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11 – 20 of over 86000Paula Goodale, Paul David Clough, Samuel Fernando, Nigel Ford and Mark Stevenson
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of cognitive style on navigating a large digital library of cultural heritage information; specifically, the paper focus on…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of cognitive style on navigating a large digital library of cultural heritage information; specifically, the paper focus on the wholist/analytic dimension as experienced in the field of educational informatics. The hypothesis is that wholist and analytic users have characteristically different approaches when they explore, search and interact with digital libraries, which may have implications for system design.
Design/methodology/approach
A detailed interactive IR evaluation of a large cultural heritage digital library was undertaken, along with the Riding CSA test. Participants carried out a range of information tasks, and the authors analysed their task performance, interactions and attitudes.
Findings
The hypothesis on the differences in performance and behaviour between wholist and analytic users is supported. However, the authors also find that user attitudes towards the system are opposite to expectations and that users give positive feedback for functionality that supports activities in which they are cognitively weaker.
Research limitations/implications
There is scope for testing results in a larger scale study, and/or with different systems. In particular, the findings on user attitudes warrant further investigation.
Practical implications
Findings on user attitudes suggest that systems which support areas of weakness in users’ cognitive abilities are valued, indicating an opportunity to offer diverse functionality to support different cognitive weaknesses.
Originality/value
A model is proposed suggesting a converse relationship between behaviour and attitudes; to support individual users displaying search/navigation behaviour mapped onto the strengths of their cognitive style, but placing greater value on interface features that support aspects in which they are weaker.
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Daoling Chen and Pengpeng Cheng
The purpose of this paper is to study the style design methods of professional female vests that meet the emotional needs of consumers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the style design methods of professional female vests that meet the emotional needs of consumers.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the theory of kansei engineering as a guide to screen representative samples of female professional vests and relevant emotional vocabularies of styles, through morphological analysis, style design elements of female professional vests are extracted, the fifth-order semantic difference questionnaire was used to establish the perceptual assessment matrix for design elements, the correlation analysis method and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the results of the perceptual evaluation of the sample, find out the relationship between the perceptual vocabulary and design elements of professional female vest styles, and establish a regression model, finally, it is verified by random samples of the market, so as to guide the development of new products.
Findings
The seven design elements extracted from professional female vest styles have an impact on consumer perception, by using a linear analysis method, the correspondence between perceptual perception of consumers and style design elements can be quantified and a model can be established to accurately predict consumers’ perceptual intentions.
Originality/value
The application of perceptual engineering in the style design of professional female vests provides a new idea for the design of clothing styles. It helps garment companies and designers to determine the development direction of professional woman’s vest styles, while the research results provide design reference for other products.
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Juan Camilo Carvajal Builes, Idaly Barreto and Carolina Gutiérrez de Piñeres
This study aims to describe and analyze the differences in the linguistic styles of honest and dishonest stories.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to describe and analyze the differences in the linguistic styles of honest and dishonest stories.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses a descriptive study with a multivariate analysis of linguistic categories according to the story. The research analyzed 37 honest stories and 15 dishonest stories produced during actual legal proceedings through software Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC).
Findings
The authors find that individuals who engage in deception use a different number of words when they narrate facts. The results suggest a need for additional investigation of the linguistic style approach because of its high applicability and detection accuracy. This approach should be complemented by other types of verbal, nonverbal and psychophysiological deception detection techniques.
Research limitations/implications
Among the limitations, the authors consider length of the stories should be considered and scarce scientific literature in Spanish to compare with outcomes in English.
Practical implications
This research highlights the relevance to include linguistic style in real contexts to differentiate honest and dishonest stories due to objectivity and agility to implement.
Social implications
Understanding deception as a social behaviour and its psychological processes associated are elements that contribute to people and justice to comprehend it.
Originality/value
Analyzing real statements and discriminate differences in linguistic style, contribute to understand deeply this important behaviour to propose new methodologies and theories to explain it.
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Silvia Rita Viola, Sabine Graf, Kinshuk and Tommaso Leo
Learning styles are incorporated more and more in e‐education, mostly in order to provide adaptivity with respect to the learning styles of students. For identifying learning…
Abstract
Learning styles are incorporated more and more in e‐education, mostly in order to provide adaptivity with respect to the learning styles of students. For identifying learning styles, at the present time questionnaires are widely used. While such questionnaires exist for most learning style models, their validity and reliability is an important issue and has to be investigated to guarantee that the questionnaire really assesses what the learning style theory aims at. In this paper, we focus on the Index of Learning Styles (ILS), a 44‐item questionnaire to identify learning styles based on Felder‐ Silverman learning style model. The aim of this paper is to analyse data gathered from ILS by a data‐driven approach in order to investigate relationships within the learning styles. Results, obtained by Multiple Correspondence Analysis and cross‐validated by correlation analysis, show the consistent dependencies between some learning styles and lead then to conclude for scarce validity of the ILS questionnaire. Some latent dimensions present in data, that are unexpected, are discussed. Results are then compared with the ones given by literature concerning validity and reliability of the ILS questionnaire. Both the results and the comparisons show the effectiveness of data‐driven methods for patterns extraction even when unexpected dependencies are found and the importance of coherence and consistency of mathematical representation of data with respect to the methods selected for effective, precise and accurate modelling.
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Results of a study into the relationships between students’ academic performance and their cognitive and learning styles are presented. A questionnaire containing three…
Abstract
Results of a study into the relationships between students’ academic performance and their cognitive and learning styles are presented. A questionnaire containing three instruments assessing learning and cognition was distributed to second‐ and final‐year undergraduates studying on a general and business management degree. The outcomes of this are explored and analysed in relation to the students’ selection of modules and performance in assessments. The research explores whether students’ approaches to learning and cognition influence their selection of and performance in modules. This paper also incorporates consideration of the impact on performance of other factors, notably gender, and mode of study. Results show some impact of style on performance and module selection, but these are not consistent. The implications of this for higher education practice and learning and cognitive style research are discussed.
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Ross Fowler, Robin Grieves and J. Clay Singleton
This article aims to explore three facets of the historical performance of a sample of actively managed unit trusts available to New Zealand investors: asset allocation, style…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to explore three facets of the historical performance of a sample of actively managed unit trusts available to New Zealand investors: asset allocation, style analysis, and return attribution.
Design/methodology/approach
Because New Zealand does not require unit trusts to disclose their security holdings, the paper used returns‐based style analysis to infer how these trusts have allocated their funds among asset classes.
Findings
The research has found that, for unit trusts available to New Zealand investors, asset allocation can explain a significant amount of the differences in return across time and between trusts. Across time, asset allocation accounts for about 80 per cent of the variation in actual return. Between trusts, asset allocation explains about 60 per cent of the variation in returns. From either perspective, the choice of asset allocation is an important factor in explaining returns.
Originality/value
The paper suggests that active management barely earns its fees and that passive investments might do as well or better.
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This paper seeks to present research findings on the relationship between culture and learning styles, as defined by Honey and Mumford in a Higher Education setting.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to present research findings on the relationship between culture and learning styles, as defined by Honey and Mumford in a Higher Education setting.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was conducted with first semester students studying in an International Institute of Higher Education. A questionnaire administered to students (n=113) of Indonesian, Chinese and French origin was analysed in order to compare their learning style preferences. This was followed by a detailed item‐by‐item analysis of their responses to the same questionnaire.
Findings
In the first instance, the data support a relationship between learning styles preferences and cultural background at the outset of a programme of Higher Education. Subsequent analysis provides insight into the nature of these differences.
Research limitations/implications
The generalizability of the research findings is limited owing to the nature of the sample.
Practical implications
Educators in both Higher Education and business settings can draw on these research findings. It is suggested that allowing incoming students to explore learning style differences will enhance their understanding of how they go about learning as well as possibly influence their learning outcomes. Parallels have been drawn with incoming international employees.
Originality/value
These findings have relevance for educators, both in Higher Education and in industry, concerned with how to best develop international graduates and managers.
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This study aims to examine the relationship between work engagement and leadership styles in human service organizations (HSOs). Specifically two leadership styles are…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between work engagement and leadership styles in human service organizations (HSOs). Specifically two leadership styles are investigated that are: participative and instrumental leadership style.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was used for data collection, and analysis of data were carried out using descriptive statistics and regression analysis.
Findings
By examining workers (n=251) operating in nine HSOs in Italy, this study shows that the three dimensions of work engagement relate to leadership styles. The data analysis found that while the participative leadership style of supervisors is particularly significant in predicting vigour and dedication among employees, the instrumental leadership style is positively related to vigour and absorption.
Research limitations/implications
The study has some limitations that could represent stimuli for future research. The analysis is cross-sectional, and variables were measured using a common method and source. Furthermore, since the study involves only a small number of Italian HSOs, the results cannot be generalized and must be interpreted accordingly.
Practical implications
The findings from this study give rise to implications for the development of employees' engagement in HSOs. It additionally provides useful suggestions on effective leadership style among supervisors in HSOs.
Originality/value
An important contribution of the present study to current debate on work engagement is an insight into the construct of leadership styles as antecedents of work engagement. Furthermore, support is provided to the current debate that calls for a multi-dimensionality of work engagement and therefore suggests that the three dimensions may be differently affected by the antecedents. A third contribution is a greater understanding of ways to manage human resources in HSOs through the lever of leadership style.
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Ann LN Chapman, David Johnson and Karen Kilner
The purpose of this study was to determine the predominant leadership styles used by medical leaders and factors influencing leadership style use. Clinician leadership is…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the predominant leadership styles used by medical leaders and factors influencing leadership style use. Clinician leadership is important in healthcare delivery and service development. The use of different leadership styles in different contexts can influence individual and organisational effectiveness.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed methods approach was used, combining a questionnaire distributed electronically to 224 medical leaders in acute hospital trusts with in-depth “critical incident” interviews with six medical leaders. Questionnaire responses were analysed quantitatively to determine, first, the overall frequency of use of six predefined leadership styles and, second, individual leadership style based on a consultative/decision-making paradigm. Interviews were analysed thematically using both a confirmatory approach with predefined leadership styles as themes, and also an inductive grounded theory approach exploring influencing factors.
Findings
Leaders used a range of styles, the predominant styles being democratic, affiliative and authoritative. Although leaders varied in their decision-making authority and consultative tendency, virtually all leaders showed evidence of active leadership. Organisational culture, context, individual propensity and “style history” emerged during the inductive analysis as important factors in determining use of leadership styles by medical leaders.
Practical implications
The outcomes of this evaluation are useful for leadership development at the level of the individual, organisation and wider National Health Service (NHS).
Originality/value
This study adds to the very limited evidence base on patterns of leadership style use in medical leadership and reports a novel conceptual framework of factors influencing leadership style use by medical leaders.
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Beibei Yan, Walter Aerts and James Thewissen
This paper aims to investigate the informativeness of rhetorical impression management patterns of CEO letters and examines whether these rhetorical features affect financial…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the informativeness of rhetorical impression management patterns of CEO letters and examines whether these rhetorical features affect financial analysts’ forecasting behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use textual analysis on a sample of 526 CEO letters of US firms and apply factor analysis on individual linguistic style measures to identify co-occurrence patterns of style features.
Findings
The authors identify three holistic style patterns (assertive acclaiming, cautious plausibility-based framing and logic-based rationalizing) and find that assertive rhetorical feature in CEO letters is negatively related with the dispersion of financial analysts’ earnings forecasts and positively associated with earnings forecast accuracy. CEOs’ use of a rationalizing rhetorical pattern tends to decrease the dispersion of financial analysts’ earnings, whereas a cautious plausibility-based rhetorical position is only marginally instrumental in getting more accurate earnings predictions.
Practical implications
Whilst impression management communication is often theorized as manipulative and void of real information content, the findings suggest that impression management serves both self-presentation and information-sharing purposes.
Originality/value
This paper elaborates on the co-occurrence of style characteristics in management communication and is a first attempt to validate the external ramifications of holistic style profiles of corporate narratives by focusing on an economic target audience.
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