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1 – 10 of over 6000Nadeeshani Wanigarathna, Fred Sherratt, Andrew D.F. Price and Simon Austin
A substantial amount of research argues that built environmental interventions can improve the outcomes of patients and other users of healthcare facilities, supporting the…
Abstract
Purpose
A substantial amount of research argues that built environmental interventions can improve the outcomes of patients and other users of healthcare facilities, supporting the concept of evidence-based design (EBD). However, the sources of such evidence and its flow into healthcare design are less well understood. This paper aims to provide insights to both the sources and flow of EBD used in three healthcare projects, to reveal practicalities of use and the relationships between them in practice.
Design/methodology/approach
Three healthcare case study projects provided empirical data on the design of a number of different elements. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify the source and flow of evidence used in this design, which was subsequently quantised to reveal the dominant patterns therein.
Findings
Healthcare design teams use evidence from various sources, the knowledge and experience of the members of the design team being the most common due to both ease of access and thus flow. Practice-based research and peer-reviewed published research flow both directly and indirectly into the design process, whilst collaborations with researchers and research institutions nurture the credibility of the latter.
Practical implications
The findings can be used to enhance activities that aim to design, conduct and disseminate future EBD research to improve their flow to healthcare designers.
Originality/value
This research contributes to understandings of EBD by exploring the flow of research from various sources in conflation and within real-life environments.
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There is an identified need in higher education research for methods which have the capacity to generate conceptual insights grounded in concrete local practice but with wider…
Abstract
There is an identified need in higher education research for methods which have the capacity to generate conceptual insights grounded in concrete local practice but with wider applicability in understanding and facilitating research-based change. This chapter outlines an intermediate approach to qualitative data analysis which can support theoretical knowledge advancement from practice-based research, which I call the difference-within-similarity approach. It involves a particular way of conducting dialogues with our data: of interanimating similarities and differences within our qualitative datasets. The approach outlined involves first identifying a similarity, then systematically examining differences within that similarity to generate theoretical explanations. Drawing on sociocultural theorising, particularly dialogic theory and cultural–historical activity theory, the approach is based on the idea that new meanings arise from a comparison of multiple perspectives on the ‘same’ phenomenon. The tensions between such perspectives are seen as a key driver for change in educational practice. Therefore, articulating and examining such tensions in our data gives an opportunity to simulate the possibility of change in our analysis and, hence, develop insights which can inform change beyond local settings. Important here is that the differences examined are bound together by an analytically productive similarity. Through multiple research examples, the chapter identifies and illustrates a range of ways of articulating productive analytical similarities for comparison in our data: through theory/literature, through forward and backwards processing of data itself and through a process termed ‘weaving’.
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Becky Beamer and Kimberly C. Gleason
The purpose of this study is to use a spreadable form of creative expression, bookwork, to illustrate the encroachment upon the indigenous craft process of Namibian master…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to use a spreadable form of creative expression, bookwork, to illustrate the encroachment upon the indigenous craft process of Namibian master crafters. In addition, the authors hope to inspire a dialogue regarding the value of interdisciplinary research between the arts and business and promote creative expression as scholarly output that can provide additional depth to research topics in business.
Design/methodology/approach
This study introduces bookwork as a research technique used to convey insights regarding the consequences to master crafters and indigenous craft practices arising from the economic activities of informal sector tourists as “outsiders” – those external to the indigenous Namibian Craft community.
Findings
In this paper, the authors convey the manner in which outsiders (such as tourists) permanently influence the traditional craft culture of indigenous communities in a largely unexplored cultural ecological niche in Namibia by purchasing low cost, easily mass produced, yet inauthentic brightly colored objects. It is likely that craft processes designed for revenue generation will encroach on the role of the master crafters in Namibian society and permanently redirect creative activities away from the indigenous practices.
Research limitations/implications
The researchers acknowledge the biases they have, as outsiders, in their perception of Namibian master crafters and craft practices.
Social implications
The human capital of the master crafters of Namibia is being eroded and traditional craft practices are being distorted due to incentives created by tourist preferences for cheap, inauthentic replicas of the master crafters’ work.
Originality/value
While some business disciplines, such as marketing, have incorporated the arts into their research, the use of creative expression in many business disciplines has been limited. The authors are the first to use bookwork to explore academic business research questions as per their knowledge. In addition, this study provides a new perspective, that of the outsider, in assessing how tourism impacts traditional Namibian Craft processes.
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Nicole Brownlie, Katie Burke and Luke van der Laan
The current literature on school teacher-created summative assessment lacks a clear consensus regarding its definition and key principles. The purpose of this research was…
Abstract
Purpose
The current literature on school teacher-created summative assessment lacks a clear consensus regarding its definition and key principles. The purpose of this research was therefore to arrive at a cohesive understanding of what constitutes effective summative assessment.
Design/methodology/approach
Conducting a systematic literature review of 95 studies, this research adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The objective was to identify the core principles governing effective teacher-created summative assessments.
Findings
The study identified five key principles defining effective summative assessment creation: validity, reliability, fairness, authenticity and flexibility.
Research limitations/implications
The expansiveness of education research is such that not all relevant studies may have been identified, particularly outside of mainstream databases. This study considered only the school environment, so contextual limitations will exist.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study contributes original insights by proposing a holistic definition that can facilitate consensus-building in further research. The assimilation of core principles guided the development of quality indicators beneficial for teacher practice. The comprehensive definition, key principles and quality indicators offer a unique perspective on summative assessment discourse.
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Richard Nash, Dylan Yamada-Rice, Eleanor Dare, Steve Love, Angus Main, John Potter and Deborah Rodrigues
The purpose of this paper is to focus on a designed research methodology to distil existing research findings from an esrc/ahrc funded japan/uk network on location-based virtual…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on a designed research methodology to distil existing research findings from an esrc/ahrc funded japan/uk network on location-based virtual reality experiences for children in order to generate new knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
The structured co-production methodology was undertaken in three stages. These were: (1) a collaborative workshop which produced a series of collage narratives, (2) collaborating with a non-human entity in the form of a digital coded tool to reconfigure the workshop responses and mediate the hierarchy of roles, (3) the co-production of a zine as a collaborative reflection method, which shared via postal service enabled a dialogue and exchange of round Robin interventions by the network members.
Findings
The analysis of the data collected in this study highlighted five themes that could be used by other researchers on a wide range of projects. These were: (1) knowing through making, (2) the importance of process, (3) beyond linear representations, (4) agency of physical materials and (5) agency of digital code.
Research limitations/implications
The context of the study being undertaken during the first phase of the global pandemic, revealed insight into a method of co-production that was undertaken under emergency remote working conditions. The knowledge generated from this can be applied to other research contexts such as working with researchers or participants across global borders without the need to travel.
Originality/value
The research provides an innovative rethinking of co-production methods in order to generate new knowledge from multidisciplinary and multimodal research.
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The paper seeks to offer a generalized methodology for knowledge auditing. The context of information and knowledge perspectives is established and knowledge auditing is located…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to offer a generalized methodology for knowledge auditing. The context of information and knowledge perspectives is established and knowledge auditing is located in an evolving context of information research and practice.
Design/methodology/approach
A 15‐element inventory is developed which takes its design from business strategy and process and links it to the generalized cycle of information and communication activity.
Findings
The elements are systematically reviewed in terms of a general aspect, a typical interpretation and a threshold to indicate the type of practical application and data representation associated with each element.
Practical implications
The model is widely adaptable to different settings as a tool for business enterprises, organizations in different sectors and for use in communities of practice and learning/knowledge settings.
Originality/value
This is an area of application where a more standard framework approach to information and knowledge auditing would be beneficial. The structure provides a working basis for further development.
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Walter Leal Filho, Evangelos Manolas and Paul Pace
This paper aims to provide a description of the achievements of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) with a focus on higher…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a description of the achievements of the United Nations (UN) Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) with a focus on higher education, and it describes some of the key issues which will guide sustainable development in the coming years.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper initially presents an analysis of past developments, complemented by an assessment of the emphasis on sustainable development by the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. In particular, it makes cross-references to the deliberations held at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, with a special emphasis to the document “The Future we Want”. It concludes by listing a set of suggestions and measures that both industrialised and developing countries may consider to translate the principles of sustainable development into reality.
Findings
Sustainable development is and will continue to be a matter of substantial international interest and concern. The developments achieved over the past 20 years have been substantial, but there are still many gaps and need which need to be met, so as to improve its prospects in the next two decades.
Originality/value
The paper provides useful insights which allow a better understanding of the role of universities in fostering sustainable development, and some of the key issues need to be considered, so as to allow things to move in the right direction.
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The chapter evaluates the value of practice-based teaching and learning on a UK postgraduate unit and describes the development of conceptual models for the student practice-based…
Abstract
Purpose
The chapter evaluates the value of practice-based teaching and learning on a UK postgraduate unit and describes the development of conceptual models for the student practice-based experience.
Methodology/approach
Student experience is explored through the use of an in-depth case study. Student understanding is explored through an exit survey of students.
Findings
Student experience of the unit was positive and negative. Positive experiences stem from good client communications, a motivated student team, and the buzz of a real project. Positive experiences appear to lead to a perception of pride in outcomes and personal transferrable skills. Negative experiences stem from the lack of life experience, language difficulties, client unavailability, lack of subject knowledge, and literature gaps which left students feeling ill-equipped to deal with the international group context. Negative experiences lead to stress and poor group development.
Research limitations
The study is based on a single simple case. The methodology has sought to reduce problems with internal validity and bias. The data collection and analysis methods are repeatable and we encourage other academics to test our conceptual models and conclusions.
Originality/value
Conceptual models for positive and negative experience are proposed.
The study suggests there is a balance to be sought between providing a positive student experience and practical learning. Practice-based learning adds significant value to the student in terms of improved understanding of hard and soft tools, but may need to be based upon positive and negative experience.
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Dorotea Ottaviani, Cecilia De Marinis and Alice Buoli
The paper investigates the pivotal role of storytelling as a pedagogical tool in tertiary education, specifically in the context of the practice-based doctoral framework in design…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper investigates the pivotal role of storytelling as a pedagogical tool in tertiary education, specifically in the context of the practice-based doctoral framework in design disciplines. In such a doctoral model, storytelling assumes different meanings and nuances that open to a study in relation to the self-reflective process at the core of the learning paradigm.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology integrates a qualitative and participatory approach with visual and design-based methods through which the authors interact with primary sources (the body of work of PhD candidates) and relevant research literature.
Findings
Drawing on the expanding field of creative practice research, the research work evidences the emergence of storytelling as a research method and learning tool applied at different levels of the candidates' Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) journey and provides methodological insights into the practice-based doctoral training paradigm.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the role of storytelling as a learning tool and evidences the multiple levels that storytelling assumes over the course of a practice-based doctoral journey, integrating processual, operational and contextual dimensions.
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Ivana Rihova, Miguel Moital, Dimitrios Buhalis and Mary-Beth Gouthro
This paper aims to explore and evaluate practice-based segmentation as an alternative conceptual segmentation perspective that acknowledges the active role of consumers as value…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore and evaluate practice-based segmentation as an alternative conceptual segmentation perspective that acknowledges the active role of consumers as value co-creators.
Design/methodology/approach
Data comprising various aspects of customer-to-customer (C2C) co-creation practices of festival visitors were collected across five UK-based festivals, using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with naturally occurring social units (individuals, couples and groups). Data were analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis procedure within QSR NVivo 10.
Findings
Private, sociable, tribal and communing practice segments are identified and profiled, using the interplay of specific subject- and situation-specific practice elements to highlight the “minimum” conditions for each C2C co-creation practice. Unlike traditional segments, practice segment membership is shown to be fluid and overlapping, with fragmented consumers moving across different practice segments throughout their festival experience according to what makes most sense at a given time.
Research limitations/implications
Although practice-based segmentation is studied in the relatively limited context of C2C co-creation practices at festivals, the paper illustrates how this approach could be operationalised in the initial qualitative stages of segmentation research. By identifying how the interplay of subject- and situation-specific practice elements affects performance of practices, managers can facilitate relevant practice-based segments, leading to more sustainable business.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to segmentation literature by empirically demonstrating the feasibility of practice-based segments and by evaluating the use of practice-based segmentation on a strategic, procedural and operational level. Possible methodological solutions for future research are offered.
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