scholarly journals Hotel managers’ perceptions towards the use of robots: a mixed-methods approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislav Hristov Ivanov ◽  
Faruk Seyitoğlu ◽  
Martina Markova
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Service Robots ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism Industry ◽  
Hotel Managers

Adopting a supply-side perspective, the present paper analyses Bulgarian hotel managers’ perceptions of service robots using a convergent mixed methods design. Structured quantitative data was collected from 79 hotel managers through a questionnaire, while interviews were used for the collection of qualitative data from 20 hotel managers. The findings indicate that repetitive, dirty, dull, and dangerous tasks in hotels would be more appropriate for robots, while hotel managers would rather use human employees for tasks that require social skills and emotional intelligence. The demographic characteristics of respondents and the characteristics of the hotels they currently worked in played little role in their perceptions of service robots. The managers considered that robots would decrease the quality of the service and were generally not ready to use robots. Additionally, the interviewees indicated that skilled and well trained human employees were more valuable than robots and more adequate for the hospitality and tourism industry. Theoretical, methodological, and managerial implications are provided as well.

scholarly journals Telehealth to the Rescue During COVID-19: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study Investigating Patients' Perception

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghadah A. Al-Sharif ◽  
Alia A. Almulla ◽  
Eman AlMerashi ◽  
Reem Alqutami ◽  
Mohammad Almoosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Selection Of

Background: The onset of the pandemic necessitated abrupt transition to telehealth consultations. Although there is a few tools that gauge the patients' perception about their experiences, none of them are contextualized to an emergency in the Middle East and North Africa region. Accordingly, this study aims at developing and validating a tool to address this gap, and deploying it to assess the patients' perception of telehealth services during COVID-19 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was adapted. A random selection of 100 patients from Dubai, UAE were invited to participate. Qualitative and quantitative datasets were collected using a tailor-made survey. The qualitative data, collected through open-ended questions, was analyzed using multi-staged thematic analysis. As for the quantitative data, it captured the patients' extent of satisfaction, and was assessed using SPSS (with a series of descriptive and inferential analyses). The qualitative and quantitative findings were then merged via joint display analysis.Results: Out of the 100 patients that were randomly selected, 94 patients participated in this study. The reliability score of Cronbach's Alpha for the instrument was 98.9%. The percentage of the total average of satisfaction was 80.67%. The Principal Component Analysis showed that 88.1% of the variance can be explained by the instrument (p < 0.001). The qualitative data analysis expanded upon the quantitative findings enabling a better understanding of the patients' perception. Three themes, revolving around the quality of the patient telehealth experiences, surfaced: “Factors that worked to the benefit of the patients,” “Factors that the patients were not in favor of,” and “Opportunities for improvements as perceived by the patients.”Discussion: This study introduced a novel patient satisfaction with telehealth consultation survey contextualized to the COVID-19 times in Dubai, UAE. The participants were quite satisfied with the quality of their experience, however they suggested areas for improvement. Regional healthcare decision-makers can leverage the identified advantages and opportunities for improvement of telehealth. This will enable making informed decisions regarding the continuity of telehealth irrespective of how matters unfold in relation to the pandemic. It will also better prepare the healthcare sector for potential resurgence(s) of COVID-19 and/or the occurrence of other similar emergencies.

scholarly journals Evaluating the success of the tele-pathology system in governmental hospitals in Kuwait: an explanatory sequential mixed methods design

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Jasem Buabbas ◽  
Tareq Mohammad ◽  
Adel K. Ayed ◽  
Hawraa Mallah ◽  
Hamza Al-Shawaf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Support Services ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Technical Support ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
System Quality ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Telepathology System

Abstract Background Telepathology is the practice of reviewing and exchanging pathological images through telecommunication systems to obtain diagnoses remotely. Studying the factors that make such a system successful and favourable is important to ensure the merits of its implementation in clinical practice. Objective This study aims to evaluate the success of a telepathology system from the users’ perspectives, using specific evaluation criteria, namely: system quality, information quality, technical service quality, user satisfaction, and benefits. Methods A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was adopted in this study, which consists of two phases. Initially, a questionnaire was distributed via WhatsApp to all of the pathologists (total: 45) working at governmental hospitals in Kuwait. Followed by, semi-structured interviews with ten senior pathologists. Results Forty pathologists responded to the questionnaire, giving an 89% response rate. There were 42.5% of the respondents aged between 35–44 years old, and 52.5% were male. The quantitative results reveal that most of the respondents were satisfied with the quality of the telepathology system with a mean of 2.6025 (Standard Deviation (SD) = 0.47176), whereas they were dissatisfied with the quality of the information with a mean of 2.4100 (SD = 1.580) and the technical support services with a mean of 2.2750 (SD = 0.99535). In addition, there was disagreement on the benefits of telepathology in clinical practice among the pathologists with a mean of 2.4667 (SD = 0.77552). The qualitative results indicate that the lack of interest in and little experience with using the system were behind the general dissatisfaction of most of the respondents. All of the interviewees were satisfied with the performance of the telepathology system and considered it successful; however, the quality of the technical support services, including training workshops, was deemed deficient. Conclusion This study concluded that telepathology system in Kuwait is functioning well and has been successful in its implementation; however, pathologists are dissatisfied with it, mainly due to the deficient quality of the technical support services provided. In addition, the successful implementation of such advanced technologies requires careful steps to be taken on multiple levels: technical, organisational, and managerial. Recommendations were suggested.

scholarly journals Explaining nursing attrition through the experiences of return-to-practice students: a mixed-methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 490-496
Author(s):  
Joanne Garside ◽  
John Stephenson ◽  
Jean Hayles ◽  
Nichola Barlow ◽  
Graham Ormrod
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Nurse Shortage ◽  
Decision To Leave ◽  
Alternative Employment ◽  
Nursing Experience ◽  
Nursing Attrition ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Positive Work

Background: Nurse shortage is an international issue that has adverse effects on health and the quality of care of whole populations. Aims: The study aimed to explore attrition experienced by return-to-practice students attending higher education institutions in England. Methods: A mixed-methods design, involving questionnaires (n=114) and in-depth interviews (n=20), was used. Findings: Just over half (52%) of respondents left nursing after ≥10 years. Most of these (84%) stayed in alternative employment during their break from nursing. There were two distinct reasons for leaving nursing: the inability to maintain a positive work/life balance and a lack of opportunity for career advancement while retaining nursing registration. Respondents reflected positively on their nursing experience yet frequently reported significant personal or professional incidents prompting their decision to leave. Conclusion: The reasons nurses leave are complex. Professional bodies and managers need to work together to address concerns many nurses have during their careers that lead to them deciding to leave the profession.

scholarly journals Mixed or Complementary Messages: Making the Most of Unexpected Assessment Results

2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Jones ◽  
Julia Bauder ◽  
Kevin Engel
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Important Research ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Research Literacy ◽  
Initial Results

Grinnell College participated in ACRL’s first cohort of Assessment in Action (AiA), undertaking a mixed-methods action research project to assess the effectiveness of librarian-led research literacy sessions in improving students’ research skills. The quantitative data showed that the quality of students’ sources did not markedly improve following a research literacy session, while the qualitative data indicated that many students were able to state and describe important research concepts they learned. This article profiles the development of Grinnell’s AiA project and discusses how Grinnell’s librarians responded when the initial results led to more questions rather than to satisfactory answers.

Exploring the association of learning participation with the quality of life of older Chinese adults: A mixed methods approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 378-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renfeng Wang ◽  
Liesbeth De Donder ◽  
Free De Backer ◽  
Karen Triquet ◽  
Li Shihua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Chinese Adults ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
Older Chinese Adults

scholarly journals Who Are the Gentrifiers and How Do They Change Central City Neighbourhoods? Privatization, Commodification, and Gentrification in Bucharest

Geografie ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liviu Chelcea ◽  
Raluca Popescu ◽  
Darie Cristea
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Real Estate ◽  
Census Tract ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Central City ◽  
Field Trips ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Data Field

Our understanding of gentrification outside of the Anglo-Saxon core is relatively undeveloped. In order to contribute to a more de-centered approach, we ask who are the gentrifiers and how do they change central city neighbourhoods in a post-socialist context? The answers are explored through a mixed-methods approach, using both quantitative and qualitative data: construction permits analysis, census tract data, field trips, and interviews with tenants, former owners, and real estate agents. Findings indicate that gentrifiers vary in nature. They include state tenants, former owners, marginal gentrifiers, political capitalists, and institutional investors. Through their actions, central neighbourhoods have gained younger, more educated, and smaller households. Beyond this case study, we emphasize the usefulness of rent gap theories, the need to study displaced households, and the potential of property rights to enrich theories of gentrification.

scholarly journals The quality of orientation in ODL

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-63
Author(s):  
Silvanos Chirume ◽  
Mathias Taririro Dick
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Regional Campus ◽  
Common Policies ◽  
Address System

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the consistency with which quality is maintained in the orientation process. Orientation is a key university process intended to prepare new students for life in higher education (HE). For open and distance learning (ODL), orientation can be a key process for lessening some of the challenges associated with the separation of the learner and the lecturer. Indeed, for ODL students, orientation can be fraught with a variety of challenges one of which could be quality problems.Design/methodology/approachConvenient sampling was used to obtain a total of 89 students in the first semester and 34 students in the second semester. The respondents came from all the eight districts in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. They belonged to various degree programmes found in the eight faculties of the institution. Correlation was used to determine quality variations. Using a mixed methods approach, the study sought the views of the students and the relationships between activities done in the two semesters of 2018. SPSS version 16.0 software was used to compute Spearman’s correlations whereas content analysis was used to analyze the open-ended responses to the questa-view. This mixed methods approach helped the researchers to analyze and compare the quality of the orientation sessions.FindingsResults yielded a positive and high significant correlation between first and second semester variables (r=0.916,p=0.000), a finding indicating that staff members in the Midlands Regional Campus of Zimbabwe Open University have not changed their ways of conducting orientation. On a scale of 1 (least effective) to 5 (most effective), the average ratings for the presentations in the first and second semesters were 4.08 and 4.26, respectively. In the qualitative analysis, adequacy of the venue, timing, coverage of aspects and use of media were all rated positively for the two sessions. However, for the two sessions, some students mentioned negative sentiments to do with the provision of needed materials at time of student registration, the public address system, orientation packages, time management and communication.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper looks at the process of orientation as it was done at one regional campus of an ODL institution in Zimbabwe. It also analyses the quality of the orientation using correlation as a lens that measures consistency and also by critically analyzing content in the respondents’ voices. Implications are that the findings and recommendations can also be applied in other ODL (and even non-ODL) institutions with a view of finally coming up with common policies and procedures with regards to providing quality service and support to the twenty-first century student.Practical implicationsFindings were relevant and could be used for designing applicable orientation programmes in ODL institutions and for improving the quality of student support and services.Originality/valueWhile a number of studies have been carried out on orientation in HE, it would appear that research on orientation in ODL institutions, especially in Zimbabwe, appears minimal, hence this study covers an unexplored niche.

Psychosocial and Friend Influences on Objective Sedentary Behavior and Screen Time: A Mixed Methods Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanette M. Garcia ◽  
Alen Agaronov ◽  
John R. Sirard ◽  
Diane Whaley ◽  
David J. Rice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
School Students ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Activity Questionnaires

Background:Sedentary behavior (SB) increases throughout adolescence, and is associated with adverse health outcomes.Purpose:Examine psychosocial and friend influences on SB and screen time in adolescents using a mixed-methods design.Methods:108 middle and high school students wore accelerometers to measure objective SB, completed screen time and psychosocial questionnaires, and nominated friends to complete activity questionnaires. Focus groups centered around influences on SB behavior. Regression analyses and NVivo software analyzed quantitative and qualitative data.Results:Screen time was associated with greater screen time enjoyment, lower self-efficacy, and friends’ screen time (r2 = .21, P < .0001). Friends influenced whether adolescents engaged in screen time behaviors, with active friends encouraging less screen time.Conclusion:Active friends influenced adolescents to engage in less SB. Interventions should place an emphasis on encouraging less screen time, and providing opportunities for adolescents and their friends to engage in activities that promote physical activity rather than SB.

Predatory publishing and the Ghana experience: A call to action for information professionals

IFLA Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kodjo Atiso ◽  
Jenna Kammer ◽  
Jenny Bossaller
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Predatory Journals ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Research Organizations ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Predatory Publishing ◽  
Research Scientists

Researchers in developing countries are more likely to publish in predatory journals (Xia et al., 2015). This study investigates the understanding that research scientists in Ghana, a developing country, have about predatory journals and their publishing practices. Using a mixed methods approach, research scientists within one cluster of research organizations in Ghana were asked about their awareness of the characteristics of predatory journals, based on their own experience as a researcher. Their publications were also examined. The results indicate that most of the research scientists in this study are aware of predatory journals and are often solicited by them, but are less aware of tools they can use to determine the quality of a particular publication. In addition, 12% of the articles published that make up 24% of the unique journals in which these researchers published could be considered “predatory”. The findings of this research are significant because they indicate that research scientists may have more awareness of predatory journals than is expected, but that they may lack the training or tools necessary for deciding whether or not a journal is legitimate.

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