Jonathan ‘Yotti’ Kingsley, Rebecca Phillips, Mardie Townsend and Claire Henderson‐Wilson
This article focuses on the qualitative methodologies employed in a research project developed in collaboration with Aboriginal advisors and gaining an in‐depth understanding of…
Abstract
This article focuses on the qualitative methodologies employed in a research project developed in collaboration with Aboriginal advisors and gaining an in‐depth understanding of Aboriginal Victorian peoples’1 connection to their ancestral lands. It outlines why qualitative methodologies were used and highlights the ethical dimensions of working with Aboriginal Victorian communities. A research partnership was developed between Aboriginal Victorian communities and the non‐Aboriginal researcher and this process was emphasised because in the past Australian Indigenous people have been grossly exploited in health research. The methods of semi‐structured interviews and focus groups were used to gain a better understanding of this topic. The novel point of this article is that it provides an honest reflection of the benefits and limitations of this qualitative research process from the perspectives of a non‐Aboriginal researcher and an Aboriginal participant, when emphasis is placed on a collaborative approach. The paper outlines what a successful qualitative research project looks like in Victorian Aboriginal communities. This can be used as a blueprint not only for working with Aboriginal Victorian communities, who have been marginalised within Australian society, but may also be relevant to other culturally diverse communities throughout the world.
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Jonathan Yotti Kingsley, Mardie Townsend and Claire Henderson-Wilson
Aboriginal people across Australia have diverse practices, beliefs and knowledges based on thousands of generations of managing and protecting their lands (Country). The intimate…
Abstract
Purpose
Aboriginal people across Australia have diverse practices, beliefs and knowledges based on thousands of generations of managing and protecting their lands (Country). The intimate relationship Aboriginal people have with their Country is explored in this chapter because such knowledge is important for building insight into the relationship between social and ecological systems. Often in research Aboriginal views have been marginalised from discussions focused on their lands to the detriment of ecosystems and human health. This chapter aims to understand if such marginalisation is evident in Western human–nature relationship discourses.
Approach
This chapter provides a critical literature review which examines whether Aboriginal people’s diverse understanding of their ecosystems have been incorporated into human–nature theories using the biophilia hypothesis as a starting point. Other concepts explored include solastalgia, topophilia and place.
Findings
Critiques of these terminologies in the context of Aboriginal people’s connection to Country are limited but such incorporation is viewed in the chapter as a possible mechanism for better understanding human’s connection to nature. The review identified that Aboriginal people’s relationship to Country seems to be underrepresented in the human–nature theory literature.
Value
This chapter emphasises that the integration of Aboriginal perspectives into research, ecological management and policy can provide better insight into the interrelationships between social and ecological systems.
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Leanne Townsend and Claire Wallace
Over the past decade, the number of people engaging with social media has grown rapidly. This means that social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are potentially good…
Abstract
Over the past decade, the number of people engaging with social media has grown rapidly. This means that social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are potentially good sources of rich, naturally occurring data. As a result, a growing number of researchers are utilizing these platforms for the collection of data on any number of topics. To date, no consistent approach to the ethics of using social media data has been provided to researchers in this sphere. This chapter presents research that has developed an ethics framework for the use of researchers working with social media data. The chapter also presents the framework itself and guidance on how to use the framework when conducting social media research. A full report can be accessed on: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/socsci/research/new-europe-centre/information-societies-projects-225.php
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Jonathan Passmore and Claire Townsend
The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential value of coaching as a learning method for driver development within police blue light environments.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential value of coaching as a learning method for driver development within police blue light environments.
Design/methodology/approach
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study was undertaken with a sample of participants who had attended a five‐day coaching skills programme run for the Metropolitan Police Driving School, UK advanced driving instructors and a sample of police driving trainees who had been taught using a coaching approach.
Findings
The results indicate that the instructors who had taken part in the coaching training identified coaching as being of value in their work with developing advanced driving skills, specifically in raising awareness of police drivers and reducing drivers’ risk‐taking behaviour. The trainees indicated that they saw coaching as being of value in their learning in areas such as increased flexibility of approach and a focus on the relationship between attitude and driver behaviour.
Research limitations/implications
The study suggested positive benefits based on the experiences of this small sample of police driving instructors and police trainees. As a result, the UK's Association for Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is reviewing the role of coaching for wider application in driver training and for further research on the wider application of coaching as a learning methodology.
Originality/value
This is the first empirical study of the application of coaching in a blue light and police driving environment. While further research is required into the impact on safety, the paper suggests coaching may be a useful learning approach to police driver training.
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Claire McDonald, Jessica Townsend and Caitlin Gillespie
Mental health staff often experience significant levels of stress working in the acute psychiatric inpatient setting. Team-building interventions can mitigate stress in…
Abstract
Purpose
Mental health staff often experience significant levels of stress working in the acute psychiatric inpatient setting. Team-building interventions can mitigate stress in health-care settings, via improvements in team-cohesion, staff interactions and communication skills. The “Tree of Life” (ToL) is a specific narrative therapy approach which uses the metaphor of a tree to facilitate the construction and sharing of strength-based stories. This study aims to describe the development of and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and staff experiences of the “Team Tree”, an adapted Professional ToL (PToL) intervention.
Design/methodology/approach
A one-hour, Professional ToL intervention was designed for multidisciplinary acute inpatient staff teams working within a psychiatric hospital in London, UK. A mixed methods approach was used to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and staff experiences of the session.
Findings
Participants were 46 multidisciplinary staff (33 women; 13 men) working across four acute psychiatric wards. The intervention was feasible to deliver and was acceptable to participants. Results showed significant improvements in self-reported mental well-being and team-cohesiveness scores post-session.
Practical implications
Psychologists face myriad barriers in working with staff teams in the acute inpatient setting. The “Team Tree” intervention was both well received by staff and practical to deliver within the challenging environment of the acute ward.
Originality/value
This adaptation of the original PToL emerged from the author’s work with distressed inpatient teams with limited time resources. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of this intervention using a single tree metaphor to facilitate a reflective and creative session with health-care teams.
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Katherine Townsend, Anthony Kent and Ania Sadkowska
An ageing population in the developed world has become a significant topic in the contemporary research agenda. The purpose of this paper is to report on the development of a new…
Abstract
Purpose
An ageing population in the developed world has become a significant topic in the contemporary research agenda. The purpose of this paper is to report on the development of a new small-scale business model based on facilitating in-depth understanding and responding to mature female consumers’ needs and expectations towards fashionable clothing.
Design/methodology/approach
Two complementary approaches are used: interpretative phenomenological analysis allows the researchers to employ the life-course perspective and to develop in-depth understanding of individuals’ present experiences in relation to their past. Action research offers the possibility to develop participatory, co-design processes based on collective creativity and mutual knowledge exchange between the stakeholders.
Findings
The research finds a strong interest in fashionable clothing by women, irrespective of their age. The action-based co-design process involving collaborative encounters with mature consumers creates a dynamic capability for alternative fashion design methodologies. This approach can contribute to a small-scale fashion business model for the mature women’s fashion market.
Practical implications
The women in the study stress the need for a more inclusive design process and expressed a willingness to buy from a brand/retailer who would offer them such a collaborative opportunity. There are practical implications for how a more flexible sizing approach to the design of fashion for older women could be implemented.
Originality/value
This research makes a contribution to practice-based design solutions for mature women and a new inclusive business model based on emotional durability. The innovative methodological approach contributes to the field of ethical and sustainable fashion design.
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Thomas N. Garavan, John P. Wilson, Christine Cross, Ronan Carbery, Inga Sieben, Andries de Grip, Christer Strandberg, Claire Gubbins, Valerie Shanahan, Carole Hogan, Martin McCracken and Norma Heaton
Utilising data from 18 in‐depth case studies, this study seeks to explore training, development and human resource development (HRD) practices in European call centres. It aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Utilising data from 18 in‐depth case studies, this study seeks to explore training, development and human resource development (HRD) practices in European call centres. It aims to argue that the complexity and diversity of training, development and HRD practices is best understood by studying the multilayered contexts within which call centres operate. Call centres operate as open systems and training, development and HRD practices are influenced by environmental, strategic, organisational and temporal conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilised a range of research methods, including in‐depth interviews with multiple stakeholders, documentary analysis and observation. The study was conducted over a two‐year period.
Findings
The results indicate that normative models of HRD are not particularly valuable and that training, development and HRD in call centres is emergent and highly complex.
Originality/value
This study represents one of the first studies to investigate training and development and HRD practices and systems in European call centres.
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Cyndy Townsend and Eva Tutchell
Contends that an obsession with food, weight and dieting dominatesthe lives of many girls and that assertiveness exercises and betterawareness of the pressures exerted by media…
Abstract
Contends that an obsession with food, weight and dieting dominates the lives of many girls and that assertiveness exercises and better awareness of the pressures exerted by media images of women can encourage pupils to have more realistic expectations of themselves. Suggests ways in which teachers can help young girls, particularly those who might appear to have an eating disorder. Considers the possible causes of eating disorders and the images of womanhood as portrayed by the media. Feels that the slimming and catering industries have enormous financial incentives to perpetuate myths about how women should look. Supports the view that, although pupils may need help to improve their eating patterns and diet, they also need help to like themselves and replace their feelings of guilt with appreciation of self‐worth. They can be helped to find ways to reduce their levels of stress and ensure their expectations are realistic. Concludes by recommending that the first suggestion, for building self‐esteem, be followed by assertiveness training activities, and that, after the second exercise on Images, participants should become aware that building their own self‐confidence is a vital first step in analysing and controlling their own eating patterns.