Explainable Artificial Intelligence and Social Theory Integration for Advancing Educational Equity in Nepal | Chapter 2| Mathematics and Computer Science: Research Updates Vol. 8

 

This chapter examines entrenched socioeconomic disparities in Nepal’s education system through the integration of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and foundational social theories of equity. While Nepal has made progress in enrollment, persistent gaps in access, retention, and learning outcomes remain among groups marginalized by caste, gender, and geography. Existing policy analyses often rely on linear statistics or descriptive methods and lack operational links to sociological theory. To address this lacuna, we develop a mixed-methods framework that blends predictive machine learning with interpretability (SHAP) and qualitative inquiry to ground algorithmic findings in lived experience. Using national-level datasets — notably the Education Management Information System (EMIS) and the Nepal Living Standards Survey (NLSS)—we operationalize a Capability Index and train ensemble models (Random Forest and XGBoost) to predict capability deprivation and dropout risk. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) are applied to attribute model outputs to observable socioeconomic and school-level features. We formalize the predictive problem and its interpretability as follows: given feature set X = {x1, . . . , xn} and an outcome Y (capability index or dropout probability), we estimate \(\hat{Y}\) = f(X; θ) and decompose \(\hat{Y}\) additively into baseline and feature contributions \(\hat{Y}\) = ϕ0 +\(\Sigma\)i ϕi. This decomposition informs policy levers by quantifying marginal contributions of poverty, distance to school, caste status, and school resources. Beyond technical contributions, the chapter situates model outputs within Sen’s Capability Approach and Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital Theory to interpret how structural constraints and cultural resources shape educational opportunity. Deliverables include a resource allocation framework, SHAP-driven simulation dashboards for policymaking, and early-warning indicators for dropout prevention. Qualitative interviews with educators and community stakeholders are used to validate and contextualize the quantitative results. Together, these elements advance both theory and practice: they demonstrate how XAI can produce socially meaningful, policy-ready evidence for more equitable education in Nepal and similar low- and middle-income contexts.

 

Author(s) Details

Anmol Adhikari
Department of Computer Science, Noida International University, India.

 

Vivek Kumar Sinha
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Noida International University, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mcsru/v8/6555

Foundations of Scholarly Writing | Chapter 6 | An Overview on Business, Management and Economics Research Vol. 8

Academic research, transcending disciplinary boundaries, mandates adherence to established core principles, ensuring ethical rigor and substantial contributions to knowledge. Comprehensive literature reviews are pivotal in unearthing research gaps, laying the groundwork for investigations that yield novel insights. The alignment of research questions with robust methodologies—be it qualitative, quantitative, or a hybrid—fortifies the validity of outcomes. Meticulous writing and strategic publication approaches are instrumental in effective dissemination and impact generation. A commitment to transparency, ethical integrity, and the acknowledgment of inherent limitations is fundamental to maintaining credibility. In an era where research is continually evolving, particularly with the advent of new technologies, the agility in ethical reasoning is essential to navigate emerging complexities and ethical quandaries. Efforts to minimize potential harms, honor diverse perspectives, and uphold moral principles remain non-negotiable ethical imperatives. Institutional training programs, established protocols, codes of conduct, and vigilant oversight embed a culture of integrity within academic spheres. Recommendations for future research writing include the development of interdisciplinary teams, ongoing training in critical thinking, and ensuring that ethical standards keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology.

Author(s) Details:

Thomas F. Heston,
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/AOBMER-V8/article/view/13110

Determining the Impact of Personal and Organisational Interests on Cooperation in a Dutch Integrated Dementia Care Network: A Mixed Methods Social Network Analysis | Chapter 4 | Research Developments in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 8

 In this assorted methods record of what happened we examined the relationship makeup within an joined dementia care (IDC) network and revealed how individual and organisational interests can affect interorganisational cooperation. Our research was belief-driven and included three phases: a Social Network Analysis (SNA) established data from questionnaires (n=24-26), explorative interviews accompanying network partners (n=14) and a focus group accompanying network coordinators (n=7) to investigate the conceptual generalisability of the sole case of the IDC-network. The developed public networks graphs revealed that highly affiliated organisations are established care organisations that give case management, while tinier care organisations or welfare organisations tend expected more peripheral. Care-accompanying, strategic, and economic interests influence the level of participation of organisations in the IDC-network, while private intrinsic motivations decide a representative’s contribution to the network. Conflicting interests, exceptionally clashing dreams and financial interests, powerfully influence the network structure. The results show that conflicting interests form a obstacle to successfully realise the composite goal of an IDC-network, that is, optimising the wellbeing of family with dementia and their casual caregivers in the region. Thus, IDC-networks concede possibility act to manage, resolve and bar disputes arising from conflicting interests.

Author(s) Details:

Eline Kroeze,
Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and  Aging & Later Life, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Robbert Huijsman,
Department Health Services and Organisation, Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RDMMS-V8/article/view/10203