Gerontechnology — new opportunities in the service of older adults

The increasingly more visible trend of population ageing necessitates creating technologies supporting the functioning of older adults. Consequently, more gerontechnologies emerge designed to help the older adults in their daily functioning, from devices monitoring the health to special trolleys improving the mobility or Virtual Reality devices for active learning. This article aimed to determine the most desired group of gerontechnologies among current and future users. It focused on individual assessments of the most desirable group of gerontechnologies based on various criteria. The investigation aimed to find the criterion rated the highest in the selected group of gerontechnologies. The gerontechnology group was assessed against seven groups of criteria distinguished by the authors, i.e., Technology Innovation, Technology Demand, Social and Ethical Criteria, Technology Usability, Technology Functionality, Technology Ease of Use and Technology Use Risk. The survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire, using CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) and CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview) methods, with the research sample comprised of 1 152 residents of Poland. Thus far, no studies have been conducted to evaluate this group of technologies based on the above-mentioned criteria.

Business Model Innovation Based on New Technologies and Its Influence on a Company’s Competitive Advantage

The aim of the paper is to determine the influence of BMI based on new technologies on a company’s competitive advantage. In order to accomplish the aim a quantitative research was performed using the computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) method. There are two main outcomes of the research. Firstly, BMI based on new technologies has a positive influence on a company’s competitive advantage. Secondly, it was proven that the greater the use of technologies for BMI the greater a company’s competitive advantage is. Taking into account the research results, the paper explains how they contribute to the development of two theories—the theory of innovation as well the theory of competitive advantage. Several recommendations for business practice as well as policy makers are also formulated.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with the Reuse of Mask during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey in Taiwan

Mask usage is an effective measure to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection; however, mask reuse is not recommended. Studies examining the factors associated with mask reuse during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are limited. This nationwide survey aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with mask reuse among Taiwanese citizens during the pandemic. From 18 May through 31 May 2020, a computer-assisted telephone interview system was used to randomly select Taiwanese citizens for interview regarding COVID-19-preventive behaviors and knowledge on mask usage. For a total of 1075 participants, the overall mean age was 57.4 years, and 82.2% of participants reported mask reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. After controlling for other covariates, participants who had a greater knowledge of mask usage or had a high supply of masks were less likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. Moreover, generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis showed that, compared with the participants’ mask-wearing behaviors before the COVID-19 pandemic, they were more likely to reuse masks during the pandemic. Thus, it is imperative to educate people on the correct usage of masks. Furthermore, the government should provide sufficient masks to the general population to reduce mask reuse.

Game Meat Consumption—Conscious Choice or Just a Game?

Game meat is constantly present on the European meat market, but a limited number of consumers are interested in its consumption. Considering the unique features of wild animal meat, we should explore what pushes consumers to include it in their diet. To identify the motives determining the choice of game meat, a quantitative survey based on the computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) method was conducted among 450 participants. The statistical analysis based on the logistic regression model allowed us to assess the significance of emotional motives leading to game eating and to investigate the importance of the rational motives related to the quality attributes of game for consumers. It was shown that rational motives influence the consumers’ choice more than emotional factors, while the most important motives are connected with healthcare issues. Consumers, for whom the crucial attributes of quality are taste, nutritional value, and low fat content, constitute a group that might more often include game in their diet in the future. Among the emotional motives, the familiarity, described as a feeling of knowing the product, also has a statistically significant impact on the consumers’ choice. The results obtained may be useful for academic theoreticians and market experts as well.

Automated and Interviewer-Administered Mobile Phone Surveys in Burkina Faso: Sociodemographic Differences Among Female Mobile Phone Survey Respondents and Nonrespondents

Background The remarkable growth of cell phone ownership in low- and middle-income countries has generated significant interest in using cell phones for conducting surveys through computer-assisted telephone interviews, live interviewer-administered surveys, or automated surveys (ie, interactive voice response). Objective This study aimed to compare, by mode, the sociodemographic characteristics of cell phone owners who completed a follow-up phone survey with those who did not complete the survey. Methods The study was based on a nationally representative sample of women aged 15 to 49 years who reported cell phone ownership during a household survey in Burkina Faso in 2016. Female cell phone owners were randomized to participate in a computer-assisted telephone interview or hybrid interactive voice response follow-up phone survey 11 months after baseline interviews. Completion of the phone survey was defined as participants responding to more than 50% of questions in the phone survey. We investigated sociodemographic characteristics associated with cell phone survey completion using multivariable logistic regression models, stratifying the analysis by survey mode and by directly comparing computer-assisted telephone interview and hybrid interactive voice response respondents. Results A total of 1766 women were called for the phone survey between November 5 and 17, 2017. In both the computer-assisted telephone interview and hybrid interactive voice response samples, women in urban communities and women with secondary education or higher were more likely to complete the survey than their rural and less-educated counterparts. Compared directly, women who completed the hybrid interactive voice response survey had higher odds of having a secondary education than those who completed computer-assisted telephone interviews (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.6). Conclusions In Burkina Faso, computer-assisted telephone interviews are the preferred method of conducting cell phone surveys owing to less sample distortion and a higher response rate compared with a hybrid interactive voice response survey.

Automated and Interviewer-Administered Mobile Phone Surveys in Burkina Faso: Sociodemographic Differences Among Female Mobile Phone Survey Respondents and Nonrespondents (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The remarkable growth of cell phone ownership in low- and middle-income countries has generated significant interest in using cell phones for conducting surveys through computer-assisted telephone interviews, live interviewer-administered surveys, or automated surveys (ie, interactive voice response). OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare, by mode, the sociodemographic characteristics of cell phone owners who completed a follow-up phone survey with those who did not complete the survey. METHODS The study was based on a nationally representative sample of women aged 15 to 49 years who reported cell phone ownership during a household survey in Burkina Faso in 2016. Female cell phone owners were randomized to participate in a computer-assisted telephone interview or hybrid interactive voice response follow-up phone survey 11 months after baseline interviews. Completion of the phone survey was defined as participants responding to more than 50% of questions in the phone survey. We investigated sociodemographic characteristics associated with cell phone survey completion using multivariable logistic regression models, stratifying the analysis by survey mode and by directly comparing computer-assisted telephone interview and hybrid interactive voice response respondents. RESULTS A total of 1766 women were called for the phone survey between November 5 and 17, 2017. In both the computer-assisted telephone interview and hybrid interactive voice response samples, women in urban communities and women with secondary education or higher were more likely to complete the survey than their rural and less-educated counterparts. Compared directly, women who completed the hybrid interactive voice response survey had higher odds of having a secondary education than those who completed computer-assisted telephone interviews (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.6). CONCLUSIONS In Burkina Faso, computer-assisted telephone interviews are the preferred method of conducting cell phone surveys owing to less sample distortion and a higher response rate compared with a hybrid interactive voice response survey.

Rola samorządu wojewódzkiego w kreowaniu środowiska innowacyjnego - studium przypadku województwa śląskiego

Samorząd województwa, realizując szereg zadań publicznych, zobligowany jest ustawowo do stymulowania innowacyjności regionu. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie siły i sposobu oddziaływania czynników regionalnego środowiska innowacyjnego na innowacyjność przedsiębiorstw na przykładzie województwa śląskiego. Ocenie poddano znaczenie następujących czynników zależnych od wojewódzkich władz samorządowych: zaangażowanie samorządu w rozwój kapitału ludzkiego, podnoszenie kwalifikacji administracji publicznej w zakresie innowacji oraz poprawy funkcjonowania administracji, promocja postaw przedsiębiorczych i innowacyjnych w regionie, tworzenie centrów wiedzy w regionie i nieodpłatne udostępnianie informacji. Wnioski oparto na wynikach badań ankietowych przeprowadzonych metodą CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) na próbie 259 przedsiębiorstw z województwa śląskiego. W celu określenia współzależności pomiędzy oceną znaczenia badanych czynników a wielkością, poziomem innowacyjności oraz profilem działalności przedsiębiorstw zastosowano metody statystyczne.

Embedding Diversity in Sustainability Reporting

The relevance of diversity has been recognised by academics and researchers as well as decision-makers. Diversity reporting can be perceived as the first step in addressing inequalities in organisations and potential assistance for the diversity agenda, because it allows measuring diversity and ultimately managing it. However, the recognition of the importance of diversity and diversity reporting does not necessarily contribute to a greater inclusion of diversity into sustainability reporting. The following paper attempts to determine the scope of diversity reporting, the specificity of the collected and disclosed diversity data, as well as the determinants of diversity reporting. For this purpose, a CATI (computer-assisted telephone interview) research was conducted, involving companies indexed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The results were analysed using the Cramer’s V contingency measure, the Kruskal–Wallis H test and ordinal regression. The results show a substantial difference in the collection of diversity information between organisations that map and that do not map their stakeholders. Furthermore, they show that, when organisations collect diversity data, their specificity is rather high, however this does not translate into an equally high level of diversity disclosure. Furthermore, the paper analyses the possible determinants of diversity disclosure, which do not necessarily overlap with the determinants of sustainability reporting.

Strict and Deep Comparison of Revealed Transit Trip Structure between Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview Household Travel Survey and Smart Cards

Large sample household travel surveys (HTSs) are an essential tool for the planning of urban transit systems. The progressive adoption by transit agencies of fare collection systems based on smart cards (SCs) has, for the first time, provided opportunities to compare the survey data with detailed, population-level data collected independently. These comparisons have produced some surprising results. Although the underreporting of non-home-based and off-peak trips was to be expected, the significant overestimation of transit use during peak periods was not anticipated. Using the Greater Montreal Area as a case study, this paper performs a strict and deep comparison of computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) HTS data and SC data across several dimensions: transit agency usage, departure time from home, number of trips per traveler, and activity durations. The analysis reveals that the HTS constitutes a simplified portrayal of transit usage patterns. Non-home-based trips and trips made for activities of short duration are underrepresented in the survey data, leading to an underestimation of off-peak travel by transit. In addition, the systematic overestimation of peak period transit use appears to be because of the corrective weighting of the 20–29 demographic which is notoriously difficult to reach in a telephone-based household survey.