Shelley Margaret Hannigan and Jo Raphael
This paper explains a collaborative self-study research project that included an evolving arts-based inquiry (ABI) approach. The combined experiences of a visual artist/art…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper explains a collaborative self-study research project that included an evolving arts-based inquiry (ABI) approach. The combined experiences of a visual artist/art educator and a drama educator, informed the design and use of ABI strategies to investigate practices of Australian teacher educator-researchers. These strategies are shared along with results from interviews that reveal the dynamics and value of this particular model of ABI within a larger research project.
Design/methodology/approach
ABI was included in the methodology of collaborative self-study. It involved listening to participants’ arts-based and written responses then basing the next provocations on these outcomes. This gave ownership to the group members and reinforced the community of practice foci.
Findings
ABI challenged academic identities and practices. It allowed for more enjoyment in the workplace, for reflection and reflective practice to develop. It provided opportunities for shifting perspectives and perceiving teaching practice differently, inspiring more creativity in teaching. It also improved relationships with co-workers and held the group together.
Research limitations/implications
The authors share this research to recommend others a way to collaborate within group research projects.
Practical implications
The authors found it vital to have a co-ABI facilitator from within the group to collaborate with, in order to develop the most appropriate ABI provocations within an emerging research project.
Social implications
This model of research can generate honest and in-depth insights for participants (members of a community of practice) as to how and why they do the work (practices) they do.
Originality/value
The study’s use of ABI offers an original perspective in the use of this methodology.
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Michael Clark, Michelle Cornes, Michela Tinelli, Jo Coombes, Stan Burridge, Raphael Wittenberg, Jess Carlisle and Jess Harris
People experiencing homelessness often have multiple health and other support needs, requiring complex, coordinated support. Admission to hospital is potentially an opportunity to…
Abstract
Purpose
People experiencing homelessness often have multiple health and other support needs, requiring complex, coordinated support. Admission to hospital is potentially an opportunity to address these needs and begin integrating care, but so often it is a missed one. Our purpose in this research was to evaluate an ongoing, roll-out programme that offered government funding to 17 “test sites” across England to develop integrated care as part of post-discharge “step-down” support. In this paper, we examine senior stakeholder experiences of seeking to implement integrated care as part of specialist step-down care.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, we focus on data collected in interviews with key stakeholders (N = 10) who managed the mobilisation of local out of hospital care models for people experiencing homelessness. Interviews were conducted and analysed from a relational perspective, that is focusing on relationships between interactants, through which, for example, identities, understanding and integrating practice emerge.
Findings
A relational perspective on the data provides insights to better understand the complexity of integrating care at the point of hospital discharge for people experiencing homelessness.
Research limitations/implications
Although in depth, the data were limited to certain perspectives on the issues. Other perspectives and data collection from in-depth study of case sites would be invaluable in developing the empirical evidence base for a relational understanding of integrating care.
Practical implications
A relational perspective highlights the emergent and ongoing nature of integrating care in this context of support for people experiencing homelessness. The need for different system agents to work to be constantly enacting the desired support is crucial to understanding future system changes for integrating care.
Originality/value
This is the first paper developing a relational analysis of integrating care. It highlights a different theoretical perspective on the issues and important insights.
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Noel Nutsugah, Kobby Mensah, Raphael Odoom and Amin Ayarnah
Social networking sites have become breeding grounds for the spread of fake news and misinformation. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the spread of fake news intensified…
Abstract
Purpose
Social networking sites have become breeding grounds for the spread of fake news and misinformation. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the spread of fake news intensified, causing complications for health communicators by drowning authentic information from verifiable official sources. Looking at the impact of this growing phenomenon on people’s attitudes and behaviour during the pandemic, research in the area must be populated to help governments, supranational organisations, non-governmental organisations as well as civil society organisations to formulate policies to curb the menace. This study was therefore undertaken to unravel current gaps and future research avenues to empower academia in achieving the desired scholarly impact.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted the systematic review approach, relying on 56 peer-reviewed articles on social media, fake news and misinformation in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Findings
The study found that the use of social media during the height of the pandemic led to unhelpful information creation and sharing behaviours such that people’s self-awareness reduced drastically, thereby impeding the fight against the pandemic. The study also established that Entertainment motives, Ignorance and Altruism motives were the dominant factors that influenced the spread of fake news. There was evidence of the marginalization of research on the subject matter from contexts such as Africa, South America and Oceania.
Originality/value
This study has established existing gaps in issues and evidence, methodology, theory and context and consequently discussed future research avenues for social media use and the spread of fake news. The study has also provided practical implications for both governmental and non-governmental organisations in curbing the phenomenon of fake news and misinformation.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-07-2022-0366.
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Mohammad Kasem Alrousan, Amro Al-Madadha, Mohammad Hamdi Al Khasawneh and Adiy Adel Tweissi
The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect students’ behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect students’ behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research approach was adopted, an online survey method was used and the data were collected among students at PSUT in Jordan. A total of 511 responses were usable for analysis. A structural equation modeling partial least squares technique was used to examine the hypothesized model.
Findings
The findings reveal that the proposed factors have direct and indirect relationships with behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms. They show that students’ satisfaction has a direct influence on behavioral intention, while other variables such as instructor characteristics, virtual classroom quality, perceived self-efficacy, perceived organizational support, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have an indirect effect on behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted at PSUT in Jordan, which could limit the generalizability of the findings. Furthermore, the present study measured students’ behavioral intentions to use virtual classrooms and future research should consider the actual use of virtual classrooms.
Practical implications
The findings of this study offer significant and useful information to policymakers, instructors, developers and students regarding the use of virtual classrooms in universities. Based on students’ needs and readiness, the findings identify which factors to consider when developing an e-learning system to enhance learning and teaching performance.
Originality/value
This study extends existing knowledge by developing a conceptual model to identify the key factors of virtual classroom adoption in higher education institutions in Arab countries. This study contributes to the literature in the context of e-learning by validating an extended technology acceptance model from an Arab countries perspective and considering the differences in culture, learning style and physical environment compared to developed countries.
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The purpose of this paper is to improve current design processes by proposing a new approach based on multi‐criteria optimization of the designed asset. Management of design in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to improve current design processes by proposing a new approach based on multi‐criteria optimization of the designed asset. Management of design in construction projects is a complex task since it involves collaboration between professionals in multiple disciplines. Traditionally, designers work with a single solution at a time which is iteratively modified according to the view points of all the consultants. This results in sub‐optimal solutions. A multi‐criteria approach is able to accommodate diverse view points of specialist consultants in a construction project, aiming at a better optimized building system.
Design/methodology/approach
The shortcomings of current design practices are analyzed based on a literature review. It is found that current approaches involving single objective optimization or Pareto optimization are not adequate for supporting collaborative design processes. A new approach to managing multiple objectives in design is proposed. This involves performing multi‐objective optimization, presenting a population of good solutions to the design consultants and selecting the best solution through an algorithm called RR‐PARETO2 (Relaxed‐Restricted Pareto) filtering. A software tool with a graphical user interface was developed. An example of the design of a building façade is taken to evaluate the application of this approach.
Findings
The paper provides empirical evidence that a multi‐objective optimization approach is able to provide support for the task of accommodating multiple viewpoints in design. The proposed methodology allows navigation through the solution space and pruning it visually by applying constraints. It is shown that the RR‐PARETO2 is able to select a good compromise solution with the best trade‐offs among all the objectives.
Originality/value
The idea of visualizing and filtering a population of design solutions has been proposed by design researchers for a long time, but is not currently adopted in practice in construction projects. The idea of collaborative filtering of the solution space according to the viewpoints of all the consultants by visually applying constraints on design variables and objectives is a new concept, the ultimate aim being a better balanced built asset. This is the first time the RR‐PARETO2 algorithm has been applied to building design.
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Won-Gil Hyung, Sangyong Kim and Jung-Kyu Jo
Applied a hybrid approach using genetic algorithms (GAs) for a case-based retrieval process in order to increase the overall improved cost accuracy for a case-based library. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Applied a hybrid approach using genetic algorithms (GAs) for a case-based retrieval process in order to increase the overall improved cost accuracy for a case-based library. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
A weight optimization approach using case-based reasoning (CBR) with proposed GAs for developing the CBR model. GAs are used to investigate optimized weight generation with an application to real project cases.
Findings
The proposed CBR model can reduce errors consistently, and be potentially useful in the early financial planning stage. The authors suggest the developed CBR model can provide decision-makers with accurate cost information for assessing and comparing multiple alternatives in order to obtain the optimal solution while controlling cost.
Originality/value
The system can operate with more accuracy or less cost, and CBR can be used to better understand the effects of factor interaction and variation during the developed system’s process.
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For generations, Britain has had a household delivery of fresh milk; from the days before the Great War when it was delivered by a horse‐drawn milk float, with the roundsman often…
Abstract
For generations, Britain has had a household delivery of fresh milk; from the days before the Great War when it was delivered by a horse‐drawn milk float, with the roundsman often bringing the housewife to the door with his cries of “Milk‐O!”. The float had a churn and milk was delivered in a small can, served out by a dipper. This was the start of the distributive trade, organised between the Wars, from which the present industry has emerged. The trade gave universal acceptance to the glass bottle, returnable for household delivery, only the method of sealing has changed. There have been many demands for its abandonment in favour of the carton, of which recent years has seen a rise in its use in the increasing sales of milk by supermarkets and stores. Despite the problems with returnable vessels, the glass bottle has a number of advantages. The milk, including the cream line, is clearly visible, and short measure is most unlikely, which is a growing problem with carton‐filled milk. The number of prosecutions for short measure with cartons must be causing concern to trading standards departments. There is nothing to indicate the offence until the carton is opened.
Discusses the long existing and confusing problems of establishing the relationship of who is, and who if not, a dependent worker. Reflects developments which have occurred in…
Abstract
Discusses the long existing and confusing problems of establishing the relationship of who is, and who if not, a dependent worker. Reflects developments which have occurred in British law as it affects the employment field, plus an evaluation and analysis of some of the different types of employment relationships which have evolved by examining, where possible, the status of each of these relationships. Concludes that the typical worker nowadays finds himself in a vulnerable position both economically and psychologically owing to the insecurity which exists.