Caroline Westwood, Peter Schofield and Graham Berridge
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theory concerning visitor motivations, consumer experience and behavioural intentions at rural events; more specifically, it…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the theory concerning visitor motivations, consumer experience and behavioural intentions at rural events; more specifically, it focusses on agricultural shows, which have hitherto been neglected in the events management literature. These events have successfully broadened their visitor base, but not without the attendant challenges for agricultural events’ designers.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts a quantitative design using a questionnaire survey. The analysis, using a range of statistical procedures, centres on consumer motivation, experience and behaviour in relation to show features and their influence on future behaviour.
Findings
The findings of this paper demonstrates the relative importance to the consumer of the show’s various components and their influence on revisitation, which reflect the significance of social, cultural and personal meanings attached to their experiences. This highlights key motivational variables such as appreciating the shows’ traditions and intellectual enrichment.
Research limitations/implications
The study takes a cross-sectional approach, using a non-probability sample at four multi-day royal shows. Future research should establish the external validity of the findings and their applicability to smaller one-day agricultural shows.
Practical implications
The research provides a managerial contribution by informing show designers about the motivations of an increasingly diverse range of visitors. This will facilitate decisions around the engagement of contemporary design while preserving the traditional elements of agricultural shows.
Originality/value
Few studies have looked at rural events and, in particular, agricultural shows. Moreover, previous research in this area has focussed on rural tourism and place making, while consumer behaviour and experience at rural events has been neglected. This paper provides an insight into the consumer experience and perceived importance of various aspects of contemporary agricultural shows.
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Daina S. Lieberman and Jennifer K. Clayton
The purpose of this paper is to investigate power and its influence on the teaching assignment process and school-based decision making.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate power and its influence on the teaching assignment process and school-based decision making.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative interpretive design and thematic analysis were used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers and administrators.
Findings
Both teachers and administrators discussed power and social capital as components of the teaching assignment process. Teachers viewed the origins of their social capital differently than administrators and felt social capital was evident in school-based decision making and the teaching assignment process.
Research limitations/implications
Participants were demographically rather homogeneous. Further studies with a diverse sample could examine race and gender as factors in the teaching assignment process.
Practical implications
This study demonstrates a need for administrators to examine how they consider social capital when distributing teaching assignments and involving teachers in school-based decision making. Administrators’ actions may result in teacher tracking, disadvantaging marginalized and at-risk student populations.
Social implications
There is a clear disconnect between administrator and teacher understanding of the purpose and practice of teaching assignment distribution. Administrators were unaware of their own power, how they wielded it, and the effect it had on teachers.
Originality/value
Few studies have examined teacher–administrator power relations or the teaching assignment process at the secondary level. This study connects the teaching assignment process to social capital and power.
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Sarah A. Buchanan, Caroline Stratton, Yalin Sun and Ankita Chaudhary
The purpose of this paper is to report findings from research conducted to study the everyday work of information professionals, specifically records managers. This paper is a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report findings from research conducted to study the everyday work of information professionals, specifically records managers. This paper is a part of the “Research on the Work of 21st Century Information Professionals” study.
Design/methodology/approach
Researchers used the tailored design approach to create and increase response rate of our survey. Survey research methodology facilitated the development, pilot and launch of a survey instrument with a 20-question module specific to records management work.
Findings
The authors discovered the frequency of 11 tasks in records managers’ daily work, as well as how important each of 11 competencies are to their success on the job. Professional development topics and format, job satisfaction, strategies for gaining compliance, desired skills for new hires and curricular recommendations are also presented.
Research limitations/implications
The survey generated 334 responses from records management professionals. This sample was based on graduate alumni, targeted professional groups and snowball strategy. Implications from this study include educating doctoral students to study information work and identifying particular areas for strengthening graduate curricula and professional training.
Practical implications
The authors obtained direct insight on what records managers do in their daily work that will inform curricular decision-making.
Originality/value
The study explores an interest in daily work activities through multiple quantifiable data measures to offer nuanced insight on the relationships between different aspects of records management work.
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This article represents a reflection on issues which have arisen in the course of a year of change in archives and records management (ARM) training and education at the…
Abstract
This article represents a reflection on issues which have arisen in the course of a year of change in archives and records management (ARM) training and education at the University of Liverpool, and reports on initiatives for new records management courses and methods of delivery planned for the near future.1 Any evaluation of vocational education and training must begin with an examination of the nature of the profession itself, which dictates the larger part of the content of such a programme. It therefore begins with a reflection on current developments in records management theory and practice in the UK, before describing how the University has sought to accommodate them. Outside the UK, in Australia and North America in particular, debate about the nature of records management training has been vigorous,2 but in the UK public debate has been rare. In an attempt to stimulate debate this paper therefore also aims to contribute to the establishment of a records management education agenda which educators and the ARM profession at large may fruitfully address together.
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Peter Townsend and Caroline Wan
This research sets out to assess the relevance and impact of interpersonal contact, in the form of multicultural experience, in the development of socio‐cultural adaptation for…
Abstract
Purpose
This research sets out to assess the relevance and impact of interpersonal contact, in the form of multicultural experience, in the development of socio‐cultural adaptation for international students studying in their new country. The original contribution of this research is the application of a statistical methodology to this subject area in the Asia Pacific Basin.
Design/methodology/approach
The data analysis consisted of quantitative, longitudinal and cross‐sectional studies, from a sample consisting of students studying an international business degree, in the categories of living in national home culture or out of national home culture. Longitudinally, 88 students were sampled at the beginning of the semester and four months later. The cross‐sectional study of 380 students, over three years, was for students in these same categories, on the Australian and Malaysian campuses.
Findings
The analysis identified that socio‐cultural adaptation statistically demonstrates an initial negative relationship with multicultural experience, but develops beyond this period with a positive increase and relationship at the end of three years. There were no significant differences for socio‐cultural adaptation and multicultural experience between students studying in or out of their national home culture.
Research limitations/implications
The results statistically demonstrated a continuous increase of multicultural experience but also a U curve shape of socio‐cultural adaptation, thereby confirming previous qualitative research on the culture shock phenomena.
Originality/value
This is the only statistical research to date on the U curve phenomena in the Asia Pacific Basin.
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Sharon Mavin, Patricia Bryans and Rosie Cunningham
The purpose of this paper is to highlight gendered media constructions which discourage women's acceptability as political leaders and trivialise or ignore their contribution.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight gendered media constructions which discourage women's acceptability as political leaders and trivialise or ignore their contribution.
Design/methodology/approach
Media analysis of UK newspapers, government web sites, worldwide web relating to the UK 2010 government election, women MPs and in particular representations of Harriet Harman and Theresa May.
Findings
Media constructions of UK women political leaders are gendered and powerful in messaging women's (un)acceptability as leaders against embedded stereotypes. Being invisible via tokenism and yet spotlighted on the basis of their gender, media constructions trivialize their contribution, thus detracting from their credibility as leaders.
Research limitations/implications
UK‐based study grounded in opportune “snapshot” media analysis during election and resultant formation of UK coalition Government. Focus on two women political leaders, results may not be generalisable.
Practical implications
Raises awareness of the numerical minority status of UK women political leaders, the invisibility‐visibility contradiction and the power of the media to construct women leaders against gender stereotypes. Call for continued challenge to gendered leader stereotypes and women's representation in UK political leadership.
Originality/value
Highlights power of media to perpetuate gender stereotypes of UK women political leaders.