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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2017

Martina Dickson, Melissa McMinn and Hanadi Kadbey

Research has shown that pre-service and in-service teachers who exhibit science anxiety are less likely to teach it effectively. It is therefore critical to gauge the science…

Abstract

Research has shown that pre-service and in-service teachers who exhibit science anxiety are less likely to teach it effectively. It is therefore critical to gauge the science anxiety levels of student teachers early while there are still possibilities, perhaps, to prevent serious issues occurring later on as a result. This study takes place in the United Arab Emirates, where Emirati science teachers are already in the vast minority. Since this is the case and teacher attrition rates are high, it is important to offer as much support to student teachers as possible. We surveyed 113 student elementary school teachers to explore their science anxiety levels. Whilst some studies have shown that science anxiety can decrease as students take science content courses, thereby theoretically gaining confidence in science knowledge, this effect was not observed in our study except for a few aspects and only in those who had studied in the ‘science track’ at school. We also found that students educated in arts tracks in high schools had significantly higher science anxiety levels compared with those who followed science tracks.

و ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعم نأ ثوحبلا ترهظأ دق نورهظي نيذلا و ةمدخلا يف نيملعملا نم ً اقلق مولعلا ةدام مه ميلعتل ًﻻامتحإ لقأ قلقلا تايوتسم سايق ةيمهﻷا نمف كلذلو .ةيلاعفب مولعلا ةدام نم مولعلا ةدام ﻻ نيح يف ركبم تقو يف ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعمل ي مبر لامتحا كانه لاز ةيبرعلا تارامﻹا ةلود يف ةساردلا هذه يرجتو .كلذل ةجيتن قحﻻ تقو يف لكاشم يأ ثودح عنمل ا ميدقت مهملا نمف ،ةعفترم نيملعملا صقانت تﻻدعمو لاحلا وه اذه نأ امبو .ةيلقأ مه نييتارامﻹا مولعلا يملعم ثيح ،ةدحتملا مب انمق .ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعمل معدلا نم نكمم ردق ربكأ ﺢس 113 نم مهقلق تايوتسم فاشكتسﻻ ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعم نم مولعلا ةدام قلقلا نأ تاساردلا ضعب ترهظأ نيح يف . نم مولعلا ةدام ضفخني نأ نكمي ىوتحملا تاقاسم ةبلطلاا لامكتسا عم ُي مل ،ةيملعلا ةفرعملا يف ةقثلا باستكا يلاتلابو ،يملعلا َحﻼ ساب انتسارد يف ريثأتلا اذه ظ نيذلا كئلوﻷ طقفو بناوجلا ضعب ءانثت يف ةيبدﻷا و ةينفلا تاراسملا اوذختا نيذلا ةمدخلا لبق ام يملعم نأ اضيأ اندجوو .ةسردملا يف ةيملعلا تاراسملا اوذختا قلقلا تايوتسم مهيدل ناك ةيوناثلا سرادملا نم مولعلا ةدام .ةيملعلا تاراسملا اوعبتا نيذلا كئلوأ نم ريثكب ىلعأ

Details

Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2077-5504

Article
Publication date: 29 June 2012

Peng Peng Xu, Edwin H.W. Chan and Queena K. Qian

Building energy efficiency retrofit (BEER) not only provides excellent opportunities to reduce overall energy consumption of buildings in a city but also encourages environmental…

5862

Abstract

Purpose

Building energy efficiency retrofit (BEER) not only provides excellent opportunities to reduce overall energy consumption of buildings in a city but also encourages environmental protection, the rational use of resources, and occupants' healthcare, which all contribute towards the sustainability of existing buildings. However, there is a lack of effective performance indicators to measure the sustainability of BEER projects. The aim of this paper is to formulate a list of key performance indicators (KPI) for the sustainability assessment of BEER in hotel buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a literature review and in‐depth interviews with industry experts and academic researchers were conducted, which filtered the performance indicators for assessing sustainability. Second, a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from various groups of experts to analyze the significance of the selected performance indicators. Finally, a model based on fuzzy set theory was designed to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the sustainability of BEER.

Findings

Eight KPIs were identified based on fuzzy set theory in this study. They are: quality performance, hotel energy management, cost performance, project profitability, energy consumption and resources saving, health and safety, stakeholder satisfaction, and innovation and improvement.

Practical implications

The KPIs of sustainability of BEER identified for hotel buildings in China in this study can be useful reference for other similar research. However, with the different requirements for building types and building ownerships, the KPIs of sustainability of BEER for different buildings may be variable. The findings in this study may not be directly relevant to other types of building.

Originality/value

Key performance indicators for the sustainability assessment of BEER in hotel buildings in China are identified and analyzed in this study. The KPIs can help decision‐makers to identify an optimal solution between alternatives, which presents the maximum sustainability performance.

Details

Facilities, vol. 30 no. 9/10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2015

Ruth McPhail, Anoop Patiar, Carmel Herington, Peter Creed and Michael Davidson

– The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a self-reporting tool: the hospitality employee’ satisfaction index.

5527

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a self-reporting tool: the hospitality employee’ satisfaction index.

Design/methodology/approach

The 15-item instrument presented in this study was developed through an examination of the extant literature and seven focus groups representing the hospitality industry. The instrument was piloted online with 1,000 hospitality employees, refined and then distributed online to 9,000 hospitality employees.

Findings

Factor analysis extracted three factors (career advancement, control and variety and relationships), and reliability analysis (Cronbach’s alpha) indicated high internal consistency. A stepwise multiple regression revealed that the control and variety factor related most strongly to overall job satisfaction, followed by relationships and career advancement factors, confirming that in the context of the hospitality industry, these factors were important in the measurement of job satisfaction. Control and variety was significantly related to the intention to stay in the job, and career advancement and control and variety were related to the intention to stay in the hospitality industry.

Research limitations/implications

The data were gathered in Australia and were tested nationally to support the robustness of the instrument. Therefore, the hospitality industry can use this instrument as a generic index to evaluate the job satisfaction levels of employees.

Originality/value

This specifically designed hospitality job satisfaction instrument can be used to evaluate the job satisfaction of employees at all levels and can be used in the development of a benchmark. This index is the first of its kind to be tested in the broader hospitality context, including accommodation, restaurants, coffee shops, fast food, clubs, hotels, convention, sporting venues, catering and institutional catering.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 27 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1953

Le quatrième congrès de l'Association internationale d'experts scientifiques du tourisme (A.I.E.S.T.), qui s'est tenu du 13 au 18 septembre 1953, à Vienne, selon le programme…

Abstract

Le quatrième congrès de l'Association internationale d'experts scientifiques du tourisme (A.I.E.S.T.), qui s'est tenu du 13 au 18 septembre 1953, à Vienne, selon le programme publié dans le numéro 3 de la présente revue (page 109), a eu, comme les précédents, un plein succès.

Details

The Tourist Review, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0251-3102

Article
Publication date: 15 June 2020

Seyed-Hadi Mirghaderi

This paper aims to develop a simple model for estimating sustainable development goals index using the capabilities of artificial neural networks.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a simple model for estimating sustainable development goals index using the capabilities of artificial neural networks.

Design/methodology/approach

Sustainable development has three pillars, including social, economic and environmental pillars. Three clusters corresponding to the three pillars were created by extracting sub-indices of three 2018 global reports and performing cluster analysis on the correlation matrix of sub-indices. By setting the sustainable development goals index as the target variable and selecting one indicator from each cluster as input variables, 20 artificial neural networks were run 30 times.

Findings

Artificial neural networks with seven nodes in one hidden layer can estimate sustainable development goals index by using just three inputs, including ecosystem vitality, human capital and gross national income per capita. There is an excellent similarity (>95%) between the results of the artificial neural network and the sustainable development goals index.

Practical implications

Instead of calculating 232 indicators for determining the value of sustainable development goals index, it is possible to use only three sub-indices, but missing 5% of precision, by using the proposed artificial neural network model.

Originality/value

The study provides additional information on the estimating of sustainable development and proposes a new simple method for estimating the sustainable development goals index. It just uses three sub-indices, which can be retrieved from three global reports.

Article
Publication date: 6 June 2016

Liziane Silva Menezes, Miguel Afonso Sellitto, Tatiane Pereira Librelato, Miriam Borchardt and Giancarlo Medeiros Pereira

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a multiple item scale for measuring perceived quality in e-service provided by a university.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a multiple item scale for measuring perceived quality in e-service provided by a university.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a two-step methodology: a qualitative part to identify relevant dimensions and indicators in e-service and a numerical survey to assess preferences and evaluations of 252 users, regarding indicators of e-service quality, as well as a global degree of satisfaction with the overall e-service. Multivariate and structural techniques helped extracting guidelines for improving perceived quality.

Findings

The authors refined a scale by factor analysis, remaining five dimensions and 15 items. The five dimensions are: trust, convenience, responsivity, empathy and personalization. The authors found out that trust, responsivity and empathy, at a 0.01 level, are directly related with the overall satisfaction with e-service.

Research limitations/implications

Specific results are not generalizable to others universities, but the method can be replicated in others e-service providers. For continuity, the authors recommend multicriterial methods for prioritizing indicators. For confirmatory analysis, the authors suggest a new survey with a larger sample, aggregating new indicators by more qualitative research.

Practical implications

The method can help universities to evaluate and eventually reformulate their strategies in dealing with e-services users.

Originality/value

The paper helps clarify how to structure and organize indicators related to e-service perceived quality and how to identify those activities that can help managers to improve it.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 22 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2001

Jeroen B. Guinée, Gjalt Huppes and Reinout Heijungs

The life cycle assessment (LCA) guide of Heijungs et al. has been renewed to the latest methodological developments, aiming to make the ISO 14040 series on life cycle assessment…

1750

Abstract

The life cycle assessment (LCA) guide of Heijungs et al. has been renewed to the latest methodological developments, aiming to make the ISO 14040 series on life cycle assessment operational. For this, a closer look was taken at intended applications in relation to required and practicable modelling options. Applications determine the required theoretical model, but the theoretical model required often comes into conflict with the available practical models and the needed operationality for decision support. To ease the tension between these requirements, simplifications need to be made in a guide on LCA. Two levels of sophistication have been worked out in the new guide documents: a detailed LCA with some options for extensions, and a simplified version.

Details

Environmental Management and Health, vol. 12 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0956-6163

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2001

Daniel C. Funk, Daniel F. Mahony, Makoto Nakazawa and Sumiko Hirakawa

A 30-item Sport Interest Inventory (SII) was developed and validated for measuring ten unique motives related to consumer interest at an international sporting event. Spectators…

1786

Abstract

A 30-item Sport Interest Inventory (SII) was developed and validated for measuring ten unique motives related to consumer interest at an international sporting event. Spectators (N=1,321) attending five different US venues during the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup were administered the SII. Analysis revealed that sport and team interest, excitement, supporting women's opportunity in sport, aesthetics and vicarious achievement explained 35 per cent of the variance in spectators' interest in the event. Results provide sport marketers with consumer-based marketing strategies, particularly for women's sport.

Details

International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, vol. 3 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1464-6668

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1985

Erdener Kaynak

When one looks at the marketing literature, consumerism activity is treated as a developed country phenomenon. The reason for this is partially attributable to a complete lack of…

Abstract

When one looks at the marketing literature, consumerism activity is treated as a developed country phenomenon. The reason for this is partially attributable to a complete lack of appropriate conceptual and methodological frameworks to study consumerism issues across cultures and nations, specifically in less‐developed countries. The purpose of this article is to develop working propositions to study consumerism in multiple environments. Consumerism issues in developed versus LDC environments are discussed and their implications for international trade and marketing are elucidated. The influences that various socio‐economic, governmental and cultural environments have upon consumerism are also examined.

Details

International Marketing Review, vol. 2 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-1335

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1987

A. Tansu Barker

The attitudes and perceptions of New Zealanders toward current consumerism issues are outlined and compared with four other countries. Many of the opinions expressed are critical…

Abstract

The attitudes and perceptions of New Zealanders toward current consumerism issues are outlined and compared with four other countries. Many of the opinions expressed are critical of the existing practices of business and appear to be common in the other four countries. The theory of consumer product life cycle suggesting the development of national consumer movements was not supported by the data obtained in New Zealand.

Details

International Marketing Review, vol. 4 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-1335

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