Dennis T. Clark, Susan P. Goodwin, Todd Samuelson and Catherine Coker
The purpose of this paper is to assess initial user perceptions and use of Amazon's Kindle e‐book reader.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess initial user perceptions and use of Amazon's Kindle e‐book reader.
Design/methodology/approach
Thirty‐six participants were provided with a Kindle e‐book reader and $100 to spend at Amazon. After one month of use focus groups were conducted to elicit user feedback about their experiences and overall first impressions.
Findings
Analysis of the discussions indicates overall interest in the Kindle as a basic reading device for fiction. However, its use in an academic setting is limited due to content availability and licensing issues, graphic display capabilities, organizational issues, and its prohibitive cost.
Originality/value
This is the first research paper of its kind to report on qualitative research conducted on user perceptions of the Kindle e‐book reader.
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Daniel Yi Xiao, Barbara A. Pietraszewski and Susan P. Goodwin
As the use of electronic library resources increases, the demand for online support also multiplies. Information literacy and 24/7 customer support are some of the urgent issues…
Abstract
As the use of electronic library resources increases, the demand for online support also multiplies. Information literacy and 24/7 customer support are some of the urgent issues related to research in an electronic environment that many libraries are trying to address today. This article describes an approach in meeting these challenges, the Let‐It‐V (Learning E‐Resources Through Instructional Technology Videos) project at the Texas A&M University Libraries. This study combines the use of screen‐captured videos and a streaming media encoder to produce topic‐specific videos for task‐oriented demands. It is visual, interactive, and seeks to provide just‐in‐time solutions at a point of need. On‐demand streaming is a viable, cost‐effective alternative for low bandwidth delivery of video‐enabled library instruction. The technologies involved, key development issues, lessons learned and their implications for distance learning are discussed.
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Gabriela Uribe, Carmen Huckel Schneider, Ferdinand Mukumbang, Hueiming Liu, Susan Woolfenden, Tabitha Jones, James Gillespie, Harriet Hiscock, Fiona Haigh, Sharon Goldfeld, Ilan Katz, Andrew Page, Vicki Giannopoulos, Paul Haber, Nick Goodwin, Teresa Anderson, John Eastwood and Michelle Cunich
In this paper, we aim to test the usefulness and contribute to the further development of analytical frameworks that guide research into integrated health and social care…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, we aim to test the usefulness and contribute to the further development of analytical frameworks that guide research into integrated health and social care initiatives.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses case studies based in decentralised administrative areas within the New South Wales state health system using (1) the Innovative Policy Supports for Integrated Health and Social Care Programs Framework, (2) the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and (3) the Framework on the Emergence and Effectiveness of Global Health Networks to assess the quality of international policies and/or strategies and integrated health and social care networks.
Findings
This study facilitates and advances integrated health and social care knowledge, moving from the study of local initiatives to a higher-level taxonomy of integrated care initiatives and exploring the emergence and effectiveness of global integrated care knowledge exchange networks. This paper proposes the use of three different frameworks to assess enhancement of the integrated health and social care using an array of multi-level innovation efforts as case studies.
Research limitations/implications
This paper highlights the need for further research, and additional supports for formulating a single unified integrated health and social care framework that can assess innovations at multiple levels beyond local settings.
Practical implications
A stronger partnership with key stakeholders to enhance integrated health and social care research capabilities would be a feasible way to increase care and research capabilities in all sectors.
Social implications
Health and social care clinicians, consumer representatives, service managers, policymakers and network knowledge partners must co-design a unified framework that better reflects the large multi-level agenda for integrated health and social care system change.
Originality/value
This novel study examines the level of integration of local space-based health and social care interventions, develops a taxonomy of local health district and/or primary care network integrated care initiatives to locate the “local” within a broader policy context and evaluates the quality of international policies and/or strategies and integrated health and social care networks.
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Susan Goodwin, Suzanne Shurtz, Adriana Gonzalez and Dennis Clark
The purpose of this paper is to assess user preferences and perceptions of Texas A&M University Libraries' Kindle e‐book reader lending program, to determine if current lending…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess user preferences and perceptions of Texas A&M University Libraries' Kindle e‐book reader lending program, to determine if current lending practices and procedures adequately satisfy user needs.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was administered to library patrons who participated in the first full semester of the e‐reader lending program. Of the 63 individuals who borrowed a Kindle, 52 answered the 13‐question survey designed to elicit their feedback about their experiences borrowing and subsequently using a Kindle to read their requested e‐books. The format of the survey was varied, and included objective and short‐answer questions. When possible, responses included a five‐point Likert scale.
Findings
Analysis of the survey results indicates overall interest and support for the Libraries' e‐reader lending program. Participants mainly utilized Kindles to read popular titles, indicating that the lending program has found a niche within the Libraries' suite of media borrowing services to support leisure reading. Furthermore, from a collection development standpoint, the user‐driven acquisition policy for Kindle titles has served as an extension and virtual enhancement of the popular bestseller print collection.
Originality/value
This study is one of the first qualitative research reports on patron perceptions of an academic library e‐reader lending program. This study is likely to be of practical interest to academic librarians who are in the process of developing similar lending programs.
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Megan S. Patterson, Mandy N. Spadine, Allison N. Francis and Tyler Prochnow
The purpose of this study is to assess factors related to sorority women connecting with people who exacerbate feelings of exercise guilt and body dissatisfaction (BD), both of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to assess factors related to sorority women connecting with people who exacerbate feelings of exercise guilt and body dissatisfaction (BD), both of which preclude compulsive exercise.
Design/methodology/approach
In all, 207 sorority women (egos) completed online surveys measuring physical activity, BD, compulsive exercise and egocentric networks (n = 1,105 social ties/alters). Two random coefficient multilevel models assessed factors related to an ego connecting to someone who makes her feel: guilty about her exercise habits and good about her looks.
Findings
Exercise patterns within networks related to how often an alter made ego feel guilty about her exercise habits; alter gender and communication frequency related to how often an alter made ego feel good about her looks; and ego’s BD score was related to both feelings of guilt and body satisfaction.
Originality/value
The findings of this study support and extend literature highlighting the importance of someone’s immediate social network on their body image and related behaviors.
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Tony Smith, Sally Fowler-Davis, Susan Nancarrow, Steven Mark Brian Ariss and Pam Enderby
The purpose of this study is to review evidence on the nature of effective leadership in interprofessional health and social care teams.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to review evidence on the nature of effective leadership in interprofessional health and social care teams.
Design/methodology/approach
A critical review and thematic synthesis of research literature conducted using systematic methods to identify and construct a framework to explain the available evidence about leadership in interprofessional health and social care teams.
Findings
Twenty-eight papers were reviewed and contributed to the framework for interprofessional leadership. Twelve themes emerged from the literature, the themes were: facilitate shared leadership; transformation and change; personal qualities; goal alignment; creativity and innovation; communication; team-building; leadership clarity; direction setting; external liaison; skill mix and diversity; clinical and contextual expertise. The discussion includes some comparative analysis with theories and themes in team management and team leadership.
Originality/value
This research identifies some of the characteristics of effective leadership of interprofessional health and social care teams. By capturing and synthesising the literature, it is clear that effective interprofessional health and social care team leadership requires a unique blend of knowledge and skills that support innovation and improvement. Further research is required to deepen the understanding of the degree to which team leadership results in better outcomes for both patients and teams.
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Geoff Ruggeri‐Stevens and Susan Goodwin
The paper alerts small business employers to new dictates of the Disability Discrimination Act (2005) as it applies to learning disabilities. Then the “Learning to Work” project…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper alerts small business employers to new dictates of the Disability Discrimination Act (2005) as it applies to learning disabilities. Then the “Learning to Work” project featured in the paper offers small business employers a set of approaches and methods for the identification of a learning‐disabled young adult candidate's training needs.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were carried out with 12 of the 52 companies in which the Breakaway‐supported employment service, operating from the Southdown Housing Association, has so far secured employment for people with learning disabilities.
Findings
Comments from employers in the survey represented predominantly very favourable experiences with the learning‐disabled individuals, mixed with some reservations about their need for additional training time, and their relative inflexibility in response to change of work routines.
Research limitations/implications
The investigation was confined to SMEs in Sussex. As they stand, the methods could be used in different business sectors, but further research is planned on elicitation of candidates' personal constructs, resource modelling, and continuous training cycles.
Originality/value
Recognised supported employment models were used but significantly adapted. Some methods used in the paper were new.
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Considers the pluralistic cultures which exist within a nation and outlines the history of previous research into this field. Introduces the concept of embeddedness which means…
Abstract
Considers the pluralistic cultures which exist within a nation and outlines the history of previous research into this field. Introduces the concept of embeddedness which means that the society within which a person lives will influence their behaviour. Discusses intracultural differences and presents some research strategies for looking at the ethnic consumer.