Using images in focus groups with older carers

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-103
Author(s):  
Nan Greenwood ◽  
Carole Pound
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Visual Metaphors ◽  
Informal Carers ◽  
Sensitive Issues ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe how providing a wide variety of visual images facilitated discussions amongst older informal carers in focus groups. Design/methodology/approach In all, 72 older (aged 70+ years) informal carers took part in nine focus groups discussing their experiences as older carers. Participants were provided with a wide selection of different, freely available printed images which included abstract and humorous images and countryside scenes. Findings These older carers appeared to enjoy using these pictures to facilitate introducing themselves and to describe their diverse caring experiences. Sharing often challenging experiences using the images and visual metaphors appeared to support the group to discuss difficult, sensitive issues in often light-hearted ways. Research limitations/implications This approach appeared to enhance data collection with these older participants in an enjoyable way by helping them focus on the topic at hand whilst facilitating them to give succinct descriptions of their experiences. However, further research is needed in order to be confident of the transferability of these findings to other older participant groups discussing different topics. Only informal carers were included and there were no direct comparisons with groups without images. Practical implications Using commonly available visual images in focus groups with older carers appeared to be an effective means of encouraging participant discussions and engagement. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to describe how using visual images facilitated focus group discussions with older informal carers. It therefore adds to the literature.

Online focus groups: a valuable alternative for hospitality research?

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 3175-3191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Richard ◽  
Stephen Sivo ◽  
Marissa Orlowski ◽  
Robert Ford ◽  
Jamie Murphy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose This paper aims to test the idea generation capabilities of online text-based focus groups as compared to the traditional in-person focus groups using sustainability in the hospitality industry as the idea generation topic. Idea generation quantity and quality are analyzed and the theoretical and practical implications for the hospitality industry are discussed. Design/methodology/approach An experimental study tested the quality of ideas generated by online versus in-person focus groups. Participants were purposively sampled from the hospitality program at a large southeastern United States university and randomly assigned into one of two treatment groups: online text-based or traditional in-person focus groups. During both treatment groups participants generated ideas focused on sustainability in the hospitality industry. Findings The online focus group generated a comparable quantity of ideas, in addition to a similar average quality of ideas and number of good ideas. Practical implications The generation of ideas and the selection of opportunities drive the innovation process through which firms can strengthen their competitive advantage and maintain and grow market share and profitability. The results of this study may assist hospitality firms in determining which form of qualitative research delivers the highest return on investment by generating the best ideas at the lowest cost. Originality/value This paper breaks new ground by assessing the effectiveness of idea generation in online versus traditional focus groups, comparing both the quantity and quality of ideas generated from an experimental study that uses random assignment.

Reflections on the theme issue outcomes

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 504-510
Author(s):  
Gunjan M. Sanjeev ◽  
Richard Teare
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Cost Competitiveness ◽  
Hotel Sector ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose The paper aims to profile the theme issue of Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes titled “How is the need for innovation being addressed by the Indian hospitality industry?” with reference to the experiences of the theme editor, contributors from the industry and academia and the theme issue outcomes. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editor to reflect on the rationale for their theme issue question, the starting-point, the selection of the writing team and material and the editorial process. Findings It highlights recent innovations that have taken place in the Indian hospitality industry especially in the areas of customer service, cost competitiveness, culinary management, revenue management and technology. Practical implications As hotel sector investment in India intensifies, this theme issue will be of interest to hoteliers, policy makers, analysts and others interested in the role that innovation can play in helping to facilitate differentiation between competing hotel products and services. Originality/value There is limited literature available on industry innovations in the Indian context. All the papers in this theme issue were written after several cycles of interaction between academics and practitioners and so they incorporate real–time, relevant and contemporary data.

Design and topological optimization of rear pressure bulkhead for a typical aircraft

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marshal Thakran ◽  
Meenakshi ◽  
Jitender Sharma ◽  
Charles Gilbert Martin
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Topological Optimization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Iterative Design ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the model of a rear pressure bulkhead with different design optimizations to meet the pressurized cabin requirements of an aircraft. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the results of the static analysis of a dome-shaped rear pressure bulkhead model designed in Catia-v5. Numerical analysis of model meshed in hyper-mesh and solved using Opti-Struct for iterative design optimizations. Findings All the iterative models are analyzed at 9 Psi. Rear pressure bulkhead designed with L-section stringer shows better results than the model optimized with T-section stringer for the same thickness. The model optimized with L-shaped stinger also reduces the weight of the bulkhead without affecting the structural integrity. Practical implications It has been concluded in this paper that the selection of specific shapes of the stringers shows a significant influence on weight reduction. Originality/value This paper provides a topical, technical insight into the design and development of a rear pressure bulkhead. It also outlines the future development of dome-shaped rear pressure bulkhead.

“Hold them or fold them:” evidence-based decisions to discontinue investigations of non-domestic minor violence

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent McFadzien ◽  
Lawrence W. Sherman
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
False Negative ◽  
False Negative Rate ◽  
Random Selection ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Continuous Basis ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Full Investigation ◽  
Selection Of

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a “maintenance pathway” for ensuring a low false negative rate in closing investigations unlikely to lead to a clearance (detection).Design/methodology/approachA randomised controlled experiment testing solvability factors for non-domestic cases of minor violence.FindingsA random selection of 788 cases, of which 428 would have been screened out, were sent forward for full investigation. The number of cases actually detected was 22. A total of 19 of these were from the 360 recommended for allocation. This represents an improvement of accuracy over the original tests of the model three years earlier.Research limitations/implicationsThis study shows how the safety of an investigative triage tool can be checked on a continuous basis for accuracy in predicting the cases unlikely to be solved if referred for full investigations.Practical implicationsThis safety check pathway means that many more cases can be closed after preliminary investigations, thus saving substantial time for working on cases more likely to yield a detection if sufficient time is put into the cases.Social implicationsMore offenders may be caught and brought to justice by using triage with a safety backstop for accurate forecasting.Originality/valueThis is the first published study of a maintenance pathway based on a random selection of cases that would otherwise not have been investigated. If widely applied, it could yield far greater time for police to pursue high-harm, serious violence.

Does commitment to environmental self-regulation matter? An empirical examination from China

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 932-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Lin ◽  
Saixing Zeng ◽  
Hanyang Ma ◽  
Hongquan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Political Connections ◽  
Corporate Environmental Performance ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Commitment ◽  
Manufacturing Sectors ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms by which symbolic commitment to self-regulation influences corporate environmental performance through the adoption of substantive actions. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of Chinese listed private firms in manufacturing sectors, this paper empirically investigates whether and how corporate symbolic commitment to environmental self-regulation really improves the consequences of corporate activities with respect to environmental issues under the current Chinese context. A moderated mediation analysis is employed to test the hypotheses and examine the relationships proposed in the research framework. Findings – The authors argue that making a commitment to environmental self-regulation could motivate firms to implement effective means of being green. The intriguing and robust results show that firms with higher ranking environmental commitment are more likely to use political connections to obtain resources (green subsidies), and then improve environmental performance. Practical implications – The results of this study provide a snapshot of the mechanism between symbolic promises and real outcomes. Originality/value – The authors theorize about and test both direct and indirect effects of commitment to self-regulation on real outcomes which provide empirical evidence for the incipient but growing understanding of self-regulation.

Salary increases in American academic faculty

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 37-39
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Academic Faculty ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
American Academic

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Pay rises are an effective means of retaining employees. However, satisfaction with pay is linked to perceptions of happiness in and comparison with other employees’ pay. A happiness gap that causes an employee to feel deprived or dissatisfied may lead to them looking elsewhere for a new job. It is important to have good communication and a fair distributive process to reduce perceptions of a gap and reduce potential staff turnovers. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

The soul of resilience

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 672-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pille Bunnell
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Ecological Context ◽  
Dynamic Flow ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
Relational Embeddedness ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose Rather than an attempt to define or clarify resilience in terms of its characteristics, or its correspondence to reality, this paper is a series of reflections that leads to the notion of resilience as a way of being in the world. What is presented is not intended to be conclusive in any way. The paper aims to trigger thoughtful reflections that will lead to further conversations about the entailments and ethical concerns implicit in the concept of resilience. Design/methodology/approach The paper comprises reflections based on a selection of published ideas, as well as on personal engagement in the domains of ecology and the biology of cognition. In postulating that resilience may have a central, ineffable quality, the phrase “soul of” has been used as an approach to considering what such a quality may be. This formulation leads to a consideration about the nature of our relationships with the other such that the notion of resilience has become meaningful. Findings Language parses or chunks named ideas in a way that reveals some regularities and obscures others. The word resilience is one such chunk that historically has changed its meaning. Furthermore in the present the word refers to variable aspects or elements depending on the context of its usage. In the ecological context, resilience entails an ambiguous balance between persistence and change, and indeed this ambiguity may be necessary to accommodate the complexities. In all cases the author has considered, we are only concerned with resilience where there is an ethical dimension and this, inherently, must be multidimensional given the complexities of the systems being regarded. The author claims that the soul of resilience arises through an ethically oriented reflexive awareness of our dynamic flow in a relational embeddedness. Practical implications The practical implications of this paper are elusive, yet meaningful, as the paper attempts to open space for operating in an ethical and useful manner with ambiguous concepts and for avoiding the hubris of certainty. The paper is an explication of one of the ways of thinking inspired by second order science. Originality/value As the reflections in this paper are largely those original to the author, the ideas are original. Whether they have value depends on what ideas, attitudes, orientations and further reflections are triggered and whether these in turn implicitly or explicitly alter actions toward more effective care of our world. If reflection on resilience increases resilience, then this paper will have value.

The fluid power: constructing the concept of power in community-based tourism in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-537
Author(s):  
Cicilia Larasati Rembulan ◽  
Avin Fadilla Helmi ◽  
Bagus Riyono
Keyword(s):  
Social Situation ◽  
Fluid Power ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Relationship Processes ◽  
Comprehensive Framework ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The concept of power in the literature is not conclusive yet and still contradictive. As contested concept, power have multi-definition in the literature. This study aims to construct a concept of power between organizations, state-owned enterprises (SOE) and communities in the context of community-based tourism in Borobudur, Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach Participants were 29 individuals representing SOEs (i.e. executive members) and local communities (e.g. village chiefs, community enterprise, managers and residents). Data collection was conducted through interviews, focus group discussions, field records and documents. Using grounded theory, the data were analyzed using open, axial and selective coding. Findings This study discovered that power was fluid. At first, power was a static resource then when it exchanged, it turned into relational/power interplay and at last, became output resource. There was a transformation of antecedent resources of power into a consequential source of power through relationship processes. Research limitations/implications This study should be replicated in other settings for further research, for example, in a business-to-business context and business-to-government to develop a general framework. Practical implications Policymakers should be aware of such fluid power to ensure that community-based tourism programs can benefit all parties involved. Originality/value Findings from this study make several contributions to current literature as follows: this study extends from the existing theories of power, the community-based tourism context where this study was conducted represents actual social situation allowing it to be transferrable to real environment and elaborating theory of power into a comprehensive framework.

Information literacy assessment by portfolio: a case study

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Sonley ◽  
Denise Turner ◽  
Sue Myer ◽  
Yvonne Cotton
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Literacy Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Small Cohort ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Selection Of

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the results of a case study evaluating the revision of the assessment methods of an information literacy module. The revised assessment method took the form of a portfolio.Design/methodology/approachDuring 2004, all six credit modules at the University of Teesside had to be reviewed and restructured into ten credit modules. Following Biggs' principles of constructive alignment, the tutors looked at the existing module aims and learning outcomes. A review of the literature and previous experience informed the selection of the new assessment method by portfolio. An evaluation of the assessment method was undertaken after the module had run.FindingsThe paper finds that the assessment method had real strengths especially in terms of validity. It was also economical and efficient. Students knew what they were expected to do and where they needed to put in effort.Research limitations/implicationsThe assessment by a portfolio method has been carried out once with a relatively small cohort of students, so the findings can only be regarded as interim.Practical implicationsThe tutors believe that they have created a very useful module with an aligned assessment method which would be of benefit to a much greater number of studentsOriginality/valueThere is a shortage of publications that report the results of the use of portfolios for the assessment of information literacy.

Collaborative consumption sport hosting: value and consumption constraints

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Goldman ◽  
Brandon Brown ◽  
Eric C. Schwarz
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Experience Design ◽  
Collaborative Consumption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumption Experience ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Consumption Constraints ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Selection Of

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find evidence of the benefits and constraints of collaborative consumption experiences by investigating the perceptions of hosts and visitors that attended professional regular season basketball and baseball games in the USA.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through four focus groups with 37 total participants and were analyzed through qualitative content analysis.FindingsThe results show that participants in a collaborative consumption experience perceive four types of value: social interaction and belonging, new fandom, travel bucket list experiences and local and sport knowledge. In addition, the results provide evidence of five consumption constraints related to collaborative consumption: expenses, average experiences, seat location, interpersonal disconnects and personal risk.Research limitations/implicationsThe selection of only two sites for the study limited the data triangulation that was possible. This study should be replicated across a wider range of teams and countries to confirm the main findings of the study.Practical implicationsPractitioners can use this initial study to better understand the benefits hosts and visitors perceive in the experience, and therefore the kind of experience design that would encourage increased purchases and loyalty.Originality/valueThis paper provides qualitative insights into the benefits and detriments of a collaborative consumption sport experience, based on participants' involvement in an innovative peer-to-peer platform.

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