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1 – 10 of over 1000
Article
Publication date: 23 September 2013

Sarah Edmunds, Louise Hurst and Kate Harvey

– The purpose of this paper is to explore factors contributing to non-participation in a workplace physical activity (PA) intervention in a large UK call centre.

6913

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore factors contributing to non-participation in a workplace physical activity (PA) intervention in a large UK call centre.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 16 inactive individuals (nine male/seven female), aged 27±9 years, who had not taken part in the intervention were interviewed to explore their perceptions of PA, the intervention and factors which contributed to their non-participation. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Six superordinate themes were identified: self-efficacy for exercise; attitudes towards PA; lack of time and energy; facilities and the physical environment; response to the PA programme and PA culture. Barriers occurred at multiple levels of influence, and support the use of ecological or multilevel models to help guide future programme design/delivery.

Research limitations/implications

The 16 participants were not selected to be representative of the workplace gender or structure. Future intentions relating to PA participation were not considered and participants may have withheld negative opinions about the workplace or intervention despite use of an external researcher.

Practical implications

In this group of employees education about the importance of PA for young adults and providing opportunities to gain social benefits from PA would increase perceived benefits and reduce perceived costs of PA. Workplace cultural norms with respect to PA must also be addressed to create a shift in PA participation.

Originality/value

Employees’ reasons for non-participation in workplace interventions remain poorly understood and infrequently studied. The study considers a relatively under-studied population of employed young adults, providing practical recommendations for future interventions.

Details

International Journal of Workplace Health Management, vol. 6 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8351

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 February 2012

Alison M. Konrad, Mark E. Moore, Alison J. Doherty, Eddy S.W. Ng and Katherine Breward

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the different employment statuses of under‐employment, temporary employment, unemployment and non‐participation in the labor force…

2178

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the different employment statuses of under‐employment, temporary employment, unemployment and non‐participation in the labor force are associated with perceived well‐being among persons with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data from the 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) conducted by Statistics Canada to develop six categories of employment status. OLS regression analysis was used for hypothesis testing.

Findings

Findings indicated that fully utilized permanent employees show the highest level of life satisfaction while unemployed persons searching for work have the lowest levels of life satisfaction and the highest levels of perceived workplace discrimination. Permanent employees whose skills are greatly underutilized show the second‐lowest level of life satisfaction and equally high perceived workplace discrimination as unemployed persons. Non‐participants in the labor force show life satisfaction levels similar to those of permanent moderately underutilized employees as well as temporary employees, but report relatively little workplace discrimination.

Originality/value

The study links vocational status to the psychological well‐being of persons with disabilities in a large representative sample covering the full spectrum of disability types and occupational statuses. As such, it validates conclusions from smaller studies examining single organizations or focusing on workers with specific types of disabilities.

Article
Publication date: 4 November 2014

Marco Bardus, Holly Blake, Scott Lloyd and L. Suzanne Suggs

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reasons for participating and not participating in an e-health workplace physical activity (PA) intervention.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the reasons for participating and not participating in an e-health workplace physical activity (PA) intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted with a purposive sample of employees who enrolled and participated in the intervention and with those who did not complete enrolment, hence did not participate in it. Data were examined using thematic analysis according to the clusters of “reasons for participation” and for “non-participation”.

Findings

Reported reasons for participation included a need to be more active, to increase motivation to engage in PA, and to better manage weight. Employees were attracted by the perceived ease of use of the programme and by the promise of receiving reminders. Many felt encouraged to enrol by managers or peers. Reported reasons for non-participation included lack of time, loss of interest towards the programme, or a lack of reminders to complete enrolment.

Practical implications

Future e-health workplace behavioural interventions should consider focusing on employees’ needs and motivators to behaviour change, provide regular reminders for participants to complete enrolment and ensure that procedures are completed successfully. Barriers to participation could be identified through formative research with the target population and feasibility studies.

Originality/value

This study combines a qualitative analysis of the reasons why some employees decided to enrol in a workplace PA intervention and why some others did not. This study highlights factors to consider when designing, implementing and promoting similar interventions and that could inform strategies to enhance participation in workplace PA interventions.

Details

International Journal of Workplace Health Management, vol. 7 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8351

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 July 2017

Collins Asante-Addo, Jonathan Mockshell, Manfred Zeller, Khalid Siddig and Irene S. Egyir

The purpose of this paper is to analyze determinants of farmers’ participation and credit rationing in microcredit programs using survey data from Ghana.

1291

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze determinants of farmers’ participation and credit rationing in microcredit programs using survey data from Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the Garrett Ranking Technique to analyze farmers’ reasons for participation or non-participation in credit programs, a probit regression model to estimate factors influencing farm households’ participation, and the Heckman’s sample selection model to identify factors influencing farm households’ probability of being credit rationed by microcredit programs.

Findings

The results reveal that farm households participate in credit programs because of improved access to savings services and agricultural loans. Fear of loan default and lack of savings are reasons for non-participation in credit programs. Furthermore, membership in farmer-based organizations (FBOs) and the household head’s formal education are positively associated with farmers’ participation in credit programs. The likelihood of farmers being credit rationed (i.e. their loan applications were either rejected or the amount of credit they applied for was reduced) is less likely among higher income farmers and members of FBOs such as farmer cooperatives and savings clubs.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that policy strategies aiming to improve access to savings and credit services should educate farmers and strengthen FBOs that could serve as entry points for financial service providers. Such market smart strategies have the potential to improve farmers’ access to financial services and reduce rural poverty.

Originality/value

Although existing studies have examined farmers’ participation in credit markets and credit rationing separately, the unique contribution of this paper is the analysis of participation in microcredit programs as well as the likelihood of farmers being credit rationed in Ghana.

Details

Agricultural Finance Review, vol. 77 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-1466

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 1969

The Secretary of State for Social Services to whom there were by the Secretary of State for Social Services Order 1968 transferred all functions of the Minister of Health (which…

Abstract

The Secretary of State for Social Services to whom there were by the Secretary of State for Social Services Order 1968 transferred all functions of the Minister of Health (which Minister the Treasury had determined was the appropriate Minister for the purposes of section 110 of the National Insurance Act 1965 to make regulations under that section modifying the scheme for the provision of pensions and other benefits established by regulations made under section 67 of the National Health Service Act 1946), in exercise of his powers under section 110 of the National Insurance Act 1965 and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following regulations:—

Details

Managerial Law, vol. 7 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0309-0558

Article
Publication date: 21 August 2017

Susan Teather and Wendy Hillman

There has been very little empirical research for the need to identify the importance of an inclusive territory of commonality for “invisible” students with disabilities in…

1752

Abstract

Purpose

There has been very little empirical research for the need to identify the importance of an inclusive territory of commonality for “invisible” students with disabilities in Australian education testing, such as the National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology used a cross-sectional mixed methods, deductive quantitative, an inductive qualitative, functionalist perspective and interpretivist perspective from internet secondary data analysis. This was undertaken to investigate the government functionalist macrosociology of Australian education to the detriment of the microsociology debate of students with disabilities, for inclusive education and social justice.

Findings

This finding showed vastly underestimated numbers of students with disabilities in Australian schools experienced through “gatekeeping”, non-participation in NAPLAN testing and choices of schools, resulting in poor educational outcomes and work-readiness.

Social implications

The research findings showed that functionalism of Australian education is threatening not only social order, well-being and resilience of an innovative Australian economy through welfare dependency; but also depriving people with disabilities of social equality and empowerment against poverty brought about by a lack of education and of the human right to do a decent job.

Originality/value

The study provided a critical evaluation of the weaknesses of government functionalism; specifically the relationship between the dualism of macro and micro perspectives, which promotes the existence of “invisible” students with disabilities in education, despite government legislation purporting an inclusive education for all students.

Details

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, vol. 36 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7149

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 March 2013

Wieslaw Alejziak

The purpose of this paper is to identify tourist activity inhibitors (causes of non‐participation in tourism), assess their impact strength and analyze the social disproportion…

3880

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify tourist activity inhibitors (causes of non‐participation in tourism), assess their impact strength and analyze the social disproportion and exclusion in terms of tourism participation. The paper also presents the deficiencies in the research methods and proposes modifications that pertain to method and terms.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical studies pertain to Polish residents' leisure trips in 2005. The sample (1,026 persons) fulfills the requirements for the general Polish population, aged 15 years and older. The statistical methods used were the χ2 test, the tau B‐Kendall rank correlation coefficient, factor analysis, cluster analysis, and ANOVA. The analyses include the top ten reasons for non‐participation in leisure trips, and are divided on the basis of the length of such trips (longer than seven days and shorter than seven days).

Findings

The research reveals great social diversity in tourism, which results from numerous interdependent factors. However, both the standards and the attributes of tourist activity are a measure of social diversification and exclusion rather than their cause. The analyses that this research carries out indicate the existence of deficiencies in terms of methodology employed in the identification of causes of not participating in tourism. These deficiencies pertain mainly to the randomness of inhibitor selection by different authors and various institutions for this particular activity. Subsequently this situation creates an obstacle when comparing results of studies. Another issue deals with the quite vague distribution of causes in the surveys, which on the other hand prevent respondents from giving clear answers. The cluster analysis carried out for trips lasting a week or longer reveals that the first cluster (60 percent) is the most uniform, being made up of people who most often lack money, and seldom mention the other inhibitors. The second cluster (20 percent) is much more diverse, and consists of people who often indicate a few factors – lack of money, lack of time, household obligations, and spending vacations in their place of residence.

Research limitations/implications

Empirical studies were carried out exclusively among Polish residents and included only leisure trips.

Practical implications

Research that diagnoses and partially forecasts the standards and attributes of tourist activity serves as a foundation to support the functioning of the entire tourist industry. The practical significance of this research is determined by the fact that people are constantly seeking to increase the demand for tourist products.

Originality/value

Knowledge about people not participating in tourism is insignificant. This article pertains to the above‐mentioned group of people, focusing especially on the causes of non‐participation. It presents a critical analysis of studies and points out the diversity and inconsistencies in methodology. Problems of the lack of participation in tourism and social exclusion apply to social sciences, especially sociology and economy.

Details

International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, vol. 7 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6182

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2013

Karen Schucan Bird, Janice Tripney and Mark Newman

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of young people's participation in organised sport on their educational outcomes.

1506

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of young people's participation in organised sport on their educational outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic review of the literature. A comprehensive search was used to identify all research evidence about engagement, impact and value in culture and sport. A combination of manual and automated screening was used to select studies for inclusion in this review based on pre-specified criteria. Included studies had to use a “high”-quality experimental research design, focus on children and young people and have quantitative educational outcome measures. Results from the individual studies were transformed into a standardised effect size and meta-analysis was used to combine the results from individual studies where appropriate.

Findings

Young people's participation in sport may lead to improved educational outcomes. Young people's participation in organised sports activities, when compared to non-participation, improves their numeracy skills. Young people's participation in organised sport linked with extra-curricular activities, when compared to non-participation, improves a range of learning outcomes for underachieving pupils. These findings are based on six “high”-quality studies conducted in the UK and North America. Study populations included young people within the range of four to 16 years old.

Originality/value

This paper builds on the existing evidence base in two main ways. First, it focuses specifically on the impacts associated with organised sport whereas previous reviews have had a broader focus. Second, it uses meta-analytic methods to synthesise study findings. This paper provides pooled effect sizes for overall educational impacts and translates these into potential changes in test/grade scores.

Details

Journal of Children's Services, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-6660

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 June 2019

David Stevenson

The existence of so-called non-participants is a cultural policy problem in the UK and beyond. Yet, the very notion of a cultural non-participant seems nonsensical against the…

Abstract

Purpose

The existence of so-called non-participants is a cultural policy problem in the UK and beyond. Yet, the very notion of a cultural non-participant seems nonsensical against the palpable evidence of lived experience. The purpose of this paper is to understand “who” a cultural non-participant is by first comprehending “what” the cultural non-participant is and why it exists.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on primary data generated in the form of 40 in-depth qualitative interviews, this paper employs a discursive methodology to explore the critical logics (Howarth, 2010) that underlie the problem representation (Bacchi, 2009) of cultural non-participation and in particular the discursive subject identity of the cultural non-participant.

Findings

Beginning with a discussion about how cultural non-participants are represented as socially deprived and hard to reach, the paper moves on to highlight how they are also presumed to lack knowledge and understanding about what they are rejecting. Their supposed flawed subjectivity is then contrasted with the desirable model of agency claimed by the cultural professionals who seek to change the cultural participation patterns of others. The paper concludes with a consideration of how the existence of the cultural non-participant subject identity limits the extent to which those labelled as such can meaningfully contribute to the field of cultural policy and obscures the extent to which such individuals are culturally disenfranchised.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach and the geographical limitations to the data generation, the research makes no claim to generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the discursive logics identified at alternative discursive sites.

Practical implications

This paper proposes a change in the language used by cultural professionals accompanied by changes in practice that abandoning the identity of the cultural non-participant would demand.

Originality/value

This paper challenges a taken for granted assumption that cultural non-participants exist “in the real”.

Details

Arts and the Market, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-4945

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 August 2013

Eva Kopf

Various types of short training programmes exist in Germany. This article aims to evaluate short training courses for welfare recipients and to detect which programme type works…

Abstract

Purpose

Various types of short training programmes exist in Germany. This article aims to evaluate short training courses for welfare recipients and to detect which programme type works best with respect to different outcome indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

The author measures the impact of six short training programmes on the participants. She uses propensity score matching and large‐scale administrative data to find suitable comparison groups. She compares treatment to non‐participation as well as participation in different training types directly.

Findings

The results demonstrate that in‐firm training has large positive effects on individual employment prospects and stability. Furthermore, classroom skill training is more effective than other classroom types while application training is rather ineffective. Treating some of the application training participants with an alternative sub‐programme would improve the effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

The results show which training types work best. However, the results do not imply macro or cost‐benefit effects.

Practical implications

Several of the short training courses, mostly occupation‐specific sub‐programmes, are short and relatively inexpensive options to activate welfare recipients.

Originality/value

The paper analyses the effects of six short training programmes for welfare recipients that have not been analysed before. The sensitivity of the results is examined using a wide range of estimators and different outcomes.

Details

International Journal of Manpower, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7720

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 1000