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Methodological Framework (methodological + framework)
Selected AbstractsSocioscientific Controversies: A Theoretical and Methodological FrameworkCOMMUNICATION THEORY, Issue 2 2009Craig O. Stewart First page of article [source] Affective Modelling: Profiling Geometrical Models with Human Emotional ResponsesCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 7 2009Cheng-Hung Lo Abstract In this paper, a novel concept, Affective Modelling, is introduced to encapsulate the idea of creating 3D models based on the emotional responses that they may invoke. Research on perceptually-related issues in Computer Graphics focuses mostly on the rendering aspect. Low-level perceptual criteria taken from established Psychology theories or identified by purposefully-designed experiments are utilised to reduce rendering effort or derive quality evaluation schemes. For modelling, similar ideas have been applied to optimise the level of geometrical details. High-level cognitive responses such as emotions/feelings are less addressed in graphics literatures. This paper investigates the possibility of incorporating emotional/affective factors for 3D model creations. Using a glasses frame model as our test case, we demonstrate a methodological framework to build the links between human emotional responses and geometrical features. We design and carry out a factorial experiment to systematically analyse how certain shape factors individually and interactively influence the viewer's impression of the shape of glasses frames. The findings serve as a basis for establishing computational models that facilitate emotionally-guided 3D modelling. [source] How to measure non-consistency of medical practices with available evidence in therapeutics: a methodological frameworkFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2005Jean-Pierre Boissel Abstract Since the early 1980s many studies showed a gap between available evidence and medical practice. They were designed to assess the real impact of randomized clinical trials on the practice of medicine. Their results substantiated a knowledge translation problem. However, they were qualitative findings, i.e. a gap exists or not, although the problem is quantitative (how large is the gap?) and has several components that should be documented according to the objective of the study. In this article, we explored the components and the various contexts in which the measure of the distance between practice and knowledge is considered. All these features should be taken into account for a more accurate and relevant assessment of the distance. [source] Observations and recommendations for assessing patient satisfaction in a primary care setting using a previously validated questionnaireHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 2 2000Anné-Lise McDonald BA MSc Abstract Within the rapidly changing climate of primary care, there is an increasing need to evaluate the reactions of patients to real and proposed changes in practice. There are a number of methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative which have been employed to do this. This article presents the methodological problems which may be encountered in evaluating patients' opinions and attitudes in a primary care setting. We begin by discussing the issues which need evaluation, then describe the research process of a recent case study which aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction using a previously validated survey instrument, including the modifications which had to be made to overcome the problems of research in a real life practice setting. We then discuss the strengths and weaknesses of applying different methodological instruments within a primary care setting, and propose a mixed methodological framework as a template for future research which combines the strengths of both large scale survey and small scale qualitative methods to give more insight into the concerns and beliefs of patients as changes occur within their local practice. [source] Critical reflection in planning information systems: a contribution from critical systems thinkingINFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009José-Rodrigo Córdoba Abstract This paper presents a methodological framework to support the process of information systems (IS) planning in organizations. It draws on the ideas of critical systems thinking (CST), a research perspective that encourages the analysis of stakeholders' understandings prior to the selection and implementation of planning methods. The framework emphasizes continuous identification of concerns from stakeholders, and facilitates critical reflection in the exploration of possibilities for improvement. Some of these possibilities might require the support of IS and communication technologies. To define the framework, two systems theories are used: boundary critique and autopoiesis. The first one enables critical reflection on values and assumptions about potential situations or marginalization. The second one fosters continuous dialogue, listening and mutual collaboration between participants. With these theories, the framework enables people to reflect on issues of inclusion, exclusion and marginalization, and to participate in the design of plans for improvement. Ultimately, the definition of this framework suggests the importance of critical reflection about ethics to improve the practice of IS planning. [source] Being well and doing well: on the importance of income for healthINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 2006S.V. Subramanian Income is robustly associated with health status. Higher income is associated with lower mortality and morbidity, both cross-nationally and within societies. This relationship is not just confined to low levels of income, but extends well beyond median levels of income in society with diminishing marginal returns to health status with additional increments in income. Drawing upon the absolute and relative interpretations of income and conceptualising them simul-taneously at the individual and community level, we develop a typology of income,health relationships and discuss the distinctiveness of, and connections between, each type. We conclude that a multilevel conceptual and methodological framework is most appropriate to understand the income,health relationship. [source] The purpose and function of humour in health, health care and nursing: a narrative reviewJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2008May McCreaddie Abstract Title.,The purpose and function of humour in health, health care and nursing: a narrative review Aim., This paper is a report of a review conducted to identify, critically analyse and synthesize the humour literature across a number of fields related to health, health care and nursing. Background., The humour,health hypothesis suggests that there is a positive link between humour and health. Humour has been a focus of much contention and deliberation for centuries, with three theories dominating the field: the superiority or tendentious theory, the incongruity theory and the relief theory. Data sources., A comprehensive literature search was carried out in January 2007 using a number of databases, keywords, manual recursive searching and journal alerts (January 1980,2007) cross-referenced with the bibliographic databases of the International Society of Humor Studies. An inclusion and exclusion criterion was identified. Review methods., A narrative review of evidence- and non-evidence-based papers was conducted, using a relevant methodological framework with additional scrutiny of secondary data sources in the latter. Humour theories, incorporating definition, process and impact constituted a significant part of the appraisal process. Results., A total of 1630 papers were identified, with 220 fully sourced and 88 included in the final review. There is a dearth of humour research within nursing yet, ironically, an abundance of non-evidence-based opinion citing prerequisites and exclusion zones. Examination of physician,patient interaction and the humour,health hypothesis demonstrates that use of humour by patients is both challenging and revealing, particularly with regard to self-deprecating humour. Conclusion., Nurses and nursing should adopt a circumspect and evidenced-based approach to humour use in their work. [source] The evaluation of high occupancy vehicle lanes on sun yat-sen freeway in TaiwanJOURNAL OF ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION, Issue 2 2005Rong-Chang Jou Abstract This study proposes a methodological framework to incorporate latent factors, including direct and indirect perceptions, as the explanatory variables in a discrete choice models using revealed preference and stated preference data sets. The methodology requires the estimation of a model system comprising of a discrete choice model and the structural and measurement equations of a latent variable model. The application involves the evaluation of responses to the new high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on the Sun Yat-Sen Freeway in Taiwan. The results obtained from this study provide valuable insights into the planning and assessment of HOV lanes. [source] Making better biogeographical predictions of species' distributionsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2006ANTOINE GUISAN Summary 1Biogeographical models of species' distributions are essential tools for assessing impacts of changing environmental conditions on natural communities and ecosystems. Practitioners need more reliable predictions to integrate into conservation planning (e.g. reserve design and management). 2Most models still largely ignore or inappropriately take into account important features of species' distributions, such as spatial autocorrelation, dispersal and migration, biotic and environmental interactions. Whether distributions of natural communities or ecosystems are better modelled by assembling individual species' predictions in a bottom-up approach or modelled as collective entities is another important issue. An international workshop was organized to address these issues. 3We discuss more specifically six issues in a methodological framework for generalized regression: (i) links with ecological theory; (ii) optimal use of existing data and artificially generated data; (iii) incorporating spatial context; (iv) integrating ecological and environmental interactions; (v) assessing prediction errors and uncertainties; and (vi) predicting distributions of communities or collective properties of biodiversity. 4Synthesis and applications. Better predictions of the effects of impacts on biological communities and ecosystems can emerge only from more robust species' distribution models and better documentation of the uncertainty associated with these models. An improved understanding of causes of species' distributions, especially at their range limits, as well as of ecological assembly rules and ecosystem functioning, is necessary if further progress is to be made. A better collaborative effort between theoretical and functional ecologists, ecological modellers and statisticians is required to reach these goals. [source] A methodological framework of preparing economic evidence for selection of medicines in the Chinese settingJOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED MEDICINE, Issue 3 2010Xin Sun Medicines are becoming a major component of health expenditure in China. Selection of effective and cost-effective medicines represents an important effort to improve medicines use. A guideline on cost-effectiveness studies has been available in China. This guideline, however, fails to be a practical tool to prepare and critically appraise economic evidence. This article discusses, in the Chinese context, the approach to integrating economic component into the medicines selection, and elaborates the methods of producing economic evidence, including conducing economic reviews and primary economic studies. [source] Strategic Practices: An Activity Theory Perspective on Continuity and ChangeJOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, Issue 1 2003Paula Jarzabkowski abstract This paper draws upon activity theory to analyse an empirical investigation of the micro practices of strategy in three UK universities. Activity theory provides a framework of four interactive components from which strategy emerges; the collective structures of the organization, the primary actors, in this research conceptualized as the top management team (TMT), the practical activities in which they interact and the strategic practices through which interaction is conducted. Using this framework, the paper focuses specifically on the formal strategic practices involved in direction setting, resource allocation, and monitoring and control. These strategic practices are associated with continuity of strategic activity in one case study but are involved in the reinterpretation and change of strategic activity in the other two cases. We model this finding into activity theory-based typologies of the cases that illustrate the way that practices either distribute shared interpretations or mediate between contested interpretations of strategic activity. The typologies explain the relationships between strategic practices and continuity and change of strategy as practice. The paper concludes by linking activity theory to wider change literatures to illustrate its potential as an integrative methodological framework for examining the subjective and emergent processes through which strategic activity is constructed. [source] Consistent , values from density,density and velocity,velocity comparisonsMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2002Saleem Zaroubi Abstract We apply a new algorithm, called the unbiased minimal variance (hereafter UMV) estimator, to reconstruct the cosmic density and peculiar velocity fields in our local Universe from the SEcat catalogue of peculiar velocities comprising both early- (ENEAR) and late-type (SFI) galaxies. The reconstructed fields are compared with those predicted from the IRAS PSCz galaxy redshift survey to constrain the value of ,=,0.6m/b, where ,m and b are the mass density and the bias parameters. The comparison of the density and velocity fields is carried out within the same methodological framework, and leads, for the first time, to consistent values of ,, yielding ,= 0.57+0.11,0.13 and ,= 0.51 ± 0.06, respectively. We find that the distribution of the density and velocity residuals, relative to their respective errors, is consistent with a Gaussian distribution with ,, 1, indicating that the density field predicted from the PSCz is an acceptable fit to that deduced from the peculiar velocities of the SEcat galaxies. [source] SHAPE OF THINGS: UNDERSTANDING A LOOM WEIGHTOXFORD JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 4 2009LINDA MÅRTENSSON If there is one thing to be learnt from watching people work in old traditional crafts it is this: The tools and the working procedures are never clumsy, never impractical (Hoffmann 1988) Summary Loom weights are common finds in archaeological excavations in Europe and the Near East. They represent the only remains of warp-weighted looms. The function of the warp-weighted loom is well known from ethnographic studies. The function of loom weights, however, has not been investigated and cannot be deduced directly from ethnographical data, since loom weights in antiquity were very different from those used in the twentieth century AD. This paper reviews the functional elements of a loom weight. The weight and thickness of loom weights are established as the defining functional parameters for the operation of the warp-weighted loom. A series of systematic tests demonstrated that the weight of a loom weight defines what yarn to use and the thread density. The thickness of a loom weight, and thus the width of the row of loom weights hanging closely together, defines the width of a fabric and , together with the weight of the loom weight , the thread count and density of the fabric. This new knowledge provides the methodological framework for archaeologists to calculate textile production possibilities from any given loom weight, as long as the weight and thickness are preserved. Furthermore, it allows scholars to assess textile production on sites where no textiles are preserved. [source] Survival and expansion: migrants in Greek rural regionsPOPULATION, SPACE AND PLACE (PREVIOUSLY:-INT JOURNAL OF POPULATION GEOGRAPHY), Issue 6 2008Charalambos Kasimis Abstract Migratory movements towards southern Europe have increased considerably in the past 20 years. An important aspect of this process is connected to the agricultural sector and rural regions , a development connected to agriculture's particular weight in the economies and societies of all southern European countries. However, their role is not restricted to agriculture. They are also related to non-agricultural economic activities and the overall support of aged populations, especially in marginal or mountainous rural areas. This paper draws on the qualitative and quantitative findings of two research projects carried out in three exemplar rural regions of Greece and over two different periods: 2000,2002 and 2004,2006. The aim of the research was the empirical investigation of the economic and social implications of the settlement and employment of migrant labour in rural Greece. The paper moves from the presentation of the theoretical and methodological framework to the presentation of the main findings for each period of the research. The socioeconomic implications of migrant employment and settlement in the regions studied are revealed in the light of the recent Common Agricultural Policy changes, and the changes following the implementation of ,regularisation programmes'. Additionally, the characteristics of migration trends in these regions are identified and the formation of new migrant social groups, with different prospects of social integration and mobility, is revealed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Quality Improvement from the Viewpoint of Statistical MethodQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003Jeroen De Mast Abstract With the purpose of guiding professionals in conducting improvement projects in industry, several quality improvement strategies have been proposed which strongly rely on statistical methods. Examples are the Six Sigma programme, the Shainin System and Taguchi's methods. This paper seeks to make a rational reconstruction of these types of improvement strategies, which results in a methodological framework. The paper gives a demarcation of the subject of study and proposes a reconstruction research approach. Thereupon, the elements of the methodological framework are listed and briefly discussed. Finally, the effectiveness of the framework is illustrated by showing to what extent it reconstructs Six Sigma's Breakthrough Cookbook. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Detecting acute confusion in older adults: Comparing clinical reasoning of nurses working in acute, long-term, and community health care environmentsRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 3 2003Marianne C. McCarthy Abstract In an article on a previous study involving hospitalized older adults (McCarthy, 2003), it was argued that the theory of situated clinical reasoning explains why nurses often fail to recognize acute confusion. Further, the theory illuminates how nurses' perspectives toward health in aging affect the ways they regard and ultimately deal with older people in this particular clinical situation. The purpose of the current study was to challenge and refine the theory by exploring the influence of different care environments on clinical reasoning related to acute confusion. Following a period of participant observation, a purposive sample of 30 nurses, 10 each from a teaching hospital, a long-term facility, and a home care agency, participated in semistructured interviews. Dimensional analysis provided the methodological framework for data collection and interpretation. The results reinforce prior findings that the ability of nurses to recognize acute confusion and to distinguish it from dementia can be attributed to their personal philosophies about aging. Care environment was identified as a factor that influenced clinical reasoning in limited ways under certain conditions and within certain contexts. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 26: 203,212, 2003 [source] Designing Morpho-Ecologies: Versatility and Vicissitude of Heterogeneous SpaceARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Issue 2 2008Michael Hensel Abstract ,Morpho-Ecology' is a concept and design approach that combines the notion of ,morphology', and thus intrinsically ,morphogenesis', with the notion of ,ecology'. In the early 19th century, in the context of his studies in botany, the poet and writer Goethe defined morphology as the study of forms; he combined the study of ,Gestalt', or structured form, with the process of ,Bildung', or formation, which acts continuously upon form.1 Later on in the century, the term ,ecology' was coined by the German physician and zoologist Ernst Haeckel, who defined it as the science of relationships between organisms and their environment.2 Here Michael Hensel and Achim Menges outline their theoretical and methodological framework for ,morpho-ecological design' in architecture, illustrating it further with two projects that combine research and design. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Über Georges Canguilhems Was heißt eine wissenschaftliche Ideologie? und über deutsch-französische Beiträge zum Thema Wissenschaft und Ideologie aus den letzten vierzig JahrenBERICHTE ZUR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE, Issue 2 2010Claude Debru Ideologie; Normativität; Wissenschaft; Wissenschaftsideologie Abstract On Georges Canguilhem's What does a Scientific Ideology mean? and on French-German Contributions on Science and Ideology in the Last Fourty Years. This paper is based on Canguilhem's text on the concept of scientific ideology, which he introduced in 1969. We describe Canguilhem's attempts at designing a methodological framework for the history of science including the status of kinds of knowledge related to science, like scientific ideologies preceding particular scientific domains (like ideologies about inheritance before Mendel, or Spencer's universal evolutionary laws preceding Darwin). This attempt at picturing the relationships between science and ideology is compared with Jürgen Habermas's book Technology and Science as ,Ideology' in 1968. The philosphical issue of human normativity provides the framework of this discussion. [source] Time-series integrated "omic" analyses to elucidate short-term stress-induced responses in plant liquid cultures,BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 1 2009Bhaskar Dutta Abstract The research that aims at furthering our understanding of plant primary metabolism has intensified during the last decade. The presented study validated a systems biology methodological framework for the analysis of stress-induced molecular interaction networks in the context of plant primary metabolism, as these are expressed during the first hours of the stress treatment. The framework involves the application of time-series integrated full-genome transcriptomic and polar metabolomic analyses on plant liquid cultures. The latter were selected as the model system for this type of analysis, because they provide a well-controlled growth environment, ensuring that the observed plant response is due only to the applied perturbation. An enhanced gas chromatography,mass spectrometry (GC,MS) metabolomic data correction strategy and a new algorithm for the significance analysis of time-series "omic" data are used to extract information about the plant's transcriptional and metabolic response to the applied stress from the acquired datasets; in this article, it is the first time that these are applied for the analysis of a large biological dataset from a complex eukaryotic system. The case-study involved Arabidopsis thaliana liquid cultures subjected for 30 h to elevated (1%) CO2 stress. The advantages and validity of the methodological framework are discussed in the context of the known A. thaliana or plant, in general, physiology under the particular stress. Of note, the ability of the methodology to capture dynamic aspects of the observed molecular response allowed for 9 and 24 h of treatment to be indicated as corresponding to shifts in both the transcriptional and metabolic activity; analysis of the pathways through which these activity changes are manifested provides insight to regulatory processes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 264,279. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||