scholarly journals Hobson’s choice: the effects of research evaluation on academics’ writing practices in England

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Mcculloch
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Research Evaluation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evaluation Systems ◽  
Writing Practices ◽  
Institutional Responses ◽  
Qualitative Data Analysis Software ◽  
And Mathematics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of research evaluation policies and their interpretation on academics’ writing practices in three different higher education institutions and across three different disciplines. Specifically, the paper discusses how England’s national research excellence framework (REF) and institutional responses to it shape the decisions academics make about their writing. Design/methodology/approach In total, 49 academics at three English universities were interviewed. The academics were from one Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics discipline (mathematics), one humanities discipline (history) and one applied discipline (marketing). Repeated semi-structured interviews focussed on different aspects of academics’ writing practices. Heads of departments and administrative staff were also interviewed. Data were coded using the qualitative data analysis software, ATLAS.ti. Findings Academics’ ability to succeed in their career was closely tied to their ability to meet quantitative and qualitative targets driven by research evaluation systems, but these were predicated on an unrealistic understanding of knowledge creation. Research evaluation systems limited the epistemic choices available to academics, partly because they pushed academics’ writing towards genres and publication venues that conflicted with disciplinary traditions and partly because they were evenly distributed across institutions and age groups. Originality/value This work fills a gap in the literature by offering empirical and qualitative findings on the effects of research evaluation systems in context. It is also one of the only papers to focus on the ways in which individuals’ academic writing practices in particular are shaped by such systems.

Experience and expression of social isolation by inner-city high-rise residents

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Love M. Chile ◽  
Xavier M. Black ◽  
Carol Neill
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Inner City ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Health And Social Care

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of social isolation and the factors that create social isolation for residents of inner-city high-rise apartment communities. We critically examine how the physical environment and perceptions of safety in apartment buildings and the inner-city implicate the quality of interactions between residents and with their neighbourhood community. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used mixed-methods consisting of survey questionnaires supplemented by semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions using stratified random sampling to access predetermined key strata of inner-city high-rise resident population. Using coefficient of correlation we examine the significance of the association between social isolation, age and ethnicity amongst Auckland's inner-city high-rise residents. Findings – The authors found the experience and expression of social isolation consistent across all age groups, with highest correlation between functional social isolation and “being student”, and older adults (60+ years), length of tenure in current apartment and length of time residents have lived in the inner-city. Research limitations/implications – As a case study, we did not seek in this research to compare the experience and expressions of social isolation in different inner-city contexts, nor of inner-city high-rise residents in New Zealand and other countries, although these will be useful areas to explore in future studies. Practical implications – This study is a useful starting point to build evidence base for professionals working in health and social care services to develop interventions that will help reduce functional social isolation amongst young adults and older adults in inner-city high-rise apartments. This is particularly important as the inner-city population of older adults grow due to international migration, and sub-national shifts from suburbs to the inner-cities in response to governmental policies of urban consolidation. Originality/value – By identifying two forms of social isolation, namely functional and structural social isolation, we have extended previous analysis of social isolation and found that “living alone” or structural social isolation did not necessarily lead to functional social isolation. It also touched on the links between functional social isolation and self-efficacy of older adults, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds.

Marketing activity of international new ventures – application of the EMICO framework

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Kowalik ◽  
Lidia Danik
Keyword(s):  
Business Processes ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
International New Ventures ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Marketing Activity ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Marketing ◽  
Qualitative Data Analysis Software ◽  
Eastern European Countries

Purpose One of the approaches to study entrepreneurial marketing (EM) is the EMICO framework. The extant studies have not yet explored the application of this framework by international new ventures (INVs). To address this research gap, four Polish INVs from medium-tech sector have been studied to check whether this tool can be applied to investigate the companies from Central and Eastern European Countries and identify the hierarchy of elements in the EMICO framework. Design/methodology/approach Using semi-structured interviews and the card game method, the understanding and importance of the EM concept elements by the Polish entrepreneurs have been explored. The collected text has been analyzed using qualitative data analysis software. Findings The studied INVs in their international marketing activity attributed most importance to understanding and responsiveness toward customers, networking, innovation introductions based on gathering of information and on the constant communication with clients. Most of the EMICO framework dimensions were confirmed; however, the concepts of “exploiting markets” and “integration of business processes” had minor importance for marketing. Research limitations/implications Research findings are relevant mainly for the B2B companies. Originality/value The paper recommends a modified list of EMICO elements for use in future studies concerning the small- and medium-sized enterprise internationalization.

scholarly journals Are book publications disappearing from scholarly communication in the social sciences and humanities?

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 592-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim C.E. Engels ◽  
Andreja Istenič Starčič ◽  
Emanuel Kulczycki ◽  
Janne Pölönen ◽  
Gunnar Sivertsen
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Research Evaluation ◽  
Book Publishing ◽  
Scholarly Book ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Evaluation Systems ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Comprehensive Coverage

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution in terms of shares of scholarly book publications in the social sciences and humanities (SSH) in five European countries, i.e. Flanders (Belgium), Finland, Norway, Poland and Slovenia. In addition to aggregate results for the whole of the social sciences and the humanities, the authors focus on two well-established fields, namely, economics & business and history. Design/methodology/approach Comprehensive coverage databases of SSH scholarly output have been set up in Flanders (VABB-SHW), Finland (VIRTA), Norway (NSI), Poland (PBN) and Slovenia (COBISS). These systems allow to trace the shares of monographs and book chapters among the total volume of scholarly publications in each of these countries. Findings As expected, the shares of scholarly monographs and book chapters in the humanities and in the social sciences differ considerably between fields of science and between the five countries studied. In economics & business and in history, the results show similar field-based variations as well as country variations. Most year-to-year and overall variation is rather limited. The data presented illustrate that book publishing is not disappearing from an SSH. Research limitations/implications The results presented in this paper illustrate that the polish scholarly evaluation system has influenced scholarly publication patterns considerably, while in the other countries the variations are manifested only slightly. The authors conclude that generalizations like “performance-based research funding systems (PRFS) are bad for book publishing” are flawed. Research evaluation systems need to take book publishing fully into account because of the crucial epistemic and social roles it serves in an SSH. Originality/value The authors present data on monographs and book chapters from five comprehensive coverage databases in Europe and analyze the data in view of the debates regarding the perceived detrimental effects of research evaluation systems on scholarly book publishing. The authors show that there is little reason to suspect a dramatic decline of scholarly book publishing in an SSH.

Developing teenagers’ role consciousness as “world heritage guardians”

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhui Wang ◽  
Yin Zhang ◽  
Jing Han ◽  
Ping Liang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
World Heritage Sites ◽  
Heritage Protection ◽  
The Impact

Purpose As one of the nearest and most important groups of resource guardians, local teenagers are an important force for current and especially future world heritage protection. Nurturing their awareness of world heritage protection is an important way to achieve the sustainable development of world heritage sites (WHS). The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of local teenagers of Tai’an city in China with the aim of examining how they have developed consciousness of their role as “world heritage guardians.” Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews are used to examine the awareness of 15 local teenagers on world heritage protection. The interview results are then qualitatively analyzed by using a systematic coding process. Findings The analysis shows that the formation of the guardianship role is realized through three dimensions: recognition, emotion, and action, which are subjected to role awakening, role identifying, and role strengthening stage by stage. The personal experiences of the interviewees, as well as the impact from surrounding groups both serve to influence the formation of their role as “world heritage guardians.” Research limitations/implications The framework constructed in this study on the development of teenagers’ role consciousness cannot only apply to world heritage and environmental contexts in terms of awareness of the need for conservation, but be used toward behavioral studies of other age groups. Practical implications The findings can be used as a practical guide for school teachers, government officials, and heritage managers to better carry out educational programs in terms of heritage tourism and sustainable development of WHS for teenagers. Originality/value The teenagers’ population is underrepresented in the literature in terms of community involvement with world heritage. This study is meaningful because the focus is on improving local teenagers’ awareness of the value and importance of world heritage and their preservation.

scholarly journals Becoming academics: embracing and resisting changing writing practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saija Katila ◽  
Mikko Laamanen ◽  
Maarit Laihonen ◽  
Rebecca Lund ◽  
Susan Meriläinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Group Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Memory Work ◽  
Writing Practices ◽  
Writing Practice ◽  
Over Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze how global and local changes in higher education impact upon writing practices through which doctoral students become academics. The study explores how norms and values of academic writing practice are learned, negotiated and resisted and elucidates how competences related to writing come to determine the academic selves. Design/methodology/approach The study uses memory work, which is a group method that puts attention to written individual memories and their collective analysis and theorizing. The authors offer a comparison of experiences in becoming academics by two generational cohorts (1990s and 2010s) in the same management studies department in a business school. Findings The study indicates that the contextual and temporal enactment of academic writing practice in the department created a situation where implicit and ambiguous criteria for writing competence gradually changed into explicit and narrow ones. The change was relatively slow for two reasons. First, new performance management indicators were introduced over a period of two decades. Second, when the new indicators were gradually introduced, they were locally resisted. The study highlights how the focus, forms and main actors of resistance changed over time. Originality/value The paper offers a detailed account of how exogenous changes in higher education impact upon, over time and cultural space, academic writing practices through which doctoral students become academics.

Reflections on writing and teaching: a study of five writing contest winners

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy R. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Beliefs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Literacy Sponsorship ◽  
Writing Assignments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Writing Practices ◽  
The Social ◽  
Professional Contexts ◽  
Teachers As Writers ◽  
Supporting Teachers

Purpose English teachers who write have valuable expertise that can benefit students. Although there is a fair amount of research on teacher-writers, little is known about teachers’ writing lives outside of educational or professional contexts. This paper aims to investigate the writing lives and teaching beliefs of five writing contest winners. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study, which was guided by sociocultural theory and concepts such as literacy sponsorship, involved individual semi-structured interviews, questionnaires and writing and teaching artifacts. Findings Data analysis resulted in several themes describing participants’ writing lives: Writing Experiences, Writing Practices and Writing Attitudes. In addition, several themes emerged describing their teaching beliefs: Writing Assignments/Tools, Modeling and Credibility/Empathy/Vulnerability. Overlaps exist in the descriptions of their writing and teaching lives. Practical implications Teachers’ writing lives are valuable resources for instruction. It is recommended that teachers have opportunities to reflect on who they are as writers and what has shaped them. Teachers also need new experiences to expand their writing practices and strengthen their writing identities alongside fellow writers. More must be done to understand, nurture and sustain teachers’ writing. Originality/value This research expands the conversation on teachers as writers by involving writing contest winners, focusing on their writing lives and noticing how their writing experiences, practices and attitudes inform their teaching. This study suggests several ways to move forward in supporting teachers as writers, keeping in mind the social aspects of learning.

scholarly journals Developing a culture of publication: a joint enterprise writing retreat

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Garside ◽  
Rowan Bailey ◽  
Moira Tyas ◽  
Graham Ormrod ◽  
Graham Stone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Student Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Writing Practices ◽  
Course Work ◽  
Compulsory Attendance ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Joint Enterprise

Purpose – Many students irrespective of level of study produce excellent course work which, if given support and encouragement, could clearly be of a publishable standard. Academic staff are expected to produce quality publications meeting peer-review standards although they may be relatively novice authors. All are engaged in some aspects of academic writing practices but not as frequently involved in co-production of publications emanating from student work. This activity is still at the margins of much of the student experience. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Mindful of these issues, the authors designed and offered a writing programme including a writing retreat. This brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students from a range of applied disciplines (health and art, design and architecture) and their supervisors with the aim of co-producing publications and participating in a community of scholarly practice. The project was delivered over nine months. It involved four days “compulsory” attendance and included a preparatory workshop, a two day off-campus writing retreat and a dissemination event. Student and supervisors applied to participate as a team. Kirkpatrick’s (2006) four-stage classic model: reaction, learning, changes in behaviour and real world results was used as a framework for the educational evaluation. Findings – Key findings organised thematically were: supervisor-supervisee relationships; space and time; building confidence enabling successful writing and publication. Originality/value – This paper will provide an overview of the design, content and approaches used for successful delivery of this innovative project. It will draw on examples that illustrate the different types of joint enterprise that emerged, illuminate experiences of co-production and co-authorship along with recommendations for future ventures.

scholarly journals Developing an Understanding of The Sources of Some Graduate Students’ Perceptions of Academic Writing

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad I. Alhojailan
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Writing Practices ◽  
Fields Of Study ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Perceived Effects ◽  
Negative Perceptions

An increasing number of Saudi students in American universities has generated a need to explore the Saudi students’ perceptions of academic writing and the sources of such perceptions. Further research can enable writing researchers and instructors to help Saudi students to be better writers in American contexts. This study, therefore, explored the sources of 12 Saudi graduate students' perceptions of academic writing. The findings collected from 12 semi-structured interviews revealed the sources of the participants’ perceptions of academic writing. These sources are the perceived effects of the participants’ professors, the perceived effects of their fields of study/occupations, the perceived effects of their peers, and the perceived effects of the Saudi culture. The findings suggest the creation of opportunities for writing practices that can help identify the origins of difficulties in academic writing and then help students overcome those difficulties and change the negative perceptions students have about academic writing. The findings also show that those sources are interrelated. A more in-depth study of student perceptions and their sources is needed because we need a broader picture of how such sources might interact with each other.

Academic entrepreneurship: phase-specific constraints and needs

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roda Müller-Wieland ◽  
Antonia Muschner ◽  
Martina Schraudner
Keyword(s):  
Academic Entrepreneurship ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Science System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Organizations ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
Recommendations For Action ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Purpose Academic entrepreneurship is extremely relevant in knowledge and technology transfer (KTT). The purpose of this study is to provide insights into phase-specific constraints and needs impacting scientists’ engagement in entrepreneurial activities at public research institutions. Design/methodology/approach In an exploratory case study, 40 qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with German academic entrepreneurs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Findings Based on the data analysis, an ideal-typical founding process with phase-specific barriers and needs was identified. Many constraints and associated needs occur in more than one phase, including the lack of knowledge, the demand for exchange formats, the lack of time and financial resources, institutionalized return options, the lack of human resources and the lack of incentives. Research limitations/implications Given its exploratory approach, this study has limitations regarding its generalization; however, the presented findings may induce further research and in-depth analysis on this matter. Practical implications Several recommendations for action are provided for each phase of the founding process to strengthen the (entrepreneurial) transfer in research organizations. Generally, a pioneering indicator of excellence in the science system should be developed to promote transfer next to publications. Originality/value The study contributes to existing literature on determinants of academic entrepreneurship by indicating the phase-specific constraints and needs throughout the founding process and discussing those needs in the theoretical context of current societal and technological mega-trends.

scholarly journals Bibliometric differences – a case study in bibliometric evaluation across SSH and STEM

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 366-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poul Meier Melchiorsen
Keyword(s):  
Research Evaluation ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
Grant Applications ◽  
Scholarly Practice ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Right

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge that there are bibliometric differences between Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) vs Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It is not so that either SSH or STEM has the right way of doing research or working as a scholarly community. Accordingly, research evaluation is not done properly in one framework based on either a method from SSH or STEM. However, performing research evaluation in two separate frameworks also has disadvantages. One way of scholarly practice may be favored unintentionally in evaluations and in research profiling, which is necessary for job and grant applications. Design/methodology/approach In the case study, the authors propose a tool where it may be possible, on one hand, to evaluate across disciplines and on the other hand to keep the multifaceted perspective on the disciplines. Case data describe professors at an SSH and a STEM department at Aalborg University. Ten partial indicators are compiled to build a performance web – a multidimensional description – and a one-dimensional ranking of professors at the two departments. The partial indicators are selected in a way that they should cover a broad variety of scholarly practice and differences in data availability. Findings A tool which can be used both for a one-dimensional ranking of researchers and for a multidimensional description is described in the paper. Research limitations/implications Limitations of the study are that panel-based evaluation is left out and that the number of partial indicators is set to 10. Originality/value The paper describes a new tool that may be an inspiration for practitioners in research analytics.

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