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Article
Publication date: 6 November 2007

Haruki Nagata, Kanako Sakai and Tetsuya Kawai

The purpose of this paper is to show that in a time of dramatic social change and progress in information communications technology, surveys and analysis were used to identify…

1187

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that in a time of dramatic social change and progress in information communications technology, surveys and analysis were used to identify residents' lifestyles and their views and attitudes toward public libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

Two series of surveys were conducted in suburban/rural cities of Japan in 2004 and 2006. The first survey was across all local residents, and the second among library users. The results of these surveys were analyzed in depth, and different lifestyle groups were identified. Library use by each of these groups was investigated in detail.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that those who positively appreciated the various benefits of the public library tended to be frequent/regular visitors and to belong to the “Group of ‘actively striving’” and the “Group of ‘respecting others’” in the 2004 survey, and similar types of group in the 2006 survey. In addition, the 2006 survey also showed that the visitors include those who were not necessarily conscious about library services, and 10 per cent of the respondents were not much interested in them at all.

Practical implications

The results demonstrate that the libraries acquire new user groups according to their service innovations. However, it was found that people have already started to utilize search engines on the internet, regardless of the presence/absence of the corresponding service in the library to acquire various types of information.

Originality/value

This paper re‐examines the traditional understanding of the user profile of public libraries, and demonstrates a tool to help identify changes in use and users.

Details

Performance Measurement and Metrics, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-8047

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2018

Xin Hu, Bo Xia, Martin Skitmore and Laurie Buys

As a viable housing option for older people, retirement villages need to provide a sustainable living environment that satisfies their residents’ needs in terms of affordability…

1386

Abstract

Purpose

As a viable housing option for older people, retirement villages need to provide a sustainable living environment that satisfies their residents’ needs in terms of affordability, lifestyle and environmental friendliness. This is, however, a significant challenge for not-for-profit developers because of the high upfront costs involved in using sustainable practices. The purpose of this paper is to identify the sustainable features and practices adopted in not-for-profit retirement villages.

Design/methodology/approach

Because of the lack of quantitative historical data, a case study approach was adopted to identify the sustainable features and practices used in a not-for-profit retirement village in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Data were collected based on interviews, direct observation and documentation, and collected data were analysed by using content analysis.

Findings

The research findings indicate that similar to private developers, not-for-profit developers also have the capability to make their village environment sustainable. In this case, the sustainable practices cover various aspects including the selection of village location, site planning, provision of facilities and services, social life and living costs. Although the associated costs of adopting sustainable features is a concern for both developers and residents, some of the identified sustainable practices in this case do not result in significant cost increase but can improve the residents’ quality of life substantially.

Practical implications

The research findings provide a number of practical implications on how to deliver sustainable retirement villages in a not-for-profit village setting.

Originality/value

This paper provides a first look at sustainable features and practices adopted in both the development and operation stages of a not-for-profit retirement village.

Details

Facilities, vol. 36 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 October 2015

Kirill Lvovich Rozhkov and Natalya Il’inichna Skriabina

– This paper aims to develop a methodological approach to place product analysis that aims to identify the distinctive ideas of places.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a methodological approach to place product analysis that aims to identify the distinctive ideas of places.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology included two stages: first, classifiers of place product uses and technologies were constructed on the basis of the product concept abstraction (Study 1) and then they were used as tools to systematize data about the attributes of city districts and the everyday activities of their residents to further identify product concepts (Study 2).

Findings

Product concepts of five Moscow districts were formulated as sets of benefits or district uses (needs satisfied and activities encouraged) offered to residents. The concepts are expressed in terms of typical constructions but reflect the distinctive features and specificities of the districts.

Research limitations/implications

Defining places as product concepts pushes the place product analysis, benefit and lifestyle segmentation forward. Additional place product dimensions and investigated places are advised to improve the reliability of the used classifiers as a tool for documentary research.

Practical implications

The developed analytical procedure is a much-needed supplement to existing techniques used to shape the product strategies of places. Identifying contradictory uses helps make product decisions that are appropriate in concurrently supporting all these uses, including providing spatial differentiation of the place product. The study results are thus useful for the development of city master plans characterized by long planning horizons and a high degree of conceptualization.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a new method for place product analysis that combines the advantages of both standardized and narrative approaches, introducing a convenient way to address the issue of clarity when transforming a variety of place attributes into core place values and eventual place brands.

Details

Journal of Place Management and Development, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8335

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 September 2020

Lingyan Zhong and Ming Tan

Taking the streets of an old residential area in Chengdu, China, as an example, this study aims to analyse street as a transitional space that combines adjacent heterogeneous…

Abstract

Purpose

Taking the streets of an old residential area in Chengdu, China, as an example, this study aims to analyse street as a transitional space that combines adjacent heterogeneous spaces.

Design/methodology/approach

The study framework of this paper consists of two parts. The first part focusses on the methods of landscape pattern analysis. The street spatial attributes are analysed, including the geometric and data characteristics of the city space. The second part involves a study of the stated preferences. The social attributes of space and the preferences of respondents regarding landscape properties are studied.

Findings

The study reports that the streets in the old residential area have characteristics of a fringe zone. The mechanisms of their edge effect improve the comprehensive quality of the urban space, stimulate a value-added effect and promote the overall development of the district economy.

Originality/value

The use of the spatial synergy of the edge effect can help us identify problems more accurately, enable streets to become suitable as public spaces, safeguard the rights of local residents to develop and eliminate the factors of instability.

Article
Publication date: 2 September 2014

Elizabeth Maly and Eiko Ishikawa

This paper aims to consider the current situation of relocation in Japan after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) in the context of past examples and post-disaster…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the current situation of relocation in Japan after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) in the context of past examples and post-disaster housing relocation projects in other countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Information about international cases of post-disaster housing relocation was gathered though desk and literature review, supplemented by field visits to the sites for direct observation and interviews with people involved in the relocation projects.

Findings

To be successful, residential relocation must consider livelihood, especially in regards to location. Involvement of the residents in the planning and decision making process creates housing relocation projects that better meet residents’ needs. Japan faces some unique challenges, yet shares commonalities with other countries, for example, in tsunami-stricken fishing areas. Housing relocation in Tohoku must strive to be accountable to the needs of the residents and the specific contexts of their communities.

Originality/value

There is still a limited amount of literature in English that considers the issues of relocation in recovery after the GEJE in an international context, especially comprehensive comparisons with multiple countries. Although this paper does not deal with each international case in great detail, the comparison provides a good overview of the key issues for residents in post-disaster relocation, and suggests how lessons from international cases could be applied to the challenges that Japan currently faces in relocation planning in the Tohoku region.

Details

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, vol. 5 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-5908

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2001

Helen Bartlett and Duncan Boldy

Concerns about quality and standards of care in the nursing and residential home sector have exercised policymakers, managers and practitioners in both Australia and the UK for…

163

Abstract

Concerns about quality and standards of care in the nursing and residential home sector have exercised policymakers, managers and practitioners in both Australia and the UK for some years. While Australia is a relatively young country, demographically speaking, it has in place a coherent ‘aged care’ policy. The UK on the other hand, with its rapidly ageing profile, has only recently made a serious policy commitment to the health and social care agenda for older people. Australia therefore has several years of experience to be shared with the UK when it comes to policy and practice of quality improvement. In particular, there are valuable lessons to be learnt from Australia's national outcome standards and monitoring system for care homes, and its more recent introduction of a care homes accreditation system. Apart from identifying any issues associated with the implementation of such approaches to quality improvement, it is important to establish whether they have an impact on the quality of care and life of older residents. As the UK moves to implementing national minimum standards in 2002, lessons from Australia are timely and may help inform best practice and policy in long‐term care in the future.

Details

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-7794

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 April 2020

Sang Senyao, He Wei and Ni Ma

Taking Tibet as a case study, this paper aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the influence that off-season tourism promotion (OTP) has on seasonal destinations from a…

Abstract

Purpose

Taking Tibet as a case study, this paper aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the influence that off-season tourism promotion (OTP) has on seasonal destinations from a multi-stakeholder perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research method was designed using participatory observation, in-depth interviews and focus group interviews in Tibet from March 2018 to February 2019.

Findings

The results revealed the different effects of OTP on destinations from a multi-stakeholder perspective. Residents report place change as a perceived threat from off-season tourists. Additionally, the irregular nature of seasonal employment can lead to service provider–related failures. While traditional seasonal tourists viewed OTP promotions as the destruction of place identity, promotion-motivated tourists presented a lesser degree of place loyalty. The prospect of off-season tourism has also led to concerns among scholars regarding deteriorating environmental sustainability.

Practical implications

This paper can help destination managers and policymakers re-assess the effects of seasonality and off-season tourism policies.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the phenomenon of seasonality from a multi-stakeholder perspective. The study explores residents’ perception of OTP-related place change, the causes of seasonal employment and how the market segments in off-season tourism, all of which complement existing research. Lastly, using a mixed data collection and analysis method, the study provides a feasible approach to analyze tourism phenomena.

标题:淡季旅游促销如何影响季节性目的地?多元利益相关者视角下的西藏

Purpose

本(límite de 100 palabras)文以西藏为例, 从多方利益相关者的角度深入了解了旅游淡季促销(OTP)对季节性旅游目的地的影响。

Design/methodology/approach

本文采用参与式观察法、深度访谈法、焦点小组访谈法, 于2018年3月至2019年2月在西藏开展定性研究。

Findings

研究结果从多方利益相关者的角度揭示了旅游淡季促销(OTP)对目的地的不同影响。根据居民的报告, 地方的变化被视为来自淡季游客的威胁。此外, 季节性就业的不规律性可能导致服务提供方出现相关问题。传统的季节性游客认为OTP是对地方认同的破坏, 而以促销为动机的游客对地方的忠诚度较低。淡季旅游的前景也引起了学者们对环境可持续性恶化的担忧。

Practical implications

本文可以帮助旅游地管理者和决策者重新评估季节性和淡季旅游政策的影响。

Originality/value

本文从多方利益相关者的角度探讨了季节性现象。本研究探讨了居民对OTP相关的地点变化的感知、季节性就业的原因以及淡季旅游的市场细分, 这些都弥补了现有研究的不足。最后, 运用混合数据收集与分析方法, 为旅游现象的分析提供了一条可行的途径。

关键词

季节性, 淡季旅游, 定性, 利益相关者, 可持续性, 西藏

Cómo la promoción del turismo fuera de temporada afecta los destinos estacionales? Una perspectiva de múltiples actores en el Tíbet

Propósito

Tomando el Tíbet como un estudio de caso, este documento desarrolla una comprensión profunda de la influencia que la promoción turística fuera de temporada (OTP) tiene en los destinos estacionales desde una perspectiva de múltiples actores.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Se diseñó un método de investigación cualitativa utilizando observación participativa, entrevistas en profundidad y entrevistas de grupos focales en el Tíbet desde marzo de 2018 hasta febrero de 2019.

Resultados

Los resultados revelaron los diferentes efectos de OTP en los destinos desde una perspectiva de múltiples actores. Desde el punto de vista de los residentes los cambios en el destino se percibe como una amenaza de los turistas fuera de temporada. Además, la naturaleza irregular del empleo estacional puede conducir a fallos relacionados con los proveedores de los servicios. Mientras que los turistas tradicionales de temporada vieron en las promociones de OTP una pérdida de identidad del lugar, los turistas motivados por la promoción presentaron un menor grado de lealtad al lugar. La perspectiva del turismo fuera de temporada también ha generado preocupaciones entre los académicos sobre el deterioro de la sostenibilidad ambiental.

Implicaciones prácticas

Este documento puede ayudar a los gerentes de destino y a los responsables políticos a reevaluar los efectos de la estacionalidad y las políticas de turismo fuera de temporada.

Originalidad/valor

Este artículo discute el fenómeno de la estacionalidad desde una perspectiva de múltiples actores. El estudio explora la percepción de los residentes sobre los cambios del destino relacionado con la OTP, las causas del empleo estacional y la percepción que tienen los segmentos de mercado en el turismo fuera de temporada, todo lo cual complementa la investigación existente. Por último, utilizando un método mixto de recopilación y análisis de datos, el estudio proporciona un enfoque factible para analizar los fenómenos turísticos.

Palabras clave

estacionalidad, turismo fuera de temporada, cualitativo, partes interesadas, sostenibilidad, Tíbet

Tipo de papel

Trabajo de investigacion

Details

Tourism Review, vol. 76 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1660-5373

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2016

Joohee Lee, Tim Rehner, Hwanseok Choi, Alan Bougere and Tom Osowski

The purpose of the paper is to extend prior research on the psychological effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster by developing and testing a conceptual model in which…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to extend prior research on the psychological effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster by developing and testing a conceptual model in which exposure to the oil spill through clean-up activity, physical symptoms, worry about the impact of the oil spill on health, and the disruption of the gulf/ocean-related lifestyle were hypothesized as predictors of depressive symptoms.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis included a randomly selected sample of 354 subjects from the three most Southern Mississippi counties. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms.

Findings

Results indicated that physical symptoms since the oil spill were related to depressive symptoms directly and indirectly through worry about the impact of the oil spill on health and the disruption of the gulf/ocean-related lifestyle. Worry about the impact of the oil spill on health was related to depressive symptoms directly and indirectly through the disruption of the gulf/ocean-related lifestyle.

Originality/value

Study results highlight that uncertainty and worry about the impact of the disaster played a critical role in understanding the psychological effects of the oil spill disaster, especially among coastal residents whose lifestyles were bound up with the gulf/ocean.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 25 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2016

Buket Asilsoy and Derya Oktay

The significance of ecological citizenship for the sustainable urbanism discourse has been highly recognised in recent years. Targeting to adopt ecological citizenship as a…

Abstract

The significance of ecological citizenship for the sustainable urbanism discourse has been highly recognised in recent years. Targeting to adopt ecological citizenship as a lifestyle among urban residents appears potentially significant and urgent for the city of Famagusta, North Cyprus. As a result of unsustainable urban development, Famagusta dictates a new way of living to its inhabitants that is not familiar to them in terms of local sociocultural characteristics and environmental values. Therefore, a user survey was carried out among local people, within a random sample of 165 residents, in order to obtain scientific data that may be used for the needed planning policies. Within the survey, environmental attitudes of the residents were measured with the help of Dunlop and Van Liere’s New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale. The aim was to understand the level of their existing environmental worldview, one of the basic aspects of ecological citizenship. The results of the survey reveal that Famagusta residents’ existing environmental attitudes cannot achieve an adequate level in order to be one of the dynamics shaping their lifestyles. However, residents have slightly more than a medium level of environmental worldview.

Details

Open House International, vol. 41 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0168-2601

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2019

Miray Gür, Yavuz Taneli and Neslihan Dostoşlu

This study aims to measure the quality of life (QoL), using the proposed conceptual model within the context of the interactions between human behaviour and the environment. It…

Abstract

This study aims to measure the quality of life (QoL), using the proposed conceptual model within the context of the interactions between human behaviour and the environment. It aims to research the effect of the control of residents on QoL, and the findings constitute the basis for a discussion on the effects of environmental policies on QoL. Doğanbey in Bursa, which is in close proximity to the Khans (Inns) District, is selected as the study area because it represents an urban transformation implemented according to administrative decisions. QoL measurements in the research reflect people's evaluations, their adaptation to post-transformation environment and the implementation process by means of questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that lack of resident control has an adverse effect on satisfaction and QoL, and that an urban transformation conducted without user participation will fail. In conclusion, the study aims to contribute to decision-making mechanisms within the framework of residents' influence to ensure increased QoL. The intention of the authors is to promote the usage of QoL scale developed for other housing or transformation areas by modifying the questions according to varying geographies and social groups.

Details

Open House International, vol. 44 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0168-2601

Keywords

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