scholarly journals Servant School Leadership and Organisational Climate in South African Private Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Christo Swart ◽  
Lidia Pottas ◽  
David Maree
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Servant Leadership ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Private Schools ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Underperforming Schools ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Organisational Climate ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact

The leadership of companies influences the organisational climate of companies by creating a cycle of continuous improvement or failing to do so. The same applies to educational leadership in their search for favourable teaching and learning conditions for all learners, especially those of underperforming schools whose academic results are not up to standard. Critical dialogue and new thinking regarding school leadership are mandatory to improve the status quo. It is proposed that the servant leadership paradigm, when practiced by school leadership, may have a significant influence on the school environment. A qualitative approach was utilised to measure the impact of servant school leadership on the organisational climate of private schools in South Africa, with the aim of learning valuable lessons to implement in the public school domain and especially the underperforming school sector. A purposive convenience sampling approach was applied to select participants for three focus group interviews. A theoretical thematic, semantic, and essentialist analytical approach served as the foundation for this study. The focus group interviews confirmed that the participants perceived their school leaderships to implement specific characteristics of servant leadership and organisational climate to enhance a positive school environment for teachers and learners to succeed. The participants also perceived definite links between servant leadership and organisational climate. It is recommended that the servant leadership paradigm and its impact on the organisational climate of underperforming schools be researched and considered for implementation nationally and internationally.

scholarly journals An Inquiry into the Impact of Stress on New School Leaders within a Unique Mentorship Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie Rommel ◽  
Donna Cooner
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
New School ◽  
Leadership Institute ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed to identify the sources of stress new school leaders encounter that may influence their mental health. This study used semi-structured focus groups to elicit thick, rich descriptions of participants’ experiences. The extensive data sets were collected over two years from 16 focus group interviews conducted during Colorado State University School Leadership Institute retreats. Narrative analysis of participants’ responses provided findings on the stress they experienced, including fear of failure or insecurity, pressure to perform, isolation, work-life balance, time constraints, and compassion fatigue. The participants identified that this unique mentorship opportunity allowed for self-reflection, self-care, and reconnecting with their purpose; furthermore, participants shared that the School Leadership Institute offered support and connectedness in a safe, non-evaluative environment. They shared the importance of strong building-level team support, the cathartic nature of the focus group interviews, and the positive progression from year to year in their roles.

Being “adopted” into a teaching community

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erinn Bentley ◽  
Madison Workman ◽  
Alex Overby
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Mentor Teachers ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Field Placement ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact

Purpose In order to prepare new members of the education profession, it is imperative that teachers enter their classrooms with the confidence, knowledge, and skills to serve their students from day one. One method for preparing such teacher candidates or student teachers is through school-based field placements during their preparation program. The purpose of this paper is to describe one example of a yearlong field placement and the mentoring relationships that emerged among participants. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used the following data sources: focus group interviews among the teacher candidates, focus group interviews among the mentor teachers, field placement reflections and teaching analyses composed by the teacher candidates, and interviews conducted among teacher candidates and mentor teachers. Findings Analysis of the data revealed that the yearlong field placement promoted positive mentoring relationships between teacher candidates and their classroom teachers. Specifically the following themes emerged: the “adoption” of teacher candidates into the high school classrooms, risk-taking within the classrooms, the mentor teachers’ use of constructive feedback, and collaborative “mentoring-down-the-hall.” Originality/value In recent years, various scholars have investigated the impact of field placement experiences on teacher candidates; however, these studies have lacked a detailed analysis of how such experiences impacted mentoring relationships among candidates and their mentor teachers in a collaborative setting. This paper provides an in-depth study of the perceived experiences of mentor teachers and their candidates.

scholarly journals Change in store? An investigation into the impact of the book superstore environment on use, perceptions and expectations of the public library as a space, place and experience

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (88) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Helen Cartwright
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Community Resource ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The Public ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Perceptions And Expectations ◽  
The Impact

The book superstore is promoted not just as a place to buy books but also as a community resource in which to read, learn and socialise: traits that have in combination traditionally been the preserve of the public library. This study investigates the impact of the bookstore environment on public library space. The attitudes and behaviours of library and bookstore users were examined through focus group interviews and a self-completed questionnaire. Clear areas of overlap in the functions of the two sites were found, as was evidence of age and income-related splits in use and perception of bookstores and libraries. Results suggest attention should be paid to the beliefs and behaviours of young people and middle-income earners (the groups most noticeably increasing their use of the bookstore) and to the desired balance of education and recreation in the image and nature of the public library.

scholarly journals Avaliar para Aprender no Ensino da Ginástica Acrobática em Contexto de Estágio

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-45
Author(s):  
Ana Silva ◽  
André Moura ◽  
Paula Batista
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Assessment For Learning ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Audio Recordings ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Enhanced Learning

Assessment is a regulatory and fundamental element of the teaching-learning process (Dutra et al., 2018), which in the perspective of the Assessment for Learning allows fostering the learning (Broadfoot et al., 1999). This study aimed to analyse students’ involvement and motivation in the Assessment for Learning processes and the impact on learning. The participants were 21 students of a class of the 11th grade of the Scientific- Humanistic Course of Science and Technology, with an average age of 17.23. The instruments used were focus group interviews, audio recordings of teacher feedbacks, several self and peer assessment moments and the teacher’s diary. Auto evaluation data were analyzed using descriptive measures (average and mode) and the information from pear observations, focus group interview and teacher board diary were analyzed using the content analysis procedures (Bardin, 2008).The data showed that students raised their level of involvement and motivation for the sessions, especially in the construction of the gymnastic scheme. In addition, the application of this methodology has enhanced learning in the acquisition of knowledge, as well as in the dynamics of the different groups.

Listening to People: Views about the Bathroom

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 500-504
Author(s):  
Abir Mullick
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Research Method ◽  
User Performance ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Qualitative Research Method ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

The study focused on the impact of bathroom design on user performance. It used a qualitative research method, focus group interviews, to learn from users about their bathroom needs and preferences. It examined the need for universal bathroom design features that have inclusive applications. It offers design suggestions for use by all people living at home.

scholarly journals How to Promote Workplace Health in order to Work into Old Age: Experiences from Employees in an Industrial Setting

Scientifica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Lydell ◽  
Cathrine Hildingh ◽  
Arne Söderbom ◽  
Kristina Ziegert
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Organisational Climate ◽  
Industrial Setting ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background. Health is important in workplaces. A good organisational climate in a workplace plays a major role in the employees’ well-being at work and is also associated with increased productivity. Today, employees are expected to work into older age and it is a challenge for companies to promote health and well-being for this growing group. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore how to promote workplace health at present time and for the end of working life in the perspective of employees. Design/Methodology/Approach. The study had an explorative design, and a thematic analysis was chosen. The inclusion criteria were persons 50 years and older, working in the company and planning to continue working into old age. A total of 21 coworkers (14 men) participated in the study. Three focus group interviews were conducted. Findings. The results from the focus group interviews are presented in four themes: handle change in a changeable workplace, take responsibility for health concerns, get confirmation for feeling needed, and support and tolerance adapted for each employee. Practical Implications. Promoting health should be an urgent mission for employees themselves as well as for managers in order to support employees in working into old age. The health promotion must be suitable for each employee and should be designed in such a way as to avoid inequality in workplace health. Originality/Value. There is a need for more health-promoting behaviours, support, and activities for employees in order to work into old age.

scholarly journals Pupils’ Motivational and Emotional Responses to Pedagogies of Affect in Physical Education in Scottish Secondary Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5183
Author(s):  
Cara A. Lamb ◽  
Eishin Teraoka ◽  
Kimberly L. Oliver ◽  
David Kirk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Affective Learning ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Personal Qualities ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact

This paper reports on the findings of two studies concerned with pupils’ motivational and emotional responses to pedagogies of affect in physical education in Scottish secondary schools. Pedagogies of affect explicitly focus on learning in the affective domain, or what is known in Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) as ‘personal qualities’. Personal qualities include motivation, confidence and self-esteem, determination and resilience, responsibility and leadership, respect and tolerance, and communication. In one study, led by Teraoka, the researchers explored the ways in which pupils responded, through focus group interviews based on Self-Determination Theory, to teachers who claimed to value and be committed to teaching explicitly for affective learning outcomes. In another study, led by Lamb, the researchers investigated the impact of an activist intervention on girls’ experiences of physical education, through their conversations in focus group discussions. Both studies reveal that pupils responded favorably, both in motivation and emotion, to pedagogies of affect in physical education, and that these responses offer a promising basis for future developments.

scholarly journals The Impact of Service Quality on Business Commitment in Contract Manufacturing Services: An Exploratory Study of F&B Industry in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-216
Author(s):  
Zulkefli Abdul Rahim ◽  
Boo-HoVoon ◽  
Rasidah Mahdi
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Outcome Quality ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Contract Manufacturing ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Development Capability

Business environment is highly competitive for food & beverage(F&B)industry due to the low entry barrier. In order to improve their financial performances, F&B manufacturers opt to offer contract manufacturing services (CMS).There is a formal relationship established between the service provider and the buyer. However, the impact of service quality on retaining the business relationship particularly has not been empirically investigated. To fill this gap, this study explores the determinants of contract manufacturing service quality (CMSQ) and the interrelationship between CMSQ, customer satisfaction and loyalty of the F&B CMSs’ customers in Malaysia. Four focus group interviews (28 participants) were held in this study and they comprised 12 contract manufacturers and 16 business customers. Three new dimensions were discovered from the focus group interviews; product development capability, Halal certification and outcome quality in addition to the SERVQUAL dimensions. Relevantinformation via structured questionnaires were collected via online survey and drop-off method. 146 usable questionnaires were analysed using partial least squares. The results indicate that CMSQ consists of eight dimensions namely empathy, assurance, reliability, responsiveness, tangibles, outcome quality, Halal certification and product development capability. The Empathy dimension is the most important dimension influencing customers’ decision to stay with the contract manufacturers.CMSQ was found to have a small effect size on loyalty while customer satisfaction largely influenced loyalty. The result implies that CMSQ is a complement in the formation of customer loyalty while customer satisfaction is a significant predictor of behavioural intention.The findings also provide empirical evidence that the contextual specific service quality is essential particularly for contract manufacturing in F&B.

scholarly journals Learning to care for the spirit of dying patients: the impact of spiritual care training in a hospice-setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wafie Hussein Chahrour ◽  
Niels Christian Hvidt ◽  
Elisabeth Assing Hvidt ◽  
Dorte Toudal Viftrup
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Care Training ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Patients approaching the end of their life do not experience their existential and spiritual needs being sufficiently met by the healthcare professionals responsible for their care. Research suggest that this is partly due to a lack of insight about spiritual care among healthcare professionals. By developing, implementing, and evaluating a research-based educational course on spiritual care targeting hospice staff, we aimed to explore the perceived barriers for providing spiritual care within a hospice setting and to evaluate the post-course impact among staff members. Methods Course development and evaluation was based on primary exploratory action research and followed the UK Medical Research Council’s framework for complex intervention research. The course was implemented at two Danish hospices and comprised thematic days that included lectures, reflective exercises and improvised participatory theatre. We investigated the course impact using a questionnaire and focus group interviews. The questionnaire data were summarized in bar charts and analysis of the transcribed interviews was performed based on Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results 85 staff members participated in the course. Of these, 57 answered the evaluative questionnaire and 15 participated in 5 focus group interviews. The course elements that the participants reported to be the most relevant were improvised theatre unfolding existential themes and reflexive group activities. 98% of participants found the course relevant, answering either “relevant” or “very relevant”. 73,1% of participants answered “to a considerable extent” or “to a great extent” when asked to what extent they assessed the content of the course to influence their work in hospice. The focus group data resulted in 3 overall themes regarding perceived barriers for providing spiritual care: 1. Diverse approaches is beneficial for spiritual care, but the lack of a shared and adequate spiritual language is a communicative barrier, 2. Existential conversation is complicated by patients’ overlapping physical and existential needs, as well as miscommunication, and 3. Providing spiritual care requires spiritual self-reflection, self-awareness, introspection, and vulnerability. Conclusions This study provides insights into the barriers facing spiritual care in a hospice setting. Furthermore, the course evaluations demonstrate the valuable impact of spiritual care training for health care professionals. Further course work development is warranted to enhance the “science” of spiritual care for the dying.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document