierarchical regression identified predictors across colorimetric, morphological, and demographic factors. Results: Enhanced vulvar skin perfusion significantly increased attractiveness relative to natural and reduced skin perfusion (P < .001, ηp² = .17). The regression models explained 59% of the variance. Positive predictors included skin redness, greater apparent labia majora volume, and smooth skin texture. The negative predictors were increased labia minora visibility, skin wrinkling/atrophy, presence of a supralabial crease, lower skin lightness, greater skin yellowness, and model age. Conclusions: Perceived genital attractiveness is shaped by both chromatic and morphological features, with vulvar skin perfusion and texture emerging as important determinants. These findings suggest that FGCS planning should look beyond labiaplasty alone, incorporating interventions targeting skin color and quality.
This paper explores the use of Escape Room pedagogy as an innovative approach to teaching design methods such as design thinking in creative education. It compares various models and frameworks from the fields of design thinking, learning design and Escape Room design and identifies six common characteristics. It argues that Escape Rooms can provide an engaging, immersive and authentic learning experience that fosters problem-solving, collaboration and critical thinking skills. The paper suggests that participating in Escape Rooms can assist students in bridging the practice-theory gap, understanding the complexity of design problems and developing relevant skills and competencies. It calls for further research to test the hypothesis of the similarity between design thinking, educational Escape Rooms and learning design frameworks.
Pozostałe osiągnięcia naukoweArtykuły (zamknięty dostęp)Journal article
