Editorial

In Australia, the work being carried out on sustainability indicators has become an industry on its own. This paper firstly provides an introduction that reviews the literature on indicator development and use, particularly in relation to agricultural production systems. A number of reasons for the limited use of indicators by farmers are mentioned. Secondly, a focus group study involving farmers from two dryland cropping areas in Queensland to investigate sustainability indicators and sustainable farming systems is presented. The indicators the participants identified during focus groups included indicators that reflect (i)farming system components, (ii) the management of these components, (iii) the management of all components and their interrelationships at the systems level, and (iv) the external factors that influence and interact with this systems level. Focus group analysis also showed that the participants perceived sustainability as an on-going process and a sustainable farming system as dynamic and emergent in nature. The implications of these findings are discussed. Three key issues were raised (i) the value of farmer knowledge with respect to the development of indicators has often been ignored; (ii) there are links between indicators developed through traditional science and those being used by farmers; and (iii) off-farm indicators used by farmers may be very useful in policy development at a variety of levels (e.g. catchment, regional, national, global). The focus group method involving farmers provided a useful way to gain insights about farmer perceptions and for farmers to learn from each other during the research process.

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Quality Is in the Eye of the Beholder—A Focus Group Study from the Perspective of Ambulance Clinicians, Physicians, and Managers

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare7010041 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 41 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andreas Rantala ◽

Lina Behm ◽

Helena Rosén

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Response Time ◽

Paradigm Shift ◽

Patient Involvement ◽

Ambulance Service ◽

Group Method ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Definition Of ◽

Patients Experience ◽

Focus Group Method

Quality within all areas of healthcare should be systemically monitored and ensured. However, the definition of quality is complex and diverse. In the ambulance service (AS), quality has traditionally been defined as response time, but this measurement eliminates the possibility of addressing other characteristics of quality, such as the care provided. This study aimed to explore what constitutes quality in the context of the ambulance service as experienced by ambulance clinicians, physicians, and managers. A focus group study was conducted with 18 participants. The three focus groups were analyzed with the focus group method developed by Kreuger and Casey. The participants highlighted patient involvement, information and care, as well as adherence to policies, regulations, and their own standards as representing quality in the AS. This study demonstrates that quality is in the eye of the beholder. As quality seems to be viewed similarly by patients and ambulance clinicians, physicians, and managers, stakeholders should aim for a paradigm shift where patients’ experience of the care is just as important as various time measures.

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Management Guidelines For Universal Quality Challenges Across The Focus Group Research Process

Journal of Applied Business Research (JABR) ◽

10.19030/jabr.v31i1.9004 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 239

Author(s):

Busani Dube ◽

Mornay Roberts-Lombard ◽

Estelle Van Tonder

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Group Process ◽

Marketing Research ◽

Research Process ◽

Research Quality ◽

Group Method ◽

Research Information ◽

Management Guidelines ◽

Focus Group Research ◽

Group Research

The general misuse of the focus group method may have quality implications for decision-making processes of organisations across the industry spectrum and for further research. To assist in addressing the problem, this study sought to uncover the challenges that impede the quality of the focus group research process and develop a set of management guidelines for redress by stakeholder organisations. The population of interest for the study consisted of all South African organisations that supply or use marketing research information generated through the use of focus groups. The empirical part of the research study comprised of both a qualitative and a quantitative phase. A CATI approach was used for data collection and the research method employed for the study was a questionnaire survey. An ordinal, 5-point Likert scale was used to measure the responses in the study. The Pearson chi-square test was also employed to compare the research quality perceptions of research suppliers and users within the focus group process. The findings revealed numerous instances of similarities between research suppliers and users regarding their views on focus group research and the quality challenges thereof. Following the research findings, a number of management guidelines were developed that research practitioners could employ to improve the standard of focus group research in South Africa.

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PENDAMPINGAN PROSES INTENSIFIKASI USAHA PEMELIHARAAN ITIK MELALUI IMPLEMENTASI TEKNOLOGI BUDIDAYA INTENSIF DI PETERNAK ITIK LOKAL BOYOLALI, JAWA TENGAH

SELAPARANG Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Berkemajuan ◽

10.31764/jpmb.v4i3.5178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 654

Author(s):

Wara Pratitis Sabar Suprayogi ◽

Novi Akhirini ◽

Rendi Fathoni Hadi ◽

Wahyu Setyono ◽

Agung Irawan

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Focus Group ◽

Management System ◽

Performance Standards ◽

Farming System ◽

Conversion Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion Ratio ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Farmer Knowledge ◽

Intensive Farming

ABSTRAKProfit yang dihasilkan dari usaha budidaya itik dipengaruhi oleh manajemen budidaya yang diterapkan oleh peternak. Melalui proses identifikasi masalah dengan observasi dan Focus Group Discussion (FGD), pendampingan proses intensifikasi budidaya dilakukan untuk membekali peternak itik lokal dalam melakukan program budidaya itik yang lebih baik. Tujuan pendampingan usaha budidaya yaitu untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan peternak itik terkait dengan operasional usaha budidaya secara intensif sehingga peternak dapat meningkatkan keuntungan dan keberlangsungan usaha. Metode yang dilakukan adalah melalui pendampingan usaha intensifikasi yang meliputi pelatihan manajemen pemeliharaan itik, sanitasi dan biosecurity, manajemen kandang, pembuatan ransum, manajemen kesehatan, serta proses pemasaran ketika itik pedaging dipanen. Proses pendampingan dilakukan dengan pemeliharaan 300 ekor itik lokal Boyolali selama 45 hari dalam dua siklus produksi. Output yang diperoleh dari proses intensifikasi usaha budidaya ini antara lain adanya perbaikan standar sanitasi dan litter kandang. Selain itu, hasil panen yang diperoleh dapat ditingkatkan sesuai dengan standar performa itik lokal Boyolali, yaitu diperoleh rerata bobot panen sebesar 1,21 kg dengan nilai konversi pakan (feed conversion ratio, FCR) sebesar 3,28 dengan tingkat kematian sebesar 3,8%. Keuntungan yang diperoleh dari usaha budidaya itik intensif rata-rata adalah sebesar Rp. 1.783.500 dalam setiap periode. Disimpulkan, pemeliharaan itik intensif memberikan dampak pertumbuhan itik lebih lebih tinggi dengan masa pemeliharaan lebih singkat (45 hari) dan tingkat kematian rendah sehingga diperoleh profit yang lebih baik. Kata kunci: sistem budidaya intensif; itik lokal; peternak itik. ABSTRACTThe profit generated from the duck farming business is largely determined by management system. Following the problem identification through observation and Focus Group Discussions (FGD), facilitating intensification process in farming system was conducted to improve farmers knowledge in duck farming operation. This program amined to improve farmer knowledge on the intensive farming system thus farmer would gain more profit and sustainabile business. The mentorship program for iintensification process includes facilitation of intensive management system such sanitation and biosecurity processes, cages management, health management, and feed formulation as well as supervision on how to market the birds following harvest period. The mentoring process was carried out by raising 300 local Boyolali ducks for 45 days in two production cycles. The outputs obtained from the intensification program include improvements to sanitation standards and cage litter. In addition, the production obtained increased in accordance with the performance standards of local Boyolali ducks, as seen from the weight performance of 1.21 kg with a feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 3.28 and a mortality rate of 3.8%. The cost benefit obtained from intensive duck farming is Rp. 1,783,500 in each period. It was concluded that intensive duck rearing had a higher impact on duck growth performance with a shorter maintenance period (45 days) and a lower mortality rate so that better profits were obtained. Keywords: duck farmers; intensive farming system; local duck

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Defining when specialised mental health care is needed: a focus group study

BJGP Open ◽

10.3399/bjgpopen20x101004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. bjgpopen20X101004

Author(s):

Marit Nymoen ◽

Eva Biringer ◽

Jostein Helgeland ◽

Harald Bjarne Hellesen ◽

Liv Alsaker Sande ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Focus Group ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Research Process ◽

Shared Understanding ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Timely Access ◽

Patient Representatives ◽

Definition Of

BackgroundShared understanding between GPs and hospital specialists concerning when patients need specialised mental health care is important to ensure patients receive appropriate care. The large amount of rejected referrals often indicates a lack of such shared understanding.AimTo explore how patient representatives, GPs, and mental health specialists understand ‘need for specialised mental health care’, meaning that primary care is no longer sufficient.Design & settingThis qualitative study was conducted in western Norway. The study has a service user-involved research design in which GPs and patient representatives participated in all stages of the research process.MethodSix semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted. The groups were homogenous as they included only the perspectives of either GPs, mental health specialists, or patient representatives. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThe need for specialised mental health care was assessed using two continuums: (a) the patient’s level of functioning and symptoms; and (b) characteristics of the healthcare system and the patient’s informal support networks. Assessment along these continuums were often overruled by the evaluation of expected usefulness of specialised mental health care. In addition, all participants reported they often adapted their definition of need to fit other stakeholders’ interpretations of need.ConclusionEvaluation of need for specialised mental health care is complex and depends on several factors. This may explain some of the current challenges that exist with regard to equity and timely access to appropriate healthcare interventions.

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Organizational and Personal Drivers of the Financial Sector: A Focus Group of Banking Officials in Pakistan

Journal of Accounting and Finance in Emerging Economies ◽

10.26710/jafee.v7i3.1979 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Aly Raza Syed ◽

Khaliq Ur Rehman ◽

Qamar Ali ◽

Asher Ramish

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Interest Rates ◽

Banking Sector ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Financial Sector ◽

Work Life ◽

The Body ◽

Work Life Balance ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Life Balance

Purpose: This study intends to explore the key challenges the financial sector faces today about employees’ perspectives and how these challenges eventually play a role in the employee’s work-life balance. Design/Methodology/Approach: A Focus group was conducted with a leading multinational bank in Pakistan. Six managerial cadre employees participated in the focus group study. The focus group analysis suggests very stringent rules and regulations incorporated by SBP that bind each bank to undergo strict compliance. Findings: The challenge of customer retention, declining interest rates, coping with the frugal economic situation of the country, meeting customer satisfaction, incorporating personal relationship management, use of ancillary support services by customers, reward and recognition to employees, dealing with information savvy knowledgeable customers, work-life balance and overall motivation of the bank employees are assumed by the participants as the key challenges that drive the banking industry of Pakistan. Implications/Originality/Value: Senior management of the banking sector of Pakistan can learn from the problems discussed, and the possible solution proposed to the said problems. This research contributes to the body of knowledge while explaining the issues faced by the professionals working in the banking sector of Pakistan.

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Focus Group Analysis for the Successfulness of Third-age Personal Social Services Needs Municipality Polski Trambesh

Diogenes ◽

10.54664/veih4424 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nikolinka Genova ◽

◽

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Elderly People ◽

Social Services ◽

Qualitative Method ◽

Group Analysis ◽

Group Method ◽

Third Age ◽

Focus Group Method

The purpose of this article is to highlight the application of the focus group method to offer the needs of social services users in the community in elderly people. This is a qualitative method of exploring, adapting to a purposeful discussion on a problem or group of problems.

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STUDYING THE PROCEDURE COMPONENT OF LEARNING MOTIVES OF STUDENTS WITH DIFFERENT GPA

Main Issues Of Pedagogy And Psychology ◽

10.24234/miopap.v17i1.368 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 90-98

Author(s):

Mari KELOYAN

Keyword(s):

Reading Comprehension ◽

Focus Group ◽

Text Comprehension ◽

Learning Motivation ◽

Group Method ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Grade Point ◽

Academic Texts ◽

Procedural Components ◽

Focus Group Method

The article focuses on the study of the procedural component of students' learning motives from the faculties of humanities of ASPU. As an academic task has been taken reading comprehension, and reading comprehension actions have been considered as procedural components of learning motives. The focus group method was chosen as an effective method for studying the above-mentioned issue. The results of the focus group study, that's the variety of reading comprehension actions of students with different GPA (Grade Point Average) were revealed and grouped. The actions or strategies of medium and especially low GPA students are poor for ensuring deep comprehension of academic texts, which in its turn decreases learning motivation, while students with high-GPA mainly perform mental actions of different complexity levels for ensuring text comprehension which in turn increases intrinsic learning motivation.

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