scholarly journals User Involvement of People with Mild Disabilities in Technology Innovations: Does It Make a Difference?

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-151
Author(s):  
Anita Borch ◽  
Pål Strandbakken
Keyword(s):  
User Involvement ◽  
Product Evaluations ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Mild Disabilities ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Technology Innovations ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Innovation Processes

In this study, we explored the role of people with mild forms of visual, hearing, physical, and cognitive impairments in innovation processes. Our research questions are: do the product evaluations by people with mild disabilities differ from those given by people without reported disabilities? If so, how? The analysis is based on eight focus group interviews conducted in Norway in 2016, in which 60 participants were asked to evaluate 11 energy-efficient product ideas. Four of the focus groups (two of men and two of women) were recruited based on the criteria of being mildly disabled. The remaining groups (two of men and two of women) had no such clause. The research results are ambiguous, indicating that the evaluations of new innovation by mildly disabled people correspond with those made by people without reported disabilities in some aspects and differ in others. However, the small size of the sample studied in this article suggests that the research results must be regarded as preliminary. Overall, the study reveals some interesting observations to be confirmed and disconfirmed in further research.

The Role of an Actual Brand Positioning: An Analysis of Digital Advertisements

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
June Won ◽  
J. Lucy Lee
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Brand Positioning ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Percentage Difference ◽  
Performance Tradition ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to: (a) investigate the actual positions in digital communications; (b) assess the relationship between position-congruity among intended positions (i.e., how a firm desires to be perceived by consumers), actual brand positions, and perceived brand positions (i.e., the perceptions that customers have in their minds); and (c) understand the role of actual positioning (AP) in the positioning process. Multiple methods (one-on-one and focus group interviews, content analysis) were applied to analyze positions. Brand managers, golf consumers, and digital advertisements in Golf Digest magazine were sampled. Content analysis, frequencies and percentages, percentage difference, and regression analysis were performed for all positions for each research brand. The results revealed that: (a) tangibility-based positions (88.5%: great quality, innovation) outnumbered intangibility-based ones (11.5%: tour performance, tradition) in digital AP, (b) there was no positive correlation between the degree of congruence between intended and AP and the degree of congruence between intended and perceived positioning, and (c) the AP mediated between intended and perceived positioning in the brand positioning model. The study provides empirical evidence for the mediating role of AP and suggests modifications to the previous positioning process.

scholarly journals Pupils’ Use of Social Media and Its Relation to Mental Health from a School Personnel Perspective: A Preliminary Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9163
Author(s):  
Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland ◽  
Viktor Schønning ◽  
Bodil Elisabeth Valstad Aasan ◽  
Randi Træland Hella ◽  
Jens Christoffer Skogen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Total N ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Use Of Social Media

The extent of mental health problems among adolescents seems to be on the rise, and this observed trend has often been linked to a coinciding increase in social media use. The goal of the current preliminary study was to investigate how senior high school personnel experience the role of social media in relation to the mental health of their pupils. Two focus group interviews (total n = 11) were completed and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, resulting in 4 themes and 11 subthemes. The results illustrate that school personnel experience social media as a tool for communication, but also as a potential cause of mental health issues and reduced academic performance among pupils. The participants called for schools to become better equipped to meet the opportunities and challenges of social media.

“A Really Strong Bond”: Coaches in Women Athletes’ Experiences of Inclusion in Parasport

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Jessica J. Ferguson ◽  
Nancy L.I. Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Women Athletes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Strong Bond ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Specific Barriers

Women within parasport experience discrimination due to marginalization associated with gender and disability. In this study, the authors gain the insights of women parasport athletes about the affordances and constraints to inclusion with an emphasis on the role of coaches, using an ecological approach. Guided by qualitative description, the authors conducted individual and focus group interviews with ten women experiencing disability to explore their experiences and perspectives of inclusion in parasport. Two primary themes were identified: (a) within parasport and (b) beyond parasport, emphasizing the critical role of relationships with coaches and athletes to experiences of inclusion. The discussion highlights the multilevel influences and specific barriers that challenge inclusion, such as few numbers of women athletes, the need for coach expertise, and co-ed playing environments. In doing so, the authors also offer specific recommendations for coaching in women’s parasport.

To Cross or not to Cross the Boundaries?

2012 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan-Chiu Tseng ◽  
Lung-Teng Hu
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Group Interviews

To explore the reasons why certain services could not be digitally integrated and fully provided online, some focus-group interviews were conducted with key officials of the municipal departments mentioned above. Governmental insiders were able to offer some compelling factors which critically influence the integration of e-services. Surprisingly, some officials raised challenges: Is it merely rhetoric or is it imperative to integrate full services across departmental boundaries under e-governance? Research results and implications for electronic cross-boundary governance will be discussed in this chapter.

scholarly journals Outsourcing trust to the information infrastructure in schools

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 990-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olof Sundin ◽  
Hanna Carlsson
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Search Engines ◽  
Information Infrastructure ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Interviews

Purpose This paper investigates the experiences of school teachers of supporting pupils and their apprehensions of how pupils search and assess information when search engines have become a technology of literacy in schools. By situating technologies of literacy as sociomaterial the purpose of this paper is to analyse and discuss these experiences and understandings in order to challenge dominant views of search in information literacy research. Design/methodology/approach Six focus group interviews with in total 39 teachers working at four different elementary and secondary schools were conducted in the autumn of 2014. Analysis was done using a sociomaterial perspective, which provides tools for understanding how pupils and teachers interact with and are demanded to translate their interest to technologies of literacy, in this case search engines, such as Google. Findings The teachers expressed difficulties of conceptualizing search as something they could teach. When they did, search was most often identified as a practical skill. A critical perspective on search, recognizing the role of Google as a dominant part of the information infrastructure and a co-constructor of what there is to know was largely lacking. As a consequence of this neglected responsibility of teaching search, critical assessment of online information was conflated with Google’s relevance ranking. Originality/value The study develops a critical understanding of the role of searching and search engines as technologies of literacy in relation to critical assessment in schools. This is of value for information literacy training.

scholarly journals Co-afflicted but invisible: A qualitative study of perceptions among informal caregivers in cancer care

2019 ◽  
pp. 135910531989040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattias Tranberg ◽  
Magdalena Andersson ◽  
Mef Nilbert ◽  
Birgit H Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Next Of Kin ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Informal Group ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Perceived Burden ◽  
Group Interviews

This article explores the lived experience of informal caregivers in cancer care, focusing on the perceived burden and needs of individuals seeking support from an informal group for next of kin. A total of 28 individuals who were closely related to a patient with cancer participated in focus group interviews. Three themes were identified: setting aside one’s own needs, assuming the role of project manager, and losing one’s sense of identity. Together they form the framing theme: being co-afflicted. The characteristics of informal caregivers are shown to be similar to those of people with codependency, motivating development of targeted interventions from this perspective.

scholarly journals A Blind Man Leads a Blind Man? Personalised Nutrition-Related Attitudes, Knowledge and Behaviours of Fitness Trainers in Hungary

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Kiss ◽  
Laura Pfeiffer ◽  
József Popp ◽  
Judit Oláh ◽  
Zoltán Lakner
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Professional Knowledge ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Personalised Nutrition ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Working Out

It is well-documented that fitness trainers could play an important role in the nutrition-related behaviour of their clients based on their personalised nutrition-related counselling activities, but there are considerable concerns all over the world about the level of their knowledge to become nutritional coaches. In the framework of the current study based on qualitative (focus-group interviews) and quantitative (questionnaire and analysis of responses by multivariable methods, as well as structural equation modelling) methods, it has been proven that (1) theoretically, both the trainers and the dietitians acknowledge the importance of cooperation in the optimisation of coaching efficiency and advisory work due to some “professional jealousness” and differences in professional background, as well as in culture, so it is hard to find a common platform for cooperation, especially in market segments characterised by relative low levels of purchasing power; (2) due to lack of regulation, there is a high heterogeneity of professional competences of trainers in general and their nutritional competences, in particular; (3) the majority of trainers do not have an objective picture on his/her effective nutritional knowledge, and they often offer a much wider scope of services (e.g., nutritional counselling for clients with chronic diseases) which are well beyond their professional knowledge and (4) the dietary guidelines have not become an integral part of professional knowledge, even at the level of specialists. To improve the current—in some cases, dangerous—situation, the following steps should be taken: (1) enhancement of the level of professional qualification of future trainers, integrating the practice-oriented approaches and emphasising the role of teamwork by simulation-based practices; (2) highlighting in a clear way the professional and ethical boundaries of the activities of trainers and (3) working out an efficient incentive system for the continuous professional development of trainers.

Voice of Ireland? Children and music within asylum seeker accommodation

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ailbhe Kenny
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Cultural Rights ◽  
Music Making ◽  
Video Observations ◽  
Communal Housing ◽  
Participatory Music ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Temporary Accommodation

This article examines the musical lives of children of asylum seekers living under direct provision in Ireland. Direct Provision is a controversial state system of communal housing for asylum seekers while they wait for their refugee applications to be processed. One third of all asylum seekers living under Direct Provision in Ireland are children. A knowledge gap exists on the cultural rights and needs of these marginalised children. Through participatory methods, the research presented examines the role of music for these children within one of the direct provision settings as well as their musical values, identities, and types of musical participation engaged in. Data was collected through six participatory music workshops, video observations, a researcher reflective log and focus group interviews. There were 11 children involved aged between 7–12 years, representing six nationalities and both genders. Findings reveal the importance and relevance of the contexts of music-making within temporary accommodation settings as well as the broader national and international contexts of children living within asylum seeking systems.

The role of community-based playgroups in building relationships between pre-service teachers, families and the community

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura McFarland-Piazza ◽  
Alison Lord ◽  
Melissa Smith ◽  
Belinda Downey
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Family Involvement ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Building Relationships ◽  
Constant Comparative Method ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Education Courses

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY was to explore how connections between families, communities and educators can be facilitated in teacher education courses through the use of playgroups. Barriers to building relationships, as well as the perceived benefits of these relationships to families and pre-service teachers, were also explored. Participants were involved in weekly university-based community playgroups. Focus group interviews were conducted and the constant comparative method was used to analyse interview transcripts. Themes of ‘Constraints’ and ‘Enablers’ emerged from pre-service teachers' transcripts, indicating that they were initially uncomfortable with community and family involvement but eventually made connections as to why this was important. The theme of ‘positive relationship building’ emerged from parents' transcripts, indicating that they saw building relationships with families and communities as an important role of early childhood educators. Implications for the importance of authentic learning situations for fostering these relationships in teacher education courses are discussed.

scholarly journals Äldre, alkohol och omsorgsbehov: Biståndshandläggare om arbetet med äldre personer med missbruksproblem

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evy Gunnarsson ◽  
Lis-Bodil Karlsson
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Addiction Treatment ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Care Managers ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
People Today

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how care managers went about in their work with older people living at home and having alcohol abuse problems. Method: Six focus group interviews and one interview with two participants were carried out. In total, 23 care managers from five different municipalities participated. Results: The care managers all stressed the fact that within home care, no addiction treatment was conducted. The role of home care was to provide good care helping older people in their everyday lives irrespective of their problems. The care managers had to push the limits for the available services to be able to help older people with alcohol abuse problems. The services offered are however strictly regulated in guidelines. Many older people with alcohol abuse problems were not interested in receiving home care, and they were seldom interested in having contact with the addiction unit. The self-determination of older people in need of home care is strongly stressed in legislation. If the older person did not want any help, there was not much the care managers could do. Conclusions: Since older people today drink more alcohol than earlier generations, there is a need for services and addiction treatment specifically directed at older people with alcohol abuse problems suitable for their needs.

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