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Article
Publication date: 1 November 1980

Jennifer Rowley, David Butcher and Christopher Turner

An examination of the work of Consumer Advice Centres and of the information sources and support activities that public libraries can offer. CAC's have dealt with pre‐shopping…

Abstract

An examination of the work of Consumer Advice Centres and of the information sources and support activities that public libraries can offer. CAC's have dealt with pre‐shopping advice, education on consumers' rights and complaints about goods and services, advising the client and often obtaining expert assessments. They have drawn on a wide range of information sources including case records, trade literature, contact files and external links. The recent closure of many CAC's has seriously affected the availability of consumer information and advice. Public libraries can make many kinds of information sources more widely available, both to the public and to the agencies now supplying consumer information and advice. Libraries can co‐operate closely with advice agencies through local co‐ordinating committees, shared premises, joint publicity, referral and the sharing of professional expertise.

Details

Aslib Proceedings, vol. 32 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0001-253X

Article
Publication date: 1 November 2003

Norma Raynes, Pat Margiotta, John Lawson and Dimitrios Pagidas

The importance of providing clear, relevant information and advice for older people has been recognised by health care professionals, politicians and policy makers. Key policies…

Abstract

The importance of providing clear, relevant information and advice for older people has been recognised by health care professionals, politicians and policy makers. Key policies (Better Government for Older People, 1998; Better Care Higher Standards, 2000; National Service Framework for Older People, 2001) have restated the importance of such provision specifically in relation to older people. A literature search and an examination of local authority websites were key sources of information for the study designed to explore the elements of guidelines for good practice. In addition we examined the websites of three major providers of information and advice for older people. Older people's views as to what constitutes good quality information and advice were explored in three focus groups. These four sources of data are the basis for the findings reported in this paper. This paper reports the limitations in the existing provision of information and advice for older people. Key features emerging from the research were that the involvement of older people in every stage of the process of design, production, dissemination and monitoring of information and advice was necessary. Older people valued face‐to‐face contact in the provision of information and advice.

Details

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, vol. 4 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-7794

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 October 2018

Kendra Geeraerts, Jan Vanhoof and Piet Van den Bossche

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of generation in teachers’ advice and information-seeking interactions in Flemish secondary school teams, and moreover how the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of generation in teachers’ advice and information-seeking interactions in Flemish secondary school teams, and moreover how the content of advice shapes these interactions. Four content-related advice and information-seeking networks are investigated in this study: subject-matter knowledge, classroom management, innovative teaching methods and ICT.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 660 teachers in ten secondary education schools in Flanders (Belgium) by using an online socio-metric survey. Social network analysis was conducted, more specifically quadratic assignment procedure and multilevel P2 modeling.

Findings

The findings underline the importance of investigating content-related advice networks. Generation affects the formation of interactions. First, the results revealed that older teachers are less likely to ask advice on subject-matter knowledge, classroom management and innovative teaching methods. Second, the data showed that older teachers are more likely to be asked for advice on subject-matter knowledge. Third, young teachers are more likely to be asked for advice on innovative teaching methods and ICT. Fourth, homophily effects occurred for the youngest teachers when advice is about subject-matter knowledge, and for the oldest teachers for advice about classroom management.

Originality/value

This study is innovative due to its application of social network analysis to investigate intergenerational knowledge flows, and due to its clear focus on content-related advice-seeking interactions that go beyond the approach of general advice and information-seeking interactions.

Details

Journal of Professional Capital and Community, vol. 3 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-9548

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2004

G. Ian Burke and Denise G. Jarratt

Although strategy development in large corporations has been well documented, the process of formulating strategy in small firms has not been extensively investigated by…

7477

Abstract

Although strategy development in large corporations has been well documented, the process of formulating strategy in small firms has not been extensively investigated by researchers. The process in small firms does not reflect exhaustive strategic analysis, but rather, a personality driven, opportunistic or instinctive approach, channelled through an emergent planning process. This study builds on recent work examining the planning patterns and approaches of small firms by integrating an understanding of the nature and extent of information and advice sought and received by the firm, and how that interaction influences the formation of competitive strategy. Results of this qualitative study point to more formal sources of advice such as providers of professional advisory services being bypassed due to a perceived lack of relevance of their information and planning advice to the SME's specific industry context.

Details

Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, vol. 7 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-2752

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 May 2010

Gemma Burgess

This paper analyses the value of information and advice for older people in making decisions about housing and care, drawing on an evaluation of FirstStop, a new national…

Abstract

This paper analyses the value of information and advice for older people in making decisions about housing and care, drawing on an evaluation of FirstStop, a new national information and advice service. The paper discusses the housing problems often faced in older age, and the pressures on public finances of housing an ageing population. The Government is trying to engender a shift to early preparation, prevention and self‐help, so that older people make changes to their housing and care arrangements before encountering a crisis. The paper considers how older people can resolve their housing issues in more satisfactory and empowering ways, and at lower cost to the state, after receiving appropriate and timely information and advice. It also discusses the problems of funding this type of initiative, given the need to ‘prove’ the value for money of publicly funded services in quantitative terms, when the benefits of information and advice are difficult to monetarise.

Details

Housing, Care and Support, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-8790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1976

Michael Tilleard and Gillian Clegg

Any historical survey of the way in which consumers have organized themselves into associations for their own mutual benefit and protection should really begin with the role…

Abstract

Any historical survey of the way in which consumers have organized themselves into associations for their own mutual benefit and protection should really begin with the role played by the consumer co‐operative movement. But, as Jeremy Mitchell (former Head of Information at Consumers' Association and now Director of the Consumer Affairs Division at the Office of Fair Trading) has pointed out, the co‐operative movement was not really a consumer association at all: ‘The fact that the consumer, in a co‐operative society, is the formal owner of the means of distribution seems to have little significance in practical terms. By analogy, it can be compared with the consumer's formal ownership of the means of production in a nationalized industry, or the individual shareholder's formal ownership of a joint‐stock company.’

Details

Aslib Proceedings, vol. 28 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0001-253X

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1986

Pirkko Elliott

This publication is based on a research thesis which examined self‐help ethnic minority organisations and their activities in order to construct an accurate picture of the library…

Abstract

This publication is based on a research thesis which examined self‐help ethnic minority organisations and their activities in order to construct an accurate picture of the library and information needs of their members. It identified the kinds of co‐operation that existed between self‐help ethnic minority organisations and public libraries and other relevant official agencies. A series of models for co‐operation that could take place between public libraries, other relevant agencies and self‐help organisations was constructed.

Details

Library Management, vol. 7 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-5124

Article
Publication date: 20 May 2020

Peggy Ng, Daisy Lee, Phoebe Wong and Regan Lam

Little research has been done on how university information sources influence advice-seeking attitude, intention, and behavior between students with high and low susceptibility to…

Abstract

Purpose

Little research has been done on how university information sources influence advice-seeking attitude, intention, and behavior between students with high and low susceptibility to online information. Our study addressed this gap by empirically demonstrating the role that students’ susceptibility to online information plays in terms of the effect of attitude, social norm and perceived behavioral control on their advice-seeking intention and behavior using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The purpose of this study is to examine differences in the susceptibility to online sources on students’ advice-seeking behavior when making an institution choice.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was involved, and this empirical study was performed on the basis of a sample of 621 students from publicly-funded high schools in Hong Kong. Multigroup analysis (MGA) was conducted to (i.e. students with high susceptibility to online sources/ students with low susceptibility to online sources) to examine students’ behavioral intention regarding advice seeking about institution choice. 10;

Findings

The results of the study revealed that students with high susceptibility to online information were likely to be influenced by the social norm in applying the TPB model. Conversely, students with low susceptibility to online information had low intention to seek advice from others as they are independent and noninformation seekers. Implications for higher education institutions are discussed.

Originality/value

This study provides a modified version of the TPB model while also demonstrating how students with high/low susceptibility to online sources affect their behavioral intention to seek advice from others about making a university choice. Also, this study provides insights into institutions regarding the promotion of marketing information via online and offline sources.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 44 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2006

Elizabeth C. Redmond and Christopher J. Griffith

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent, sources, diversity, costs, formats and content of food safety educational interventions for consumers provided by UK Local…

1984

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent, sources, diversity, costs, formats and content of food safety educational interventions for consumers provided by UK Local Authorities (LAs). Inadequate implementation of food safety practices in the home is known to contribute to the incidence of foodborne disease and therefore effective food safety education concerning risks and correct domestic food‐handling behaviours is essential.

Design/methodology/approach

A postal questionnaire was administered to all Environmental Health and Health Promotion departments in LAs in 2004 (n=436). The questionnaire assessed the extent of LA provision of consumer food safety advice, types, formats and content of interventions, rationale for information provision, methods used for design and delivery of information and participation in national initiatives.

Findings

A considerable quantity of food safety advice is provided to UK consumers; in general this is variable between regions, variable in quality, infrequently evaluated and relatively uncoordinated. Overall, 95 per cent of UK LAs who responded to the questionnaire reported current provision of consumer food safety advice. The most common intervention used for provision of consumer hygiene information was leaflets (93 per cent of LAs) and data indicated that this is likely to continue. Hand‐washing (87 per cent), cross‐contamination (85 per cent) and cooking (77 per cent) were the most common issues reportedly addressed in hygiene initiatives. Less than a third of LAs reported evaluating the effectiveness of food hygiene advice.

Originality/value

This study has provided evidence of a large quantity of unique and diverse intervention materials across the UK, and suggests the need for the sharing of information materials and areas of innovation between LAs. Provision of generic, managed and co‐ordinated general and targeted food safety education resources in the UK may not only decrease important time and financial costs within LAs, but also increase consumer confidence in the accuracy of information provided and alleviate the risk for potential confusion of information from differing sources.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 108 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 May 2005

Jeanne H. Yamamura and Fritz H. Grupe

For the business community, the Internet is a new frontier, offering unparalleled opportunities for expansion and growth. Businesses can and do offer their services throughout the…

Abstract

For the business community, the Internet is a new frontier, offering unparalleled opportunities for expansion and growth. Businesses can and do offer their services throughout the world, with the range of services multiplying daily. This paper discusses ethical issues related to the online provision of business and financial information and advice, reviews problems encountered and ethical issues raised, and proposes an ethical code to help address such problems. It begins by identifying differences occurring in an online advice‐giving environment and extending them to identify ethical issues. Specific problems that have occurred are reviewed and ethical issues are discussed. Finally, existing ethical codes addressing Internet practice are then utilized to identify elements in a proposed set of ethical standards for online business advisors and their professional organizations.

Details

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-996X

Keywords

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