Despite general agreement amongst educators, both in Australia and other countries, that an authoritarian inspection system, whatever its virtues, has outlived some of its…
Abstract
Despite general agreement amongst educators, both in Australia and other countries, that an authoritarian inspection system, whatever its virtues, has outlived some of its original purpose, reformist demands in this aspect of school administration have been slow to be met. In N.S.W. inspectors of schools have advanced proposals for change and the Department of Education has implemented some of these, together with other recommendations from its own committee of inquiry into the inspectorial system. The result has been a further liberalization of school inspection, although some traditional aspects remain. Arising out of the reforms are questions about whether inspections are necessary, how accountability and promotion are to be managed if they are not, and whether inspectors are justified in feeling insecure. The view is held that the growing professionalism of teachers will assist them to become more accountable directly to those they serve, but that regional education officers will still perform indispensable functions aimed at improving the educational quality of schools.
This article reports a study on the relationship between organizational climate and one aspect of school based curriculum development, namely, who makes the curriculum decisions…
Abstract
This article reports a study on the relationship between organizational climate and one aspect of school based curriculum development, namely, who makes the curriculum decisions and how. In a systematically selected sample of 20 primary schools in N.S.W., two questionnaire were administered: the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ) to measure organizational climate, and the Curriculum Decision Making Questionnaire (CDMQ) to determine who makes the curriculum decisions and how. The results indicated a highly significant relationship between the organizational climate factor of principal supportiveness, and curriculum decision making by a group of staff, with group decision making more likely to occur when the principal was supportive. Conversely, there was less likelihood of curriculum decision making by the class teacher acting alone, when the principal was supportive.
Based on a case study of the Logan Renewal Initiative (LRI) in Queensland Australia, this chapter examines the competing aims bound up in programmes of urban renewal and the way…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on a case study of the Logan Renewal Initiative (LRI) in Queensland Australia, this chapter examines the competing aims bound up in programmes of urban renewal and the way different stakeholder groups advocate for one component of the programme while seeking to prevent another.
Methodology/approach
A qualitative case study approach is used based on interview and documentary material to elicit the competing views and opinions of local residents, state and local governments, housing providers and other stakeholders around a renewal programme.
Findings
It is found that there are two competing agendas bound up within the LRI, with gentrification at the heart of each. One focuses on the virtues of the social housing reform agenda, but sees gentrification as an unintended and undesirable outcome that needs to be carefully managed. The other is a place-improvement ambition that sees gentrification as an effective policy mechanism, but one that will be undermined by any increases in the stock of social and affordable housing.
Social implications
The chapter emphasizes that programmes of renewal are rarely coherent policy tools, but are subject to change, contestation and negotiation as stakeholders compete to impose their own desired outcomes. In the case of the LRI, both outcomes will likely result in the marginalization of low-income groups unless their needs are placed at the forefront of its design.
Originality/value
The chapter engages critically with the widely held view that urban renewal is a means of gentrifying local neighbourhoods by showing how local conditions and circumstances render the relationship between renewal and gentrification far more complex that generally conceived.
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The aim of this research is to determine the impact of a learning organisation (LO) on developing quality improvement practices (QIPs) and to propose knowledge-sharing (KS) as a…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this research is to determine the impact of a learning organisation (LO) on developing quality improvement practices (QIPs) and to propose knowledge-sharing (KS) as a moderator which is anticipated to support the beneficial effect of a LO on QIP. A further objective is to establish whether training provision raises the abilities of healthcare organisations (HCOs) to attain greater standards of QIP via a LO and KS.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 240 responses, obtained from employees working at private HCOs in Jordan, comprised the valid dataset. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilised for data analysis. Multigroup analysis (MGA) was performed to compare the impact of workers who had or had not undergone training.
Findings
The findings indicated that QIP was significantly enhanced by LO. HCOs with the objective of converting a KS-moderated LO could attain improved QIP standards, but within the surveyed establishments, this effect was only appreciated at modest degrees. By performing MGA, no variations were identified in the impact of workers.
Practical implications
Managers should place more emphasis on training and learning within HCOs. However, respondents did indicate that their establishments had notable degrees of KS, suggesting a potential strength that could be used positively by the managerial hierarchy.
Originality/value
This study encompasses an original contribution to contemporary scholarship in the field of knowledge management and quality through its examination of the moderating effect of KS on LO and QIP.
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Paul Rohde and Gunnar Mau
This study aims to examine the ability of the social influence heuristics framework to capture skillful and creative social media influencer (SMI) marketing in long-form video…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the ability of the social influence heuristics framework to capture skillful and creative social media influencer (SMI) marketing in long-form video content on YouTube for influencer-owned brands and products.
Design/methodology/approach
The theoretical lens was a framework of seven evidence-based social influence heuristics (reciprocity, social proof, consistency, scarcity, liking, authority and unity). For the methodological lens, a qualitative case study approach was applied to a purposeful sample of 6 SMIs and 15 videos on YouTube.
Findings
The evidence shows that self-promotional influencer marketing in long-form video content is relatable to all seven heuristics and shows signs of high elaboration, innovativeness and skillfulness.
Research limitations/implications
The study reveals that a heuristic-based account of self-promotional influencer marketing in long-form video content can greatly contribute to the understanding of how various well-established marketing concepts (e.g. source attractivity) might be expressed in real-world communications and behaviors. Based on this improved, in-depth understanding, current research efforts, such as experimental studies using one video with a more or less arbitrary influencer and pre-post measure, are advised to explore research questions via designs that account for the observed subtle and complex nature of real-world influencer marketing in long-form video content.
Practical implications
This structured account of skillful and creative marketing can be used as educational and instructive material for influencer marketing practitioners to enhance their creativity, for consumers to increase their marketing literacy and for policymakers to rethink policies for influencer marketing.
Originality/value
Prior research has created a body of knowledge on influencer marketing. However, a conceptual disconnect has hampered the advancement of the field. The social influence heuristics framework is a highly functional conceptual bridge that links the qualitative and quantitative evidence and will advance the understanding of influencer marketing more effectively.
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The image of Mel Gibson and Hugh Jackman (as Wolverine) in the Mad Max and X-Men franchises represents traditional heroic action masculinity. This chapter explores the roles of…
Abstract
The image of Mel Gibson and Hugh Jackman (as Wolverine) in the Mad Max and X-Men franchises represents traditional heroic action masculinity. This chapter explores the roles of female action heroes in defying patriarchy and subverting action film genre stereotypes in male-dominated franchises. In contrast to past characterisations of Max, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) provides both a departure to the role of Max as the male saviour seeking vengeance, by focusing on Imperator Furiosa and offering space for a portrayal of femininity characterised by inclusivity and tolerance. In Logan (2017), the decay of Wolverine is central to the narrative. Rather than the portrayal of an immortal hypermasculine hero in the previous X-Men films (with emphasis on men in X-Men), a new female mutant Laura assumes his mantle. In this context, I consider the gender roles and depiction of women in these films, and how they may be read as offering a futuristic vision of utopia in dystopian narrative worlds.
In the distant future, the social and economic systems build by the patriarchy are crumbling, causing an environmental crisis and divisive society, where people who are different (mutants) are hunted down. Mad Max: Fury Road and Logan both offer an alternative depiction of women and girls, providing new perspectives to navigate an uncertain dystopian world through fierce female warriors Furiosa, and mutant girl Laura. Ultimately this chapter demonstrates that survival in the post-apocalyptic and dystopian worlds represented in Mad Max: Fury Road and Logan may be achieved via a subversive feminist solution/utopia to the crisis of masculinity.
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Constantin Bratianu, Alexeis Garcia-Perez, Francesca Dal Mas and Denise Bedford
Gabriela J. Saldívar Hern´ndez, Martha P. Romero Mendoza, Eva M. Rodríguez Ruiz, Ana L. Durand‐Smith and Eduardo Colmenares Bermúdez
The purpose of this article is to determine the degree of physical violence received and inflicted over the past two years by a sample of women in prison in their relationships…
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to determine the degree of physical violence received and inflicted over the past two years by a sample of women in prison in their relationships with their partners (N=/213). Over half of the women report having suffered some form of violence at the hands of their partners at some time in their lives. As for physical violence experienced over the past two years, one out of every four women has experienced violence at the hands of her partner. The women in this study rated the act of physical violence they had experienced in the past two years as severe, a term they also used to describe the degree of disturbance, anger and fear they felt after the violent incident. As for the violence the women inflicted on their partners, one out of every four women has inflicted violence on her partner (26.8%) although they rate the most aggressive event during these past two years as slight. After the event, over half the women felt severely disturbed as well as slightly angry and scared.
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Jacob Gossner, Ty B. Aller, Raechel Russo, Nathan Clay and Elizabeth B. Fauth
This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of participating in a brief three-part mental health literacy (MHL) training, the Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy (MHAA) training…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of participating in a brief three-part mental health literacy (MHL) training, the Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy (MHAA) training among employees in cooperative extension.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a case study research approach for program evaluation to understand the outcomes of participating in a brief three-part mental health literacy training, the Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy training. Participants were eight individuals who completed all three parts of the training and consented to participate in semi-structured interviews. The authors used knowledge, self-efficacy and behavior as the theory-informed analytic framework, the authors also engaged in inductive coding to examine other salient areas as discussed by participants.
Findings
All participants reported meaningful increases in knowledge, self-efficacy and covert (non-observable) behavior changes, while some reported overt (observable) behavior changes.
Originality/value
The current study used a case study research approach for program evaluation to understand the outcomes of participating in a brief three-part mental health literacy (MHL) training, the Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy (MHAA) training. While previous quantitative research on MHAA programming have documented significant increases in knowledge and self-efficacy, quantitative analyses have largely failed to identify significant behavioral changes. The qualitative methods used in the current study were valuable in identifying behavioral indicators of MHL that may help refine evaluation of behavioral changes following MHL programming.
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Tyler Prochnow, Logan Hartnell and Megan S. Patterson
Online gaming offers avenue to connect with others producing social capital especially for individuals lacking in-real-life (IRL) social support; however, there is concerns…
Abstract
Purpose
Online gaming offers avenue to connect with others producing social capital especially for individuals lacking in-real-life (IRL) social support; however, there is concerns related to mental health and depressive symptoms (DS). Virtually mediated social connections are particularly important during times of social distancing. This paper aims to investigate discussant networks established through an online gaming site and their possible association with DS and social support.
Design/methodology/approach
Participants (n =40) recruited from an online gaming site reported DS, online and IRL social support, and site members with whom they discussed important life matters. Participants also reported topics of conversation discussed and reason for communication. Quadratic assignment procedure multiple regression was used to determined significant associations between network structure, DS and social support.
Findings
DS were significantly associated with online (ß = 0.39) and IRL social support (ß = −0.44). Online social support was significantly associated with network structural factors. Topics reported by members most often were bridging capital topics while topics reported by members in most recent conversation were bonding capital topics. Members mentioned bonding social capital concepts as motivation for conversation.
Social implications
Building online relationships to provide bonding social capital could supply buffering effects for those feeling socially isolated during social distancing.
Originality/value
This paper is among the first to approach online gaming communication through social network analysis and qualitative analysis mixed method approach.