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1 – 10 of over 8000Understandings of administrative practice do not seem to reflect the current status of administrative practice, and when administrative practice is conceptualised as an iceberg it…
Abstract
Understandings of administrative practice do not seem to reflect the current status of administrative practice, and when administrative practice is conceptualised as an iceberg it becomes clear that much of this knowledge was derived through the application of the research method structured observational studies. However, argues that the application of this research method in an unstructured form is where greater insights and more current knowledge of administrative practice can be gained.
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Andrew Castle and Rachel Harvey
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast traditional data collection methodologies employed in health care with more practical observational methods which are closely…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast traditional data collection methodologies employed in health care with more practical observational methods which are closely aligned with Lean thinking. When combined with problem solving, observational approaches achieve demonstrable improvements in clinical outcomes, productivity and efficiency. The paper aims to describe the changes in mindset and behaviour that are required to adopt the observational methods.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach is to describe and evaluate case study examples on the use of observational data in the National Health Service in the UK. This is then used to derive generic principles about the wider application of observational data in health care.
Findings
Traditional data collection methodologies are often insufficient to expose the root cause of a problem and therefore may result in little or no action. The observational methods identify the root cause and as such offer a much more practical and real‐time way of solving process‐related problems.
Practical implications
The observational methods of collecting data described here offer staff at all levels of the organisation practical approaches to preventing mistakes and errors in health care processes.
Originality/value
The case studies described here support the reintroduction of observational techniques used by the early pioneers of productivity. The originality of the paper is in the use of these observational methods in a wide range of clinical settings to provoke changes in working practices.
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It is unknown whether data from observational studies can assist guideline developers in areas where scientific evidence is lacking. The purpose of this study is to develop a…
Abstract
Purpose
It is unknown whether data from observational studies can assist guideline developers in areas where scientific evidence is lacking. The purpose of this study is to develop a local clinical guideline for prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism based on observational study results.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors performed a classification tree analysis on original data from a cross‐sectional study of risk factors, prophylaxis, and prevalence of deep vein thrombosis in 818 medical in‐patients hospitalised in French teaching and community hospitals. The dependent variable was the use of pharmacological prophylaxis. The rate of any deep vein thrombosis detected by routine compression ultrasonography was used as an illustrative variable. Using group consensus of expert panelists, a practice guideline was developed based on the results of this study and a systematic review of the literature.
Findings
The resulting classification tree involved eight terminal subsets. The mean misclassification rate was 31 per cent in tenfold cross‐validation and the area under the ROC curve was 0.75. The classification tree was converted into graded recommendations. According to these recommendations, 455 patients (56 per cent) required prophylaxis. The corresponding rate of deep vein thrombosis was 11 per cent (28/245, [CI = 8‐16]) in 245 prophylaxis users and 11 per cent (23/210, [7‐16]) in 210 prophylaxis non‐users. Conversely, 363 patients (44 per cent) did not require prophylaxis: 63 actually received prophylaxis and six had deep vein thrombosis (2 per cent, [0.6‐4]).
Research limitations/implications
Further prospective validation of the guideline is important prior to its implementation.
Originality/value
Integrating data from observational studies may be an effective way to develop guidelines when robust scientific evidence is lacking.
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The purpose of this paper is to propose a method for the assessment of library space use and user experience by combining seating studies, surveys and observational data.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a method for the assessment of library space use and user experience by combining seating studies, surveys and observational data.
Design/methodology/approach
Seating usage studies (called seating sweeps), technology-assisted face-to-face surveys and observational data were used to assess library space usage and identify user behaviors.
Findings
Results from the study revealed higher library use than expected and provided insight into user behaviors and patterns.
Practical implications
The methods and study described aid in raising awareness of user experience within library spaces and provide valuable data for space redesign efforts.
Originality/value
The study builds upon methods described by Linn (2013) and combines traditional user experience methodologies to gain insight into library space use and user needs.
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Cecelia A. Gloski, Adrienne D. Woods, Yangyang Wang and Paul L. Morgan
We evaluated the best-available evidence for the effects of receiving business-as-usual or naturally delivered special education services in K-12 US schools. Our best-evidence…
Abstract
We evaluated the best-available evidence for the effects of receiving business-as-usual or naturally delivered special education services in K-12 US schools. Our best-evidence synthesis of 44 empirical studies evaluated which outcome domains and disability types have been investigated and whether findings varied by the rigor of the study design and methods. Regression-based studies comparing students with educational disabilities (SWED) to students without disabilities (SWOD) yielded mostly negative associations of receiving special education with academic achievement, behavior, and long-term or other outcomes. In contrast, regression-based studies that contrasted SWED receiving special education to other SWED not receiving special education produced a pattern of estimates similar to quasi-experimental designs that contrast SWED to SWOD. The most rigorous designs utilized quasi-experimental methods that compared SWED receiving special education services with SWED not receiving special education services, and generally reported more positive than negative evidence of receiving special education services across most outcome domains. Future research that utilizes rigorous quasi-experimental methodology and appropriate comparison groups to investigate the effectiveness of special education is needed, particularly for nonachievement outcome domains.
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The purpose of this study is to explore whether engaging with arts and culture affect depression in adults. This is because depression is the most common mental health disorder…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore whether engaging with arts and culture affect depression in adults. This is because depression is the most common mental health disorder. Diversification of mental health services, initiatives in arts in health and social prescribing are providing emerging evidence of benefits relating to depression outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review design adhering to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting guidelines. MEDLINE®, Embase and American psychology association PsycINFO were searched and six studies were deemed eligible. Data extraction and quality appraisal enabled a narrative descriptive summary comparing study design, characteristics, populations and key results relating arts and cultural engagement to depression outcomes.
Findings
The total number of participants across the studies were 49,197. Three studies reported mean age, 58.78 years (15–99 years). Gender reported by five studies was 52.4% (n = 24,689) female and 47.6% (n = 22,439) male. Five studies found that engaging with arts decreased your odds of having depression.
Originality/value
This systematic review found emerging evidence that arts and cultural engagement benefits a wider population by reducing depression incidence. Establishing and understanding the association between arts engagement and decreasing depression incidence in a population is relevant to health-care providers, the general population and policymakers alike.
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Sarah DeDonder, Casey J. Jacob, Brae V. Surgeoner, Benjamin Chapman, Randall Phebus and Douglas A. Powell
The purpose of the present study was to observe the preparation practices of both adult and young consumers using frozen, uncooked, breaded chicken products, which were previously…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present study was to observe the preparation practices of both adult and young consumers using frozen, uncooked, breaded chicken products, which were previously involved in outbreaks linked to consumer mishandling. The study also sought to observe behaviors of adolescents as home food preparers. Finally, the study aimed to compare food handler behaviors with those prescribed on product labels.
Design/methodology/approach
The study sought, through video observation and self‐report surveys, to determine if differences exist between consumers' intent and actual behavior.
Findings
A survey study of consumer reactions to safe food‐handling labels on raw meat and poultry products suggested that instructions for safe handling found on labels had only limited influence on consumer practices. The labels studied by these researchers were found on the packaging of chicken products examined in the current study alongside step‐by‐step cooking instructions. Observational techniques, as mentioned above, provide a different perception of consumer behaviors.
Originality/value
This paper finds areas that have not been studied in previous observational research and is an excellent addition to existing literature.
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Girish Ramesh Kulkarni, Suraj Agrahari and Sankar Sen
Launching a new product successfully in a multi-brand portfolio is one of the major challenges a pharmaceutical marketer faces. This study aims to examine the role of detailing of…
Abstract
Purpose
Launching a new product successfully in a multi-brand portfolio is one of the major challenges a pharmaceutical marketer faces. This study aims to examine the role of detailing of new brands on physicians’ prescription behaviour as compared to established brands. Further, the study explores mediating role of detailing priority and detailing time on the relationship between detailing of new versus established brands and physician’s prescription behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was conducted as a real-world observational study involving field research. In total, 338 physicians, 90 PSRs and 44 field managers participated in this study. A serial mediation model (Hayes, Model 6) was used to examine the relationship. Regression analysis with bootstrapping was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Detailing of new versus established brands has a differential effect on physicians’ prescription behaviour. In addition, this relationship is serially mediated by detailing priority and detailing time.
Research limitations/implications
Results suggest that detailing priority and detailing time positively and significantly alter the relationship between the detailing of new brands and physicians’ prescription behaviour as compared to established brands. While, in the absence of mediators, established brands generate higher prescriptions than new brands, the serial mediating effect helps new brands to generate more prescriptions as compared to established brands.
Practical implications
This research highlights the importance of detailing priority and detailing time for the successful launch of the new products. It presents compelling evidence for practicing managers to effectively use a “predetermined detailing plan” vis-à-vis “individualized detailing strategy” during the launch of a new brand.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the role of detailing priority and detailing time as mediators between the relationship of detailing and physicians’ prescription behaviour. This is also one of the rare studies to use real-world observational study methodology for conducting research.
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Margaret L. Søvik, Torill Larsen, Hege Tjomsland and Oddrun Samdal
The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of a theoretically grounded coach education training programme for youth football coaches in Norway, through…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of a theoretically grounded coach education training programme for youth football coaches in Norway, through observational methods. In particular, it focuses on implementation fidelity and programme adaptation, and possible differences between the coach educators (CEs) according to their level of experience.
Design/methodology/approach
Implementation fidelity and programme adaptations for seven CEs were explored through the use of a fidelity scale and in-depth qualitative analyses. Participant responsiveness was applied to inform the observational analyses.
Findings
Results showed that most of the programme was implemented with moderate to high fidelity, and that it was adapted when delivered. Most of the adaptations seemed to be positive, aligning with the programme’s theoretical foundation and goals. A few negative and neutral adaptations also occurred. The most experienced CEs seemed to deliver the programme with highest fidelity and they also made most positive adaptations. The findings, supported by the participants’ evaluation of the programme delivery, indicate that these CEs also delivered the programme with high quality.
Research limitations/implications
In the field of implementation research there is a need for further studies applying observational methods to explore programme effectiveness in relation to implementation fidelity, adaptations made and the quality of programme delivery.
Originality/value
This study applies observational methods to evaluate the fidelity of implementation and adaptations made when implementing a coach education programme, and based on these findings quality of delivery is discussed.
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Carlos González and Daniel Ponce
This paper aims first to describe the most prevalent teachers’ and students’ behaviors in synchronous online classes in emergency remote teaching; second, to discern behavior…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims first to describe the most prevalent teachers’ and students’ behaviors in synchronous online classes in emergency remote teaching; second, to discern behavior profiles and third, to investigate what features explain the observed behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
An adapted COPUS observation protocol was employed to observe 292 online classes from 146 higher education teachers.
Findings
The most prevalent behaviors were: Presenting for teachers and Receiving for students, followed by Teachers Guiding and Students Talking to Class. Furthermore, cluster analysis showed two groups: Traditional and Interactive. The variables that better explained belonging to the Interactive lecture group were disciplinary area – social sciences and humanities –and teaching in technical institutions.
Practical implications
In a context where higher education institutions intend to project the lessons learned into post-pandemic learning experiences, this study provides observational evidence to realize the full potential expected from online and blended teaching and learning.
Originality/value
Despite the prevalence of synchronous online lectures during COVID-19, there is a paucity of observational studies on the actual behaviors that occurred in this context. Most research has been based on surveys and interviews. This study addresses this gap.
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