Search results
1 – 10 of 264As sociologists we all try to make a contribution to our field. Having completed our comprehensives and dissertations we have read in depth in several areas, have focused on an…
Abstract
Purpose
As sociologists we all try to make a contribution to our field. Having completed our comprehensives and dissertations we have read in depth in several areas, have focused on an area that interests us, and have learned the research process whether it uses quantitative or qualitative methodology. We all make our contributions available to the field, but occasionally one among us makes a startling discovery, has an unusual idea or a way to approach a problem, starts examining a new problem at just the right moment, or has an insight into a specific conceptual problem with unusual alacrity. A few among us combine all that skill and happenstance and lead the way into new sociological insights, new areas of research and provide a notable foundation or advancement to an area of knowledge. Saad Nagi is one of those contributors with vision, insight, and skill to see ahead of his time. This paper attempts to bring together in one place his major contributions to the disability knowledge base in sociology.
Methodology/approach
The approach used in this paper is an in depth review of all of Nagi’s published works in the area of disability. The published literature is grouped into the five areas in which Nagi made major contributions, including major research of the Social Security Disability Insurance process; development of a framework for the disability process; epidemiological definitions and research; development of a coherent set of disability measures; and an examination of the social problem, policy, and program process as developed and practiced in this country.
Findings
Nagi made a large and significant contribution in all the areas listed above and much of the measurement, and process examination is still relevant and useful in current research. His framework is still the basis for the very newest models of disability which dominate disability research today.
Research implications
Researchers need to go back to find Nagi books and articles written in the 60s, 70s, and 80s to ground their work in the originals rather than to take the interpretations of others on this material. The ICF and the Social Model did not originate in Europe alone, but much of the work began in the states in the early 60s with the work of Nagi, Haber, and others and should not be overlooked or ignored.
Details
Keywords
Claire Nagi, Jason Davies and Laura Shine
The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, content and structure of an intensive group-based intervention designed to address a range of needs common to individuals…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the development, content and structure of an intensive group-based intervention designed to address a range of needs common to individuals within low secure forensic mental health settings. Additionally, the feasibility, acceptability, resource implications and levels of participation and understanding are evaluated.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper describes the development, content and structure of an intensive group-based intervention designed to address a range of needs common to individuals within low secure forensic mental health settings. Additionally, the feasibility, acceptability, resource implications and levels of participation and understanding are evaluated.
Findings
Analysis showed that the intervention was well received by staff and participants and that those with low self-report knowledge at the start showed large improvements. Recorded levels of participation and understanding were lower than expected.
Research limitations/implications
Group-based interventions in low secure settings can be developed from existing “what works” information. Such treatments can feasibly be delivered although participants may need support – something which is not reported in many intervention studies. Research is now needed to assess the impact of the General Treatment & Recovery Programme (GTRP) intervention on participants.
Originality/value
The development of treatment programmes for offending behaviour within low secure forensic mental health settings is still in its infancy. This paper outlines and describes the development of such an intervention, namely the GTRP.
Details
Keywords
Robyn Lewis Brown, Mairead Eastin Moloney and Gabriele Ciciurkaite
Motivated by research linking job autonomy and job creativity with psychological well-being, this study examines how these work characteristics influence well-being among people…
Abstract
Objective
Motivated by research linking job autonomy and job creativity with psychological well-being, this study examines how these work characteristics influence well-being among people with and without physical disabilities, utilizing both a categorical and continuous measure of disability.
Method
Data were drawn from two waves of a community study in Miami-Dade County, Florida, of 1,473 respondents. Structural equation modeling was used to assess whether job autonomy and job creativity mediate the associations between the indicators of physical disability considered and depressive symptoms and whether these associations varied by gender.
Results
Controlling for the effects of the sociodemographic control variables, both job autonomy and job creativity significantly influence the association between physical disability and depressive symptoms regardless of the measure of disability used. The effects of job autonomy were significantly greater for women than men in the context of greater functional limitation.
Conclusions
The findings highlight the need to further consider the work characteristics of employed people with disabilities. They also demonstrate that the conceptualization and measurement of physical disability has important research implications.
Details
Keywords
Mohamed A. Ghonim, Nagi M. Khashaba, Hameda M. Al-Najaar and Mohamed A. Khashan
In recent decades, the concept of strategic alignment has been a center of concern for researchers and practitioners. This alignment is associated with the process of strategic…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent decades, the concept of strategic alignment has been a center of concern for researchers and practitioners. This alignment is associated with the process of strategic planning to achieve high strategic performance and competitiveness. This study aims to investigate the impact of strategic alignment on decision effectiveness.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were collected from 383 employees of the Directorate of Health Affairs in the Dakahlia Governorate in Egypt, through a self-administered questionnaire. The PLS-SEM approach was used to analyze the collected data.
Findings
The results revealed that strategic alignment significantly and positively affects decision effectiveness and its dimensions, emphasizing the importance of considering all four dimensions of strategic alignment in an integrated model to achieve the greatest impact on the decision effectiveness.
Research limitations/implications
This study is applied to a developing country, so a comparative study between both developing and developed countries may be needed. Second, the study was restricted to the nonprofit organization, so further research may examine the profit organizations.
Originality/value
Despite the existence of several studies on the relationship between strategic alignment and decision effectiveness in developed countries, studies conducted in the developing countries are still few. This is one of the earliest studies that adopt the multidimensional approach of strategic alignment in the public sector in emerging economies, which could help directors understand the interdependencies and different roles of strategic alignment dimensions in a novel comprehensive model.
Details
Keywords
The topic of offender rehabilitation has been subject to much research over the past decade. Numerous meta‐analytic reviews of offender treatment, particularly group treatment…
Abstract
The topic of offender rehabilitation has been subject to much research over the past decade. Numerous meta‐analytic reviews of offender treatment, particularly group treatment based on cognitive behavioural principles, have been reported. Together with the ‘triad of principles’ — risk, need and responsivity — they have formed the foundation upon which most offending behaviour interventions have developed. However, outcome data from existing programmes provides mixed evidence, and evidence for interventions for those in forensic mental health settings are still in their infancy. This paper critically considers the current evidence for the treatment of offending behaviour, and its application in forensic mental health settings, in order to inform development of such treatments in low secure mental health care. Most of the research focuses on non‐mental health settings, and is largely what will be considered here. The paper concludes that low secure interventions need to capitalise on the evidence of ‘what works’ while revisiting key concepts such as ‘dose’ and responsivity in order to design appropriate treatments. Individual outcome evaluation needs to form part of development in this area.
Details
Keywords
Krishnakumar Davey, Paul Markowitz and Nagi Jonnalagadda
Companies cannot capture the full profit potential of their products and services until their managers understand the ideal price points and width of the price range for each…
Abstract
Purpose
Companies cannot capture the full profit potential of their products and services until their managers understand the ideal price points and width of the price range for each product or brand given its position in the marketplace. This article describes the tools and best practices to accomplish this.
Design/methodology/approach
In the past year or so, Mercer Consulting has conducted 26 discrete choice modeling studies (our version of the modeling is called Strategic Choice Analysis® or SCA) with over 15,000 customers in a wide swath of industries across the U.S., Canada, Germany, and China.
Findings
Mercer studies show that price (17 percent out of a possible 100 percent) is nowhere near as important a selection factor as product features (65 percent); service features (11 percent), and other features (7 percent) account for the rest of decision‐making.
Practical implications
The article shows how all businesses can follow the lead of the exemplars in aligning pricing to customer value.
Originality/value
It clarifies why ideal pricing depends on discrete choice modeling and a number of best practices rather than on price optimization software alone.
Details
Keywords
Masoud Rahiminezhad Galankashi, Syed Ahmad Helmi, Abd. Rahman Abdul Rahim and Farimah Mokhatab Rafiei
The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to assess the agility of manufacturing companies.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to assess the agility of manufacturing companies.
Design/methodology/approach
Particularly, three supply chain logistic drivers (facility, transportation and inventory) along with three cross-functional drivers (information, sourcing and pricing) are selected as the main sets to classify all required activities of agility. In addition, supply chain contracts, as an important indicator of supply chain agility, is also considered to categorize the activities. These activities are ranked using an (AHP) and then categorized based on the major perspectives of agility. Finally, using a cycle view of supply chain, the developed activities are categorized as the major policies of supply chain’s echelons.
Findings
This study developed a framework to evaluate the agility of manufacturing companies. Operational activities of agile supply chain strategy (ASCS) in addition to supply chain contracts are determined and categorized with regard to supply chain drivers.
Originality/value
This study contributes to recognizing, ranking and classifying the operational activities of ASCS with regard to logistics and cross-functional drivers of supply chain. In addition, this study considers the supply chain contracts in conjunction with supply chain drivers. From the theoretic and methodological features, to the best of authors’ knowledge, this study contributes to offer new insights to this area as no similar research has been conducted before.
Details
Keywords
Mitchell Loeb, Jennifer Madans, Julie Weeks, Kristen Miller, James Dahlhamer and Cordell Golden
Applying an intersectional approach to the analysis of nationally representative population data collected through the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), this chapter…
Abstract
Purpose
Applying an intersectional approach to the analysis of nationally representative population data collected through the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), this chapter attempts to address the congruence between functional status (disability) and other relevant socio-demographic background variables (gender, race, self-reported health status, etc.) that may potentially result in disparate access to education and employment.
Methodology
Disability is defined and measured using the six American Community Survey (ACS) disability questions. Disability, intersectionality, and equalization of opportunities are assessed in a representative sample of the U.S. adult population as measured on the 2010 NHIS. Data on approximately 32,000 adults age 18 years and over are used to explore, using multivariate techniques, the intersection between disability, age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, health insurance, and reported health status, and education and employment outcomes.
Findings
The results presented describe a disparity in outcomes of education and employment between disabled and nondisabled adults when controlling for several important background and socio-demographic variables. Exploring the relationships between these variables provides a richer understanding of disability as it exists within the social world.
Research implications
In order to further improve our understanding of the population dynamics of disability, disability data must be routinely incorporated into national statistics programs. The ACS questions provide a common approach to the definition and measurement of disability within the Federal Statistical System.
Details
Keywords
A forward thrust drives the theoretical narrative of disability-in-society, as told by scholars of recent decades. Consider these titles (with emphases added): From Stigma to…
Abstract
A forward thrust drives the theoretical narrative of disability-in-society, as told by scholars of recent decades. Consider these titles (with emphases added): From Stigma to Identity Politics: Political Activism among the Physically Disabled and Former Mental Patients by Anspach (1979); From Good Will to Civil Rights by Scotch (1984); Moving Disability Beyond Stigma a collection edited by Asch and Fine (1988); The Disability Rights Movement: From Charity to Confrontation by Fleischer and Zames (2001). Each title is like a revved-up engine. Together, they convey a message of forward movement in the status of people with disabilities. The road they all travel starts from a negative starting point and ends at a clear and a more desirable, if not yet perfect, destination. The starting point is the subordinated and powerless status of persons with disabilities – a status based on stigma wrapped in pity. The destination: empowerment. These analyses focus on the United States; their authors, while not all sociologists, are close enough for our purpose. The road they all cover starts (chronologically speaking) around the 1940s, and extends – in the case of the earliest – up to the late 1970s; two others cover up to the mid- and late 1980s; and the last one, to the current century.