Educational tourism and experiential learning: students’ perceptions of field trips

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Arcodia ◽  
Margarida Abreu Novais ◽  
Nevenka Cavlek ◽  
Andreas Humpe

Purpose This paper aims to investigate participants’ motivations and perceptions of a field trip. Specifically, this paper examines if and how students’ perceptions change with time and it explores the main factors for ensuring success in an experiential learning tourism program. Design/methodology/approach The study gathered and compared data collected in two points in time – immediately at the end of the experience and two months afterward. T-tests for paired samples were used to examine potential differences in perceptions and principal component analysis was used to identify the key factors determining the success of the experience. Findings The findings indicate that there are various motivations behind participation and that time barely affects perceptions of the experience. Furthermore, three factors emerged as important for meeting expectations, namely, social and professional connections, learning and traditional yet engaging teaching. Research limitations/implications While the outcomes are useful, they need to be thoughtfully applied because of the small data set. It is important to repeat similar investigations to allow more certainty in the propositions formulated. Furthermore, future studies should evaluate a broader variety of outcomes to determine whether perceptions remain constant. The implications are that educators and destination managers can easily apply these conclusions for the benefit and the findings can inform other field trips and broader experiential initiatives. Originality/value Despite research on learning outcomes and perceptions of experiential learning having expanded considerably, a fundamental question that remains unanswered is how perceptions of such experiences change and, consequently, when the most appropriate time is to assess participant perceptions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyoshi Gotoh ◽  
Makoto Miyoshi ◽  
I Putu Bayu Mayura ◽  
Koji Iio ◽  
Osamu Matsushita ◽  
...  

The options available for treating infections with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are limited; with the increasing threat of these infections, new treatments are urgently needed. Biapenem (BIPM) is a carbapenem, and limited data confirming its in vitro killing effect against CPE are available. In this study, we examined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of BIPM for 14 IMP-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from the Okayama region in Japan. The MICs against almost all the isolates were lower than 0.5 µg ml−1, indicating susceptibility to BIPM, while approximately half of the isolates were confirmed to be bacteriostatic to BIPM. However, initial killing to a 99.9 % reduction was observed in seven out of eight strains in a time–kill assay. Despite the small data set, we concluded that the in vitro efficacy of BIPM suggests that the drug could be a new therapeutic option against infection with IMP-producing CPE.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Palaneeswaran Ekambaram ◽  
Peter E.D. Love ◽  
Mohan M. Kumaraswamy ◽  
Thomas S.T. Ng

Purpose – Rework is an endemic problem in construction projects and has been identified as being a significant factor contributing cost and schedule overruns. Causal ascription is necessary to obtain knowledge about the underlying nature of rework so that appropriate prevention mechanisms can be put in place. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Using a supervised questionnaire survey and case-study interviews, data from 112 building and engineering projects about the sources and causes of rework in projects were obtained. A multivariate exploration was conducted to examine the underlying relationships between rework variables. Findings – The analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between rework causes for building and civil engineering projects. The set of associations explored in the analyses will be useful to develop a generic causal model to examine the quantitative impact of rework on project performance so that appropriate prevention strategies can be identified and developed. Research limitations/implications – The limitations include: small data set (112 projects), which include 75 from building and 37 from civil engineering projects. Practical implications – Meaningful insights into the rework occurrences in construction projects will pave pathways for rational mitigation and effective management measures. Originality/value – To date there has been limited empirical research that has sought to determine the causal ascription of rework, particularly in Hong Kong.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1925-1948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jantje Halberstadt ◽  
Jana-Michaela Timm ◽  
Sascha Kraus ◽  
Katherine Gundolf

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on how service learning approaches are able to foster social entrepreneurship competences. The aim of the paper is to formulate a framework of key competences for social entrepreneurship and to give first insights in how service learning actually has an impact on change in students’ set of competences. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative data collectionmethods of learning diaries of the students and semi-structured interviews, including 40 master’s students studying at a German university in interdisciplinary learning settings and five instructors from the same universities. Analysis was carried out by means of qualitative content analysis. Findings This paper provides empirical insights about the competences that are being fostered by service learning. From these, a framework for social entrepreneurship competences is being derived. Research limitations/implications The set of competences should be further investigated, as it was derived out of a small data set. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to use the set of competences for social entrepreneurship as a basis for future research and on a longer-term perspective, which lead to substantial implications for educational practice. Practical implications This paper includes implications for new perspectives on service learning in the light of the development of a relevant framework for social entrepreneurship competence, having significant implications for educational practice in social entrepreneurship education. Originality/value With this paper, the authors fulfill the need of a framework of social entrepreneurship competences that serves as a foundation for educational practice and further research in the context of service learning and beyond.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-152
Author(s):  
Alireza Jalali ◽  
Nur Izzati Hidzir ◽  
Mastura Jaafar ◽  
Norziani Dahalan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between three key factors that cause workplace bullying among subcontractor managers toward intention to quit the undertaken project within the context of Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized the simple sampling method to select its study sample, while the questionnaire survey approach was implemented amidst 500 G6 and G7 contractor managers across Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 210 completed questionnaires were returned. Partial least square-structural equation modeling was administered to analyze the data via SmartPls 3.0 software. Findings This study discovered three significant factors (main contractor leadership, construction culture, work organization and job design) that displayed positive effect on workplace bullying among subcontractor managers toward intention to quit. The study outcomes can serve as a direction for policy makers to reduce bullying within the construction project environment. Practical implications This study serves as an instruction for main contractors to reinvent their style of management in overcoming bullying in construction projects. This paper guides that collaborative relationship among various parties in construction projects, including the representatives of main contractors and subcontractor managers, may assist in addressing the hostile environment of construction project, in order to create a constructive relationship between them that leads to overall project success. Originality/value Recognition of the three key factors that lead to workplace bullying among subcontractor managers in the construction industry, which are bound to enhance intention to quit based on the data set with strong statistical results, has made the research original.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Che-Jung Chang ◽  
Chien-Chih Chen ◽  
Wen-Li Dai ◽  
Guiping Li

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a small data set forecasting method to improve the effectiveness when making managerial decisions.Design/methodology/approachIn the grey modeling process, appropriate background values are one of the key factors in determining forecasting accuracy. In this paper, grey compensation terms are developed to make more appropriate background values to further improve the forecasting accuracy of grey models.FindingsIn the experiment, three real cases were used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed method can improve the accuracy of grey predictions. The results further indicate that background values determined by the proposed compensation terms can improve the accuracy of grey model in the three cases.Originality/valuePrevious studies determine appropriate background values within the limitation of traditional grey modeling process, while this study makes new background values without the limitation. The experimental results would encourage researchers to develop more accuracy grey models without the limitation when determining background values.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-383
Author(s):  
De-Graft Owusu-Manu ◽  
Gary D. Holt ◽  
David J. Edwards ◽  
Edward Badu

Purpose – Trade credit (TC) provides access to capital for construction contractors globally and is an important source of finance in both developed and developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to explore key factors underpinning construction suppliers’ decisions to provide TC to Ghanaian construction firms. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data from a structured survey of 75 construction suppliers are analysed. Principal component (factor) analysis explores complex structures among suppliers’ decision-making variables. Findings – Underlying constructs of decision criteria exist among seven key factors: financial profile of the contractor; parties’ profit margins; asset portfolio and project particulars; TC quantum and repayment terms; age and experience of the contractor; contractor corporate image; and parties’ cash flows. Originality/value – This is a new decision criteria framework for suppliers and contractors, who utilise TC.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Shi ◽  
Iona McCarthy ◽  
Uyen Mai

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the stigma effect on property valuation/sale price for remediated residential leaky buildings constructed in New Zealand during the 1990s and 2000s. In particular, the authors want to know whether meeting the regulatory standards for remediation work will totally eliminate the negative stigma effect on remediated properties. Design/methodology/approach Property transaction data for remediated leaky homes are often limited and not well recorded. Thus, it is very difficult or even impossible to identify those remediated properties in a standard property transaction data set. Moreover, a vast amount of information regarding the nature of property defects, remediation process and method is very difficult to obtain. In this study, members of the Property Institute of New Zealand (PINZ) and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand were invited to participate in an online website survey. The results were then analysed using the principal component analysis, ordinary least squares and multinomial logit regressions. Findings This study indicates that for monolithic-clad dwellings, the price discount due to leaky building stigma is significant. Depending on the severity of the leaking problems, this is about 11 per cent on average for general market stigma and an additional 5-10 per cent for post-remediation stigma. The results highlight that meeting the regulatory standards for remediation work cannot totally eliminate the negative stigma effect on remediated properties. The findings are in line with the lemon theory introduced by Akerlof (1970) and robust to individual characteristics of the survey respondent. Originality/value General market stigma has been widely researched and documented in the literature. In contrast, there is a lack of research as to whether remediation will eliminate stigma, particularly in the presence of general market stigma. The authors are the first to show that post-remediation stigma can cause value loss in addition to general market stigma based on the lemon theory proposed by Akerlof (1970).


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhadip Sarkar

Purpose – Identification of the best school among other competitors is done using a new technique called most productive scale size based data envelopment analysis (DEA). The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – A non-central principal component analysis is used here to create a new plane according to the constant return to scale. This plane contains only ultimate performers. Findings – The new method has a complete discord with the results of CCR DEA. However, after incorporating the ultimate performers in the original data set this difference was eliminated. Practical implications – The proposed frontier provides a way to identify those DMUs which follow cost strategy proposed by Porter. Originality/value – A case study of six schools is incorporated here to identify the superior school and also to visualize gaps in their performances.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elzbieta Gralinska ◽  
Martin Vingron

SummaryIn molecular biology, just as in many other fields of science, data often come in the form of matrices or contingency tables with many measurements (rows) for a set of variables (columns). While projection methods like Principal Component Analysis or Correspondence Analysis can be applied for obtaining an overview of such data, in cases where the matrix is very large the associated loss of information upon projection into two or three dimensions may be dramatic. However, when the set of variables can be grouped into clusters, this opens up a new angle on the data. We focus on the question which measurements are associated to a cluster and distinguish it from other clusters. Correspondence Analysis employs a geometry geared towards answering this question. We exploit this feature in order to introduce Association Plots for visualizing cluster-specific measurements in complex data. Association Plots are two-dimensional, independent of the size of data matrix or cluster, and depict the measurements associated to a cluster of variables. We demonstrate our method first on a small data set and then on a genomic example comprising more than 10,000 conditions. We will show that Association Plots can clearly highlight those measurements which characterize a cluster of variables.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Crupi ◽  
Fabrizio Cesaroni ◽  
Alberto Di Minin

PurposeThe present paper aims to explore and map the development of the intellectual capital (IC)-related studies by answering the following research questions: (1) what are the theoretical pillars on which prior literature focusing on the IC–entrepreneurship relationship has grown and expanded?; (2) what are the main research areas covered by past literature focused on the IC–entrepreneurship relationship?; (3) which areas of research should be explored in the future?Design/methodology/approachThe study relied on the co-citation analysis and bibliographic coupling techniques to investigate a complete data set of IC–entrepreneurship publications.FindingsFindings indicated that scholars' attention had increased, starting from the beginning of the 2000s due to the widespread recognition of the importance of knowledge for firms' competitive advantage. Results of the co-citation clustering analysis have identified five main theoretical building blocks of the IC–entrepreneurship literature, which addressed both the basics of IC foundations and more specific aspects related to IC (family firms and the measurement of IC). Results of the bibliographic coupling analysis indicated that future studies should consider the existence of interactions and synergies among the different components of IC. Furthermore, attention should be devoted to the management practices of IC.Originality/valueThe present study represents the contributions offered by IC to studies about entrepreneurship strategies. Building on findings emerging from a qualitative content analysis on clustered prior publications, the authors discuss a research agenda that is expected to inspire future studies to continue the exploration of the crucial characteristics of IC in contributing to entrepreneurial and managerial studies.


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