This study investigated the design of three online public library catalogs in light of the cognitive ability and success of children ages five to eight.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated the design of three online public library catalogs in light of the cognitive ability and success of children ages five to eight.
Methodology/approach
A quasi-experimental approach was employed to examine the influence of system design on children’s searching strategies and search success. Interviews were used to explore children’s rationale for using icons and taxonomies in the catalogs. Fifty one children from one public library participated in this study. Inferential statistics were utilized to whether significant differences existed between use of the catalogs and the children’s success in finding information.
Results
Use of images and text were helpful in searching the catalogs. Results of the ANOVA test indicated no significant difference among children’s searching success rates and the three catalogs. Additionally, the participants misidentified representations used in icons in all three catalogs and created valid search paths that did not produce results. There was a disconnect between the children’s cognitive abilities and the design representations of the three catalogs.
Limitations
The study took place in one location, thus one should not overgeneralize the findings. Use of assigned tasks may have affected children’s success rates. Children’s searching using printed cards of display screens from the three catalogs instead of real-time interaction with them is also a limitation.
Practical implications
Because of the children’s reliance on images, the choice of visual representations is crucial to successful searching. Interface designers should involve young users in the design of today’s online catalogs. They should also consider new forms of representations such as auditory icons, verbal mouse overs, and zooms.
Originality/value
In addition to addressing the need for research on young children’s information seeking and use of online catalogs in public libraries, this research focuses on the need for an additional layer of visual representation and highlights flaws in currently used catalog designs.
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Keywords
Silk screen printing is a much used method of producing the required images on printed circuit boards. This paper discusses in detail the techniques and limitations of the process.
Ashlee Westerhold, Cory Walters, Kathleen Brooks, Monte Vandeveer, Jerry Volesky and Walter Schacht
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the financial outcomes from forage production and RI-PRF insurance interval for two locations in Nebraska. Both locations…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the financial outcomes from forage production and RI-PRF insurance interval for two locations in Nebraska. Both locations provide historical forage production and precipitation data, allowing the authors to examine the relation between RI-PRF net income and forage production.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors focus on evaluating the producer net income and risk (measured as variance of net income) by examining the relation between farm precipitation and production and comparing multiple insurance intervals to no insurance. Each insurance interval will likely have a different relation (basis risk) between observed production and return from insurance and, therefore, a different impact on the variance of net incomes. The impact on variance of net incomes identifies the risk-reducing aspects of RI-PRF insurance intervals. The authors then rank each scenario into four mutually exclusive zones that describe the risk-reducing effectiveness and whether the subsidy is working correctly.
Findings
The authors found both risk increasing and decreasing insurance intervals exist at both locations. One insurance scenario (low in BBR) provided the highest net income while increasing risk, suggesting a profit maximizing opportunity. RI-PRF reduces net income risk with intervals insuring during high expected precipitation (growing season); while net income risk increases with intervals insuring low expected precipitation (non-growing season, winter months). The farmer would want to insure during the high expected precipitation months, which coincides with the growing season, since RI-PRF lowers the net income risk. For the government, removing net income risk increasing intervals improves the allocation of government resources.
Originality/value
In this paper, the authors modeled the relation between RI-PRF interval selection using the historical forage production data at two locations in Nebraska. The use of historical forage production data allowed the authors to precisely identify the risk-reducing effectiveness of RI-PRF interval selection.
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Keywords
The dyadic relationship between U.S. parent advertising agencies and their foreign affiliates were examined, using information gathered from 344 respondents in 52 countries…
Abstract
The dyadic relationship between U.S. parent advertising agencies and their foreign affiliates were examined, using information gathered from 344 respondents in 52 countries. Parent agencies tended to position themselves to control their overseas affiliates by either totally or majority owning their operations but did not significantly influence, and thus control, their marketing activities. Several environmental factors, particularly claims advertisers can make and hiring restrictions, likely played important roles that affected the extent parent agencies influenced their affiliates.
This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/eb014561. When citing the article, please…
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/eb014561. When citing the article, please cite: D. Walters, C.A Rands, (1983), “Computers in Retailing”, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Materials Management, Vol. 13 Iss: 4, pp. 3 - 36.
Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these…
Abstract
Current issues of Publishers' Weekly are reporting serious shortages of paper, binders board, cloth, and other essential book manufacturing materials. Let us assure you these shortages are very real and quite severe.
D. Walters and C.A Rands
Along with organisations in other fields, retailers have been using computers in management systems since the mid‐1960s and, in some cases, much earlier. Over this period, there…
Abstract
Along with organisations in other fields, retailers have been using computers in management systems since the mid‐1960s and, in some cases, much earlier. Over this period, there have been dramatic changes in the computer technology available for use by management, together with considerable accumulated experience in using them, particularly in retailing. However, this has, in many industries, been offset by an increase in the problems facing managers; in retailing, for instance, companies now have to face economies in which disposable incomes have been squeezed, whilst buying patterns are changing rapidly and becoming difficult to predict. A consequence of this is that to survive today retailers must be far better at product range planning, cash planning and control of capital than they needed to be in the 1960s. They may be helped in this by an increasing understanding of how to manage product range, cash flow or funds allocation problems, and also by the availability of more advanced computing facilities which allow managers to apply this understanding more effectively. These facilities vary from the range of computers on offer (mainframe to micros) to data flow networks, automated data input, visual display terminals and specialist soft‐ware for retail planning and control (e.g. distribution packages).
For contemporary American young adults (aged 18–29), coresidence with parents is now the most common living arrangement. Recent research on residential transitions out of and back…
Abstract
For contemporary American young adults (aged 18–29), coresidence with parents is now the most common living arrangement. Recent research on residential transitions out of and back into the parental home shows that residential independence is still common, meaning that many young adults coreside with parents after first leaving the nest. The timing of residential independence and subsequent coresidence is often tied to other life-course outcomes, such as relationships and employment, as well as characteristics of the family context, such as family structure and financial resources. A small body of research also demonstrates that residential transitions are common following criminal justice contact experiences such as arrests and periods of incarceration. While this association does not appear to be explained by the family context, the current study argues there are several reasons to anticipate heterogeneity in coresidence patterns based on the childhood family context. Drawing on data from the 1997 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, I find that criminal justice contact is associated with coresidence with parents during young adulthood in a fairly consistent manner across different dimensions of family context (although parental education may play a role). These findings demonstrate the power of the criminal justice system in directing or redirecting residential trajectories and have implications for both individuals with contact and their families.
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Lynn E. Shanahan, Andrea L. Tochelli-Ward and Tyler W. Rinker
This chapter serves to synthesize existing literature centered on inservice teacher video-facilitated reflection on literacy pedagogy.
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter serves to synthesize existing literature centered on inservice teacher video-facilitated reflection on literacy pedagogy.
Methodology/approach
The inservice teacher literature review is focused on: (1) video analysis frameworks and scaffolds used to facilitate inservice teachers’ video reflection; (2) reflection and video discussions; and (3) the use of video for inservice teacher change and development.
Findings
From this review we learn that there is a dearth of video reflection research with inservice teachers on literacy pedagogy. Within the field of literacy, we know far less about how, when, and why to use video with inservice teachers than preservice teachers.
Research limitations/implications
The review of literature does not incorporate inservice teacher video reflection in disciplines such as science and mathematics. Expanding this review to all disciplines would present a more comprehensive picture of video reflection with inservice teachers.
Practical implications
The chapter highlights the potential value of using video in inservice professional development and points to the specific needs for studies to identify the most effective uses of video specific to inservice professionals.
Originality/value
This chapter provides significant research-based information for designing and implementing future studies and professional development focused on video reflection with inservice teachers.