scholarly journals German Citizens’ Perception of Fattening Pig Husbandry—Evidence from a Mixed Methods Approach

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 342
Author(s):  
Inken Christoph-Schulz ◽  
Anja-Karolina Rovers
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Attitudes ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Pig Husbandry

Pig production in Germany is experiencing an increasing discrepancy between social attitudes, wishes and the reality. To investigate the actual perception and knowledge of fattening pig husbandry by German citizens, a mixed methods approach was carried out. First, six focus group discussions were conducted. Content analysis showed that space availability, fresh air supply and flooring type are particularly relevant in citizens’ perception, whereas surgical interventions on the animal are perceived less. Furthermore, preventive use of antibiotics is seen critically by the participants. Based on these results, an online survey with 399 respondents was conducted to quantify the results. Findings from the focus groups were confirmed: Lack of space as well as the perceived precautionary use of medication were seen most critically. Results are influenced by if respondents have visited a farm before, the dietary behavior and sex.

Accessibility and Mobilisation of Social Capital in First-Generation Students’ Social Networks—A Mixed-Methods Approach

2020 ◽  
pp. 152102512097964
Author(s):  
Britta Wittner ◽  
Luisa Barthauer ◽  
Simone Kauffeld
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
First Generation Students ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach

Social support is a crucial factor for first-generation students’ (FGS) integration at university and their educational success. FGS are often assumed to lack social support and integration, but research shows mixed results. By means of a mixed-methods approach (combination of interviews and online survey), we aimed to shed light on the characteristics in FGS social networks that classify them as high-quality networks in order to obtain a deeper understanding of the structure and setup of the social contexts from which FGS receive support. Using these characteristics, we constructed types of socially supported students and related them to academic success. For that, we conducted N = 40 semi-structured interviews linked to Qualitative Social Network Analysis at an urban German University. Prior to the interviews, the interviewees filled out an online survey (1) consisting of demographic variables and psychological scales. During the interviews (2), we followed a problem-centred interview approach for the first part and then (3) asked about the FGS’s support networks during the beginning of their bachelor’s degrees. All the interviews were coded by applying content analysis. Network maps were analysed using qualitative structural analysis (QSA). Both maps and codes were used to build three types of support as received by the students. These types were in turn connected to the results of the support forms in content analysis and the psychometric scales to estimate how students perceive different structures in their networks as supportive. The results revealed three types: small and dense bijou networks, medium networks with emotionally close alters (close-knit networks), and large and diverse networks (have-it-all networks). The types show different results for university success and perceived support for their networks.

scholarly journals Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT) management in Tanzania: a mixed method study investigating barriers and facilitators to obtaining treatment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca M. Flueckiger ◽  
George Kabona ◽  
Upendo Mwingira ◽  
Alistidia Simon ◽  
Jeremiah Ngondi
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Continuum Of Care ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
The Continuum ◽  
Trachomatous Trichiasis

AbstractBackgroundProlonged ocular Chlamydial infection, known as trachoma, can lead to trachomatous trichiasis (TT). TT is the stage of trachoma where the eyelid turns inwards, resulting in lashes rubbing against the cornea. TT can damage the cornea, leading to vision impairment or blindness. Treatment for TT includes epilation or surgery. Trachoma is targeted for elimination as a public health problem. One criterion of trachoma elimination is less than 0.2% prevalence of TT unknown to the health system in adults >= 15 years. There are several districts in Tanzania that have not attained this target.MethodologyWe selected six districts across three regions in Tanzania. Our mixed-methods approach included a retrospective review and analysis of program data and implementation of key informant interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD).The desk review collated data on district-level indicators and generated estimates around number and proportion of cases not identified by case finders and cases lost along the continuum of care. KIIs and FGDs guides were structured to enlist responses around case finding techniques, linkage to services and TT surgery process.ConclusionWe found a substantial proportion (13%) of TT positive people were not being identified by case finders, and of those identified, majority (72%) were lost along the continuum of care. These factors likely contribute to high TT prevalence in districts where surgical interventions are ongoing. Engaging community leaders to share TT information and enlisting people who have received surgery to witness in communities may encourage consent of examination by case finders and increase surgical uptake. After witnessing positive effects of surgery, many interviewees who had previously declined surgery changed their mind. Increasing frequency of surgical camps would improve access to these populations. Additionally, giving more notice about surgical camps and extending duration is important to enable remote populations to obtain services.Author SummaryTreatment for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) includes epilation or surgery. There are several districts in Tanzania that have struggled to link people with TT to services. It is important for the program to understand why this is the case to inform program adaptations for improved linkage to services. We implemented a mixed methods approach to address this knowledge gap. We found a large portion of TT positive people are not being identified by case finders and of those identified, many are lost along the continuum of care. These factors are likely contributing to the unexpectedly high TT prevalence in districts where surgical interventions are ongoing. Barriers to identifying cases included remoteness, case finder credibility, knowledge of TT, and case finder motivation. Once cases are identified, the largest gap along the continuum of care is the link between being identified and screened. We found barriers to attending screenings and subsequently obtaining treatment to be fear of surgery, distance from surgical camps, agricultural season, time to plan, awareness and frequency of camps, and lack of assistance after surgery.

scholarly journals A Multi-disciplinary Mixed-Methods Study of Group Dynamics in Active Learning Space

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoshan Zhu Gordy ◽  
Elizabeth O. Carr ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Jessica H. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Peer Relations ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Learning Space

Active learning space emerged at the turn of the twenty-first century. The active learning space design represents not only an overhaul of traditional classrooms’ physical appearances but also reflects a paradigm shift from teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning. Current available research mainly focused on student academic performance as well as student and faculty perceptions.  No research has been conducted to investigate interactions at the student level to find out what interactions are taking place in the active learning space and how they affect student learning. This study employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design inquiring into student learning in an active learning space first through student focus group discussions and then with an online student survey. The major themes emerged from the focus group discussions were utilized to develop the online survey. The purpose of this survey was to cross-validate qualitative outcomes and further seek answers to unanswered questions triggered by qualitative findings. The qualitative data indicated that the spatial equity in the active learning space put students in positive mindsets and induced active classroom participation. The interconnected screens made it easy for students to view class content and collaborate with peers. The group work conducted in the space fostered mutual learning, promoted learning accountability and improved peer relations. The quantitative survey data on group dynamics validated and reinforced qualitative findings. This paper will help educators better understand student behaviors in the active learning space and better design space-appropriate pedagogical strategies.

scholarly journals Nairobi Early Childcare in Slums (NECS) Study Protocol: a mixed-methods exploration of paid early childcare in Mukuru slum, Nairobi

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000822
Author(s):  
Robert C Hughes ◽  
Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo ◽  
Sunil Bhopal ◽  
Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage ◽  
Zelee Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Epidemiological Methods ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Early Childcare ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Childcare Providers

IntroductionThe early years are critical. Early nurturing care can lay the foundation for human capital accumulation with lifelong benefits. Conversely, early adversity undermines brain development, learning and future earning.Slums are among the most challenging places to spend those early years and are difficult places to care for a child. Shifting family and work structures mean that paid, largely informal, childcare seems to be becoming the ‘new normal’ for many preschool children growing up in rapidly urbanising Africa. However, little is known about the quality of this childcare.AimsTo build a rigorous understanding what childcare strategies are used and why in a typical Nairobi slum, with a particular focus on provision and quality of paid childcare. Through this, to inform evaluation of quality and design and implementation of interventions with the potential to reach some of the most vulnerable children at the most critical time in the life course.Methods and analysisMixed methods will be employed. Qualitative research (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) with parents/carers will explore need for and decision-making about childcare. A household survey (of 480 households) will estimate the use of different childcare strategies by parents/carers and associated parent/carer characteristics. Subsequently, childcare providers will be mapped and surveyed to document and assess quality of current paid childcare. Semistructured observations will augment self-reported quality with observable characteristics/practices. Finally, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with childcare providers will explore their behaviours and motivations. Qualitative data will be analysed through thematic analysis and triangulation across methods. Quantitative and spatial data will be analysed through epidemiological methods (random effects regression modelling and spatial statistics).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted in the UK and Kenya. Findings will be disseminated through journal publications, community and government stakeholder workshops, policy briefs and social media content.

scholarly journals A mixed methods approach to determine the climate of interprofessional education among medical and health sciences students

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil Sulaiman ◽  
Youssef Rishmawy ◽  
Amal Hussein ◽  
Maha Saber-Ayad ◽  
Hamzah Alzubaidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Interprofessional Education ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Health Sciences Students

Abstract Background High-quality patient care is a complex phenomenon that requires collaboration among healthcare professionals. Research has shown that Interprofessional Education (IPE) carries promise to improve collaborative work and patient care. So far, collaboration among various health professionals remains a challenge. Very few focus group discussions to determine the medical students’ readiness and positive attitudes towards IPE have been reported from the Arabian context. Methods A two-staged sequential mixed methods study was conducted among medical, dental, pharmacy, and health sciences students of the University of Sharjah United Arab Emirates. The perspectives of students toward IPE and collaborative practice were first gathered by administering a validated instrument, Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). This was followed by focused group discussions. A quantitative as well as a qualitative data analysis was performed. Results This study cohort included 282 students. All respondents showed readiness to adopt IPE as all statements of the RIPLS inventory scored high median scores. All participants showed positive attitudes and readiness towards IPE. Three main domains of themes were generated from focus group discussions; prior knowledge, need for IPE framework and its implementation. Information workload, lack of clarity and less focused teaching pedagogies of IPE were considered as perceived barriers. Conclusion This study demonstrated a substantial agreement of medical and health sciences students towards readiness and perceived effectiveness of IPE. Educators are urged to embed new IPE programs into existing curricular frameworks, which can potentially enhance collaborative learning and improve quality of patient care.

scholarly journals “Like Static Noise in a Beautiful Landscape”: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Rationales and Features of Disliked Voices in Popular Music

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Merrill ◽  
Taren-Ida Ackermann
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Popular Music ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Group Testing ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Voice Perception ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Vocal Activity ◽  
Everyday Communication

The use of the voice in everyday communication is vital for our understanding of human interaction. The singing of popular music often amplifies vocal features from speech, which can provide insights into vocal activity in the context of the intense emotional impact of music. Three studies with a mixed-methods approach aimed at evaluating rationales and features of disliked voices in the context of popular music. In an interview study (N = 20), rationales and features for disliked voices were identified using self-selected voices. In a group testing session (N = 48) and an online survey (N = 216), these disliked voices were presented to new participants, and the vocal features and evoked emotions by the singers were investigated, assuming that the participants did not have strong opinions about the voices. The results showed that participants justified their dislikes based on object-related/sound and emotional reasons, similar to findings from studies on musical taste. Specific features of disliked voices were confirmed in the following studies, including a specific feature of popular singing styles, the twang, perceived as a squeaky and nasal sound. Further disliked features include a pressed sound, imprecise and ordinary articulation and a uniform expression. Notably, a rough voice was no predictor of aesthetic judgments. Evoked feelings relate to vocal features with similar tension levels. The measures created in the current study will also be informative for studying voice perception and evaluation more generally, which is a tool to evaluate vocal expression and items to evaluate reasons for disliked voices.

scholarly journals Exploration of undergraduate preservice teachers' experiences learning advocacy: A mixed-methods study

2014 ◽  
pp. 75-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelley Erin Carpenter Massengale ◽  
Cherese Childers-McKee ◽  
Aerin Benavides
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Letter Writing ◽  
College Instruction ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Meaningful Activity ◽  
Teachers Experiences ◽  
The Impact

Abstract: Applying transformational critical advocacy research in college instruction can be a powerful way to engage students in challenging inequity in society and promoting positive changes. Few studies systematically measure the impact of such pedagogy on the development of college students’ beliefs about advocacy. In this mixed methods study, we worked with 21 preservice teachers through advocacy letter writing activities and collected data from pre/post surveys and focus group discussions to explore the impact of such pedagogy. The findings indicated that advocacy letter writing was a meaningful activity for preservice teachers, allowing them a professional opportunity to voice their concerns about personally meaningful issues to entities in power. A significant correlation was found between baseline advocacy experiences and baseline advocacy beliefs, suggesting that the teaching of advocacy, when combined with opportunities for meaningful practice, can contribute to shifts in belief about the importance of advocating. 

scholarly journals Poor Information Literacy Skills and Practices as Barriers to Academic Performance: A Mixed Methods Study of the University of Dar es Salaam

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Klomsri ◽  
Matti Tedre
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Knowing How ◽  
The University

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly used in Tanzanian education. Knowing how to operate ICT alone is incomplete without knowing how to use it as a tool for organization, communication, research, and problem-solving. In recognition of this challenge, information literacy (IL) has been identified as a key attribute to students as they progress through their learning paths. Based on a mixed methods strategy, using questionnaires and focus group discussions, this study measured the level of IL skills among University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) postgraduate students, to gain insights into the students’ perceptions and experiences with information problems. A total of 102 students from four institutions answered the online questionnaire and 22 students participated in six focus group discussions. The questionnaire scores of the students were poor in the majority of IL categories, suggesting ineffectiveness of the current IL training in imparting IL knowledge and skills. The study ends by discussing recommendations to improve current IL practices at the university.

Assessing determinants of programmatic performance of community management of malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea in children in Africa: Protocol and data collection for a mixed-methods evaluation of iCCM (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliya Karim ◽  
Don de Savigny ◽  
Serge Ngaima ◽  
Daniel Mäusezahl ◽  
Daniel Cobos Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Intervention Effectiveness ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Low And Middle Income

BACKGROUND Integrated community case management (iCCM) is a child health program designed to provide integrated, community-based care for pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea for children in hard-to-reach areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The foundation of the intervention is service-delivery by community health workers (CHWs) who depend on reliable provision of drugs and supplies, consistent supervision, comprehensive training, and community acceptance and participation to perform optimally. The effectiveness of the program may also depend on a number of other elements, including an enabling policy environment, financing mechanisms from the national to the local level, data transmission systems, and appropriate monitoring and evaluation. The extent to which these factors act upon each other to influence the effectiveness and viability of iCCM is both variable and challenging to assess, especially across different implementation contexts. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we describe a mixed-methods systems-based study protocol to assess the programmatic components of iCCM which are associated with intervention effectiveness, and report preliminary results of data collection. METHODS This protocol employs a mixed qualitative and quantitative study design based on a Systems Thinking approach within four iCCM programs in Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger State, and Abia State, Nigeria. Routine monitoring data is collected to determine intervention effectiveness, namely testing, treatment and referral outcomes. Surveys with CHWs, supervisors, and caregivers are performed to collect quantitative data on their demographics, activities, and experiences within the program, and how these relate to the areas of intervention effectiveness. Focus group discussions are conducted with these stakeholders as well as local traditional leaders to contextualize this data. Key informant interviews are undertaken with national and district-level program stakeholders and officers knowledgeable in critical program processes. RESULTS We performed 3,836 surveys and 45 focus group discussions with CHWs, supervisors, and caregivers, and traditional leaders; 120 key informant interviews with district and national-level program managers, health officers, and ministry officials. Policy and program documents were additionally collected for review. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from this study will inform child health programs and practice in low- and middle-income settings, and future policy development within the iCCM intervention.

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