Hope Kent, Amanda Kirby, George Leckie, Rosie Cornish, Lee Hogarth and W. Huw Williams
Looked after children (LAC) are criminalised at five times the rate of children in the general population. Children in contact with both child welfare and child justice systems…
Abstract
Purpose
Looked after children (LAC) are criminalised at five times the rate of children in the general population. Children in contact with both child welfare and child justice systems have higher rates of neurodisability and substance use problems, and LAC in general have high rates of school exclusion, homelessness and unemployment. This study aims to understand whether these factors persist in LAC who are in prison as adults.
Design/methodology/approach
Administrative data collected by the Do-IT profiler screening tool in a prison in Wales, UK, were analysed to compare sentenced prisoners who were LAC (n = 631) to sentenced prisoners who were not LAC (n = 2,201). The sample comprised all prisoners who were screened on entry to prison in a two-year period.
Findings
Prisoners who were LAC scored more poorly on a functional screener for neurodisability (effect size = 0.24), and on four self-report measures capturing traits of dyslexia (0.22), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (0.40), autism spectrum disorders (0.34) and developmental co-ordination disorder (0.33). Prisoners who were LAC were more likely to have been to a pupil referral unit (0.24), have substance use problems (0.16), be homeless or marginally housed (0.18) and be unemployed or unable to work due to disability (0.13).
Originality/value
This study uniquely contributes to our understanding of prisoners who were LAC as a target group for intervention and support with re-integration into the community upon release. LAC in prison as adults may require additional interventions to help with employment, housing and substance use. Education programmes in prison should screen for neurodisability, to develop strategies to support engagement.
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Sarah Carpentier, Karel Neels and Karel Van den Bosch
The administration of social assistance benefits is devolved to local agencies in Belgium, which raises questions about how much variation in spell lengths of benefit receipt is…
Abstract
The administration of social assistance benefits is devolved to local agencies in Belgium, which raises questions about how much variation in spell lengths of benefit receipt is associated with differences across agencies. We address this issue by analysing the monthly hazard of benefit exit using administrative record data for 14,270 individuals in 574 welfare agencies. Our random-effects model allows for differences in both the observed and unobserved characteristics of beneficiaries and of local agencies. There are large differences in median benefit duration for individuals serviced by different welfare agencies: the range is from two months to more than 24 months. We find strong associations between beneficiary characteristics (sex, age, foreign nationality, citizenship acquisition, work history and being a student) and spell length. The estimates show higher odds of exiting social assistance receipt in bigger municipalities and in agencies which provide more generous supplementary assistance, and also strong evidence of shorter episodes in agencies where active labour market programme participation rates are higher.
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John Shepherd, Larissa Petrillo and Allan Wilson
The purpose of this paper is to summarize a library use study of the central and community branches of a Canadian public library. An exit survey documented the in-branch…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to summarize a library use study of the central and community branches of a Canadian public library. An exit survey documented the in-branch activities of users as a part of a library strategic planning process. Survey results were used in combination with branch statistics, postal code circulation statistics, neighbourhood demographics and other data sources to document the in-library use of the two facilities.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaires were administered to library users 15 years of age or older at the exits of the central and community branches. The survey collected data on their activities and services used during their current visit. Additional sources such as branch-level statistics, furniture tally sheets, photographs, Canada Census data and circulation analysis by patron postal code and lending branch were used during the analysis stage.
Findings
Both branches are heavily used but in different ways. Branch circulation and gate count per square foot of floor space were high relative to other Canadian libraries. Patron visits to the community branch were short in duration, in line with previous public library studies. User visit duration and in-library activities within the main branch somewhat resembled those of the central branch of a larger library system but likely for different reasons.
Research limitations/implications
The study was exploratory. Data were collected during two coinciding days of library operation, a Thursday and a Saturday, and may not be representative of the underlying population. The study was limited in scope as it was a community service project for undergraduate university students.
Practical implications
Branch library use surveys, in combination with library statistics and demographics, can provide useful insights concerning in-library patron behaviour when the use of ethnographic techniques is not feasible.
Originality/value
The study explored differences and similarities in user behaviour in two types of library facilities, a central and a community branch. Few published studies make such a direct comparison. The study explored the perceived benefits received by patrons from public library use and incorporated branch statistics, circulation analysis and Census data.
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Karlene Saundria Nelson and Yolanda V. Tugwell
This study investigated how students of the Faculties of Humanities and Education and Social Sciences at a Caribbean University sought information during the COVID-19 pandemic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated how students of the Faculties of Humanities and Education and Social Sciences at a Caribbean University sought information during the COVID-19 pandemic, identified challenges they experienced in seeking information for academic tasks and how satisfied they were with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services during this period.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative survey design was adopted for this study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.
Findings
This study revealed that undergraduates relied upon lecture notes to complete assignments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Undergraduate students have developed a definite information-seeking pattern, which did not change during the pandemic. They tend to use information channels that require the least effort. Postgraduate students used a variety of Library information channels but primarily used electronic journals. On the whole, students experienced challenges while seeking information via the channels provided by the Library. Students were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services.
Research limitations/implications
The study used non-probability sampling and only included students from two faculties at one university. As a result, the findings may not be generalized to the entire student population or all Caribbean universities.
Practical implications
The results of this study can be used to identify the difficulties students are having in accessing information from the Library and gauge service delivery.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the scholarship from the Caribbean written to show whether students' information-seeking behaviour changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Hui Lin and Brendan Luyt
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the National Library of Singapore in the life of Singaporeans.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the National Library of Singapore in the life of Singaporeans.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses historical research. McMillan and Chavis’ theory of sense of community is adopted as the analytical framework to delineate the role of the National Library of Singapore.
Findings
The paper finds that the National Library of Singapore plays an important role in fostering a sense of community among Singaporeans. The transformation of the library to a truly public institution in 1950s effectively enlarged its boundaries. Upon joining the community of the library, local Singaporeans underwent a bidirectional process of influencing and being influenced. The library made strenuous efforts to meet the needs of Singaporeans in myriad ways, resulting in reinforcement of the sense of community among Singaporeans. A shared emotional connection in the community was engendered as a result of the frequent contact and high-quality interaction.
Originality/value
While being influenced by various social and cultural frameworks under which it operates, the library actively takes part in and influences the society. The study of the library in the life of the users via the lens of sense of community provides a perspective to further understand the potential and power of libraries and how libraries can positively contribute to the society at large.
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Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).
Civilai Leckie and Heath McDonald
This study aims to investigate whether an organization that is entrepreneurial oriented can benefit from having a formal control structure and process in new product development…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate whether an organization that is entrepreneurial oriented can benefit from having a formal control structure and process in new product development (NPD). This study investigates two well-known control mechanisms in NPD, namely, stage-gate system (SGS) and project management (PM), as well as decision-making comprehensiveness (DMC), reflecting the amount of information processing and investigative activities undertaken.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 238 Australian small and medium enterprises. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The findings of this study suggest that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) directly impacts new product performance and indirectly does so through DMC. While both control mechanisms positively impact DMC, they affect the EO–DMC relationship differently. While SGS positively moderates the EO–DMC relationship, PM negatively does so. However, the use of SGS and PM enhances the effect of EO on DMC.
Practical implications
This research provides managers with insights into the design of structure and process in NPD to support interfunctional coordination and firm strategy. The findings of this study suggest that managers should be amenable to the application of control mechanisms and DMC. The calibration of the right mix of control systems is required to ensure that EO can contribute to decision-making in the NPD process.
Originality/value
On the surface, the implementation of EO requires flexibility while the control mechanisms and extensive information processing are seen as restricted structures for NPD activities. However, rather than viewing EO and control structure as counterintuitive elements in NPD, the results suggest that appropriate use of control structure can support organizational strategy and decision-making activities, which subsequently enhance NPD outcomes.
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Francisco Peco-Torres, Ana I. Polo-Peña and Dolores M. Frías-Jamilena
This study aims to analyze the effect of the use of social media on the perception of brand personality and to identify its effect on customer brand engagement.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the effect of the use of social media on the perception of brand personality and to identify its effect on customer brand engagement.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted an exploratory approach, adapting Aaker's brand personality scale (1997) to the context of cultural tourism before carrying out a quantitative study resorting to a structural equation modeling to obtain empirical evidence to identify these relationships.
Findings
The findings reveal that the use of social media has a positive effect on the perception of brand personality and that brand personality, likewise, has a positive effect on customer brand engagement.
Research limitations/implications
This study indicates that transmission of an attractive brand personality according to the desires of the public, combined with dissemination through social media, is a valid strategy to improve customer brand engagement.
Originality/value
This study represents an advance in the specialized literature on the value that consumers place on information transmitted through social media. Specifically, it sheds light on how the transmission of brand personality through social media affects customer brand engagement.
通过社交媒体在文化旅游中的品牌个性目的
本研究旨在分析使用社交媒体对品牌个性感知的影响, 并确定其对客户品牌参与度的影响。
设计/方法/方法
该研究采用探索性方法, 将Aaker(1997)的品牌人格量表适应文化旅游的背景, 然后使用结构方程模型(SEM)进行定量研究, 以获取关于拟议关系的经验证据
结果
研究结果表明, 社交媒体的使用对品牌个性的感知具有积极影响, 而品牌个性同样对客户品牌参与度也具有积极影响。
研究意义
这项研究表明, 根据公众的需求来传递有吸引力的品牌个性, 并通过社交媒体进行传播, 是提高客户品牌参与度的有效策略。
原创性/价值
这项研究代表了有关消费者对通过社交媒体传播的信息所具有的价值的专业文献的进步。 具体而言, 它揭示了通过社交媒体传播品牌个性如何影响客户品牌参与度。
La personalidad de marca en los recursos turísticos culturales a través de los social mediaPropósito
este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar el efecto del uso de los social media en la percepción de la personalidad de marca e identificar su efecto en el customer brand engagement.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
el estudio adoptó un enfoque exploratorio, adaptando la Brand Personality Scale de Aaker (1997) al contexto del turismo cultural antes de llevar a cabo un estudio cuantitativo mediante un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) para obtener evidencia empírica sobre las relaciones propuestas.
Hallazgos
los resultados revelan que el uso de los social media tiene un efecto positivo en la percepción de la personalidad de marca y que la personalidad de marca tiene un efecto positivo en el customer brand engagement.
Implicaciones de la investigación
este estudio demuestra que la transmisión de una personalidad de marca atractiva de acuerdo con los deseos del público, combinada con su difusión a través de los social media es una estrategia válida para mejorar el customer brand engagement.
Originalidad/valor
este estudio representa un avance en la literatura especializada sobre el valor que los consumidores otorgan a la información transmitida a través de los social media. Específicamente, arroja luz sobre cómo la transmisión de la personalidad de la marca a través de los social media influye en el customer brand engagement.